Living with a Half Blood

Chapter 29: Faded History

Chapter 29: Faded History

Hindi ko maiwasan na magtaka. Ito ang unang beses na pinatawag ako ni Zander. Kadalasan siya ang pumupunta sa aking kwarto kapag gusto niya akong makausap.

Naglakad ako papunta sa study room. I wonder what he wants to tell me. Nitong mga nakaraang araw napansin kong malalim ang kanyang iniisip. Lagi siyang napapabuntong hininga. Minsan nakatayo siya sa balkonahe ng mag isa. Tila isang importanteng desisyon ang kanyang pinag iisipan.

Kumatok ako sa pintuan. Nanatiling tahimik ang paligid. Nagdalawang isip ako bago binuksan ang pinto. Bumungad sa akin ang maliwanag na kwarto. Nakahawi ang kurtina ng malaking bintana na makikita sa dulo ng kwarto.

"Zander?"

Maingat kong sinara ang pintuan bago naglakad papasok. Tahimik ang paligid. Nandito ba siya? Isang bagay ang nakakuha ng aking attention. Isang makapal na libro ang nakapatong sa kahoy na mesa. Nilapitan ko ito. There were several pictures pasted on the pages. It was a photo album.

"Hey,"

Napaatras ako sa gulat. Nabangga ng aking likod ang dibdib ni Zander. I breathe deep. These past few days I've been anxious. Kahit maliit na galaw o ingay nagugulat ako.

Akmang lilingon ako kay Zander nang maramdaman ko ang kanyang brasong bumalot sa aking balikat. Zander is tall and he can easily envelop me against his broad chest. His body heat radiates from him.

Bumaba ang kanyang braso sa aking bewang at mas naging mahigpit ang kanyang yakap. One thing people didn't know about their alpha, Zander is clingy.

"Zander, you scared me."

His warm breath tickled my bare neck where his head slowly bury itself between my bare neck and shoulder blade.

"Did I?" Humigpit ang kanyang pagkakayakap. "Do you want me to apologize?" He asked playfully.

I know Zander. I know him too well to be aware how these gestures is his way of pulling himself together from whatever is bothering him. Kinalas ko ang kanyang braso upang humarap sa kanya. But aren't we under the same circumstances? May mga bagay din akong hindi masabi sa kanya.

"Tell me what's bothering you," I said.

Tinitigan niya ako. He gave me a gentle smile. Like he just proved something.

"Some people wants to meet you."

Meet me? Nakaramdam ako ng pangamba. My history of meeting people in relations to Zander were not exactly nice experiences.

"If you're not comfortable with it, you don't have to go."

Napansin ni Zander ang pangamba sa mukha ko.

"Who are they?" I asked.

"They are my late grandmother's immediate family," said Zander. "It's my grandparents death anniversary tomorrow."

"I'm sorry to hear about that," nasabi ko. "I'll go."

Naramdaman ko ang paghinga ng malalim ni Zander. Tila pinipigilan niya ang sarili na magsalita pa. Kumalas si Zander mula sa pagkakayakap.

"Are you sure?"

I can see it in his eyes. It was as if what I've said could alter a profound decision. A decision he didn't wanted to make.

"Yes." But I have to.

--

Halos isang oras na kaming nasa byahe. The inside of the car was silent. Kasama ko si Zander sa sasakyan habang nasa kasunod naming sasakyan si Aunt Helga at Miss Loraine. Naiwan sa pamamahala ni Sebastian ang bayan.