It Started in the Library (Completed and Editing)

Chapter 27: Counter Measures

Chapter 27: Counter Measures

I watched in the shadows as my baby sister's car pulled out of the parking slot and noted that Prince is the one driving Shiro. Tinawagan ko siya matapos kong malaman na mayroong kakaibang nangyayari at dinala ako ng tracker ko dito sa campus ni Diosa. Ito talaga ang gusto ko kay Prince, pagkasabi kong kailangan niyang sunduin si Diosa ay walang pag-aatubiling sumama siya sa akin kahit na may klase siya.

"Alistair?" I heard a voice call behind me and I turned to see a familiar face.

"Hello, sir. Kamusta po?" I smiled and greeted Prof. Sevilla, one of my father's former collegues. He teaches Anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences and one of Diosa's professors. He returned my handshake heartily.

"Mabuti. Ang mommy mo kamusta?" he asked, "matagal na kaming di nagkita."

"Okay naman po si Mommy. Weekend umuuwi kasi tinanggap niya yung position as Associate sa Los Baños." He laughed at that.

"Sabihin mo kay Adelia bumalik na siya ng Diliman. Masyado nang hectic ang schedule niya tapos malayo pa sa inyo."

"Sabi nga po namin kahit dito man lang sana sa Manila pero parang kinukulit pa yata siya ng Dean position sa Davao."

"Naku, lalo siyang mapapalayo," he shook his head before turning a kind gaze to me. I've always liked him and that is a surprising feat considering how much I hate trusting other people. Isa kasi siya sa mga taong hindi ako trinatong kakaiba. "Bakit ka nga pala napadaan? Si Aya ba?"

"May kikitain lang po ako," I realized I didn't have to lie outright. I'm out here to meet my prey.

"Ah, sige. I'll go ahead iho. May last class pa ako." Pagpapaalam niya. I waited until he entered his classroom before I walked up the marble staircase leading up to the top floor of RH. The distinctive smell of formaldehyde and chlorine assailed my nostrils.

Students in white lab gowns are busy on the tables. White and green masks covered their faces as they bent to their task. Each student has a black leather case where they kept their feline subjects.

I could feel the rage boiling in my gut. Tarantado 'to ah.

"Whose bag is this?" I casually asked the girl busy working on the table. She looked up at me then blinked comically for a few seconds.

'Tangna naman ang bagal ng processing.Taga-UP ka ba?

"Kanino 'to?" I gestured to the case sitting on top of the table beside hers.

"Wow," she licked her lips before her hand rose and she poked me with a finger, "hala, totoo ka?"

"Kay Narvaez," a guy answered from the other table. I nodded my thanks before I took white disposable gloves out of my back pockets and snapped them on. The girl beside me is fairly drooling. Ano ba yan? I thought. Ayoko pa na naman ng pinagmamasdan.

I carefully peeled the zipper off and was met with the strong odor of chemicals. I took a long look inside and felt the rage go full-blown. Makakapatay talaga ako.

Matted black fur.

He just declared war with me and I'll be damned if I let him get away with it. I picked out a slip of paper tucked inside Panther's stomach.

Curiosity killed the cat.

I clenched my jaw at the blatant message he left.

Pucha, walang imagination.

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The whole time na pauwi kami hindi binitawan ni Prince yung kamay ko kahit sinabi ko sa kanya na mahirap mag-drive na isang kamay lang. Ngumingiti lang siya at hinahalikan yung kamay ko. Hala parang baliw lang 'tong boyfriend ko.