Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 25 Bully

OTTILIE VIRSES POV 
 
 
After dinner, Plutus and I gathered in the living room. I’d set everything up in advance, bringing out my whiteboard and piling up some books from my father’s collection. Plutus was sprawled comfortably on the couch, while I stood by the board, pulling the cover off to reveal the information I had been working on for quite some time now.
 
"So… ‘Crimson Academy Murder Case’? Very creative, evil witch," Plutus remarked, his voice thick with sarcasm.

Then, he leaned back, crossing his arms. "And what’s this… ‘Red Room’ nonsense?"
 
I began explaining the legend, trying to ignore his arrogance. Kalma ka lang Ottilie, mayabang na talaga 'yan, pagpasensyahan mo na lang. 
 
As I went over the details, his brows pulled together, obviously doubting what I'd said. 
 
"You really believe all that crap?"
 
"Partially," I replied, shrugging. "But I don’t think it’s the mirror itself that’s behind these deaths. There’s an actual murderer on campus." I pointed at the board, where I’d written the names of the victims and the information I'd pieced together so far.
 
Plutus scanned the board. "And how do you know that the culprit is in the academy?"
 
Without a word, I handed him a small plastic-sealed bag with a school badge inside. "Found this at the first crime scene."
 
He clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "You seriously did all that on your own? That’s dangerous as hell, evil witch."
 
"I don’t trust anyone else to handle it, so I did it myself." I began to write down 'Unidentified Third Victim' and pinned up the photo I’d taken at the scene, then cut a red string and connected it to the words 'Red Room' on the board.
 
Pinakatitigan ko ang isinulat ko sa board at napa-isip ng malalim. Naaawa ako sa pangatlong biktima, this time, dalawang mata naman ang kinuha ng salarin. Malinis na malinis din ang pagkakatanggal sa mga ito na signature na ata ng mamamatay tao na iyon. 
 
Matagal kong pinakatitigan ang mga nakasulat sa board, until Plutus suddenly called out, 
 
"Hey."
 
I looked over, surprised to see him watching me intently.

"Bakit?"
 
Plutus just stared at me, his eyes searching mine, like he was trying to read my mind. Then, in a low, tense voice, he muttered, "You always have this habit of forgetting me whenever you're working on something."
 
Napakurap-kurap ako sa pinagsasabi ng prinsipeng topakin. "Napapano ka ba diyan?"
 
He let out a dry laugh, his tongue poking the inside of his cheek as he glared at me. "This is so frustrating." He whispered. "You’re literally the only person who dares to ignore me like I’m some background noise."
 
I frowned, tilting my head. Napakadrama talaga ng prinsipe na 'to, ultimo atensyon ko gusto niya sa kan'ya lang. Siguro napaka spoiled brat nito sa kaharian niya.
 
"Well, maybe you should give me a reason to pay more attention to you?" I suggested, not sure of what I've said.
 
His jaw clenched, a dark look flashing across his face as he ran a hand harshly through his hair. He glanced away briefly, but his gaze returned to me, and this time, it was sharper than ever.
 
Patay na. Wrong answer ka, Ottilie!
 
"Oh, you want a reason? Fine. I’ll give you one."
 
I took a step back, suddenly nervous, but my foot hit the couch, and I stumbled, landing on the cushions. Before I could react, Plutus was leaning over me, his arms caging me in. 
 
His breath was warm on my skin as he whispered, "So, is this enough?"
 
My heart pounded wildly as I stammered, "A-ang oa mo naman!" 
 
He grinned, his eyes glinting with a dangerous edge. "Fine. I’ll give you all the reasons to look at me from now on. I hope you're ready for that, evil witch."
 
I stared up into his sapphire eyes, feeling completely caught under his gaze. It was like staring into two moons, mesmerizing and serene. Lost in his eyes, I barely understood what he said until he grumbled impatiently, snapping me out of my trance. 
 
"L-lumayo ka nga sa'kin!" Nauutal na singhal ko dito nang matauhan ako.
 
Pahamak na magagandang mata.
 
Plutus let out a low chuckle and backed away, taking a seat on the couch again as he casually picked up a book from the table. "Alright, so what’s the plan with this murder case?"
 
I blinked a few times, still trying to steady my heartbeat. "I… I was thinking we could start on finding anything about magical auras with a silvery mist." I cleared my throat, trying to play it off, though inside, I wanted to smack him for the chaos he’d just put me through.
 
Inis kong hiniklat ang isang libro na nasa center table at saka ito padabog na binuksan. Nakaka-asar talaga siya! He's so overly dramatic, nakaka-stress siya kapag sinusumpong na siya ng sakit niya.
 
Arghhhhh!! 
 
Magpareserve na kaya ako ng kwarto sa mental? Malapit ko na ipa-admit ang sinto-sinto na prinsipeng 'to.
 

~~~

 
 
"Okay, class, see you tomorrow," Mrs. Willow said. 
 
Hays salamat, natapos din ang maghapong klase. Gusto ko ng umuwi at matulog, anong oras na din kami natapos ni Plutus sa paghahanap kagabi pero wala man lang kaming nahanap. 
 
"Bye, Ottilie! Bye Plutus! See you tomorrow," paalam ni Jenna at nagmamadaling hinila si Dylan papalabas ng classroom.
 
Dahil sa kaantukan ko, hindi ko na napansin si Plutus na tahimik lang habang inaayos ang gamit nito sa loob ng bag niya. Wala akong pasabi na lumabas ng classroom at magdidire-diretso na sana ng may humila sa collar ng blazer ko. 
 
"Ano ba!" Singhal ko sa lapastangang humila sa sa'kin, nang lingunin ko kung sino ito, tumambad lang naman sa'kin ang poker face na mukha ni Plutus.
 
"Where do you think you're going?" He asked, looking bored.
 
"Saan pa ba, edi sa bahay," singhal ko sa kan'ya. "Gusto ko ng matulog." 
 
He raised an eyebrow while looking unbothered. "Band practice, remember?" he asked, his tone making it sound like I’d just committed a crime.
 
"Oh, no…," I muttered as I slapped my face hard. "Sa lahat ng makakalimutan bakit iyon pa?" Bulong ko bago tumangin kay Plutus at nagmaka-awa. "Pwede bang hindi na lang ako tumuloy?"
 
"That won't do," he said dismissively, then Plutus started dragging me down the hallway. "Let’s go."
 
"Bitawan mo nga ako, kaasar!" I snapped, wriggling my arm free from him.
 
Pinagtitinginan na tuloy kami ng mga estudyante dito sa hallway dahil sa bangayan naming dalawa. Gusto ko na lang magpakain sa lupa dahil sa atensyon na nakukuha namin.
 
Finally, he let me go when we turned the corner, but before I could even catch my breath, a group of girls blocked our way. I didn’t recognize any of them, but they all looked at me with something between disdain and pity. 
 
Uh-oh, I know this kind of vibe, mukhang umaatake na naman ang mga bullies ko. Ganyan 'yan sila, pasulpot-sulpot simula ng malaman nila na kilala ko si Slate na may pinakamalaking fan-based dito sa school, sumunod naman itong si Plutus at pumapangatlo ang kuya Oliver ko. 
 
Then, I saw the one in the center, probably their leader, look me up and down with a smug smile. "Seducing Slate and Plutus at the same time? Don't you think that's a bit... cheap?" 
 
I raised an eyebrow, "Anong sabi mo?!"
 

To be continued...