Theodore Collins
***
Mariin kaming napayuko sa loob ng infirmary habang karga-karga ng isang kinatatakutang nilalang si Kianna. Nakahilera kami at kapwa hindi makagawa ng isang galaw man lang.
“E-El Rey..” miski ang nurse ay natatakot sa presensiya niya. Hindi kita ang mukha niya dahil sa maskara na laging suot, napakatangkad niya at laging nakakapa. It's a pleasure to see him this close. But not in this kind of situation.
Sa isang iglap ay biglang lumitaw sa harapan namin ang ibang myembro ng Schatten at mas lalo akong nangilabot ng makitang kompleto sila.
Sobrang dilim ng aura na nakabalot kay El Rey habang nakatalikod saamin pero batid kung nakatingin siya kay K na puno ng galos ang katawan na hindi ko alam kung saan niya nakuha.
“Kennedy Crimson..” napahawak saakin si Ken ng sambitin niya ang pangalan ng nobya ko. Hindi ako umimik.
“Una vez que vuelvas a gritar a mi vida, no dudaré en acabar con tu vida sin valor.” saad niya sa salitang espanyol na hindi ko alam kung anong ibig sabihin.
I saw how Hawk's lips curved dahil sa narinig pero hindi siya nagsalita.
He leaned down at hindi nakaligtas sa mga mata ko ang paghawak niya sa kamay ni K na may mga galos at sa isang iglap nawala siya sa harapan namin. Nginisihan kami ni Aria kaya hindi ko maiwasang hindi mapa-igting ng panga.
This bitch never fails to annoy anyone she encounters. Talagang nobya ko ang pinupuntirya niya at mabuti nalang talaga ay marunong pang magpigil sa sarili si Kennedy.
Tahimik kami ng mawala sila lahat sa harapan namin. Hindi maiwasang mapatingin ako sa kalagayan ni Kianna at hindi ko maiwasang hindi makonsensiya.
“Gutom na ako,”Ken murmured at linapitan si K at hinaplos ang pisngi nito.
Then Liam suddenly spoke. “Alam ko na kung ano ang sinabi ni El Rey kanina.” his voice slightly trembled. Kaagad na napatingin ako sakanya. Miski si Ken ay napunta ang buong atensiyon kay Liam.
“What is it?” seryoso kong tanong. I have this feeling that somethings off about El Rey.
Pinakita niya ang phone at doon ko nakitang nag-google translate siya. Then, kunot noo niyang hinarap ang telepono sakanya. He slowly read it.
“Sabi rito, alam kong mahal mo ako, huwag kang mag-alala mahal din kita.”
Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. “Wala kang kwenta.” inis na inis kong sambit sakanya. Akala ko pa naman seryoso siya sa sinabi niya kanina kahit kailan talaga napakawalang kwenta.
Humalakhak siya hanggang sa nakarating ako ng mahinang ungol. “Damn, someone has no manners can't he see that I'm freaking sleeping and he just laughed his ass off?” K irritably said and slowly opened her eyes.
Mabilis na sinamaan niya ng tingin si Liam kaya naman napailing nalang ako. I held Kennedy's waist for her to divert her attention to me.
“I'll get you some food,” malambing kong saad sakanya. She smile cheekily at tumango. Pinatakan ko siya ng halik sa noo pero bago ako makalabas ng infirmary dinig kong may pahabol na sigaw si Liam.
“Bro, me too. Bring some fries!”
Geez, that man. Pwede naman niyang bilhan ang sarili niya ah? Hindi naman ako nagtagal at naglakad na pabalik sa infirmary dala ang mga pagkain pero laking gulat ko ng madatnan ko ang nobya kong umiiyak sa loob.
Mabilis na nailapag ko ang supot ng pagkain at nagtatakang tiningan sina Blue na tahimik lang. What the hell happened?
Napatingin ako sa bed and found out K wasn't there anymore. By any chance is she lost again?
“Babe? What happened?” I pulled Kennedy and she crash into my chest. She sobbed louder.
“K's mad at me Theo. She's mad at me.” she murmured at mas idiniin ang mukha niya sa dibdib ko. Napatingin ako kay Emma and asking some information. Kennedy won't be this kind of shallow. She never cried for a girl before kahit nga nagkaroon sila ng tampuhan ni Emma noon ay hindi naman siya umiyak.
And now she's crying for Kianna. “I-I don't want to lose her Theo. I just can't. You know how much I tried to be her friend. I tried so hard to earn her trust at hindi sa ganoong bagay lang mauuwi sa wala ang lahat.” naiiyak pa niyang sambit.
Emma let out a loud sighed. “We must tell K the truth.”
“What truth?” kunot-noong tanong ko. Are they hiding something about Kianna? For her to get mad at them? Nor us?
She threw me the knowing look. My mouth went agape. “You're kidding Em.” hindi makapaniwalang bulalas ko. Fuck. This is a big mess if anyone would know about this one. This is a tough one.
She nodded her head agreeing about my reaction. “We're not afraid to tell her about who really we are but we're afraid she'll loath us for not telling the truth earlier. Besides, Headmistress Lucy asked us to keep our mouth close and let her discover the truth Theo. We cannot disobey Headmistress if it's for the best.”
Hindi ako makaimik. Me too, if they'll know what chaos I brought they'll probably loath me. Kennedy will loath me and especially Kianna will loath me if she'll find out what's really my intention. But I left with no choice. I have to do it. Sooner or later, I'll probably be regretting the mistakes I'd made. But for now, let me enjoy the feeling in their arms.
“Aside from that we have a big problem Theo.” I was woken up by Blue's voice. Napakurap-kurap ako.
“What is it?”
“El Rey. He's been into Kianna's back lately,” there was this unknown emotion visible on Blue's voice.
“That's a big accusation Blue. You know El Rey he's not into anyone.” bigla akong kinabahan. El Rey is a strong enemy if he's after Kianna then. Aside from that, Blue just can't easily accused someone especially El Rey.
Umiling siya at may pagkadigusto ang mukha niya. “No! I looked at Kianna the same way El Rey looked at her or deeper!” his voice raised maybe not accepting the fact that someone likes K too. But this thing is predictable already.
Tangina naman kasing Blue 'to. He just fell inlove to a very gorgeous woman in Royal Blood at hindi ko masisisi si K kung pati si El Rey nabihag niya which is impossible. El Rey doesn't have a soulmate. 'Yan ang pagkakaalam naming lahat.
It was all written in the prophecy that he has no soulmate. Everyone knows it.
Emma angrily snorted. “Talaga? Kapag tingnan kita kagaya ng pagtingin mo kay Kianna anong gagawin mo? Iilag ka na naman?” we all stilled for what Emma had said.
Blue too, he blinked couple of times then trying to ignore Emma's words. Pero kaagad na pinuna iyon ni Ken. “Yeah, Em's right Blue. How can you say that kind of nonsense to El Rey who always has his mask on?”
Hindi umimik si Blue at pinili nalang na itikom ang bibig. Liam spoke. “Sometimes bro, you need to acknowledge someone that's always by your side hindi mo alam siya lang pala ang nararapat sa'yo. Nasasaktan siya dahil may hinahabol kang iba. Pero 'yung hinahabol mo matagal na palang may nagmamay-ari. Huwag niyo nalang saktan ang isa't-isa. Hanggang maaga pa, subukan mo na.”
Malamig siyang tiningnan ni Blue. “I am certain about her Liam. Huwag kang mapapel.”
“No you don't. She's not the best for you. So as you to her either. Klaro naman na sa simula palang mukhang mauuwi kang luhaan. Doon ka nalang sa taong mahal ka ng tunay.”
Blue stormed out of the infirmary. “Sana hindi ka nalang nagsalita pa Liam.” naiiling na sambit ni Emma.
“Let him be Em. Gago 'yan kasi naghahabol sa taong wala namang pake sakanya. Ikaw naman umamin ka na at kapag nireject ka. Hanap ka nalang ng iba.”
Napatawa ako. “Yeah, a great advice from Liam.”
Hambog na tumango si Liam saakin. Pero inismiran ko siya. Feel na feel naman niya. Bumukas ang infirmary at bumungad ang mukha ni Blue. Lihim akong napangisi. Pero ang gago trying hard paring maging seryoso.
“Pinatawag tayo ng headmistress pakidalian daw.” aniya at pabadog na sinara ang pintuan ng infirmary. I looked at Emma saw her reaction.
“Cheer up Em. Everything's gonna be fine,” pagpapagaan ko sa loob niya. Kaagad na hinapit ko si Kennedy papalapit saakin at ng marating na namin ang office ay kaagad na nagbigay galang kami sa nakakataas.
“Good thing you're all here already.” seryosong bungad niya. Sa mukha palang niya alam kong may importanteng sasabihin na naman siya.
Pinaupo niya kaming nakahilera sa sofa at itinuon ang atensiyon namin sakanya. She clasped her hands.
“I heard about what happen to Kianna lately.” panimula niya at tiningnan ako. I bowed my head down.
“Theodore? Care to tell me what happened and why are you not saying a thing to me?” inangat ko muli ang tingin ko.
“I deeply apologized Headmistress Lucy. Kianna have been acting strange and kept on missing headmistress.”
She slowly nodded her head. “How about the thing that I told you?” kaagad na nakuha ko ang punto niya.
I swallowed the lump on my throat. “She haven't know a thing about us yet headmistress but she's eager to find the answer Headmistress Lucy and we're afraid what would be the risk she might do.”
“Let her be.”
Napatingin ako kay Ken ng humawak siya sa kamay ko. “B-but Headmistress, El Rey has been showing up so recently. Does he bring great danger to Kianna?” she asked this time.
“Let El Rey decide on his own Crimson.” tumango-tango si Ken.
“But what if she'll find the answer herself headmistress? She might loath us.” mukhang malaki talaga ang tama ni Blue kay K.
Hindi kaagad nakasagot ang headmistress. “He'll handle everything. Don't worry too much.” nakahinga ako ng maluwag sa narinig.
When Headmistress Lucy dismissed us ay kaagad na naglakad kami pabalik sa dorm ng girls. Suddenly we felt exhausted.
Parang nabuhayan ng loob ang nobya ko ng makita namin si K na nasa tapat ng pintuan ng dorm nila.
“K?” Kennedy called her hopefully. Kianna just stare at her at hindi na umimik pa.
Tumigil kami sa harapan ni Kianna. “K, we don't intend to hurt you—”
“I wasn't hurt. But I was damn disappointed.” malamig niyang pagputol saakin.
Tumango ako. “Yeah, you're not hurt but just disappointed. I understand you when you're in this kind of situation.” I almost took a step back when I saw her piercing eyes on me.
“You don't Theo. Hindi naman ikaw 'yung tao rito na nakikipaghalubilo sa mga hindi mo alam na nilalang.” sarkastiko niyang saad.
Isa-isa niya kaming tiningnan. “If you won't tell me what kind of species are you. Then I'll find the answer myself.” pumasok na siya sa loob ng dorm niya.
“She needs time. Don't force her.” malungkot na saad ni Emma at nauna ng pumasok na mabilis naman naming sinundan.
Nang makapasok kami ay kaagad na dumiritso ako sa banyo ng makaramdam ako ng kakaiba. Mabilis na napasuka ako ng dugo sa sink at hindi inaasahang pumurma ito ng isang sulat.
The time is ticking
So as their lives Theodore
Kill her or I'll kill them
Nanghihinang napasandal ako sa loob ng banyo. I can't. Hindi ko kayang patayin si Kianna. Hindi ko kaya. Pero hindi ko rin kayang mawala saakin ang pamilya ko. Wala akong ibang pwedeng mahingan ng tulong maliban sa isang tao.
Isang tao na kinatatakutan ng lahat. Isang tao na kinilala naming nakatataas sa amin.
Mariin akong napapikit ng nakarinig ako ng sunod-sunod na katok. “Babe? Andito ka ba?”
I breathlessly answered. “Y-yeah.”
“Okay ka lang Theo?” bakas ng pag-aalala ang boses niya. Napatawa ako ng mahina at naglakad nalang palabas ng banyo at mabilis na yinakap ko siya para doon humugot ng lakas.
She slightly caressed my back. “Are you okay babe? You seems..not fine?” ninakawan ko siya ng halik sa labi.
“I'm fine. Don't worry. For now, I just need to talk to someone.” and beg for his help kahit maging alipin pa niya ang kabayaran sa hiling ko.
I sighed heavily as I walk towards the Schatten's hideout. Hoping that they're here.
Nang makapasok ako sa secret garden nila which is aksidente kong nadiskubrihan at nalaman na lungga pala ito ng Schatten.
Napatigil sila sa kanya-kanyang ginagawa ng makaramdam sila ng presensiya ko. Napatigil pa si Aria sa pagpatong kay Hawk. Napangiwi ako. Fuck.
This girl is wild.
Malakas na tinulak ni Hawk si Aria dahilan para mapaupo ito sa damuhan. “Fucking jerk!” malakas na mura nito but Hawk just smirked at her.
“What brought you here?” tanong ni Savannah.
“Can I talk to El Rey? Please,” I gave her my pleading look.
Hindi sila nagsalita kasabay ng paglabas ng lalaking nakakapa at naglakad patungo sa direksiyon ko.
“El Rey, help me. Help me please.” kusang lumuhod ang mga binti ko pero wala man lang silang naging reaksiyon.
“¿Qué?”
Parang nabuhayan ako ng loob dahil sa naging sagot niya kahit hindi ko maintindihan.
Naluluha ako sa saya. He talked to me! I maybe sounds so exaggerated but it's a pleasure to a man like me to talk with El Rey.
Kusang umagos ang luha ko at nagsalita.
“The bathorians. They're moving.”