His Gentle Werewolf [BxB] ✓

III

KABANATA 3

Pagkatapos maligo ni Alpas, tumayo siya sa pintuan ng kaniyang kwarto at nag-iisip kung lalabas ba siya.

Alpas is always confident and that's why and how he gains his students' attention. But right now, he just wants to hide in a shell.

He almost jumped in fright when he heard a knock. Then he heard Ethan's muffled voice. “Sir? Tapos ka na po ba? Let's eat. Nagluto po ako.”

Alpas sighed in relief when Ethan called him that. When realization dawned him that Ethan is one of his students, his mind cleared. The indecent thoughts were suddenly erased and he opened the door.

“Marunong kang magluto?” tanong agad ni Alpas pagkalabas niya sa kwarto.

“Opo.” sagot ni Ethan.

Napangiti si Alpas sa magalang na tono ni Ethan.

Habang naglalakad sila papuntang kusina, tinanong ulit ni Alpas si Ethan. “Ilang taon ka na?”

“20 po.” sambit ni Ethan.

Napatigil si Alpas. “20? You're two years older than your classmates?”

“I skipped two school years po.” sabi ni Ethan habang kumukuha ng plato.

Alpas frowned, he wanted to ask why but he thought that was too personal. Ethan flashed him a smile and he placed the two plates on the table.

Tinignan ni Alpas si Ethan and he changed the topic. “You can stop using honorifics when we're outside the school. I'm not that old.”

“Talaga po-” Ethan cleared his throat before continuing, “Talaga? Noted. Ikaw, ilang taon ka na?”

“I'm 24 years old.” sagot ni Alpas at tinikman ang luto ni Ethan.

“4 years gap, so pwede pang maging tayo, no?” bulong ni Ethan.

Alpas almost choked and he coughed when he heard Ethan. Ethan held the glass of water in front of Alpas' lips and he gently patted his back.

Pagkatapos niyang uminom, tumingin siya kay Ethan. “Student kita hoy!”

Ethan chuckled. “We're outside the school, remember? Besides, malapit na akong gumraduate.” He teased Alpas.

“Ibabagsak kita, Ethan. Tignan mo man.” naiinis na sambit ni Alpas.

“Sir naman. Madadaan pa po ba sa walis tambo yan?” Ethan played along.

Natawa si Alpas sa biro ni Ethan at napahampas pa ito sa kaniya. Natawa rin si Ethan at nagpatuloy silang dalawa sa pagkain.

Si Ethan ang nagpumilit na maghugas ng plato kaya si Alpas ay pumunta sa sala para manood ng balita. Tapos biglang naalala ni Alpas na may dinner plan ang mga co-teachers niya. Nagtext siya kay Kiara na hindi na siya makakapunta.

“So, anong itatawag ko sa'yo sa labas ng school?” biglang tanong ni Ethan.

Umupo siya sa tabi ni Alpas.

“Anything.” sagot ni Alpas habang nakatingin sa cellphone niya.

“Hmm? Alpas? Kuya? O kaya... Love?”

Nataptingin bigla si Alpas kay Ethan. He's starting to regret that he said ‘anything’. Napakamot siya ng batok at sinabing, “Alpas na lang. ”

“Ayaw mo sa love?” tanong ni Ethan na nagkukunwaring malungkot.

“Alis ka nga diyan, Keith.”

Ethan laughed to his heart's content. He hasn't seen this side of Alpas in school before but now that he's able to bring that side of Alpas out, he's very happy.