Fangs of a Half-Blood

04 | Eyes of the Beast

Humans are said innately pleasure-seekers. The joy or 'pleasure' can be triggered by tasting foods or anything that provide this reaction. And ever since I was young, I am sure that foods can provide me joy. Kahit na ano'ng klaseng pagkain, at least meron, ayos na sa akin 'yon.

And I am pretty sure, I am now smiling absentmindedly while chewing the last hotdog I brought. When I finally done eating, ininom ko ang fresh pineapple juice ni Hecate na binigay sa akin kanina. Nauna na silang dalawa ni Lupus matapos kumain kaysa sa akin.

"You seem enjoying foods, Kai." Napatingin ako kay Hecate nang marinig ko siyang magsalita. "I was looking at you smiling while chewing the last hotdog you brought," she added.

"Yeah," matipid kong sagot.

Iniligpit ko ang aking dala-dalang steel lunch box at ipinasok ito sa bag ko. Nang maisarado ko ang zipper ay siyang napatingin kami pareho ni Hecate nang biglang tumayo si Lupus sa kaniyang kinauupuan. We both look at him puzzled.

"Punta lang ako ng toilet, naiihi na ako." Natatawa niyang paalam sa amin. He even covered the thing between his legs at the surface of the slacks he was wearing using his both hands. "Gotta go, bye!" Huli niyang sabi bago natatarantang tumakbo papuntang toilet dito sa cafeteria.

Hecate even laughed at him. Habang ako naman ay napapailing dahil sa inasta ni Lupus. Nang mawala na sa paningin ko si Lupus ay namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan naming dalawa ni Hecate.

Kinuha ko na lamang ang aking cell phone sa bulsa. At nanonood na lamang ng mga videos sa social media para aliwin ang sarili ko. To my surprise, ganoon na rin ang ginawa ni Hecate. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Rory stood from where he was sitting seconds after Lupus excused himself to go to the toilet.

Hindi ako nagpahalatang napansin ko siya. Perhaps, ayoko na namang makasalubong ang pamilyar na titig niya. I don't know. I am just avoiding myself to once again experience the weird feeling I am getting from his gaze.

My attention drifted to soda can when it fell upon the ground. Ito 'yong soda na in-order ni Lupus para sa kaniyang sarili. I bend my body over to reach for the can. Nang madampot ko ito ay ibinalik ko ito sa lamesa.

"Oy, ganda ng necklace mo, ah." Napatingin ako sa suot-suot kong necklace nang marinig ko ang sinabi ni Hecate. "Bakit hindi mo pinapakita 'yan? Looks expensive," she added.

I bit my lower lip when I heard her asking why I didn't show my necklace. "It's personal. I don't want people seeing this one," I coldly answered.

Tinatago ko lang ang kwentas na 'to sa ilalim ng suot-suot kong damit. I gritted my teeth when I remembered my late parents again. Binigay nila ito sa akin noong sixteenth birthday ko. It was a necklace with two of the seven phases of the moon as a pendant. Full moon in the middle and two waxing crescent moons in both sides.

Mukhang napansin naman ni Hecate ang timbre ng boses ko kaya hindi ko na narinig pa siyang magsalita. Me, on the other hand, chose to stay silent. Ibinaling ko muli sa screen ng cellphone ko ang aking buong atensyon.

Seconds later, I excused myself. Naiihi na rin kasi ako. Marahil ay dahil ito sa ininom kong fresh pineapple juice. I turn my cellphone off and put it right directly at my left pocket. Pagkatapos ay naglakad na ako papunta sa toilet.

And while walking, kumunot ang aking noo sa pagtataka nang mapagtanto kong medyo matagal nakabalik si Lupus galing sa toilet. Maging si Rory din. Iniling ko na lamang ang aking ulo dahil sa naisip.

I was about to turn the doorknob to open the door when I heard two people arguing. My eyes grew wider when I recognized those voices. Galing ito kina Lupus at Rory.