Laurent stared at me as I climbed up the ring. He smiled teasingly as he stood up on the other corner of the ring, poised and perfectly fit for the suit that revealed his physique.
Nailang ako. I was wearing tight suit that reveals my curves. Unang beses kong magsuot ng hapit na hapit na spandex combat suit. I am not comfortable with it.
But Laurent seemed to be so sexy and confident with the suit. He was wearing his sexy smile as I glanced at him.
Napalunok pa ako nang pagmasdan ko ang toned arms nito at and well chiseled chest nito. I can see on that strong contrast suit a fleck of revealing abs. Sa tangkad nito, at sa mga binti nitong halatang sanay sa bakbakan, hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko para makasuntok o makasabunot man lang sa kanya.
Laurent's naughty side came out. Hindi ko alam kung may masama itong balak at dinidistract ako ng ganoon. His gaze was different in a way that I felt vulnerable. Napaghalataan ang pamumula ng pisngi ko.
Napayuko ako. I held my fist tight. Bahala na. Saka ko ibinalik ang tingin ko sa lalaking kanina pa nanunukso ng tingin. Akala ko'y tatapunan uli ako nito ng nakakalokong ngisi pero hindi 'yon ang sumalubong saakin.
Bumalik ang seryosong tingin ng lalaki. His dark raven gaze mortified me before I could plan an attack.
"READY. FIGHT!" Sigaw ni Alpha.
I was not expecting Laurent to be too aggresive. Napakabilis ang ginawa nitong pagtakbo palapit sa kinaroroonan ko. Nagpakawala ito ng isang right forward jab na tsamba kong nasangga.
Napaatras ako sa lakas ng impact no'n sa dalawa kong palad. I felt myself shaking.
Naramdaman din siguro ni Laurent ang panginginig ko. Nagsalita ito habang sapo ko parin ang kamao niya. "I won't be gentle Lara... Hit me with all your strength." His breath smelled minty. I almost gasped for it.
I grappled his right arm and tried to release a sideward kick using my knee gaya ng tinuro kahapon.
Nasalo niya ang kanang binti ko. Hinila niya ito at napalapit ang katawan ko sa kanya. Then as he released my right leg, his left arm wrapped my waist. Naramdaman ko ang higpit nito. His body is as firm as his arms.
I smelled his masculine sweat. A drop of his sweat fell down on my left cheek. Tinulak ko siya ng malakas gamit ang dalawa kong kamay but I can't fight his tight arm around my waist. I can feel his intense breathing on my neck. It felt different... nakukuryente ako kaya sinubukan kong magpumiglas pero mahigpit ako nitong hawak.
Wala akong maisip na ibang paraan. Tinaas ko ang mga kamay ko. I reached for his ears saka ko 'yon hinila pababa hanggang sa mapasigaw siya at mapamura sa sakit. Nakawala ako sa pagkakapulupot ng braso niya at mabilis ko siyang sinipa sa balikat.
Umilag si Laurent. Marahil ay hindi niya inasahan ang paghila ko sa tainga niya. Napuruhan yata ito kaya hanggang sa nakalayo ako sa kanya ay sapo parin nito ang magkabilang tainga.
Lagot. Anong susunod kong gagawin kapag umatake uli siya? Hindi ako pwedeng tumakbo ng tumakbo na lang.
My fists were infront of my chest. Preparing for his strike.
Ilang segundo pa, nang bitiwan nito ang magkabilang tainga ay matulin itong tumakbo palapit saakin.
He threw a power puch using his right arm and then his left. I blocked him sideways. I swung to my left side and pushed his knuckes away. We began circling each other again.
I watched his every step. His moves were unanticipated, fast and furious. His wrists were powerful, and he has incomparable agility. Alam ko na sa bawat suntok niya ay may kaakibat na kontrol pero nasasaktan parin ang mga palad at braso ko tuwing sasanggain ko ito.
He attacked again, stepping forward and flicking his wrist out. I blocked his jab, but he was quick. Without giving me time to recover, he swirled around and grabbed my neck with his left arm and his right arm locked mine behind me.
Napasigaw ako sa sakit. He's too strong for me. When are they gonna stop us? Sigaw ng utak ko habang namimilipit sa sakit.
"They won't tell us to stop unless you hit me solid. Come on Lara. Don't be a weakling. You can do better than this." He almost kissed my left ear.
He pulled back, giving me freedom and saving me from choking.
Immediately I ran towards him and threw a rounhouse kick. I anticipated he would dodge so I quickly moved my body down to the floor and slashed my right foot to hit his leg.
He jumped quickly. Hindi ko siya kayang sabayan.
Ilang saglit pa, nagpakawala uli ito ng isang suntok mula sa kaliwa. As his fist descended, the world started running in bullet time. I saw the point of his powerful knuckles speeding towards my gut. Almost automatically, my legs lifted up and my back bent double. Nakailag ako. His strike rushed right past my nose, followed by the rest of his body, as he stumbled forward in surprise. I smiled and swung at his exposed back, fully expecting a full strike.
Hindi naging ganoon kadali iyon. As I swung downwards, he stopped his fall with his free hand and used it to twist around, so he was flat on her back. Sinalubong nito ang pinakawalan kong suntok. Napakalakas ng kamay niya at walang nagawa ang suntok ko. Masyado akong mahina para salubungin ang palad niya. I was pushed off-balance. I stumbled backward and felt my back touched the ground.
He was caught off balance as well kaya nahulog din ito at bumagsak paibabaw saakin. I felt his weight crushed my bones. His arms locking my arms and keeping them tight to my ribcage. His chest to mine. His legs against mine. His lips almost touching my face. That was the closest physical contact we have had. It was unexpected.
"Get off of me." Paiwas kong sabi habang hirap na hirap ako sa paggalaw dahil sa pagkakadagan nito saakin. I felt every cuts of his warm body.
"Again, hindi nila ititigil 'to hangga't di nila nakikita ang improvement mo. Gusto mo ng round two?" His velvet voice on my earlobes.
I felt a strange sensation. "Get off Laurent. I'm not kidding!" I warned and almost hissed while struggling to get freed.
"Ano bang gusto mong gawin ko para magalit ka at mailabas mo 'yang natutulog mong physical strenght? Your powerful keep comes with a powerful physical strength Lara. So ilabas na natin yan. What do you want? You want a kiss?"
Nagulat ako sa sinabi nito. May sapi yata ang lalaki. What? A kiss? Kumulo ang dugo ko. Hindi ako papayag na mahalikan sa ganoong sitwasyon. "I said get off!"
Parang wala itong narinig at nanatiling nasa ibabaw ko. Nang titigan ko siya'y nagkasalubong ang mga mata namin. His gaze was telling something I didn't want to happen. I saw his red lips moved closer. I even smelled a scent of mint from it. Napapikit ako at tila wala nang pag-asang makawala mula sa kanya. Pilit ko pang iniwas ang mukha ko nang sa gayon ay ang pisngi ko na lang ang mahalikan niya but his arms locked my head.
Ilang minuto pa habang naramdaman ko ang mainit nitong hiningang dumadapi sa aking bibig, naramdaman ko ang mainit nitong labi sa dulo ng aking ilong. Then, I felt his weight voluntarily pulled up. Napamulat ako at biglang natulala. I just stared at the bright lights coming from the ceiling as I heard his footsteps going down the stage.
"She's too weak for this. It's a mismatch." Narinig kong sabi nito na marahil ay kausap sina Alpha at Omega.
Napaupo ako at sinandal ang mukha ko sa aking nanginginig na tuhod. Nakatalikod ako sa direksyon niya. Ilang saglit pa ay narinig kong bumukas at sumara ang bakal na pintuan ng combat room.
That was the first time na naging ganoon kaaggresibo si Laurent. Hindi ko alam kung anong unang magiging reaksyon ko dahil sa nangyari. It was a revelation, on my part I found the answer. Ang bagay na gumugulo saakin at ang nararamdaman ko tuwing nakikita ko siya. I never thought we needed to be that close before I could finally say that I am attracted to him. I'm attracted to Laurent Hale. Bulong ng isip ko.
"Gosh! On the nose? On the nose? Ang mga lalaki talaga! Paasa!" Bulalas ni Amber nang makalabas kami ng combat room. Hindi ito maka-get over sa nangyari. Para daw siyang nanonood ng isang romantic scene.
"I scored the lowest combat. Masyado siyang malakas." Wala sa sarili kong nasabi habang patuloy sa pagsasalita si Amber.
"Seriously? 'Yon ang iniintindi mo? Gosh Lara, Laurent kissed you on the nose!"
"What's the big deal?" Nakakunot noo kong tanong sa kaibigan.
Amber's face sparkled. Parang may interesting itong sasabihin kaya hinila ako nito sa isang bench sa may garden. "The Nose Kiss means that you're the object of committed affection. A kiss on the nose is extremely sweet and can be a key trigger in sparking instant romance or fanning the flames of love. HE LIKES YOU! OKAY? HE-LIKES-YOU!"
"Malay mo wala na lang siyang choice. Saka wala namang alam si Laurent sa rules of kissing na yan." Angil ko trying to avoid the issue. But deep inside, hundred hyperactive butterflies are dancing in my stomach.
Pero gaya ng dati hindi nagpapigil si Amber sa mga nalalaman nito. Marami itong alam tungkol sa bagay na 'yon which she claims she had not experienced but read with feelings. "That's the sign of affection Lara. Hindi 'yon kailangang pag-aralan bago gawin but it is an innate gesture of affection na boluntaryong nagagawa ng taong nagkakagusto. Halimbawa the Forehead Kiss is a sweet and innocent starter kiss for the painfully shy, or it can be the kiss that means you're "just friends". Mabuti hindi pa 'yon nagagawa ni Silex kundi kukutusan ko siya. The Cheek Kiss is a friendly kiss or an 'I really like you kiss.' The Hand Kiss conveys kindness, respect and adoration. See?"
"So swerte ako dahil sa ilong ako hinalikan gano'n?"
"Yes! If you like him too. Ang tanong, do you like him?" Gigil pa si Amber nang bitawan nito ang tanong. "Atin atin lang. I promise."
"Ah, okay." Napahinga pa ako ng malalim bago sumagot. Amber is my bestfriend and she should know. "Uhmmm. Yes. I am attracted to Laurent." Nahihiya pa akong umamin.
Hindi nakaimik si Amber. "OH MY GOSH LARA, SABI K-"
"Lara..." naputol ang sasabihin ni Amber nang biglang narinig namin ang boses ni Alvis.
"Sabi ko na nga ba dadating si Alvis! HEHEHE." Pilit ang pagtawa ni Amber na parang isang batang nahuling nangungupit ng pera sa magulang.
Nilingon ko si Alvis. His face was blank. Tila walang buhay at halatang nanghihina pa. Hawak nito si ruru na halatang excited nang makita ako.
"Ruuu!"
"Did he hear it?" Pasikreto kong tanong kay Amber.
"I t-think so... uhmm Alvis, nakalabas ka na pala ng healing house! Join us here." Amber asked politely habang nakangiting aso parin.
Lumapit naman si Alvis na may benda pa sa ulo. Naupo ito sa gitna namin ni Amber. Then Alvis glanced at me as if checking if I was looking at him. Tapos inabot niya si ruru. Ruru flapped it's baby wings at sumiksik ito sa tiyan ko.
"He might have missed you kaya dinala ko na siya dito." Panimula ni Alvis na nanumbalik ang ngiti sa maamo nitong mukha. "Nabagot na rin ako sa loob kaya lumabas na ako pero babalik na ako maya-maya. I just want to see you."
Tumikhim si Amber. Halatang ayaw nitong dumidikit si Alvis sa akin kahit noon pa.
"I mean, I want to see you guys," bawi ni Alvis nang makahalata kay Amber.
Pinanlakihan pa ako ni Amber ng mata mula sa likuran ni Alvis. She was warning me of something I was not aware.
Napatayo si Amber bago nagsalita. "Guys, I think I have to go see Phobus. May meeting kami together with my bestfriend, Mistress Fhaun."
Tumango lang si Alvis.
"Lara, ikaw na ang bahala kay Alvis okay?" It was a warning coming from Amber. Hindi ko alam kung anong problema nito kay Alvis.
"So how's the tenth gift?" Pangangamusta ko kay Alvis nang makapagpaalam na si Amber.
I saw his smile faded. Sumeryoso ang mukha nito na tila isang seryosong usapan ang tenth gift. Nakita ko ring tumiim ang bagang nito at napalunok na tila nakakatakot pag-usapan ang tenth gift. "I don't know yet." 'Yon lang ang naging sagot nito bago yumuko at kumunot ang mukha dahil siguro sumasakit na naman ang sugat nito.
"You okay?" Tanong ko sabay tapik sa likod nito.
"I think I should get back to the healing house." Sagot ng lalaki na sapo ang ulo. "Ahhhhh!" Napasigaw ito dahil sa sakit.
"Alvis. Oh gosh. Halika, aalalayan na kita pabalik doon." Sabi ko sabay hawak sa braso ng lalaki at iniakbay sa likod ko. Inalalayan kong maglakad si Alvis na halos pasuray-suray na. Lagot, wala akong mahingan ng tulong. Nasaan ang mga estudyante?
Dahil may katangkaran ang lalaki ay medyo mabigat ito at kailangan ng malakas na pwersa sa pag-alalay. Nakailang hakbang pa kami nang muntik na itong matumba at napasandal ang ulo nito sa pagitan ng leeg at balikat ko. "Konti na lang Alvis. May mga estudyante sa banda roon. Bilis." Sabi ko nang maaninag ko ang kumpol ng mga apprentice ng Columbae sa ilalim ng puno malapit saamin.
Muntik nang matumba si Alvis dahil tuluyan na itong nanghina. Wala akong nagawa kung dalhin ang bigat niya at halos nakayakap na ito saakin. I tried to move pero sadyang may kabigatan ang lalaki.
Nasa ganoon kaming posisyon nang makasalubong ako ang seryosong si Laurent. His eyes, questioning and warning at the same time.
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