Fukitsu Academy

Chapter 4

"Ice Imperial. I booked a reservation last night." The lady in front of him almost grimaced at his unwelcoming tone.

Tinapos kaagad nito ang pagbubukas ng pet shop at pinapasok na si Ice sa loob na siyang tumingin-tingin sa paligid. Tiningnan ni Ice 'yong babae na naglilipstick pa doon sa counter bago ito tumingin sa kanya at ngumiti.

"May I see your reservation receipt, sir?" tanong nito. Tumayo si Ice at lumapit sa kanya tsaka pinakita ang e-receipt mula sa cellphone niya. Kumunot ang noo nito noong makita ang nakalagay sa resibo.

"A grizzly cub," sabi nito at kumuha ng susi doon sa drawer. "Follow me, sir," nakangiting sabi nito at naglakad papunta sa back door ng shop.

Sumunod naman si Ice sa kanya at naglakad sila papunta sa isang naka-enclosed na green house. Ginamit noong babae ang susi na dala niya para buksan ang lock ng greenhouse tsaka sila pumasok sa loob. The greenhouse resembled a little jungle. Nakita ni Ice ang iba't-ibang uri ng mga hayop na hindi dapat nakikita sa pet shop kundi sa black market. The animals in the greenhouse were rare and valuable. Ice saw different types of snakes, rare dog and cat breeds, venomous spiders, and even shark pups swimming in a large aquarium.

"We've had this cub just two days ago. Its mother was captured by hunters at binenta naman sa amin ang anak nito." Tumingin si Ice sa direksiyon noong babae at nakita itong binubuksan ang isang crate. Ice saw a black nose sniffing from the crate's hole.

Nang binuksan noong babae ang crate ay agad na tumakbo papunta sa gilid 'yong bear at nagtago. The woman presented Ice with the cub's price. He saw a lot of zeros from the price pero tumango lang si Ice at tinawag na ang driver niya na may dala-dalang isang malaking bag.

His driver opened the bag and presented the money. Ice didn't want to use his credit card for the reason that his family might know about his purchase. His father instructed him to buy an island but here he is, buying a grizzly cub instead.

Tinanggap ng babae 'yong bag at maingat naman na kinarga ng driver ni Ice ang crate na nakasarado na.

"Pleasure doing business with you," nakangiting sabi noong babae. Tumalikod na si Ice at sinundan ang driver niya papunta sa kotse nila pero huminto siya sa counter at tiningnan ang blue na ribbon na nandoon. Kinuha ito ni Ice at hindi na nag-abalang magbayad dahil sobra pa ang binigay niyang pera doon sa babae.

Pagdating niya sa kotse ay nakita niyang nilalagyan muna ng driver niya ng kumot ang upuan bago nito nilagay ang crate. Ice is impressed at how his driver takes care of the vehicle that he didn't want to leave scratches on it. Pumasok na si Ice sa kotse at tumabi sa bear na naririnig niyang sumisinghot-singhot mula sa loob.

"Do you think she'll like it?" tanong ni Ice sa driver na nagse-seatbelt. Hindi ito nakasagot at natawa na lang tsaka nagmaneho na papunta sa subdivision nina Saph. Hindi na sila hinarang sa gate dahil nakilala na ng mga security guard si Ice.

Pagdating nila sa harap ng mansion ay bumaba na si Ice dala-dala ang crate. Pagpasok niya sa mansion ay nakita niya si Saph na nasa sala at nakaharap sa TV.

"Young lady, you have guests," sabi ng maid nila at tinuro si Ice na kakapasok lang at nakasunod sa kanya ang driver niya na inutusan niyang sumunod sa kanya.

"Oh, hey. Good morning." Kumunot ang noo ni Ice dahil sa masiglahing bati ni Saph sa kanya.

"You're not mad at me?" tanong niya rito.

"I don't want to make your limited time here on earth so bitter," she said. Natawa si Ice rito at binaba ang crate na hawak niya habang pinasunod naman ng maid nina Saph ang driver ni Ice papunta sa kusina at binigyan ito ng maiinom.

"And why would my time on earth be limited?" he asked.

"Sabi kasi ni Nyx ipapatumba ka niya. Ewan ko, nag-hire ata siya ng hitman para sa 'yo," pabirong sabi ni Saph. By her tone, Ice confirmed that she still has no idea of her bloodline and what her family is capable of.

"Sorry for triggering you," sabi niya at yumuko pa. She chuckled and told her that it was okay and that they should get over it. She also apologized for hitting him. She felt guilty after seeing the plaster on his left eyebrow. They were both equally guilty of what they did.

"What's in the crate?" tanong ni Saph na kanina pa nakatingin sa crate na nasa sahig. Napansin niya rin ang blue ribbon sa ibabaw nito.

"A gift. Peace offering," nakangiting sabi ni Ice. She stood up from the chair and slowly approached the crate.

"Anong nasa loob?" she asked.

"You have to stay back first before I open it," kumunot muli ang noo ni Saph sa sinabi nito.

"What? It's not like it's gonna bite me or anything," natatawang sabi ni Saph pero seryosong tumingin sa kanya si Ice. He instructed her to get on top of the sofa at ginawa naman ito ni Saph. She was so eager to receive her gift that she did not even care how she looked.

Ice was already as red as a tomato for blushing so hard because he found her cute. Standing on top of a couch and looking at the crate. Dahan-dahan nang yumuko si Ice at binuksan ang crate. Saph was too eager to see what was inside the crate kaya panay ang tingin niya rito. The first thing she saw was a black nose sniffing its way out of the crate. Then she saw its whole body.

The little thing was furry and brown with a white-colored fur that looked like a color. Its black eyes stared directly at Saph as it sat on the floor and sneezed.

"A baby... a b-baby bear. A baby bear. A cub. A cub!"

Nabigla 'yong bear sa paulit-ulit na sabi ni Saph at sa pagsigaw nito kaya agad itong bumalik sa loob ng crate. She looked at Ice with a mixture of awe and happiness. "Is that... is that my gift?" tanong niya at dahan-dahang bumaba sa sofa at lumapit sa crate. Inilahad ni Saph ang kamay niya at nakita niyang dahan-dahang bumalik palabas 'yong bear at inamoy ang kamay niya..

"Hi," she greeted the cub with excitement. It sat down again, rolled over, and dozed off.

Natawa si Saph sa pagiging antukin nito kaya hinayaan na muna nilang dalawa 'yong bear na matulog sa sahig. Tumayo ng maayos si Saph at tumingin kay Ice tsaka ngumiti. "Thank you. I love it—you're not gonna use the cub as a blackmail in the future, right?" natawa si Ice sa tanong nito.

"Bakit ba palagi mong iniisip na lahat ng ibibigay ko sa 'yo ay gagamitin ko pang-blackmail?" natatawang tanong nito.

"Just a hunch. Thank you again," nakangiti niyang sabi rito. Lumapit si Saph sa bear at dahan-dahan itong kinarga.

"I'm going to name you Aki," she lovingly talked to the bear and was careful not to wake it. It was still dozing off kaya tumingin muli si Saph kay Ice. "You're the best friend I have."

She said those words so lovingly, yet Ice felt a pang on his chest. Napahawak na lang siya sa dibdib niya at kinamot ang batok niya.

Best friend. Itatawa ko na lang 'to. Isip niya at umupo sa sofa sabay sapo ng noo dahil wala siyang tulog kagabi kakahanap sa bear.

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