Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 12 New Student

OTTILIE VIRSES POV 
 
 
Sumapit na naman ang araw ng lunes, and for the first time in days, my life was peaceful. The reason? Mag-apat na araw nang hindi nagpapakita si Plutus sa bahay. Pakiramdam ko, nabunutan ako ng tinik sa lalamunan nang hindi na umuwi si Plutus sa bahay. 
 
Kasalukuyang nasa loob ako ng classroom habang hinihintay ang teacher namin para sa first period. Muli na namang napadako ang tingin ko sa crime scene kung saan nakita ang katawan ni Lucas. Apat na araw na din ang nakalipas ng mamatay ito. Wala na ang yellow police tape na nakalagay sa sports field, at puno na muli ito ng mga varsity students na nag-training. 
 
Siguro nga ay pinaniniwalaan nila ang Urban Legend ng Red Room, kaya walang mababakas na takot sa mga estudyante sa school na 'to. They believed that Elena and Lucas somehow found the red room and made a wish to the enchanted mirror that cost their lives.

But it was different for me, I see these incidents very differently.
 
Naniniwala pa din ako na kagagawan ito ng isang estudyante sa Crimson Academy. I know na ginagamit niya lang ang urban legend ng school para makapang biktima at hindi ako makapapayag na dumami pa ang mabiktima nito. 
 
Nang dumating na si Mrs. Willow, lahat kami ay napaayos na sa pagkakaupo at tumingin sa harapan. Himala na natapos din sa daldalan itong si Jenna at Dylan, pinag-uusapan nilang dalawa kung saan mamimili ng mga latest potions para sa experiments nila. Edi sila na ang maharlika, pati ba naman 'yan pagtatalunan pa, nakakaloka. 
 
"Good morning, Class," Mrs. Willow greeted us.
 
"Good morning, Mrs. Willow," we greeted her back. 
 
Then, with a wide smile, she announced there was a new wizard transferring to our school from overseas. The room filled with murmurs and curiosity. Kung ako 'yan, baka inatake na ako ng anxiety dahil paniguradong mapupunta sa bagong transfer ang atensyon ng buong clase. 
 
Nang pumasok sa loob ang bagong lipat na estudyante, literal na napanganga ako nang makita kung sino ito. The girls erupted, whispering excitedly, and even the boys looked impressed seeing the new boy.
 
It was freaking Plutus! 
 
There he was, in his full-set uniform, his sky-blue wolf-cut hair perfectly styled, his backpack slung effortlessly over one shoulder, while his hands casually tucked inside his pockets. 
 
Of course, it was him. He was grinning like he was enjoying all the attention. I rolled my eyes heavenwards. So this is where he’s been all this time, off plotting yet another dramatic entrance just like the one he always does when torturing me. 
 
Mrs. Willow motioned for him to introduce himself. Plutus scanned the room before his eyes landed on me. He raised an eyebrow before he said, "Plutus Curse, 19 years old."
 
So, the evil demon has a surname? Tss, bagay sa kan'ya, I cursed him to be trapped on this earth with no chance of returning to his homeland in hell. 
 
"Are you single?" One of the girls asked.
 
Plutus flashed a charming smile. "Yes," he said, winking at her.

Nagtilian tuloy ang mga babae dahil sa ginawa nito. Pwe, nakakasuka naman, hindi bagay sa kan'ya. Sinasabi ko na nga ba eh, flirt ang demon na 'to. Sa paraan pa lang nito tuwing nginingisian ako sa bahay, alam ko nang ginagamit niya iyon para makabingwit ng mga babae, pero ang saklap naman ata, bakit sakin ginagamit niya 'yon bilang panakot? Hindi ba ako babae sa paningin ng asungot na 'yon?
 
Hindi naman ata makatarungan 'yon. 
 
"You may now seat, Mr. Curse. Feel free to seat anywhere you want," Mrs. Willow instructed. 
 
Instantly, the girls began offering their chairs, giggling and fluttering like moths to a flame. But Plutus, ever the gentleman, politely declined each offer with a smile, making them blush even more. Tss, kung alam niyo lang gaano kasama ang ugali niyan sa bahay.
 
I couldn’t stand watching him pretend to be all nice when he was the most evil person I’d ever met. I buried my face in my arms, silently praying he’d just go away. I could hear Jenna offering Dylan’s seat, which made Dylan protest loudly, but Plutus declined again.
 
Then I felt it, someone staring at me. I lifted my head, and there he was, towering over my desk. Plutus looked down at me, an infuriatingly polite smile on his face.
 
"Is this seat taken?" he asked, gesturing to the empty chair next to mine.
 
Hindi ata ako na-orient na kailangan naming magpanggap na hindi magkakilala. Kung sabagay, pabor naman sa'kin 'yon, ayokong malaman nila na dalawang beses na akong pinagtripan ng kulugo na 'to. 
 
"Yes, go find another one," I snapped, making my classmates gasp in shock. 
 
I even heard someone mutter, "How dare she? She’s such a bitch."
 
Plutus heard it too, but instead of reacting, he just grinned, only for my benefit. "Alright, I decided. I wanted this spot." 
 
He calmly placed his bag on the back of the chair and sat down beside me, still grinning like a cat who caught the mouse, his eyes focused on Mrs. Willow.
 
Kita mo, kapag ginusto niya, dapat nakukuha niya. What a spoiled brat, tss. I clenched my fists under the table, trying to calm myself. After days of blissful silence, here he was, back to make my life miserable. 
 
I really hate this guy.
 
 
~~~
 
 
"Uy, may pa-audition daw ang Crimson & Heartbreaks mamaya sa auditorium," Sabi ni Jenna habang nilalantakan ang pasta niya. 
 
Lunch break na namin ngayon at nandito kami sa cafeteria habang kumakain. Kung tinatanong niyo kung nasaan si Plutus aba'y 'di ko alam. Nang matapos ang second period namin, tila wala itong katabi at pacool na nag dire-diretso palabas ng classroom.
 
"Baka para sa'kin talaga ang pagiging vocalist?" Sabat naman ni Dylan habang napapangisi. 
 
Nabatukan tuloy siya ni Jenna. "Ikaw? Vocalist nila Slate?" Singhal nito sa kaibigan. "Asa ka, boses daga ka kaya kapag kumakanta." 
 
Napakamot naman itong si Dylan at hindi na pumalag pa. Itong si Dylan halata ang pagiging nerd dahil sa laki ng salamin nito sa mata, pero matangkad ito na lalaki at may itim na itim na buhok. Siguro kaunting make-over lang, g-gwapo na 'to. 
 
"Ottilie," kalabit sa'kin ni Jenna. 
 
"Bakit?" Tipid na tanong ko.
 
I'm sorry, hindi talaga ako pala-salita, mas gusto kong nakikinig lang at paminsan-minsang makisali sa usapan. Alam naman iyon nila Jenna at Dylan at naiintindihan nila iyon. They are kind, really.
 
"Anong feeling na makatabi ang newest popular guy in CA?" Malokong tanong nito sa'kin. 
 
Automatic na nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko sa tanong nito. "Si Plutus? Sakto lang, bakit?" 
 
Pero deep inside gusto ko siyang sagutin na hindi ako natutuwa sa ginawa niyang pagpasok sa Crimson Academy. Siguro sobrang bagot na ng isang 'yon sa bahay kaya pati dito sa school pinipeste niya ako. 
 
"Omg! Like girl, napakapogi niya!" Tili ni Jenna habang may pagpilantik pa sa buhok nito. "Mas pogi pa siya kay Slate sa totoo lang." 
 
"So number 2 na lang si Slate sa list of crushes mo gano'n?" Tanong ni Dylan. 
 
"Oo! Number 1 na si Plutus dahil unang araw pa lang nabihag na niya ang puso kong salawahan, so I'm sorry, Slate, but don't worry, you're still my number 2." Nakatingin pa itong si Jenna sa kisame habang nag d-daydream na ikina-iling na lang namin ni Dylan. 
 
Nang matapos ang lunch break namin, humiwalay na muna ako kina Dylan at Jenna para magbanyo. May mangilan-ngilan pa din na pakalat-kalat sa hallway, kaya alam kong may oras pa bago mag-umpisa ang 3rd period. Liliko na sana ako nang may bigla na lang humablot sa kamay ko ng malakas at saka ako hinila sa madilim na parte. Sisigaw na sana ako ng itakip ng talipandas ang kamay nito sa bibig ko.
 
"Sssh, it's me, evil witch," said the voice of the man who's very familiar to me.
 
It was Plutus towering over me with his massive frame. I was pressed hard against the cold wall as he stood close, too close. His face was only inches from mine, and I could feel my heart racing in my chest. This was the first time we’d ever been this close, and to my surprise, I caught a whiff of his sweet scent. 
 
It wasn’t the usual strong cologne that would make me sneeze uncontrollably. I’m allergic to strong perfumes, and whenever I smell one, I start sneezing nonstop until the scent is completely gone from my nose. But Plutus perfume was sweet and calm, almost refreshing.

Or maybe I was just hallucinating?
 
Then, Plutus leaned in even closer, his breath warm against my cheek as he whispered, "You better keep your mouth shut about me living in your house and that we know each other. Got it?"
 
I couldn’t focus on his words at first, too distracted by how near he was, but then his grip tightened. "Don’t even think about telling anyone that I’m a devil, especially about the spell you did to me." His voice turned colder.
 
"Most of all, I came to this school to keep an eye on you, to make sure you’re working on how to undo it." He added without giving me the chance to talk back.
 
Then he paused, letting his words sink in, and then finished with a chilling warning, "You’d better take this seriously, Ottilie. You wouldn’t want to end up like Lucas, cold and lifeless, would you?"
 
His threat made my skin crawl, and I felt a shiver run down my spine as I nodded slowly. Every part of me wanted to punch him for cornering me like this. Why couldn’t he wait until we got home? Did he have to do this in the middle of school?
 
When Plutus was satisfied, he removed his hand from my mouth, stepping back slightly to give me some space. As he did, he made a motion like he was slicing his neck, then shot me one last death glare before walking away.

 
To be continued...