Never Be Tamed

Chapter 36: Signs

Chapter 36: Signs

I was silent the whole time Callahan was driving beside me. Sa kanya ako nakiusap na magpahatid sa apothecary even though Zackary was in front of me earlier.

"Is this how you are when you say words you didn't mean?" Lumingon ako kay Callahan na nanatili ang tingin sa daan. "You really didn't want him to leave, did you?"

Hindi ako nakasagot. Nanatili akong tahimik na nakaupo sa passenger seat, hands in my lap, fidgeting. Earlier in Callahan's mansion, Zackary insisted he wanted the two of us to talk, but I asked him not to. I  couldn't face him for now... I was afraid of what I might feel. I might cross a line. He's still the alpha of this town and I'm still a staff of the apothecary.

After thirty minutes of silence, we reached the apothecary. Callahan leaned to my direction to open the door beside me. Despite the situation, I discovered Callahan didn't seem to be as bad as my first impression of him. At least for today.

I mumbled a thank you before stepping out of the car. The window remained rolled down so Callahan could see me as I walked to the main building. Hindi umalis ang sasakyan niya sa driveway hanggang hindi ako tuluyang nakakapasok sa building.

When the car speed off the driveway, huminga ako nang malalim at pilit inalis ang lungkot sa mukha ko. I pulled up a smile and dried my tears before walking inside. Ilang staff ang nasalubong ko sa hallway. I managed to smile back at their greeting, but the moment I closed the door of my room, tuluyan akong nanghina.

Sumandal ako sa pintuan at pilit kinalma ang sarili ko. I blinked back tears. This isn't right. I shouldn't feel this way. I've became too comfortable and forgot my place here. I shouldn't be doing things that could affect Zackary.

Napaupo ako sa kama. Pero kahit ilang beses kong ipaalala sa aking sarili... patuloy akong nasasaktan. Tila mas dumoble ang sakit noong makita ko si Zackary kanina.

What am I hurting like this? How could I make this stop?

--

Third Person's POV

Anabeth was back in the apothecary. Agad siyang dumeretso sa kanyang kwarto para ilapag ang mga gamit at makapagbihis bago puntahan si Eleanor. It's been days since the two saw each other at naipon na ang mga gustong ikwento ni Anabeth dito.

Eleanor's room was only across the hallway from Anabeth's. Paglabas niya sa kwarto, nadatnan niya si Senior Violeta na may hawak na mga report papers habang patungo sa kwarto ni Eleanor. Agad sinalubong ni Anabeth ang senior staff.

"Anabeth, nakabalik ka na pala."

"Kababalik ko lang po. Mga ten minutes ago." Dumako ang tingin ni Anabeth sa mga hawak na papel ni Senior Violeta. "May problema po ba?"

"Nabasa ko ang report ni Eleanor tungkol sa program na isinagawa ng mga elites sa isang village," sabi ng senior staff nang makarating sa tapat ng kwarto ni Eleanor. "May gusto lang akong kompirmahin."

"Elites?" Kumunot agad ang noo ni Anabeth sa narinig. She heard someone filled in for the activity she's supposed to be part of. She honestly didn't want to be part of it in the first place. Naisulat lang ang pangalan niya... but she wasn't aware that Eleanor was the one who took the program in her place.

"It says in the report that she treated seven children and five elderly with high fever and infection as requested by the village leader," tukoy ni Senior Violeta sa mga papel na hawak saka siya bumuntong hininga. "Kung tama ang report na ito, ang ginawa niya ay trabaho ng dalawa o tatlong tao."

Anabeth was the one who knocked on Eleanor's room. Nakailang katok na siya ay wala paring sumasagot. Nagaalala na pinihit ni Anabeth at knob para buksan ang pinto.