CHAPTER FIVE
AFTER days of practice, I can now easily wield my power. I am amazed by how easy it is to control it. Now, I can finally burn whatever I need to burn without burning the other things around it. Vincent is helping me a lot with it and I am grateful for his support.
"May tanong pala ako," tawag ko sa atensyon niya habang nakaupo kami sa may veranda ng mansyon at nagtsa-tsaa. Ria and Mrs. Linda went to the Downtown to have some mother and daughter bonding.
"Ano 'yon?" Malamig na sagot ni Vincent.
"Noong nakaraang linggo, habang nasa playground ako, may nakita akong mga taong nakasuot ng lab coat na lumabas mula sa santuwaryo. Ria told me that they are scientists. What are they doing there?"
Natagalan bago siya sumagot sa tanong ko. Nakakunot lang ang noo niya at parang nag-iisip ng isasagot. Is he going to lie to me? I can sense when someone's lying even if I don't have his strong werewolf senses.
"Tama ang sinabi ni Ria. Mga scientist nga sila," sagot niya. My brows knitted with his answer. He didn't answer the question.
"So ano ngang ginagawa nila ro'n?" Pangungulit ko. Hindi siya mapakali at hindi na rin makatingin sa akin. Why don't he answer me quickly? Is he trying to avoid my question?
"Ang lugar na 'yon ay bawal puntahan at hindi ko alam kung anong ginagawa nila. Excuse me, kailangan ko nang magronda," sagot niya sabay tayo. Dali-dali siyang naglakad paalis kahit hindi niya pa nauubos ang tsaa niya. Anong problema no'n?
Lalo tuloy nadagdagan ang mga tanong sa isip ko. He's the beta. He should know all the reasons behind the rules. And he is patrolling the area. Bakit hindi niya alam kung anong nangyayari sa loob ng Southville?
Hindi kaya may itinatago siya sa akin? The way he acted when I asked about the scientists gives it away. There must be something inside that forbidden sanctuary. There are so many questions forming inside my head right now and I hate how I formulate my own answers. I don't like where my thoughts are going.
There must be really something happening inside the sanctuary. Something that they don't want me to know. Hindi kaya sikretong laboratoryo iyon tapos doon nila pinag-eeksperimentuhan ang mga kagaya ko? Kaya ba ayaw nilang ipaalam sa akin kasi baka tumakas ako at magsumbong sa mga awtoridad? Ugh! I hate my overthinking brain and my trust issues having a fusion at this moment.
Para hindi na ako mag-isip pa ng kung ano-ano, nagpasya akong tumulong na lang sa paghahanda ng hapunan. I went down to the kitchen and was greeted by Paris. I helped them cook the chicken for tonight's supper. Everyone in the kitchen is so lively and happy. They are all smiling.
"Anong meron? Bakit parang ang saya-saya n'yong lahat?" Tanong ko. Nagkatinginan naman sila at humagikhik.
"Ngayong gabi ang full moon ngayong buwan. Tuwing full moon, mas lalong lumalakas ang mga lobong katulad namin kaya excited kaming lahat," sagot ni Ate Emma. Huh? I didn't quite catch that.
"Why are you excited about being strong?" Naguguluhan kong tanong. Napapailing-iling naman si Paris na nakatayo lang sa tabi ko.
"Huwag mo nang isipin. Masyado ka pang bata para sa mga ganitong usapan," sagot ni Ate Emma. Eh?
Hindi na lang ako nagtanong pa kasi hindi ko rin naman maiintindihan. Tumulong na lang ako sa paghahain. Kaiser is already on his seat when we went inside the dining hall. He greeted me with a huge smile that I returned.
