Chapter Twenty-three: Feel the wind
- Zeus Achilles -
Zeus shifted in his seat and sighed. Sinulyapan niya ang orasan at nakitang halos fifteen minutes pa silang tatagal sa klaseng ito. The twins who were seating a row down ay kanina pa tulog. Nakasubsob ang ulo ng dalawa sa desk habang si Asher naman na nasa tabi niya ay naka sandal ang ulo sa desk na nasa likod nila at naka pikit, tulog din.
Bukod sa ingay ng pag di-discuss ng teacher nila, may mga naghahagikhikan ring mga babae na bandang itaas and their topic was Asher's new hair color. Hindi naman ito napapansin ni Ash dahil tulog.
He glanced at Seige na malapit lang sa mga nagbubulungang babae, umiling lang ito at mukhang nakikinig rin sa sinasabi ng mga babae kaysa sa discussion ng teacher nila.
Naagaw ni Ezra ang atensyon niya dahil sa biglang pag tayo nito at matalim na tinignan ang mga babae. Enzo lazily lifted his head too dahil sa biglang pag galaw ni Ezra. Siniko naman ni Zeus bigla si Asher para magising ito to watch the scene unfold.
Natigilan ang mga babae, pati ang teacher nila ay natigil sa pag di-discuss. Everyone was looking at Ezra.
Ezra's hard stare was locked to Asher's fangirls.
"Pwede ba kung magbubulungan lang kayo d'yan lumabas na kayo. Ang laki niyong istorbo"
Suminghap at napa iwas ng tingin ang mga babae. Walang sumagot ni isa sa mga ito, kahit sa mga classmate nila ay walang umimik.
Zeus shook his head at ganon rin ang ginawa ni Enzo. Ezra's been in a bad mood all day, nagsimula pa ito kagabi. Kaya nga hindi nila tinatanong kung bakit bad mood ito because they don't want to be the recieving end of it. Sadly, the girls crossed the line.
After one last glare, Ezra sat back down and crossed her arms.
Asher chuckled obviously amused, before clearing his throat and said, "Please continue the discussion, Ma'am"
"Control your fangirls, Ash, kung ayaw mong itali ko sila isa isa" Inis na sabi ni Ezra nang lumabas na sila ng room pagkatapos ng klase.
"Parang sinabi mo ring wag na kong maging gwapo. Ez, mahirap 'yon" Napakamot ng ulo si Asher. "They'll stop talking if I stop being good looking"
Nagpapadyak si Ezra sa inis kay Asher. "Ewan ko ba kung bakit gustong gusto ka ng mga linta na 'yon eh ang pangit mo naman!"
"Wag kang ganyan," malumanay na sagot ni Asher at inakbayan pa si Ezra. "Kapag nilait mo ako, para mo na ring nilait ang lahi natin. Mag pinsan kaya tayo. And blame my Dad for my looks not me, namana ko lang 'to sa kanya," Asher gestured to his whole face, "Biktima lang ako."
"Ewan ko sa inyo," Enzo sighed and walked pass the four of them. Sinamaan naman ng tingin ni Ezra si Asher bago hinila si Seige at sumunod sa kambal.
"Ano bang nakain ng dalawang iyon kagabi at hanggang ngayon bad mood?" Kunot noong tanong ni Asher sa kanya dahil naiwan na naman silang dalawa. Bumaling muli ito sa direksyon ng kambal at mukhang may narealize, "Hoy teka! Wag niyong idamay si Seige sa ka badtripan niyo! Sege dito ka samin ni pareng Zeus para happy ka!" At mabilis nitong hinabol ang tatlo, leaving Zeus alone.
Napailing nalang siya and turned to direction of his locker.
While lazily arranging his books, his vision suddenly turned black dahil sa may kung anong humarang sa kanyang mata. "What the fuck---"
He turns and grabs the wrists of the culprit. At first he thought it was Aiane but then he realized it was his Mother.
"Mama!" Niyakap niya ito sa gulat dahil hindi niya inaasahang makita ito ngayon. His parents always gives him a heads up when they visit the Academy.
The students who were walking in the hall stopped and turned to them, obviously starstruck by Adrianna Sinclaire.
"What are you doing here?" He holds her at arms length and gave her a once over. She was wearing a nude trench coat with black tights and heels, her natural brown hair curled down her mid back. Is it possible that his Mother looks younger as she turns older?
"Anong ginawa mo sa buhok mo?!" As expected, sinabunutan siya nito.
"Mama naman!" Ginulo niya ang kayang buhok sabay ngiti para mapangiti na rin ito kaya ayon nga ang nangyari. "Ano ngang ginagawa mo dito?"
"Your Auntie Gray asked for a favor," naka ngiting sagot nito. "Aasikasuhin ko yung admission ni Aria dito"
"Dito na siya mag aaral? That's great!" Asher and Ezra's going to be happy for sure.
"I finally convinced Gray to let Aria study here nung huli nilang visit. Iisa na nga lang ang anak niya tapos hindi pa niya papag aralin sa alma mater namin."
"Kailan siya magsisimula?"
"Siguro next week pa. Hindi pa naman siya ganon ka late diba? she'll catch up fast. If she has any problems I'm sure you guys will help her, right?"
"Opo, Mama." He gave her a mock salute. "Si Aiane kailan babalik?"
"Your Papa said pwede na siyang bumalik next week. Mino-monitor pa namin ang time intervals ng pag travel niya, meron kasing maikli lang at merong matagal. Baka kasi maka affect sa studies niya iyon. Baka mag travel siya in the middle of class. Your Father is teaching her the basics on how to control it and she's learning fast naman. Anyway, dumayo rin ako dito for lunch. Tara sa dining hall!"
They were walking hand in hand to the Dining Hall. Ezra's eyes lit up when she saw who was with him when they entered. Halos lahat nga ay napa tingin na sa kanila. He was with the other half of Senri Sinclaire, everyone is bound to stare. Halos mabali naman ang mga leeg ng students kapag ang Papa na niya ang andito.
"Mama!" Ezra cried in happiness.
Ezra's mood lifted hanggang sa matapos ang lunch nila. Instead of attending his next class sinamahan niya patungong admission office ang kanyang Mama para maasikaso na nito ang papers ni Aria. Dahil tamad ring magsipasok sa klase, ang ending ay sumama rin si Asher, Ezra, Enzo. Only Seige and Gianna went to class.
While walking in the now empty hallway, Adrianna turned to Ezra. "Ez, your friend seems very interesting"
"She doesn't talk much but she's cool" Kibit balikat ni Ezra.
"Her brother works at the Council, Auntie. Maybe you know him. Ano nga ulit pangalan non, Ez?"
Napaisip si Ezra. "She mentioned it before pero nakalimutan ko na. Basta Van Syckle, Ma"
"Ah si Syre Van Syckle. Kilala ko 'yon! He works for the La Valse family"
"Pureblood," dagdag ni Enzo. "That means he only answers to them and not any other council member or vampire clan"
"They take oaths too right? or is it a blood pact Auntie?" Asher asked.
"You have to make a blood pact with the family you're going to serve because a pact means forever. When the whole clan dies, you die with them"
"Yikes" Asher shuddered. "Siguro kaya ganon nalang ang pag sunod sa'yo ni Seige, Ez kasi nasa dugo nila ang maging servant"
"Now that you've mentioned it, baka nga" Ezra pursed her lips. Hindi nila alam ang rason kung bakit pumayag si Seige sa mga gusto ni Ezra, ni minsan ay hindi ito tumanggi. Maybe she's a loyal servant too like her brother.
"She seems like a nice girl, Ezra. Don't treat her as your servant"
Ezra flinched a little. "Hindi naman po, Mama. She's my friend kaya. She's Zeus' friend too"
"Talaga? You know how to make friends pala anak? Akala ko tuluyan ka nang nag mana sa ama mo"
"Nagtitiis na nga lang kami sa kanya Auntie eh. Kami lang kasi ang may ganang kumausap sa kanya dito" Tawa naman ni Asher kaya sinamaan niya ito ng tingin.
"Shut up!"
"Ariabella Laine Smith Buenavino," Ezra read Aria's full name aloud.
Zeus was casually tapping his fingers while watching his Mother fill up forms with Ezra and Asher peeking behind her. Enzo was quietly seated in the corner watching them too.
"I don't understand why Aria can't stay with us sa Dawn. Flame's there and she's not a vampire," Asher reasoned and leaned closer. Halos harangan na nga ang ulo nito ang papel.
"We have rules, Ash. Aria's human so she gets to stay in Dusk. She'll have our old room. Iyon ang request ni Gray" sagot ni Adri dito at patuloy na nagsulat.
"Aasikasuhin ko lang ito. Dito nalang kayo"
"Baka naman mahirapan si Aria mag adjust dito" Sabi ni Zeus nang maiwan na silang apat.
"We'll help her naman so she'll be okay" Asher assured sabay tapik sa balikat ni Ezra. "Dapat sinama mo dito si Seige, Ez. Iniwan mo namang nagdudusa 'yon sa klase"
Ezra shrugged. "She wants to go to class"
"Puro ka nalang Seige" Enzo pointed out, leaning on the wooden table.
Napa ngisi naman si Zeus and gave Ash a sideway glance.
Asher was smiling sheepishly. "We're friends," sabay baling nito sa kanya. "Pahiram ng linya mo pare"
"Wag mo siyang aagawin sa'kin!" Pinitik naman ni Ezra ang tainga ni Ash.
"Share tayo! Wag kang madamot!"
"I was her friend first!" Ezra exclaimed in frustration.
They were listening to the two bicker hanggang sa bumalik na ang kanyang Mama at nagpapalam na rin na aalis na ito so they escorted her to the parking lot.
"Wala na. Bad mood na ulit ako," he heard Ezra mumbled as the black escalade drove away. "Asher lumayas ka sa harap ko ang pangit mo!"
"Nasa gilid mo kaya ako!"
Maingay na bumuntong hininga si Enzo na naka kuha naman ng atensyon ng dalawa na nag sisimula na namang mag talo.
"What did I do to suffer like this?" Enzo said to himself while staring at the sky before silently walking away.
Napa iling naman si Zeus at sinipa muna ang binti ni Asher bago tumakbo palayo. Narinig naman niya ang malutong na mura nito bago pa siya makalayo.
"We're both girls kaya dapat kami ang magkasama," Ezra hissed. Halos ingudngod na nito ang libro sa mukha ni Asher. Natatawa nalang si Zeus sa patuloy na pag aaway ng dalawa kahit na nasa klase na sila.
Ezra made Seige sit beside her at naisip rin ni Asher na umupo sa tabi nito. Kaya ang ending, Seige is sitting in the middle of the bickering cousins.
The seat on both sides of Zeus was vacant dahil si Asher lang naman ang may lakas ng loob tumabi sa kanya. Enzo chose to sit in Seige's seat at the back and sleep to block out the noise.
"I like her company too! Hindi ba pwedeng happy lang tayo lahat? Wag ka kasing madamot!"
Seige was just silently listening to the two. Wala itong sinasabi kahit na pinag aagawan na siya ng dalawa sa tabi niya.
"Sabi ni Mommy kung ano ang akin, akin lang dapat!"
Asher leaned to Ezra's direction kaya napa urong ng kaunti si Seige. "Sabi ni Daddy share you blessings. In our case, share your friends!"
Sumandal naman si Zeus at humalukipkip. "Sabi naman sa'kin ni Mama kapag walang kwentang bagay dapat hindi na pinag aawayan"
"Gago ka ah! Para sinabi mong walang kwenta si Seige" Mabilis siyang tiningala ni Asher.
"Oo nga!" Ezra nods in agreement.
Bumuntong hininga naman siya. "Hindi naman sa sinasabi kong walang kwenta si Seige. Ang akin lang, dapat hindi niyo siya pinag aagawan dahil hindi naman siya bagay para pag awayan niyo. Hayaan niyo siyang pumili kung sino ang gusto niyang samahan"
Natahimik na ang dalawa dahil sa sinabi niya hanggang sa matapos ang klase. Buti nalang ay tumahimik na ang mga ito dahil hindi makapag discuss ng maayos ang teacher nila dahil sa ingay. Hindi nito magawang sawayin ang dalawa dahil sa kumalat na sa buong Academy ang ginawa ni Ezra kaninang umaga. They don't want her to lash out again.
Enzo yawned next to him when they walked out of the room. Nakita naman nilang naghihintay na si Gianna sa labas.
'Thanks for making them shut up," he yawns again. "Rinig ko yung ingay nila hanggang doon sa dulo"
Zeus chuckled. "Yung totoo kasi pare silang dalawa yung kambal at hindi kayo ni Ez"
"Iyon nga rin ang iniisip ko," kunot noo nitong sagot at inakbayan si Gigi. "Maybe Asher and I got switched at birth or something"
"Hindi yun pwede Kuya kasi mas matanda ka kay Kuya Ash. Malapit na nga birthday mo eh"
"Mas malapit na ang exam kaya kailangan mo mag review," Enzo looks down at Gianna.
"Help me with my homework first"
"Ang sabi sa'kin ng Daddy mo Gigi dapat hindi daw si Enzo ang pinapagawa mo ng homework mo"
"Don't be so epal Kuya Zeus! Wala kayang sinabing ganon si Daddy ko!"
"Hala meron kaya! Itanong mo pa sa kanya"
Ngumiwi si Gianna pero umaliwalas rin muli ang mukha nito nang mapagtantong nagbibiro lang siya.
"You're so epal talaga Kuya! You're like Kuya Asher!" Hinampas siya nito ng bag kaya umiwas siya agad.
"Ha? Anong epal? Sinong epal?"
Nagkatinginan silang tatlo nang dumating si Asher at sabay sabay nilang tinalikuran ito.
"Hoy! Bakit kayo umalis?!"
"Hi Seige" Hindi na niya kailangan pang lingunin kung sino ang sumusunod sa kanya nang palabas na siya ng building.
"I appreciate what you did back there," she nudged his shoulder.
"Ginawa ko iyon kasi ayaw ko ng maingay. Tama rin naman ako diba?"
"Yep," pumikit ito at dinama ang hangin pag labas nila ng building. "Kaya nga andito ako ngayon."
"You chose to hang out with me? Wow. I feel special"
Tumawa ito ng mahina at tumingin sa langit.
He bit his lip and did not say a thing as he tried to decode her thoughts by looking at her eyes.
Seige's beautiful violet eyes showed longing while staring at the orange hue of the sky.
"I miss feeling the wind in my hair," she sadly whispered.
"Why don't you just run?"
"That's different," umiling ito at tinignan siya muli. Bakas ang lungkot sa mata nito.
Habang tumatagal mas lalo nang nagiging transparent si Seige. But he knows she's still holding back, hindi pa nito ipinapakita ang lahat.
He felt a bit bothered dahil unang beses niyang nakitang ganito si Seige.
But then he thought of something.
"You're in luck then," he reached for her wrist and pulled her towards the parking lot.
"Saan tayo pupunta?"
"We're going for a drive" Pinatunog niya ang alarm ng kanyang kotse at nginitian si Seige. Nakita niyang pinipigilan nito ang ngiti nang makitang isang BMW Convertible ang kanyang sasakyan.
He kept his eyes locked on the road and increased the car's speed. His hair flowed with the wind katulad ng kay Seige.
They were driving by the boarder dahil bihira ang dumadaan na sasakyan dito kaya pwede siyang mag over speed.
The roof was open and Seige was laughing dahil sa pag salubong nila sa hangin. He smiled upon seeing a genuine reaction from her.
"Thank you Zeus Sinclaire!" She screamed making him laugh louder.
She then took a deep breath and closed her eyes, holding her hand up to feel the wind with a smile on her lips.