Takipsilim

Chapter 9: First Blood

"Stay away from him."

Katherina remembered her mother's words and came back to her senses. Agad niyang binitawan si Yael.

"S-sorry." Katherina bent her head down.

Yael was flushed. He cannot stop himself from smiling and he does not know why.

"Bakit ba ngayon lang kita nakilala?" He said to Katherina without thinking.

The girl looked at him as if he'd gone crazy.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Nakangiti pa rin si Yael. "Halika na, kainin na natin ito."

"I'm sorry, m-may pupuntahan pa akong iba." Pagsisinungaling ni Katherina. She did not really want to leave Yael ngunit naalala niya ang bilin sa kanya ng ina.

Akmang tatalikod na ang dalaga ngunit hinawakan ng binata ang kanyang pulsuhan.

"W-wait, Kath." He said. "Sasamahan kita."

Katherina looked at Yael's hand which is holding her wrist.

His hand is so warm, she thought.

Nag-isip ang dalaga. He is the first friend I ever made na hindi ako nakalimutan. Papakawalan ko ba siya?

"Mukhang wala na akong magagawa." Sambit ng dalaga, answering her question to herself. Bahala na.

She looked at Yael and smiled.

"Tara, kainin na natin yang dala mo."

And Yael swore, that is the sweetest smile he has ever seen.

-----

Later that day.

It was past 10PM and Carlos Yap was doing his homework.

Carlos is a freshman at Malaya University. He came from the province at lumuwas pa siya ng Maynila para makapag-aral sa MU. Currently, he is staying at a dormitory near the university. He is an architecture student.

"Damn. I forgot my tools at my locker." Sambit niya sa kanyang roommate na si Alex. "Pre, balikan ko lang sa school yung gamit ko."

"Can't it wait until tomorrow? Guards na lang ang nandun. I doubt na payagan ka nilang pumasok."

"Hindi na kaya e. I need to submit my plates tomorrow morning."

"Okay, ingat pre."

Lumabas na si Carlos sa kanilang dormitoryo. MU was a five minute walk away.

Nang makarating siya sa gate malapit sa kanilang building ay agad niyang ipinaliwanag sa guard ang sitwasyon.

"Sige, pero bilisan mo ah." Ang sabi ng guard sa kanya.

Carlos hurriedly went to his locker and retrieved his tools. Madilim na sa kanilang campus at tanging emergency lights na lamang ang nagbibigay liwanag sa mga pasilyo.

Naglalakad na siya palabas ng kanilang building nang may narinig siyang mga kaluskos.

"S-sinong nandiyan?" Carlos asked. He was trembling.

Binilisan pa niya ang paglalakad nang may isang lalaking natatakpan ng dilim ang biglang lumitaw sa kanyang harapan.

Hindi na nakasigaw si Carlos. The unknown man slashed his neck.

A few minutes later, the guards looked for Carlos dahil nangako itong hindi magtatagal sa loob.

What they found was Carlos' lifeless body, covered in blood, with a slashed neck, and torn organs.

It was as if an animal attacked him.