The Keepers [TKS#1]

40. The Second Strike

Ilang minuto pa ay narating ko na ang house of draco. Mag-aalas siyete na ng gabi at nababalutan na rin ng hamog ang buong academy. Mabilis kong tinungo ang aking silid. Doon ko na lamang lihim na babasahin ang nilalaman ng card. Pagbukas ko ng pintuan ay nagulat pa ako sa nadatnan ko.

Laurent. Seated on my bed. His foot touching the floor. His eyes meeting my shocked gaze.

"What are you doing here?" Iritable kong bungad.

"Close the door." Agad itong bumawi ng tingin. Malumanay ang pagkakasabi no'n na tipong hindi nagbibiro. Seryoso at tila may isang masamang balitang dala.

I closed the door and sat on a chair set on my work table. Nasa tapat 'yon ng kama ko kung saan siya nakaupo.

"Ngayon, sagutin mo ang tanong ko. It's past six in the evening. Anong ginagawa mo dito at bakit ka nakaupo sa kama ko?" I inquired. Halos manggigil ako.

Hindi ito umimik. Naghubad ito ng leather jacket at hand gloves. Nakasando na lang ito at litaw ang perfectly toned body niya. He removed his combat boots. I started to panic when he unzipped his tight pants and took it off swiftly. Nakahinga ako nang mapansing may boxers itong panloob. His legs were fair and masculinely hairy. Napalunok ako.

"A-Anong binabalak mo?" I probed. Namumula na ako at kinikilabutan sa kinikilos ni Laurent.

Hindi uli ito umimik.

"Speak or I'll shout!" I raised a tone for once.

He sushed then released a deep sigh. "Tatabihan kita tonight." He said it.

Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang hinablot nito ang kumot at unan ko at humilata sa kama.

"W-wait. Wait! Wait! Anong tatabihan mo ako tonight? Are you kidding me?" I almost sweat profusely. Mauubusan na ako ng hangin kapag pinagpatuloy pa niya ang mga kalokohan niya. "Laurent, can you just tell me what's going on?"

Pinagpag nito ang bakanteng espasyo sa kama saka inayos ang isa pang unan. Tapos ay nakangising tumingin sa kinaroroonan ko. "There, higa!"

"You brute! Get out of my room!" Napasigaw na ako.

That was a wake up call for him. Tila natauhan ito sa lakas ng boses ko at nabahalang baka may makarinig saamin.

He told me to hush by putting his index finger to his tempting red lips. "Lara, just trust me okay? Now, just sleep here and you'll be safe."

"Laurent, I can't. Anong tingin mo saakin?" I said in a serious tone.

Nagpakawala pa ito ng dalawang malalim na buntong hininga bago bumangon at naupo sa ulunan ng kama. "I told Amber to keep ruru for tonight. Have you received the card from Queen Amry?"

Puzzled, I nodded. Agad ko 'yong nilabas.

"Don't remove the royal seal Lara." He warned before I could think of removing it. "Don't read it yet."

Bigla akong kinilabutan. Hindi ko alam pero parang may panganib ngang nagbabadya matapos kong tanggapin ang tarhetang 'yon mula sa healer. Napaupo ako sa kama habang hawak ang card. I could see his stare in my peripheral. "May masama bang mangyayari? Is someone going to hurt me? Is someone going to abduct me again?"

"Someone will." He momentarily paused. "Hindi sila nagtagumpay last annual abduction. Thank Alvis he was quick to get you and save you. Pero hindi doon natatapos ang mga tenebris Lara. Habang tumatagal, lalo silang dumadami at lalong lumakas ang kanilang pwersa."

"Cael..." naibulong ko. "Kaya ba dito ka matutulog?"

Tumango ito at nagpakawala ng nakakalokong ngisi.