Never Be Tamed

Chapter 26: Somber

Chapter 26: Somber

Nakatitig ako sa kawalan habang nakaupo sa kama. Hindi parin nags-sink in sa'kin nang lubusan ang nangyari. Wala sa sarili na hinawakan ko ang labi ko, still slightly swollen. I kissed Zackary. I kissed the new alpha.

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko na walang tigil sa pagtibok nang mabilis. Zackary even walked me to the main house and kissed my forehead good night before leaving the apothecary. The things he did... what should I make out of it?

I wished I could talk to Anabeth. I couldn't understand what I feel.

Hindi ako nakatulog nang maayos noong gabing 'yon. My mind was too occupied of strange things and foreign emotions and the face of Zack staring back at me.

Kinabukasan, tanghali na nang madatnan ko ang mga natitirang staff sa apothecary na naghahanda para sa malakihang salo-salo. It was the last day of the week-long celebration where the towns people prepare huge lunch for their families to gather and celebrate from yesterday's announcement, like family day.

Sinabihan ako tungkol dito kahapon. The apothecary would be open today for the orders on duty and anyone who wanted to join the lunch celebration. Pagbaba ko sa kusina, lahat ay abala sa pagluluto at paghahanda ng pagkain. There were staff grilling meat, baking pies and pastries, cooking soup. Nagtanong ako kung ano ang maaari kong maitulong.

"Naku, Ms. Eleanor, hindi na kailangan," sabi ng isa sa staff na kasama ko kahapon sa tower. "Nagtrabaho ka buong araw kahapon, treating the injured orders on your own. Isipin mo nalang na day off mo ngayong araw."

She gently pushed me out of the kitchen and reminded me to take the day off. Pero hindi ako mapalagay na walang ginagawa. Nagtungo ako sa garden para i-check ang mga halaman and to work on the weeds if I needed to. Habang naglalakad sa batuhang pathway, I caught glimpse of someone walking into the gates of the apothecary and talking to the guard.

Alexander?

Having nothing else better to do, pinuntahan ko siya, thinking he might need something from the apothecary. Pero bago pa ako tuluyang makalapit, bigla akong huminto sa paghakbang. Oo nga pala, may opisyal na siyang posisyon ngayon. Isa na siyang beta. I couldn't approach him like before.

"Bakit nakatunganga ka d'yan?"

I was pulled out of my train of thoughts nang mapansin na nakatingin sa'kin si Alexander. Lumapit siya, nakasiksik ang palad sa bulsa ng kanyang pantalon, nakakunot ang noo habang pinagmamasdan ako.

"Parang nakakita ka ng multo," he muttered.

I blinked, quite surprised that his casual approach didn't change at all. I always took him as someone who blurts what he thinks, having an official position or not.

I cleared my throat before asking him. "Do you need anything from the apothecary?"

Mas lalong nagsalubong ang kilay niya. "I'm here to eat lunch."

My eyelids fluttered, a little confused.

"Hindi ba bukas ang apothecary sa lahat ngayong araw? Don't you know you have the best cooks in town?" Naglakad siya papasok sa compound.

Right... I just didn't think the beta himself would visit this place.

Sinundan ko siya habang naglalakad, pinagmamasdan ang walang pinagbagong tindig o ayos niya. He still looked the same the first time I met him, with those casual clothes, messy hair and frown on his face. Both of us has no specific place or people to call a family... that's why we're here.

"Alexander..." tawag ko. Huminto siya sa paglalakad saka lumingon, nakakunot parin ang noo. "I missed the chance to congratulate you yesterday... congrats on being the beta."