The Hunted Luna

xviii ◈ who knows?

I remember my father telling me stories about how he met Louissa, my mother. He said she was his first and last love. Hearing it from him makes me happy and sad. I also remember that sparkling eyes whenever he says her name. It was full of love and sorrow.

Love... I really don't know the exact meaning of the word. From then, I assume it was a good thing. For people. For us. For intact connection between two individuals and more.

But now I'm confused. If love is a good thing? Then, why I'm so scared right now? I can feel my body trembling in fear.

"Always resisting, I see." I heard him say. Muli akong napatitig sa mga mata niya. Kanina lang nakita ko ang pagkinang ng kulay berde niyang mata pero parang isang iglap yong nawala.

Sinundan ko ang pag-tayo niya mula sa higaan at ang pag-abot niya ng kamay sa akin. Nanatili akong walang kibo. Ngayon lang ako nawalan ng lakas na maunang umalis. I can't feel my body, but I can see how terribly I'm shaking. I think I'm going to be sick. And the collar is starting to burn my skin again.

Why is this...

"Take my hand. Let's get you to your room."

I can't.

I heard him sigh and grab my hand gently. Napansin kong napatigil siya nang maramdaman ang panginginig ng kamay ko.

"You'll be fine." He whispered and I'm sure he gave me a peck in my head.

I heaved a deep hot breathe. Umiling ako, pilit tumayo at humakbang papalayo sa kanya. Nang makailang hakbang ako ay saka ko siya tiningnan ng diretso. His green orbs are void of emotions that I want to look away but something is telling me not to.

"You're the...one who's injured. Ikaw ang dapat na nagpapahinga." Napalunok ako at pilit na ngumiti. "Kaya ko ang sarili ko."

Really now?

Nakagat ko ng mariin ang labi nang marinig ko si Sasa. How can she...

You're shaking badly, Alissa.

Gusto kong sumagot kay Sasa pero umiling ako at hindi nalang ito pinansin. Pilit kong dinala ang mga paa sa pintuan habang tinitiis ang hapdi at pawis na namumuo sa noo ko.

I was about to open the door when I heard his voice.

"Alissa."

Why...why is he calling me by my name?

"Do you know what a patient man can do?" Natigilan ako sa tanong niya at bahagya siyang nilingon. Napansin ko ang pagtagilid nito ng ulo na para bang pinag-aaralan ako. "He knows when to wait."

Napaawang ang bibig ko para sana magsalita pero napatikom rin. Tuluyan akong lumabas sa kanyang kwarto habang pinagiisapang mabuti ang mga sinabi niya. I understand what he said but...why did he say that?

This is so confusing. Even myself is confusing me. I bit my lip harder. Love? Why did I even say that in the first place? What a careless mouth. Napahilamos ako sa mukha at napatigil sa paglakad nang mapansing nasa baba ako ng hagdanan.

Wait... Where am I going?

Natapik ko ang noo. I was about to go to my room not downstairs! Gosh, he really got me there. Napailing-iling ako at pasimpleng tumingin sa paligid. Nakahinga ako ng malalim nang wala akong makitang tao. Maybe everyone is still asleep. I should be too if I didn't allow myself fell asleep beside him. Agad akong napailing nang dahil don. Kahit ang panginginig ko ay naglaho na parang bula. Nahawakan ko ang collar at mas lumalim ang buntong hininga.

I'm aware of my situation in this place. Allowing myself fall from this emotions will get me in big trouble. I should be more careful.

But you always get careless.

Napabuntong hininga ulit ako.

"I know, it's my fault. That's why I will be careful next—" Napatigil ako sa pagsasalita nang may marinig akong malakas na kalampag mula sa direksyon ng dungeon.

Muli akong napatingin sa paligid saka napagtantong sa kabilang bahagi pala ako ng mansyon napapunta. Hindi pa man lumilipas ang ilang segundo nang sabihin kong magiging maingat ako pero...

Napaigtad ako nang marinig ko ulit ang malakas na kalampag.

Minabuti ko ng lumapit nang mapansin kong wala ang tagapagbantay sa pintuan. At bakit ito nakabukas? I was about to close the door when I heard a man's voice inside. It was a commanding and an agrresive tone. I want to shut his mouth for all the trash he's shouting.

"Bullshit! You are all bullshit!" Then a ballistic laughter. "You think caging me here will stop them? Fuck. I'm the one who don't fucking want this!"

I know the rules of the dungeon. Hindi dapat ako nandito pero gusto ko siyang pakalmahin. I know the feeling of being imprisoned and I can tell why he's like this.

"Who the hell are you?!"

Bahagya akong nagulat kaya napatigil ako sa paglapit. He scared me.

"Who the...what the fu—"

"Please, stop." Pagputol ko sa kanya. His cursing is tearing my ears.

"You're a girl." He stated. Napansin ko ang pagsuri niya sakin kaya napatitig ako sa kanya. He has a ragged look, disheveled hair and a peircing brown eyes. Ilang linggo na ba syang nakakulong dito? Nakuha rin ng atensyon ko ang ilang damit na nagkalat at mga pagkaing natapon sa sahig nang muli siyang magsalita.

"And smell different. Who are you?" Iritado nitong tanong.

"I'm sorry. I can't tell." I said quietly then a minute of silence. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag, marunong rin naman pala siyang tumahimik. Not until he speak again. Oh...

"Let me guess." He said smirking. I can even see amusement in his eyes. "Your name is composed from the elements adal, nobility and heid, kindness. A noble one, pure and kind. Am I correct?"

Napakurap ako. That's...

"That's the meaning of your name. Alice, Alisha...Alissa."

Mas lumaki ang pagngisi niya nang makita ang pag-atras ko.

"How..." I uttered and left speechless. Imposible, pero paano? I see. Maybe the rumors about me are true.

"You don't look so surprised, I'm amazed." He studied me again. "It's not hard to guess. Dawn smells like jungle and you smells like sweets, like vanilla. Hmm." He laughed. I dont find any humor in it but I still let him talk. Mukhang marami siyang sasabihin. "Which is normally the smell of the fucking city. Correct? A city located in the North. You're the hidden gem why everyone was gone berserk."

Agad akong natahimik. I can see him being patient, letting me process the whole thing he said. Nang makahuma ay agad rin akong nagsalita.

"Do you know that hidden things are hidden for some reasons?" I said gently. He's right. I'm not surprised nor confused. All I feel is curiosity. To why everyone wants me? Bakit sila umabot sa ganitong sitwasyon para lamang hanapin ako?

"Are you comparing yourself with a fucking thing?"

"I'm not." Tipid akong napangiti saka naglakad palapit sa kanya. He looks like a year older than me. His piercing brown eyes reminds me of a setting sun. Warm and full of wonder. He may look and sound like a jerk but I can see a warm hearted man in him.

"Hidden things must remain hidden or the reason behind will go for nothing."

"You talk like shit." He groaned.

I chuckled. "They should know..." Kumunot ang noo niya nang mapansing nakatitig ako sa kanya. "Moonclaw pack has a reason to change..."

"Change. Huh." He huffed. "You know nothing, lady."

I just smiled at him. "Yes. We know nothing."

They may know my name, but they didn't know all the reasons why I was hidden.

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a/n: Patience is a virtue. Hehe.