The Alpha Goddess

IV: Her Defiled Soul

Chry's Point of View

I lost count of how many times I tossed and turned myself in my bed. At hindi ko na alam kung pang-ilan na rin ako nagmumura. No matter how hard I try to close my eyes, and forced myself to fall asleep, I really can't do it. Padabog akong bumangon sa pagkakahiga.

Deafening silence of the night was taking over the environment.

Mabuti pa ang iba mahimbing ng nakatulog. I heard footsteps earlier. At rinig na rinig ko ang walang humpay nitong pagrereklamo. When I heard the whispering voices, I concluded that it was coming from Blaze, who couldn't sleep just like me.

Marahil ay bumaba ang lalaking 'yon patungo sa kusina. Perhaps, find something that could fall him asleep. Tumayo ako upang sumilip sa bintana. Binuksan ko ito't magmuni-muni na lang muna hanggang sa aantukin.

Saktong pagkakaupo ko'y may nakita akong taong nakasuot ng cloak. Papaalis lang ito. Nagmamadali. At tila hindi mapakali dahil panay lingon-lingon ito sa paligid. Ganiyang klaseng kilos ay hindi makakalagpas sa akin.

Frightened that someone might see him leaving. That kind of move means he's onto something. Dali-dali kong kinuha ang jacket na nasa closet ko. I didn't waste a single time. But I managed to take a look at the kitchen.

Nakabukas ang ilaw, ibig sabihin hindi si Blaze 'yong taong nakita ko. I heard the sound of spoon and glass clashing against each other. Nagtitimpla ito. I aggressively pulled the door.

Hindi na ako nag-atubili pang isarado ito.

Tumakbo ako papunta sa likuran ng academy.

My favorite spot to train myself. Napansin ko kasing doon ang punta ng taong 'yon. Napakuyom ako ng aking kamao. Napasinghap ako nang matanaw ko ang pigura nito. At kasing-bilis pa sa kidlat akong napatago sa malaking puno ng kahoy na saktong nasa gilid ko.

Sumilip ako. Nakita kong huminto ito sa paglalakad. Bahagya itong lumingon . I squinted my eyes to force myself see the face. Pero dahil sa sobrang dilim, tanging baba lang ang naaninag ko. I clicked my tongue in annoyance.

Couple of seconds later, muli itong naglakad. Habang ako naman ay dahan-dahang lumabas sa pinagtataguan ko. Napamura ako sa hangin nang muli na naman itong huminto sa paglalakad. Tila nabunutan ako ng tinik sa lalamunan nang may malaking basurahan akong nakita upang doon magtago.

I once again take a peek to check that bastard. My eyes grew wider when I realized he is nowhere to be found. Nawala ito sa kinatatayuan nang parang bula. I alerted my ground. Hindi na muna ako lumabas sa pinagtataguan dahil baka nasa paligid lang ito.

And I don't want him to know I am here.

Napakuyom ako nang kamao makalipas ang isang minuto. Hindi ko na tanaw ang pigura niya. Kahit na presensya man lang nito sa paligid. Great! That bastard knew I was tailing him. Tumakbo ako papunta sa lugar kung saan siya nakatayo kanina.

I roamed my eyes around. But no matter how hard I tried, I can't sight that fucker. It's as if he renders himself invisible or perhaps darkness consumes his presence. Dismayado akong naglakad pabalik ng dorm. On my way there, two possible people popped up in my head that could be that bastard's identity.

But it's hard to accuse someone without firm evidence.

And I am pretty sure, it's from our class. Dahil nakita ko itong lumabas ng dorm house. Or perhaps, I am just over thinking things. But that bastard could be Mario as well!

First, the academy didn't have deep information about him. They only have that he and his father always move from place to place. Kasama na rito ang satyr na naging best friend ni Mario.

Lastly, we don't know how far he could go with his abilities.

☽ ♆ ☾

Napagising na lamang ako nang maramdaman ang sinag ng araw na tumama sa mukha ko. Iritado akong bumangon. And clicked my tongue and tightened my jaw. Ano'ng oras na ba? Mabilis akong tumingin sa orasan. Past eleven na pala.

Biglang kumalam ang sikmura ko. Lumunok nang mapagtantong naging malapot ang laway ko. Hindi lang ako gutom, uhaw rin. Nagpakawala muna ako ng marahas na hininga bago umalis sa kama ko. I went straight to the bathroom to at least wash my face and brush my teeth before going to the kitchen.

Nag-inat pa ako nang makalabas ako ng kwarto.

At kinusot-kusot ang aking mata dahil inaantok pa ako. I couldn't sleep properly last night. Idagdag na ang misteryosong taong nakasuot ng itim na balabal.

I have to keep this to myself first. Until I am sure of my hunch. I have to watch over the two possible people that I have in my mind. Pagkababa ko ay nadatnan ko ang lahat sa kusina katulad ng nakagawian. At the corner, I saw Fuego took off the apron and his gloves.

"Good morning, Chry," Blei greeted me with her gentle voice. Apparently, it soothes me. She then awkwardly giggled when she realized something. "Afternoon na pala," she corrected herself.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Blaze smiled in amusement. I slightly bowed my head when I saw Heshiena looking at me. She flashed a smile. But her eyes were still on me. For that moment, bigla ako nakaramdam ng kaba.

We have a goddess in the squad, I almost forgot.

Kailangan ko talagang maging maingat. Hindi naman sa ayokong ipaalam sa kanila ang nalaman ko kagabi, pero dahil alam kong sariwa pa sa 'min ang mga nangyari.

I can't just throw a bomb when I know the people around me are still in the stage of healing. Naglakad ako papalapit sa lagayan ng mga tasa. I am aware of the feeling when the burden of the world consecutively falls from your shoulder one after the other.

It's suffocating.

"I already made you a coffee," I heard Fuego say when I passed by.

I hummed and mouthed him thank you. He just nodded at me as a response. Pagkatapos kong lagyan ng sugar ang tasa ko ay naglakad ako papunta sa bakanteng upuan. I gritted my teeth when I realized there's two available seats.

Muli na namang nagtagis ang aking bagang. Ininom ko na lang ng kape ang biglaang pagkirot ng aking dibdib. I've seen people in my life come and go. Sa klase ba naman ng kinalalikhan ko ay hindi na ako nagulat nang dumating ang araw na nasanay na ako.

It's painful, yes. Just like everything in this world, the pain faded away afterward. I was quick to shake my head to shove the thought away. I hate it when I felt this kind of feeling. It exhausts me, and my Mom would yelled me in anger if I shed a single tear.

And confront me that she didn't raise me like that.

"Chry, here."

My eyes drifted to Ace when he offered me the seat beside him. He even tapped the chair thrice. I don't want to disrespect Violeta, therefore, I agreed to sit beside Ace. Tumingin muna ako sa upuang palaging inuupuan ni Violeta nang mabilisan bago humigop ng kape.

I immediately rolled my eyes when Ace giggled. Hinayaan ko na lamang siya. This is the second time I accepted his offer. Tumingin ako sa dalawang taong masayang nakikipag-usap sa iba. The other one was slicing the chicken.

Nagtama ang aming tingin. Hindi ako umiwas, sa halip ay nakipagtitigan ako sa kaniya. I hummed in victorious. Hindi ko inaasahan siya mismo ang iiwas ng tingin. Tumingin ako sa isa pa. Masaya siyang nakikipag-kwentuhan.

She made a quick glance at me when she noticed I was looking at her. She then innocently drifted her attention back to the person she's talking to. Habang ako naman ay napangiti. Did she notice I am doubting her? If it is, then so be it!

I am tired of being betrayed.

Kahit na noong hindi ko pa nalamang anak ako ng isang Diyos, 'yan palagi nangyayari. Paulit-ulit. Paikot-ikot. Some evil weren't born as evil. Some of them were victim of cruelty. But majority of them were just pure evil.

I scoff, and it was then followed with clicking my tongue. Napatingin ako sa aking kamay. Maging ang kaluluwa ko ay matagal ng nadungisan. Even my hands are neat in the eye, all I could see were blood from the people I've slaughtered.

It will forever be stained in my soul.