Kabanata 4
Tracy
Para akong biglang natauhan nang marinig ang sinabi ng lalake. My eyes blinked a couple times while I'm trying to process what he just said.
"I—I'm sorry, what?" I asked, trying my best not to raise a brow because of his playful gaze.
His brow cocked as he pursed his lips together as if he's trying his best not to smile... Or smirk. Mayamaya'y tumikhim siya at hinagod ang palad sa buhok. His dark brown wavy hair looks messy, making him look more attractive.
Dangerously drop-dead gorgeous perhaps...
She hates her eyes right now. Hindi niya mapigilan ang patuloy na pagtapon ng tingin sa lalake sa kabila ng danger signs na winawagayway ng rasyonal na bahagi ng kanyang isip.
"So what brought you here, luv?" he asked as he folded his toned arms in front of his chiseled chest.
Napunta tuloy sandali sa dibdib niya ang aking tingin kahit na hindi naman ako dapat maging interesado roon. Goodness! What's with this man that I am having a hard time controlling myself? Ni hindi ko rin napigilan ang mapasulyap sa ibaba ng belt niya kahit alam kong hindi ko iyon dapat tingnan!
I had to swallow my own saliva to get my mind straight again. Kaya lang napansin niya yata ang paglunok ko kaya mahinang natawa ang loko.
"You know, I could just take it off, luv. It would be a pleasure."
Napatiim-bagang ako sa hiya at inis. Inirapan ko siya at kaagad na sinimangutan nang maitago ko ang malakas na epekto niya sa akin. Bakit naman kasi maging ang simpleng tawa ng lintik na ito ay iba ang epekto sa aking sistema? Nagiging manyak yata ako tumapak lang ako sa lugar na ito!
I inhaled a sharp breath while dodging his gaze. "Please stop calling me luv."
Umangat ang sulok ng mga labi niya at ang tingin ay naging mapaglaro. "Why would I... luv?" Nagpigil siya ng tawa ngunit umabot naman ang ngiti sa mapang-akit na mga mata.
Naningkit ang mga mata ko dala ng labis na inis. "Because, Mr. whoever you are, it's inappropriate to call a stranger that way."
Tuluyang lumabas ang mapuputi at perpekto niyang mga ngipin. His gaze became playful, and when his eyes landed on the side of my neck right where my scar is, he touched the corner of his lips with the tip of his tongue before he bit it.
Napalunok ako nang may kakaibang sensasyong dumaloy sa aking katawan. It was like something inside me is begging to be reunited with someone. My skin felt a fiery rush of adrenaline as if I was suddenly lit up to burn.
The guy sighed. Mayamaya'y umiling-iling siya bago tumikhim. "This is a very dangerous place."
Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Yeah, I can see that."
Nagpigil siya ng ngisi at muling sinalubong ang aking tingin. "So what brought you here, hmm?"
Tuluyan kong inipon ang lakas ng loob upang makapasok sa syudad kaya naman inayos ko ang aking tindig at nilabanan ang makahulugan niyang tingin. "I need to speak with Mr. Grimmerson. I have a proposal—"
"The Alpha is already taken." He faked a smile. "You didn't know?"
"What? No, goodness! Hindi kasal ang ipinunta ko rito."
"Hindi pala? Shet talo yata pusta ko," an unfamiliar voice said.
Napalingon ako sa pinanggalingan ng tinig. There, I saw another man sitting on the hood of my car while munching some . . . popcorns?
Teka nga? Kailan pa iyon doon? How come I didn't even notice him earlier?
The guy with brunette hair smiled widely then waved his hand. "Hi. I'm..." Sumubo siya ng popcorn. "In love," he added before winking at me.
I heard the stranger in front of me heaved a sigh. Muling nabaling sa kanya ang aking tingin ngunit nang matitigan ko ang mga mata niya ay sandali akong natigilan. I even blinked my eyes twice, making sure I'm seeing his eye color right.
I swear those were blue a few seconds ago. Why are they in a honeycomb shade now?
"Get lost, Hank," he said in an irritated way.
Tumayo ang lalake at itinaas ang isang kamay. "Okay, okay. Nakiki-free sine lang eh." Sumubo itong muli ng popcorn. "Damot."
Umigting ang panga ng lalakeng nasa malapit sa akin. "You wanna pay the King a visit, hmm?"
"Huh?" Tila namutla ang mukha ng lalakeng nagngangalang Hank. "Ay puta, may training pala ang Deltas. Geh, A—"
Bigla siyang tumigil at sandaling naging ginto ang mga mata. Mayamaya'y tumikhim siya at pilit na ngumisi. Even his laugh sounded obviously fake and nervous.
"Ah, pre. Sige pre. Kitakits na lang, pre sa bahay ng Alpha. I mean, syempre hindi ikaw 'yon pero malay mo hindi siya masungit at maganda ang mood niya ngayon—"
"Hank!"
"Eto na, oo na." The man named Hank sighed. Tila naluging sugarol kaya bagsak ang mga balikat na naglakad patungo sa kakahuyan. Ngunit bago siya tuluyang humakbang paalis ay muli pa siyang lumingon sa lalakeng nasa malapit sa akin. "Huwag ka na sasama kay Baron, pre. Ang ikli na rin ng taning ng pasensya mo. Pa-cancer na rin 'yan."
Hank started taking the odd trail through the woods. Saan naman pupunta 'yon? It's like an endless series of trees ahead. Is he one of the beasts of Remorse? I doubt that. He's not scary enough to be a beast.
Even this guy next to me doesn't look scary as well. Maybe he's just pretty fast. Baka kanina pa nasa paligid ko kanina at hindi ko lang napansin kaagad kaya nasalo niya ako noong muntik akong matapilok.
Bumuntonghininga ang lalakeng katabi ko. "So you wanna see the Alpha, hmm?"
I cleared my throat and faced him again. "Yes. Now if you wouldn't mind, I gotta see him now."
Naglakad ako at tuluyan siyang nilampasan ngunit nang mahina siyang natawa ay muli akong napahinto. Nang lingunin ko siya ay makahulugan nang nakangisi habang nakatingin sa akin.
My brow shot up. "At anong nakakatawa, Mister?"
He sighed and shook his head. Mayamaya'y lumapit siya sa malaking tumbang puno na nakaharang sa daan. Nang walang kahirap-hirap na binuhat ng lalake paalis ng daan ang puno ay halos mapako ako sa aking kinatatayuan.
He's . . . one of them.
Pinagpag niya ang mga palad niya bago tiningnan ang aking suot na sapatos. "Four blocks after the first gate, take a left, you'll see the Grimmerson Empire Building on the corner of Woodsworth and Legacy Street."
I pursed my lips together as I reminded myself that pissing him off is a complete suicide. I have to get out of here alive.
"S—Salamat." Lumunok ako. "At pasensya na sa naging asal ko."
The corner of his lips lifted for a smirk. "Just so you know, I don't take apologies easily."
My fists clenched. I'm trying to stay alive by not giving him reasons to snatch my heart out of my ribs but looks like this man wouldn't stop until I am the one asking for a bloody fight. Bahala na. If I wouldn't make it out alive, Tina will report what happened to me to the UCH. Sila rin naman ang mapapahamak.
"Well then I'm taking it back." Inirapan ko siya saka ako nagmartsa patungo sa aking sasakyan. Nang makasakay ay tinitigan ko pa siya nang masama.
The son of a bitch saw how my eyes narrowed at him. Ngunit talagang hindi yata ako titigilang bwisitin! He even had the audacity to walk towards my car while smirking!
I groaned and rolled my eyes when he stood next to the door. "I'll make sure your Alpha will know about this..."
He chuckled and then playfully licked his lower lip. "Ah, he surely will, luv." A wicked grin made its way to his lips. "He surely will..."
Sa inis ko ay mabilis kong pinatakbo ang kotse. Bwisit! Ganito ba ang ugali ng lahat ng Lycan sa lugar na 'to? Napakaantipatiko ng isang 'yon!
I tried to calm myself down while on my way to the Grimmerson Empire Building. I followed the instructions given by that annoying man kahit kumukulo pa rin ang dugo ko sa kanya.
The line of trees slowly disappeared as I went deeper and deeper into the inner district. Hindi nagtagal ay bumungad na sa akin ang pinakasentro ng Astrid.
My lips slightly parted as I scanned the place. Totoo nga ang sabi-sabi tungkol sa syudad ng Astrid. Napaka-moderno ng lugar at mayroon silang pribadong komunidad kung saan payapang namumuhay ang mga normal at taong lobo.
I can't even tell who's Lycan and who's not. Everyone seems to be getting along pretty well. Sino bang mag-aakalang sa likod ng kakahuyang dinaanan ko ay nagtatago ang napakagandang lungsod na ito?
The Alpha had done a great work. Siguro ay dapat ko siyang purihin mamaya oras na makaharap ko.
Ipinarada ko ang aking sasakyan sa labas ng Grimmerson Empire Building. Bago lumabas ay sinilip ko muna ang sarili sa rearview mirror. I fixed my hair a little bit before I drew in a sharp breath.
"You got this, Trace. They are civilized. Nasa harap mo na ang pruweba. Siguradong isang napakabait at mahusay na pinuno ang Alpha para maging ganito kaganda ang Astrid. He surely won't turn down your proposal..." pagpapalakas ko sa aking loob bago tuluyang pinatay ang makina ng kotse at lumabas.
I walked towards the reception area and smiled at the lady assisting the visitors. "Hi. I'm Tracy Florendale and I came—"
"The Alpha is waiting for you, Miss Florendale. Please take the elevator on the right, press the A button and once you get to the floor, go to the room at the end of the hall."
Napakunot ako ng noo. The Alpha knows I'm coming?
Nagkibit-balikat na lamang ako at inisip na baka ipinaalam noong loko-lokong nakilala ko kanina na nais kong makita ang Alpha. Sinunod ko na lang din ang sinabi ng receptionist at nagtungo sa elevator.
I nearly held my breath as soon as the elevator stopped at the highest floor. Nagsimulang mangatog ang aking mga tuhod ngunit pilit kong nilakasan ang loob ko.
I walked towards the door by the end of the hall. Kakatok pa lamang sana ako nang tumunog ang tila unlock sound ng pinto. It was as if the Alpha could sense me. Well, of course he does. He's a beast after all.
Dahan-dahan kong itinulak ang pinto. Natanaw ko naman ang lalakeng naka-business suit at nakaupo sa swivel chair nito. Nakatalikod siya sa aking direksyon at nakaharap sa glass wall kung saan malaya niyang napagmamasdan ang syudad.
Nalunok ko ang sarili kong laway nang kumirot na naman ang peklat ko. Seriously, what's wrong with my scar? Saka bakit parang nagsisitindigan ang mga balahibo ko sa batok habang nakatitig sa lalake?
I cleared my throat and shut the door behind me as I tried to ignore whatever is going on with my system. Hinawakan ko rin nang mas mahigpit ang folder na dala ko bago ako tuluyang humakbang.
"Good evening, Mr. Grimmerson. Thank—woah!"
Biglang nanlaki ang aking mga mata nang natisod ko ang sarili kong paa. I gasped and thought, for the second time today, that my body will slam hard on the concrete floor. Ngunit sa pangalawa ring pagkakataon, sinalo ako ng pamilyar na mga bisig at nawalang muli sa ayos ang aking sistema dahil sa parehong lalake.
"Careful, luv." His familiar playful smirk made its way to his thin lips. "Girls always trip whenever they see... the Alpha."
Parang muntik nang tumalon palabas ng dibdib ko ang aking puso.
He's the freaking Alpha!