Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 33 Hug

OTTILIE VIRSES POV 
 
 
After dinner, once everyone had freshened up, we all gathered in our shared room. We arranged two tables together in the center while we gathered around it. Nakakalat sa lamesa ang background file ni Lysandra, ang mga notes and printed pictures na kinuha namin kanina sa lab., at ang iilang libro na hiniram namin sa library kanina. May hawak na libro ang kada isa samin, pinag-aaralan ang mga bagay na napansin namin sa katawan ni Lysandra. 
 
"So, game na ba, guys?" Pagbasag ni Jenna sa katahimikan. 
 
"I guess so," Dylan replied while pushing up his glasses, "Ako na ang mauuna." 
 
Kan'ya kan'ya naman kami ng tanguan maliban kay Plutus na mukhang bored na bored na sa kinauupuan nito. Ayan, lakas ng loob mo sundan ako sa school ko, 'yan napapala mo. Imbis na nasa bahay lang siya ngayon habang nag-eenjoy mag movie marathon, andito siya kasama namin, nagpapaka-stress sa group activity namin. 
 
Dylan picked up a stack of photos showing Lysandra’s arms, neck, and legs. "Okay, check this out," he said, holding up one that showed dark veins snaking along her skin. "From what I read in this book," he pointed to a page, "dark veins like this are a sign of a curse that spreads through the bloodstream."
 
We all nodded, jotting down notes. Nakaka-awa naman ang sinapit ni Lysandra, it was surely a painful death for her. 
 
"Ayos ah, mala-detective ang vibes na'tin ngayong gabi," ngising sabi ni Jenna.
 
"Isa, umayos ka nga, seryoso muna, okay?" Pananaway ni Dylan. 
 
Natatawa man, nakinig pa din naman itong si Jenna. It's Jenna's turn now. She spread out some photos on the table, pointing to faint burn marks on Lysandra’s wrists, forearms, and chest. "I'm not sure what these symbols mean, but I think it broke from a magical backlash. Like maybe she bit off more magic than she could handle."
 
Dylan raised his eyebrows. "Sigurado ka ba diyan?"
 
"Absolutely," Jenna said with a wink. "I mean, it’s just a theory, but I’m pretty sure she went full magic overload."
 
"Baka naman nagkamali lang siya ng basa sa procedure?" I guessed. 
 
Everyone burst out laughing, even Plutus cracked a tiny smirk. "Like the one you did?" Plutus added, which made my eyes go wide.
 
Nahampas ko tuloy ang braso nito ng wala sa oras habang pinanlalakihan ito ng mga mata. Makuha ka sa tingin, asungot, baka gusto mong mabunyag ang sikreto mo dito? 
 
Abah, ang magaling, nginisihan lang ako. 
 
"Hoy, ano 'yan?" Nagdududa na tanong ni Jenna. 
 
"Bakit, anong ginawa mo, Ottilie?" Dagdag naman ni Dylan. 
 
Nakatuon na tuloy ang atensyon ng dalawang magkaibigan sa'min ni Plutus. Hilaw tuloy akong natawa bago ikinumpas ang dalawang kamay ko. 
 
"Wala, nang-aasar lang 'tong si Plutus," pagpapalusot ko. 
 
Mabuti naman at naniwala ang dalawang ito, alam naman nila na mapang-asar talaga 'tong si Plutus kaya hindi na sila nang-usisa pa. Mabuti na lang at turn ko na sa pagbibigay ng karagdanagan impormasyon sa grupo.
 
I picked up a photo of Lysandra’s hands and held it up for everyone. "Look here, her fingers are curled like she was clutching onto something. And her nails are cracked and bloodied. It almost looks like she was fighting something… or maybe trying to protect herself?" 
 
Napangisi naman si Jenna sa sinabi ko, "Nice theory, Ottilie." 
 
"Yeah, good eye," Dylan added, sounding genuinely impressed.
 
"But wait, there’s more." I immediately added, which made them more curious.
 
I picked up another photo and showed it to them. It was Lysandra's eyes. "Look at her pupils, they’re dilated, and the whites in her eyeballs are this deep gray. That’s not normal. Apparently, it happens with failed summoning spells."
 
Dylan’s jaw dropped. "Whoa. I didn’t even notice that."
 
Jenna’s eyes went wide. "Me neither! I thought the eye thing was just… you know, part of being a corpse!"
 
Then I saw Plutus smirk. I narrowed my eyes at him. "Ano, hah?"
 
He shrugged, his smirk growing. "Playing Sherlock, again." 
 
Nasiko ko tuloy siya ng wala sa oras, "Tigilan mo nga ako, Plutus!" Singhal ko sa kan'ya na ikinangisi lang nito. 
 
"Alright, my turn," Plutus said as he leaned forward, tossing a photo onto the table of Lysandra’s mouth. 
 
"There’s black particles around her lips and in her throat. Probably got into her lungs too." He stretched, looking more bored than concerned. "So, I’d say she inhaled something, it could’ve been toxic, or maybe magical particles."
 
Jenna and Dylan both let out a synchronized 'Ooooh,' teasing him as Plutus pretended to ignore it. Asus, kunwari pa siya, gustong-gusto naman na pinupuri siya. 
 
"Mukhang nagpapaligsahan ang dalawa nating kaibigan sa pagiging Sherlock Holmes," pang-aasar ni Jenna na ikinatango ni Dylan habang may nakakalokong tingin.
 
"Baka nga imbento mo lang 'yan," pang-aasar ko kay Plutus. 
 
Plutus just rolled his eyes. "Please, I don’t need to make things up."
 
"Hahaha, nagbabangayan na naman kayo, oh siya, let's wrap this up for tonight," pag-away samin ni Jenna. 
 
"So, our initial theory about what we found out is thay Lysandra used a spell that's too powerful to control that leads to her death," Jenna concluded.
 
We all nodded, agreeing to keep that as our working theory. With our discussion done, we cleared up the table, stuffing all the notes and photos into one thick envelope.
 
Sa wakas, natapos din. Gustong-gusto ko na magpahinga. Nang maitabi na namin ang dalawang lamesa at mga upuan, nagkan'ya kan'ya na kami. 
 
"Ah, guys, lalabas na muna kami para kumuha ng tubig, papasabay ba kayo?" Tanong ni Jenna na may hawak ng tubler sa kamay. 
 
"Yes, please!" I said, handing mine over, and Plutus did the same. 
 
Once Jenna and Dylan left, I headed over to my luggage, pulled out the disinfectant spray, and went over to Plutus.

Gusto kong matawa sa itsura nito ngayon na nakatayo lang habang titig na titig sa kama nito. Pinigilan kong matawa nang makalapit ako sa kan'ya.

"Relax ka lang, hindi ka aatakihin ng mga germs ngayong gabi," I said, setting the spray down on the nightstand and removing the mattress cover to start spritzing.
 
"You sure that will kill germs?" Plutus asked suspiciously. 
 
I bit back a giggle, nodding as I sprayed generously. "Yep. Kills all the germs. So you can stop giving it the evil eye."
 
He watched me intently. "Does it actually work?" he asked again. 
 
"If it doesn’t," I teased, "guess you’ll have to sleep outside."
 
Once I finished with the mattress, I moved on to the pillows. "Here, go ahead and inspect it. Sniff test if you want. Siguro naman makakatulog kana niyan."
 
He hesitated, then leaned in, inspecting each corner of the mattress and pillows like a detective. Finally, he turned to me with a look of pure relief. 
 
"Alright. This will do. For now." Then, without a word, he grabbed the spray from my hand. "I’m keeping this." And he placed it over his bedside table. 
 
Napa-ikot na lang ang mga mata ko dahil sa kaartehan ng prinsipeng ito. Just as I was about to return to my bed, I suddenly felt two strong arms wrap around me from behind. Kusa na lang nanigas ang buong katawan ko sa ginawa ni Plutus. 
 
Sinubukan kong kumawala sa pagkakayapos niya sa'kin pero mas hinigpitan lang nito ang pagkakayakap niya. Ano na naman kayang klaseng trip 'to, hindi na siya nakakatuwa.
 
"Let's stay like this for a while," he muttered softly.
 
The warmth of his embrace sent my heart racing in a way I’d never felt before, nothing like the friendly hugs Slate would give. Mukhang delikado kana Ottilie, hindi na tama 'yang nararamdaman mo. 
 
I tilted my head, trying to glance back at him. "Sabihin mo nga, anong masamang nilalang ang sumapi sayo?" 
 
Instead of letting go, Plutus just hugged me tighter, resting his chin on top of my head. "You did good back there," he mumbled, so quietly that I almost thought I’d imagined it.
 
Seryoso ba talaga 'to? First time kong makaranas ng compliment mula sa kan'ya. "Alright, who are you, anong ginawa mo sa tunay na Plutus?"
 
He grumbled, not loosening his hold. "I’m tired. It's really exhausting to deal with people all day."
 
I couldn’t help but sigh, understanding his mood. "Maybe you should get some rest, then?"
 
He gave a slight nod, but just before Jenna and Dylan could re-enter, he swiftly released me, dashing over to his bed and throwing himself onto it as if nothing had happened.
 
The door swung open, and Jenna and Dylan walked back in while holding our tumblers. "Ohh, what's that nice smell? Dylan asked, then handed the tumbler to Plutus. 
 
Meanwhile, Jenna handed mine over with a smile.

"Just making sure the germaphobe here got some peace of mind," I replied to Dylan while I tried to settle in my bed.
 
"There's nothing wrong with taking precaution," plutus said in a deadpan look.
 
Jenna and Dylan exchanged a glance, chuckling softly as they caught on, while Plutus rolled his eyes in annoyance. Finally, natapos din ang nakakapagod na araw na ito. Habang nakahiga ako sa kama, pilit na bumabalik sa isipan ko ang ginawang pangyayakap sa'kin ni Plutus. 
 
Ano kayang nakain no'n at bigla-bigla na lang nagkakagano'n? Nakakapagtaka na iba ang dulot sa pagkatao ko ng yakap na iyon. Naalala ko na niyapos ko din si Plutus nang minsang atakihin ako, katulad noon, kusa na lang kumalma ang buo sistema ko. 
 
Nagkakagusto na ba ako sa mayabang na prinsipeng iyon? Mabilis na ibinaling ko ang katawan ko sa kabilang side ng kama, at saka binura sa isipan ko ang bagay na iyon. Hindi maaari 'to, mahirap umibig sa isang imortal habang ako tumatanda sa paglipas ng taon.
 
Sa huli, ako lang din ang masasaktan. 
 

 
To be continued...