KNOCK, KNOCK (BL)

Chapter 8

"Hey Warner, how do people court here?"

"Huh?" Takang tanong nito habang nagsusulat ng notes. The teacher is busy discussing about the different types of elements kaya naman ay hindi nito napansin ang pagkausap ko sa katabi.

"Well..it depends on what tribe, clan,or place you came from. Everyone has their own way of courting. Why? You want to court someone?" May halong pang aasar ang tanong nito. Am I going to court someone? Of course not!..not now I guess.

"You mean to say there are different types of courting?"

Bago pa nito masagot ang tanong ko ay maingay na isinara ng guro ang libro.

"Care to share in class what you two are mumbling about?"

"Sorry ma'am, it's nothing."

Tumaas lang ang kilay nito sa amin saka muling nagpatuloy sa pagtuturo. Minsan ay napapatingin ito sa gawi namin na may halong pagbabanta. Hindi ko na muling kinausap si Warner. Gusto ko sana na makinig nalang sa sinasabi ng guro pero lumilipad ang isip ko. What did Kite mean na nililigawan nila ako ni Nevéir? No one told me that. All I know is that they're just being kind to me and we knew each other. If giving food, being kind, and accompanying me is Kite's definition of courtship that's just nonsense? Like everyone does that even to friends.

Lastly... I'm a man. Why would he even want to date me anyway?

«««Flash back»»»

“You need to choose between us right? Since we're courting you?”

"HAA?? who's courting whom?"

Gulat na tanong ko sa kanya. Does he even have an idea what he's talking about? Tsaka why is he acting so sulky about? Kasi sasama ako sa errand na gagawin nila Nevéir?

"Stop giving me that st*pid look. I already made myself clear that I'm courting you."

Kite said while acting so high and mighty in front of me. Parang kasalanan ko pa yata na wala akong idea sa sinasabi nya.

"You're the st*pid one here, ang gulo mo. Last time I remembered you just save me and Nevéir. Yes nagkasama at nagkausap tayo sometimes but just that it right?"

Napabuntong hininga lang ito saka muling tumalikod sa akin.

"Just...don't choose him over me."

Kahit nang makaalis na ito ay nanatili akong nakatayo sa pwesto ko. He--Is he nuts?

««« End of Flash Back »»»

Pagkatapos nang lahat ng klase ko sa araw na yun ay kaagad akong dumeretso sa dormitory para hanapin si Nevéir. Akmang magtatanong pa lang ako sa front desk tungkol kay Nevéir nang mamataan ko ito na paakyat ng hagdan. Lakad takbo ang ginawa ko para mahabol sya.

"Nevéir!"

Sa una ay nagulat ito, pero nang makilala kung sino ang tumawag sa kanya ay mabilis na lumiwanag ang mukha nito.

"Evan! Did your class just ended? Mag aayos na ako ng mga dadalhin para sa errand natin. How you eaten?" Agad akong umiling dito.

"Great! Kumain muna tayo bago tayo makipagkita sa mga kasama natin. Shall we go to my room? I'll cook something for us."

Hindi rin naman ako tumanggi sa alok nito dahil ramdam ko na ang pagkulo ng sikmura ko. Nevéir's room is on the 3rd floor, while mine is on the 1st kaya siguro ay hindi rin kami nakakatagpo. Magkapareho lang din kami ng kwarto. A simple room, a bathroom and a small kitchen. There is no division kaya kitang kita ko sya habang nagluluto ng kung ano sa kusina.

He made me sit on his bed. Surprisingly ay napakalinis rin ng kwarto nya. Habang nagluluto ay panay ang kwento nito ng kung ano ano. Nalaman ko na ang errand namin ay sa labas ng Academy mangyayari. It's about finding a flower that could be used to create a potion. What makes the errand dangerous is that because this certain flower only grows near a clift inside the beasts territory. That is why they need a healer on their team.

"Diba magkaklase kayo ni Kite?" Nahinto sya sa paghalo ng niluluto.

"Yes? Is he bothering you?"

Gusto kong matawa dahil sa sinabi nya. Is Kite bothering me? Gusto ko rin itanong yun sa sarili ko cuz it doesn't seem like it. Nakakafrustrate lang kasi hindi ko maintindihan ang tumatakbo sa isip nito.

"No, gusto ko lang malaman."

In the end ay hindi ko natanong na sa kanya ang kanina pang bumabagabag sa isipan ko--about what Kite mentioned.

"Oo, but we're not that close in anyway. I may even call that we don't like each other's existence. Now that we became rivals again...I hate him more than anything."

Hindi ko alam kung paano nitong nagagawang ngumiti habang sinasabi ang bagay na yun. Most people, when talking about their enemies they are either frowning or muttering in anger.

"I see..luto na ba yan? Can we eat now?" He let out a chuckle before turning off the stove.

"Yes..yes..your highness."

THE meet up is outside the Academy. Pagdating namin ni Nevéir doon ay nandoon narin ang dalawa pa naming kasama--the bald guy and the green haired girl. I guess they're Nevéir's friends.

"I haven't introduced you to each others yet right? This is Evan he's the healer I'm talking about. Evan, these are my friends Aya and Riki."

We just exchange each others' greeting. Dahil pa-week end na rin ay hindi na ako nag abala pang magsuot ng uniform well despite wearing a civilian clothing ay suot pa rin ni Nevéir ang kulay brown nyang cloak. Aya find a good spot first before opening a jade portal. This time it's not just a small jade, but a bigger crystal.

Nang makalabas sa kabilang bahagi ng portal sa tumambad sa aming ang tahimik na kagubatan. Dahil hindi pa naman ganun kadilim ay nilandas pa namin ang ilang bahagi ng gubat saka napagpasyahang mag-camp.

"Bakit hindi tayo doon sa malapit sa batis?"

I genuinely ask Nevéir, kasi hindi ko naman talaga alam ang sagot. And of course Nevéir is happy to answer that question.

"We can't, pagabi na ngayon. At times like this ay lumalabas ang mga monsters and other dangerous animals to drink. What do you think will happen to us if we did camp there? We will become those creatures dinner. But as if that will happen. I won't let those creatures eat something that I haven't eaten...yet."

Mabilis kong iniwas ang tingin ko kay Nevéir. Tumayo ako sa pwesto ko at tumulong kay Aya na magsindi ng apoy. Riki then came out from the forest, holding 2 dead rabbits.

"We will wait till midnight. Those flowers  only bloom when it's midnight and then died during sunrise. But if we harvest them first and put them in this jar ay tatagal pa iyon ng 2 araw bago tuluyang mamatay. Isn't it cool?"

Aya said while eating. Nevéir then handed me a skewer that just got cook. Gusto ko sanang tanggihan iyon, pero wala yata sa plano nya ang matanggihan ko.

"If you don't eat it. Then these people will laugh at me."

Nevéir said with a sad expression. Dahil sa sinabi nya ay napatingin din ako sa mga kasama. They're not even looking at us. Tinanggap ko nalang iyon.

"May...may gusto akong tanungin sayo."

"Sure, go ahead. What is it?"

"Actually, Kite talked to me this morning. He said something about... courting me. The two of you, haha of course nagbibiro lang sya. It's not true r.. right?"

Alanganing tanong ko sa kanya dahil malay ko if hindi naman pala totoo ang sinasabi ni Kite, parang ang labas nun ay ang laki ko namang assuming.

"Why? Will you choose him?"

Pakiramdam ko ay umikot ang paningin ko dahil sa sinabi nya. His voice and expression never change. I wonder if he has can even get mad?

"Why would I?"

Kunot noong balik tanong ko dito. I can feel the sudden rapid beating of my heart. It's like... I'm nervous or something?

"Why? You have the choice."

"So it's true that you're really want to--no, you are courting me? Why did no one inform me about that?"

Napatigil sya sa pag ihip ng umuusok sa init na karne saka takang napatingin sa akin.

"Was that necessary?"
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To be continued...