The Empress' Heart

27 : SHIFTERS

Hearties, the ud is here!

*****

HUNTER's POV

I don't know why I have this feeling that something's wrong. I sighed as I leaned on the wall and pocket my hands. The wind breeze is cool. I let the wind blow my hair like the leaves in the trees. I am staring the whole university ground from here.

Nothing's suspicious. Everything's ordinary. Everything's neutral.

"Am I paranoid?"-asking myself like an idiot.

I decided to find my friends and Lee. I smiled as I am thinking her. She's really stealing my heart like a thief. Unbelievable.

I was about to walk when someone called my name.

"Hunter!"

I stopped and looked back. I saw Amber running towards me. I smiled.

"Oh Amber."- She's in front of me while smiling.

"Maaga ka ata ngayon?"-she smirked.

We started to walk and just like the other days, everyone's greeting and smiling at me but I am just ignoring them.  Yes, I am ignoring them because I won't let my guard down. I know and I can still feel this anxiety. Someone's watching me. No. Us. The Gang. Including Lee. It's been a week since the auction night. Nakakatakot ang pagiging tahimik ng lahat.

"Where's Lee?"-I asked Amber.

She rolled her eyes like a villain. "Somewhere over the rainbow."

"What's wrong?"-I asked again.

"Yang Lee mo, nakakainis kasi~"-she stroke her hair using her hand while stamping her feet. "Pati ako nadadamay sa kasungitan niya dahil kay Hannah! Urghhhh!"-she's frustrated.

"Bakit si Hannah?"-tanong ko.

Siguro may nangyari na naman. Ano kaya yun?

"Hindi ko naman kasi mainntindihan si Hannah kung bakit ayaw niyang sabihin kung sino ang nakalaban niya nung auction ni Kevin. Kahit si Tristan din."-a sudden serious aura came from her.

"Hindi ba tauhan ni Kevin ang nakalaban nila?"-tanong ko. Iyon ang sabi ni Tristan sa akin noong gabing nasa mansion kami.

"Oo pero si Rix, hindi siya naniniwala sa sinabi ng dalawa. Knowing her, she's too smart. She always using her instinct. And that instinct never fails her."-seryoso pa rin ang tono ng boses niya habang nasa harapan lang ang tingin.

Saglit akong napaisip sa sinabi ni Amber. Ibig sabihin, may alam o idea si Lee kung sino ang nakalaban ni Hannah pero gusto niya malaman kung tama ang hinala niya at sila Hannah at Tristan lang ang makakakumpirma nito. Sabay kaming huminto sa paglalakad dahil sa dalawang tao na seryosong nag-uusap sa labas ng classroom.

Lee and the nerd?

Nagkatinginan kami ni Amber tsaka nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Bakit nandito na si Lee? Paanong hindi ko siya napansin kanina? Ibig sabihin mas nauna pa siya kay Amber? Napansin kong salubong ang kilay ni Lee habang nakatingin sa nerd na binully ni Briana.

"A-ah R-rix, h-hindi k-ko a-alam k-kung a-ano a-ang s-sinasabi m-mo."-nautal na sabi ng nerd. What is her name? I hate calling someone by appearance, it's like an insult.

"Again, why are you here? Who are you? I know you're following me. What do you want fake nerd?"-ramdam ko ang inis ni Lee sa tono ng pananalita niya.

Wait, fake nerd?

Inakbayan ko siya pagkadating namin ni Amber sa dalawa. Tumingin sa akin si Lee na salubong ang kilay. Bad mood? "Lee, what's happening?"-tinago ko ang kaba dahil sa uri ng tingin niya.