Anathema (The Academy of the Cursed)

Chapter Thirty-Five: Malverick

-chapter thirty-five-

"Serena, watch out. A snake might just come and bite you."

Blanko ang titig ko sa mga papel na nakakalat sa mesa. The library was filled with students dahil malapit na ang first term examination. Students are either napping, reviewing by themselves or studying in groups.

Umupo ako sa tabi ni Mad Dog na nakapikit ang mata at natutulog kahit na hawak niya libro. Ana was drowning herself in Logic while Akiru tried to answer some questions from Origins. Inikot ko ang mata sa nakikita.

I placed my cup of coffee down. Kinuha ko ang papel na nasa harapan ni Kahel at mukhang nagising siya sa paggalaw ko. His eyes slowly fluttered open as he moved his gaze towards mine.

"Witch?" he asked, voice groggy. "Ginagawa mo dito?"

Hindi ko siya pinansin at binasa ang nakasulat sa papel. I raised a brow upon reading that the question was about Erikson's psychosocial stages pero ang isinulat niya ay ang cognitive development stages ni Piaget.

"This is wrong, aso. Erikson hinahanap, Piaget isinulat mo."

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Hindi ba sila iisa?"

"Erikson's stages were about our psychosocial development, iyan naman ay cognitive. Kahit na niresearch mo, parang hindi naman ata 'yan ang lalabas?"

"Hindi. Akala ko Erikson Piaget ang pangalan niya." sagot niya't hinablot mula sa'kin ang papel.

Tumawa si Ana. "Hindi mo ba binasa, Kel? Did you just write down the first set of stages you saw?"

"Oh, e ano naman?!" singhal ni Kahel sa pinsan.

I watched them in amusement, sipping my cup of coffee. Seriously, the bitter taste of this liquid is much more satisfying than the tea they keep on drinking. Although walang mas lalamang sa strawberry flavored drinks.

"Bobo." came a cold voice above us.

Kahel twitched in reigned anger. Tumaas ang kilay ko at napaangat ang tingin. Nakatayo si Keian sa likod namin. May hawak siyang mga libro at masama ang tingin kay Kahel.

Hindi na ako nagulat nang matumba ang silyang kinauupuan ni Mad Dog dahil sa biglaan niyang pagtayo. His intense glare pierced through Keian. It was like watching two dogs fight, with one of them having an icy demeanor and the other a seething anger.

Hinihintay ko na lang kung sino ang unang tatahol.

But it ended without any fight. I was surprised when Mad Dog only cursed under his breath and returned to his seat. Keian glanced at me before walking away.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa nangyari. What happened to the feral dog who bursts in anger from small threats? Nasaan ang short-tempered beast ko?

"Aso, when did you start ignoring fights? I would have thought you're a maniac for blood and action." wika ko. "It's so strange to see you walk away first."

Narinig ko ang simpleng pag-ubo ni Ana para itago ang pagtawa. I frowned.

"Hoy, Mad Dog, I'm asking you."

"Hindi ko kailangang sumagot."

Aba.

"When you wag your tail and give me those adorable puppy eyes, I always return your wishes." bumuntong-hininga ako. "But when the witch asks for something, no one listens."

Sinamaan ako ng tingin ni Mad Dog. "Talaga? Eh bakit noong sinabihan kitang huwag lumabas, hindi ka sumunod?"

Are we really digging up the past now?