The Alpha's Possession

Chapter 3

"Hindi ka pa ba matutulog?" tanong ko kay Ash na dilat na dilat ang mata habang nakatitig sa labas ng bintana. We're currently on the veranda while Nisha is asleep. Muli siyang umiyak pagkatapos niyang kumain ngunit hindi na nagsalita. I was actually wondering what made her not talk about what happened and seal her lips.

Tanging itim na kalangitan lang ang makikita at nagtatago ang mga bituin at buwan. Pinagmasdan namin ang langit at parehong napayakap sa sarili nang malakas ang pag-ihip ng hangin. I was just wearing my white pajamas, while Ash was wearing shorts and a white t-shirt. May hawak din siyang isang tasa ng kape at sumisimsim.

"Hindi ako makakatulog knowing that someone might hurt you," mahinang saad niya at tumingin sa akin.

"I can protect myself if that happens."

Muli siyang uminom sa tasa, habang nakatitig pa rin sa akin. "I know; gusto ko lang magpapansin."

Tinago niya ang ngisi sa pag-inom. Lalo akong tumahimik at hindi nakasabay sa mga sinasabi niya. I couldn't get him. Sometimes he was serious, and now he's flirting. I tried to focus my gaze outside and ignore what he said.

I bit my lower lip when I realised something. My wolf wanted to transform and take this time tonight. I wanted to tell Ash to go to sleep, pero alam kong maghihinala lang siya kapag pinilit ko ulit siya. I sighed as a cold breeze hugged my body. Tahimik ang paligid sa labas.

"Estella Idy Demetria," mayamaya'y banggit niya sa buong pangalan ko at pinakatitigan ako. May maliit na ngiti sa labi niya.

"What?" I asked in monotone. Parehong banayad ang paghinga namin. I've never felt this comfortable in my whole existence.

"Saan galing ang pangalan mo? Bakit ang haba?"

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin sa kanya at sumandal sa safety railing; hindi pa rin siya tumigil kakatitig sa akin. "Estella means moon; hindi pa ba common sa inyong mga tao ang meaning n'on?" kunot-noong sagot ko. Natawa naman siya dahil sa pagiging sarkastiko ng tono ko. I rolled my eyes at him and sighed.

"Sige, 'yung Idy na lang. Saan nanggaling?" pangungulit niya habang tumatawa pa rin. "I don't really know where my parents got it, but I preferred to be called Idy rather than Estella. Masyadong tunog babae ang Estella," I explained, even though I didn't know what the point of telling those things to him was.

He went silent for a moment, then smiled. "Ako, hindi mo ba ako tatanungin?"

Umiling ako. "I'm not interested."

Muli siyang natawa. "I really like your attitude. It's short-tempered and straightforward."

"No one asked," pangbabara ko sa kanya.

"Pero seryoso, ganyan ka ba talaga? I mean, your attitude is cold as ice. Mas malamig pa nga yata sa yelo." His heartily laughed rang in my head.

"I don't care if you have problems with my attitude; either you accept it or leave my life entirely," pagtatapos ko sa pag-uusap namin at akmang aalis na nang hawakan niya ang kamay ko. It was his third time holding my hand, and just like before, I felt electricity running through my veins, but unlike before, I didn't shove his hand away.

Sandali kaming nagtitigan bago siya mismo ang kusang umiwas. "S-Sige na, matulog ka na. Good night, Estella." Tinanguan ko siya at pumasok na sa loob. Nisha was sleeping in my bedroom, and it seemed I was going to sleep in my sala for tonight. Kumuha ako ng isang unan at kumot sa loob ng kwarto ko, but I stopped to see Nisha's scars. I couldn't help but grit my teeth as I saw the long and fresh scar on her face. Wala namang ibang gagawa nito kung hindi ang mga kauri ko.

Nang lumabas ako ng kwarto ay nasa sala na rin si Ash. He was holding his own pillow and placing a soft mattress on the floor. Dumiretsyo ako sa sofa at nilapag ang mga gamit. Hindi na rin naman siya nagsalita ngunit nanatiling nakatitig sa kisame habang nakahiga sa sahig at kalahati ng katawan ang natatakpan ng kumot.

I was still sitting on the sofa while waiting for him to fall asleep. I couldn't transform into my wolf form if he was still awake. I'm afraid that he will see me. I know I will terrify him if it happens.

"Can't you sleep?" he asked, and his eyes fell on me. I shook my head and turned my gaze away. We were both silent until I saw his breathing become calm and deep. Tahimik akong pumuslit sa veranda at isinarado ang slide door. Unti-unti kong hinubad ang suot. Dahan-dahan ang paglabas ng matutulis kong kuko kasabay ng pagkalat ng puting balahibo sa katawan ko. My eyes turned blue as I transformed. My breathing was heavy as I released a low growl.

Tumalon ako pababa ng veranda habang hindi iniisip kung gaano kataas 'yon. I ran away from the dorm and followed the scent of the wolf I had smelled earlier. Nakarating ako sa masukal na parte kung nasaan namin natagpuan si Nisha Kanina. Halos manginig ang kalamnan ko habang tinatahak ang madilim na lugar. I began to slow my pace as I saw a wolf waiting for me there. Tumigil ako sa harapan niya at pinakatitigan siya.

"What do you need?" I asked calmly.

He bowed his head as a sign of respect. "I just want to see how you're doing here," he muttered, letting out a low growl. Nakaramdam ako ng inis dahil sa sinabi niya. Gusto ko siyang sugurin, but I kept myself calm as I stared at him. His fur was a mix of black and grey, and nothing seemed to change about his appearance.

"Don't you miss me?" Hellion, my childhood friend, asks. Kumalma ako ng kaunti at huminto sa harapan niya.

"What are you doing here, Hellion? Did my mother send you here?" naiinis na tanong ko at nagpakawala ng mahinang ungol. I see him playing with his tail, as if unbothered by my rage. Naiinis na sumugod ako sa kanya at dinaganan siya. Nagulat siya sa ginawa ko at hindi kaagad nakabawi. I cornered him between my paws and showed my fangs.

"Woah! I didn't know that you're actually this wild, huh? Estella Idy."

"Shut the fuck up and go straight to the point."

Pinilit niya akong tanggalin sa ibabaw niya, pero nagmatigas ako at diniin sa katawan niya ang mahahabang kuko ko. He growled in pain, and that's when I freed him.

"Ikaw ang may gawa kay Nisha sa mga sugat niya?" seryosong tanong ko. Naramdaman kong natigilan siya sa tinanong ko ngunit nakabawi rin. "Nababaliw ka ba? Bakit sumusugod ka sa mga tao at sinasaktan sila? Nakalimutan mo na ba na ipinagbabawal ang pananakit sa mga inosenteng tao ng Alpha?"

He bowed his head a little. "I apologised, Estella. Akala ko kasi ay masama siyang tao dahil nakikita kong lagi siyang nakasunod sa 'yo." Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya ngunit nakabawi rin.

"Makulit ang babaeng iyon at madaldal ngunit mabait siya," pagtatanggol ko kay Nisha. "Hindi imposibleng sundan niya ako palagi dahil interesado siyang makipagkaibigan sa akin."

Nagulat ako sa malakas na tawa ni Hellion. Naiinis na tinitigan ko siya ngunit patuloy pa rin siyang tumatawa. "Ikaw na talaga 'yan, Estella?"

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. It's just that... I have the guts to defend Nisha from his accusation. I know that she's harmless. "What are you trying to say?"

He shrugged and walked towards me. "Does that mean you trust her? A human like her?" Mas lalo akong natigilan sa sinabi niya. Hindi kaagad ako nakasagot at mas lalong makatingin sa mga mata niya.

Do I already trust them? I let them go with me and brought them into my dorm; should I distance myself more?

I sighed and walked away from him. I couldn't still afford to talk to him. Even my own decision confused me. Nagpapakita lang ako ng kabaitan dahil mababait na tao sila. Tama. I scratched my nape as I convinced myself, Sino bang niloloko.

With a lot of confusion and thoughts in my head, I ran away from him. I could feel his stares from a distance, but I ignored him. There's no point in talking to him; my mom clearly sent him here to watch me. Naiinis ako dahil para bang wala siyang tiwala sa akin. I was already of legal age; why just let me?

Tumakbo ako ng ilang beses at umikot sa school. I didn't care if someone saw me, but I definitely fastened my pace. Halos hindi ko na makita ng malinaw ang nasa paligid dahil sa bilis ko tumakbo; everything was just blurry, and my mind was still focused on what Hellion said.

As much as I want to forget his words, it bothers me. Paanong kahit hindi pa ako matagal na nag-stay rito ay naging malapit na ako sa kanila?

When I got tired, I immediately went to my dorm and dressed myself. Sa veranda ako pumasok at nadatnan ko si Ash na nakaupo sa sofa at tila ba may hinihintay. His gaze darted towards me, and I could see the shock in his face. Nagulat din ako sa hindi ko in-expect na gising pa rin siya.

I was still holding the slide door when he stood up and looked at me darkly. Napalunok ako nang mag-umpisa siyang maglakad palapit sa akin nang hindi pinuputol ang tingin namin. He stopped and inched away from me, and his muscled arms concerned me in between. Nangunot ang noo ko nang maamoy ko sa kanya ang bath soap ko; he used it earlier, and it smells good on him.

I remained silent, my face blank, and fought with his stares. I have no clue why he's doing this. I had the urge to smack his face, but I resisted myself-or, I should say, because my knees were slowly melting from his intense stares.

"Saan ka galing?" he asked, using his bedroom voice. My mouth parted slightly. Hindi ko naman obligasyon na sabihin sa kanya kung saan ako galing. He could think whatever comes to mind, and I don't care.

Tinulak ko ang dibdib niya palayo sa akin ngunit hindi siya nagpatinag. I closed my eyes tightly in frustration. Ngunit nagulat ako nang pagdilat ko ay nakatitig na siya sa labi ko.

I bit my lower lip unconsciously. "Alis."

His jaw clenched. Mas lalo niyang nilapit sa akin ang mukha dahilan para mapaatras ako ngunit tumama lang ang ulo ko sa dingding. Mas lalo niyang diniin sa akin hanggang sa para bang wala nang natitirang distansya sa pagitan namin.

"Wala ka riyan kanina, paano ka nakapasok?" he asked, licking his lower lip. I uncomfortably pushed his chest, but still, he didn't budge. I'm starting to be pissed. Masyado na siyang mayabang.

"I was there; you just didn't notice," I said, and I almost stuttered. He laughed bitterly and stared at me darkly; his eyes seemed to be daggers that were hitting me. Alam kong may lakas ako na itulak siya at saktan para makaalis ngunit hindi ko alam kung bakit ko ginagawa.

I wasn't enjoying this, was I?

Uminit ang dugo ko sa sariling naisip at malakas siyang tinulak paalis sa akin. He was shocked and did not expect it. Tumalsik siya sa sala at tumama ang likod niya sa sofa. Halos malayo rin ang naging pagitan naming dalawa. Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin at nakita ko sa mga mata niya na hindi siya makapaniwala.

"Idy," he said, still shocked.

"I told you before that you should not touch me whenever you want. Ano bang hindi mo maintindihan doon?" inis na tanong ko at naglakad palapit sa kanya. He's still sitting on the floor, and his gaze went up at me. Huminto ako sa harapan niya at kinuyom ang panga.

"You're in my territory, and I could do whatever I want; let it be my last warning," I said and marched to the kitchen. Kumuha ako ng tubig sa fridge at uminom ng isa pang baso. My hands were trembling, and I could feel the beads of sweat on my forehead. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganito kalakas ang naging epekto niya sa akin. I just wish that it would be the last time he would come near me.