Atahanasia's POV
HALOS masamid ako sa pagtugon niya at napalunok. Ni hindi ako makaimik. I was in the middle of being shocked. I gulped.
Bahagya akong tumagilid at napasapo sa dibdib. Magkaka heart attack ata ako. I averted my gaze to something else.
"A-ah t-tara na" I stuttered. Tanggal ang angas ko doon ah! Napangiwi ako at tumingin sa sneakers na suot ko.
Tumalikod ako nang tuluyan at akmang maglalakad na nang magsalita ito. Ano na naman ba?!
"What happened to your cheeks?" he coldly ask. Bukod sa malamig na ang hamog ay may kasama pa akong yelo. Pasalamat na lang ako at hindi ako naninigas.
Hindi ko rin mapigilang mamangha. Nakita niya ang bandage na pink sa pisngi ko kahit sobrang dilim na sa puwesto namin.
Napahawak ako sa pisngi. He's staring at it with his unreadable eyes. I don't know but he sounds worried. Oh how I love to be delusional.
Lumakad akong muli. Naramdaman ko naman ang pagsabay nya hanggang sa madilim na parte ng kalsada.
"Naano lang d'yan sa tabi-tabi" saad ko at nagmwestra pang tumuro sa kung saan but he didn't seem convinced by what I said.
Maybe my answer is invalid.
I confirmed that when he asked again.
"What really happened, Athanasia?" seryosong turan niya kaya natigilan ako at napangiwi. He looks mad. Inaatake na naman ba siya ng pagiging moody niya?
Itinaas ko ang palad at umaktong sumusuko.
"Okay ... fine. Easy ka lang hon, galit agad" tawa ko at inuntog ang balikat niya only to realize na hindi pala talaga siya natutuwa sa akin.
Ehdi 'wag, doon na siya kay Riri niya!
Natuptop ang bibig ko at napapahiyang tumikhim.
"Muntik na akong mabangga kanina, buti malakas ang kapit ko sa Kanya kaya hindi natuluyan " saad ko at itinuro ang itaas. I am clearly joking. Kahit kailan, basta siya ang kaharap ko, ang hirap magseryoso.
His brow furrowed. Ngumuso ako.
"Nawalan kase ng preno yung ... yung motor ko" saad ko pa. Oo nga pala, problema ko pa ang motor na iyon. Dapat pala inuna kong kumuha ng lisensya.
'Yan unahin mo pa ang page-eavesdrop mo!
Ipinilig ko ang ulo at nagpatuloy.
"Tapos yung mga kasama ko, I just met them kanina. Iniligtas ako ni Crimson, habang si tatay Lemuel ang muntik ko nang makabanggaan" kuwento ko. Nakatingin lang ito na parang hinuhusgahan niya ang mga sinasabi ko. Seryoso?!
Napalunok ako at napakamot sa batok.
"Yun lang ..." saad ko at naunang humakbang. Sumunod naman itong muli.
"Ay oo nga pala! Pagkatapos noon, inilibre kami ni tatay Lemuel habang ginagamot ako ni Crimson" saad ko at napa-ismid nang maalala ang bigla niyang pagsulpot.
Oo nga pala. Ano kayang nangyari sa kanilang dalawa ni Riri? Wala naman na ako doon dahil ... dahil ... ayaw ko nang mag-stay. I felt strange. Ngayon ko lang 'yon naramdaman.
"What?" natigil ako sa paghakbang nang tumigil siya. He's dark aura appeared again as if I have stated something bad ... really bad.
"H-huh?" lutang kong saad nang humarap ako sa kanya.
"What did you say earlier?" he asked. My brow furrowed.
"Ang alin?" tanong ko pa.
"The line that you've mentioned earlier" mukha siyang nauubusan ng pasensya sa tono niya kaya nagdugsong ang makakapal niyang kilay. Ngumiwi ako. Napakaano talaga!
"Yung nilibre kami ni tatay Lemuel?"
Tanong ko ...
"After that, Athanasia"
Ah alam ko na!
"Ah! Ginamot ako ni Crimson!" natutuwa kong sabi dahil sa kalutangan. Yun lang pala, akala ko kung ano na. Masyado kasi siyang seryoso.
I laughed pero natigilan ako sa reaksyon niya. His jaw tightened and his eyes became pierce while it's fix on me. I gulped. W-what is wrong with him?
"Y-you okay?" I asked but he just glared badly back at me. As if I have did something wrong. As if I have committed sin.
"Why didn't you call me?" he asked seriously.
My brow furrowed even more.
'Ah talaga e busy ka nga kay Riri e' I want to say that out loud but of course, I didn't. Isa pa hindi ko naman tinapos ang pakikinig sa kanila. Nakakainis kase.
Wait, what?!
This is not you, Athanasia!
"B-baka kase busy ka. Hayaan mo na, let's just go home" I said. He raised his brows at me then he looked away making me confuse. I bit my lips.
When I met his eyes again, it softened. He look worried,
"I have plenty of time, Athanasia" I stiff. Hindi ako makapaniwala sa sinabi nya. I can feel this weird feeling from my stomach. It's ticklish!
I'm doomed!
"Really? You have a business to manage Sirius, it's okay" I said. I know that he's being force to act in front of me. I know that he's annoyed by my act and I didn't stop. I had fun teasing him but his action made me suprise.
I gulped when he looked at my eyes. I step backward leaving spaces between us due to some weird feelings.
"I can always make time, Athanasia, you just have to call me, but –tssk nevermind. Let's go."
He left me shocked by his words. I can't move. He's mad, I know. I don't know why but I feel strange. He's not that Sirius in my vision. He's clearly different. What happened?!
It's my first time seeing him like this. Yes, he's always serious and intimidating but he never showed this side of him. The grumpy and super duper mad side of him. This is new, I wonder ... am I safe now?
Ligtas na nga ba ako sa kanilang lahat?
"Athanasia," napalingon ako sa kanya. He called me. He's now standing slightly away from me. He's now calm but his voice is still cold. Bipolar.
"Y-yes?" I asked.
He sighed.
"Let's go"
I thought that was it. I thought it's the most unexpected thing that he did but I was wrong.
When he noticed that I didn't move a little, he grabbed my hand and pull me closer to him. For me to match his pace.
My heart is founding like crazy. Now, I'm sure. I'm really, really, really and super duper doomed.
And it is a big question mark!
"S-Sirius" I muttered as we continue walking at a normal speed. It was a cold night but he's big and warm hand makes me feel warm too.
"Hmm?"
"N-nothing," I really don't know why I uttered his name and I didn't let it slide. Kailangan kong magsalita. I am determined to teased him. Ayokong tuluyang mailang. It's awkward!
"Ang cute mo pala magalit, isa pa nga hon!" I smirked at him to tease him again. If he is really annoyed by my actions, he needs to endured it more for now.
I'm planning to cancel this engagement. He's not happy with it, it might harm my existence.
Baka imbis na maligtas ay mas lalong umikli ang buhay ko. Lalo pa at may alas din ang pamilya ng babaeng iyon.
Kaunting tiis na lang sa kakulitan ko Sirius. Just a little bit!
Natigil ako sa paglakad nang mapansing paunti nang paunti ang street lights na lumiliwanag sa nilalakaran namin.
"T-takot ka ba sa dilim Sirius?" I asked. Not that I'm really scared of darkness. It's just that ... I ... I remember my past. The same darkness that I've encountered while I'm on my room being locked because of my deeds that I really did not do. Alone in that room with no food for a day really hunts me. That experience will never leave my mind whenever na nasa madilim ako at walang ibang tao.
He did not respond again. Para akong biglang kinabahan at bumilis na naman ang tibok ng aking dibdib. Ano na, Harriette?!
"P-pakapit huh" saad ko at humawak sa braso niya bago dahan-dahang sumabay sa paglakad nito.
"Hmm" he answered. Napangiwi ako. Halos panawan na ako ng lakas tapos 'hmm' pa rin ang sagot niya!
Nagpatuloy kami sa paglakad. Unti-unting pinagpawisan ang noo ko dahil sa mga naiisip na puwedeng mangyari kapag walang ilaw o liwanag.
Meowww!!
"Wah Sirius!" napatalon ako sa gulat at napakapit nang mahigpit kay Sirius nang may tumawid na pusa sa aking harapan. Halos mamutla ako sa gulat!
Ano ba't pati pusa ay pinagt-tripan ako?!
Pero natigilan ako nang marinig ang mahinang tawa ni Sirius. Napaawang ang labi ko at gulat na gulat na napaangat ang tingin sa kanya. H-He just chuckled!
"Y-you chuckled?" namamangha kong turan.
"Wah, I'm gonna die!" tili ko na may pagka-exaggerate nang kauntian lamang.
"My Sirius just laughed! I'm so proud" I said with my teary eyes. Proud paper fiancee here!
He glared at me seriously again kaya ngumuso ako.
"Ang satisfying ng tawa mo, isa pa" kulit ko. I really love teasing this man. Help!
"No," My smile vanished.
"But why?" I groaned. Napaka kj!
"You said you'll die,"
"YOU'RE home ate, where have you been?" As soon as I entered our mansion, Althea is already there. Leaning against the door.
Her face is not on its usual aura. Her lips is partly opened and she is gulping hard. She's worried.
"D'yan lang sa tabi-tabi" I answered. Sirius already left after escorting me.
Althea bit her lips as she uttered.
"Ate, m-may nalaman ako" she said almost whispering. Na para bang natatakot siyang may makarinig sa sasabihin niya. My curiosity went up.
Lalo na nang ipakita nito ang isang susi.
"Susi ito sa isang abandoned room sa academy ate, nakuha ko iyan sa kuwarto ni ate Helena nang imbitahan niya ako at ipinakilala sa mga kaibigan niya."
Kinuha ko ang susi sa kamay niya at pinakatitigan iyon. She's right.
May nakatatak doong logo. Kaparehas ng nasa eskwelahan. Ngunit paanong napunta kay Helena ang susing 'yan?
"You're the new academy president, it is your right to handle this key. Hindi ko alam kung para saan 'yan but I feel something is strange. Nagtataka rin ako kung bakit na sa kanya ang isa sa susi ng mga rooms sa academy" she whispered. Iniharang pa niya ang palad sa gilid ng bibig habang malapit sa akin.
"Sa tingin ko ay may dapat kang malaman" she added.
"Bakit parang hagas na hagas ka?" I asked. Napalunok siya at napalayo sa akin bago namumutlang napaupo sa sahig.
"I think kuya Clyde knew about it" nanghihina niyang sabi.
My brow furrowed.
"I think he saw me, I just ran. I'm scared ate" saad niya. Her eyes became teary as she gulped again.
"They are hiding something ate"