AVA let out a sighed while looking at the dagger sword on her hand. Alden gave his dagger sword to her.
"Ate, I'm quitting."
Kumunot ang nuo ni Ava. "Quitting?"
Tumango si Alden. "Ate, I'm still young. I want to pursue my happiness. I don't want to be a hunter anymore. You said that if I wanted to be with Elijah, I must quit being a hunter. Ate, this is my decision. I'm sorry but I realized that vengeance will pay a huge price if we continue it. Draco's fault is not all hunter's fault, they're innocent."
Natigilan at sandaling napatitig kay Alden. Alden's word hit her. Alden's right. Though they are hunters but they are innocent of Draco's fault.
Ava sighed. "What's your plan then?"
Kinuha ni Alden ang sariling dagger sword at ibinigay sa kapatid.
"Your dagger sword..."
"Ate, I want to live a normal life. A normal student. A kind of student who wanted to graduate. Have a job in the future and do what a normal human does." Tugon ni Alden. Kapagkuwan niyakap niya ang kapatid. "Ate, let's stop."
Tinapik ni Ava ang likod ng kapatid. "Stop? As long as I wield my dagger sword and as long as hunters will hurt werewolves, I won't stop."
Kumalas si Alden sa pagkakayakap sa kapatid. "You mean, Ate..."
Tumango si Ava saka ngumiti. "I won't kill hunter if they won't hurt werewolves. I will kill them if they hurt werewolves."
Nanunudyong ngumiti si Alden. "Ate, you really care for Alpha Keanu, huh."
Umangat ang kamay ni Ava at pipingutin niya sana ang tainga ng kapatid pero bago pa man niya mahawakan ang tainga nito nakalayo na ito sa kaniya.
"Ate, masakit 'yan."
Ava rolled her eyes. Tinignan niya ang dagger sword ni Alden na nasa kamay niya. Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga at tinignan ang kapatid. "Be happy."
Ngumiti si Alden. "I hope you can be happy of your choice, Ate."
Nagkibit ng balikat si Ava saka hinawakan ang braso ni Alden. "Nasa labas na ang sundo mo." Aniya nang marinig niya ang ugong ng sasakyan na tumigil sa tapat ng kanilang bahay.
Mas mabilis pa sa alas kwatro na tumingin si Alden sa bintana.
Natawa na lang si Ava saka napailing. "Sige na. Pumunta ka na."
"Bye, ate!" Alden picked up his bag on the sofa. Mabilis itong lumabas na ikinailing na lang ulit ni Ava.
"Ate, malelate ako ng uwi mamayang hapon. Baka gabi na ako." Biglang balik ni Alden.
"Okay."
Alden smiled. "May pupuntahan kami ni Elijah."
Ava thumbs up.
"Thanks, ate." And Alden left.
Now, Alden quit being a hunter. Umupo siya sa sofa at sumandal sa likuran nito. Ava closed her eyes and blows a loud breath. Pero napamulat siya ng mata nang marinig ang pagtunog ng doorbell. Gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi niya nang maramdaman ang presensiya ni Keanu.
Last night, she texted him that they will have a date but they won't go out. Wala siya sa mood lumabas ngayon.
Itinago muna ni Ava ang dagger sword bago niya tinungo ang pinto saka ito binuksan. She came to face to face Keanu.
Keanu smiled. "Good morning."
Ava crossed her arms over her arms. "Ang aga mo, ah. Kakaalis lang ni Alden."
"Nakita ko nga." Sabi ni Keanu saka itinaas ang mga dala. "I brought snacks. You told me that you're not in the mood to go out."
Tumango si Ava. "Come on in." Niluwagan niya ang pagkakabukas ng pinto.
Pumasok naman si Keanu saka idineretso ang mga dala sa center table. Inilapag niya ang mga ito doon. Isinara naman ni Ava ang pinto.
"Ang dami mo namang binili." Sabi ni Ava habang tinitignan ang mga binili ni Keanu. There are chips, softdrinks in can, pastries and many more.
Keanu shrugged. "Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gusto mo. So, kumuha na lang ako."
Napatango si Ava saka umupo sa sofa. "We have all day. Well, except if you have an emergency. You're an Alpha after all."
Umiling si Keanu. "I asked Oliver and Sophia to take care of the pack affairs for me."
Ava looked at the clock. "It's already eight o'clock." Ngumiti siya. "So, do you have anything in mind? Any fun to do? Ahmm..." tumikhim si Ava. "No inappropriate thoughts."
Ngumiti si Keanu. "I know but thank you for reminding me."
Nawalan ng emosyon ang mukha ni Ava at tumingin kay Keanu. "So, you really have inappropriate thoughts in your mind right now?"
Keanu just smiled and sat on the sofa.
Napailing si Ava saka umupo sa sofa. Kumuha siya ng isang chips at binuksan. Tumingin siya kay Keanu at medyo nailang siya nang makitang nakatingin ito sa kaniya. "What?"
Ngumiti si Keanu. "Nothing. You're beautiful. I can't help myself but to look at you."
Tumikhim si Ava. "I just came up with an idea how to pass this day without getting bored."
Napaayos naman ng upo so Keanu. "Really, what is it?" Naging interesado siya sa naisip ni Ava.
"Since we are..." tumikhim si Ava, "...mates. Don't smile." Sabi ni Ava nang makita niyang ngumiti si Keanu.
Keanu controlled his smile but he really can't help himself.
"We could play twenty questions. We could ask each other randomly whatever we wanted know. Well, just considered this as getting to know each other."
Pinagsiklop ni Keanu ang dalawang kamay saka ipinatong ang siko sa magkabilang tuhod. "Okay. I like it. I guess we can do it for the half-day and another in the afternoon."
"Mamaya mo na iisipin ang gagawin natin mamayang hapon." Ava rolled her eyes. "Then let's start." Aniya at kumain ng chips.
"Ladies first." Kumuha rin si Keanu ng isang pack ng chip at binuksan.
"Okay." Nag-isip si Ava kung ano ang itatanong niya kay Keanu. Tumingin siya sa kisame at ibinalik niya ang tingin kay Keanu nang may maisip siyang itanong rito. "Do you believe that what you want, you can get it easily?"
"Oh." Hindi inaasahan ni Keanu na ganun ang tanong sa kaniya ni Ava. Umiling siya. "No. I don't believe."
"Why?"
"Ava, I didn't get you easily, right?" Keanu said that made Ava silent on her sit. Keanu smiled and asked Ava his question. "If you could gain one quality or ability, what would it be?"
"Ability or quality?" Mahinang natawa si Ava. "If I could gain, I wanted to gain strength so that I could save the important person in my life." Aniya habang nakatitig kay Keanu.
Important person? Well, I hope that it's me. Keanu thought. Ang hindi niya alam siya naman talaga ang tinutukoy ni Ava.
"Okay. Second question." Ani Ava. "Is there somethingthat you've dreamt of doing for a long time?" Tumango si Keanu. "You." "Ah? Me?" itinuro ni Ava ang mismong sarili. Tumango si Keanu. "Yes. Ever since I reached thelegal age, I've been dreaming of meeting my mate, which is you. So, I was gladthat I met you. They say that unfulfilled dreams are scary, but regrets areeven scarier. I agree. Without meeting you is scary but I will regret if Ididn't find you." Tipid na ngumiti si Ava. "My turn." Kumuha si Keanu ng coke in can atbinuksan. Uminom muna siya bago nagtanong. "Are there any unfulfilled things inyour life?" Sandaling natigilan si Ava sa tanong ni Keanu. Unfulfilledthings? I have only one though. That is to avenge my parent's death but I don'tknow if I can fulfill it. Umiling si Ava. "Maybe I have but I don't want tosay something about it. Neither talk about it." Nakakaintinding tumango si Keanu. "What do you wish you were really good at?" tanong niAva at nagsubo ng chips. Ngumiti si Keanu. Saka hindi sinasadyang napatinginsiya sa kanang balikat ni Ava. Tumikhim siya saka sinagot ang tanong ng dalaga."I wish I was really good at being cool and handsome." Sa sinagot ni Keanu, napaubo si Ava saka mabilis nakumuha ng coke in can at binuksan. Uminom siya. Natawa naman si Keanu. "Bakit?" Umiling si Ava. "Nothing." Natawa na rin siya. Nagpatuloy ang tanungan ng dalawa at umabot nga itong hanggang kalahating araw. Marami silang mga bagay na nalaman tungkol saisa't-isa. Keanu was telling everything to Ava. He was honest but Ava, she'snot honest especially that part when Keanu asked her if she there is anyspecial thing about her that other people shouldn't know. Natigilan siya nangtanungin siya ni Keanu ng ganun at napaisip na baka may alam si Keanu tungkolsa pagiging hunter niya pero imposible naman na malaman nito. Hindi rin niyasinasagot ang mga personal na tanong tungkol sa naging buhay niya at angtungkol sa kaniyang magulang. Dahil sa ginawa nilang laro, marami silang nalamangtungkol sa isa't-isa. Routines, favorites things and foods, and many more. Whenlunch came, Ava cooked and Keanu helped her. Ava was surprised when Keanu washed the dishes and heknew how to wash dishes. Ava was impressed. In at afternoon, they both did origami, drawing andeven making anything at random. Basta may magawa lang sila. At tinawanan nalang nila ang isa't-isa nang makita nilang pareho silang hindi marunong. Napailing si Ava. I think this date isn't bad.Marami akong nalaman tungkol sa kaniya. She thought while looking at Keanu.Keanu was now holding the remote. His attention is not at the tv. He's lookingfor a good show to watch. Ava smiled. For the first time in her life, she couldtell that she's really happy. Yes, I'm happy with him.