Alpha Travis

Kabanata 4

After that 'mini incident' ay parang mas lalong nagkaroon ng barrier between me and the others. It's now two o'clock in the afternoon at sinabing itutuloy ang celebration mamayang three o'clock. Welcoming Party naman pala, pero parang hindi naman kami welcome sa mga pinag gagagawa nila. 

Nagpaalam saakin kanina si Red na may pupuntahan lamang muna siya sa locker niya at magkita nalang daw kami sa field kaya naman ako ngayon ang walang magawa. Though the building is huge, I don't have any place to hang out at. What a waste of time.  So, I've decided to ring Tattiana since I already got her number, a few rings have passed and she finally answered my call. 

"Hey, Tattiana, just wondering if you're currently here at the campus..." I trailed off.

Her background seemed a little bit off, there's some whispers and silent moans, both of pain and pleasure, then she seemed to adjust the environment for I can no longer hear anything but her lovely voice, "Thea! Yeah, just chillin' out here. How about you?" 

Her question made me snort a little bit, "Sorry, it's just the day is only beginning but I am spent up 'till dawn." She chuckled a bit before I heard a male voice. Siguro ay kasama niya ang mga kaibigan niya.

"Tats, your turn." Seemed to be a whisper but came in to my hearing as clear as crystal. I can hear some pants and sighs, but all drowned in Tattiana's voice, "Gotta catch up with you later, Althea! I'm sure as hell we'll meet in the field later, though." Then, we exchanged our goodbyes before I ended the call.

I held on to my bag tighter than usual, bago ako naglakad patungo sa open field. Hindi kagaya kanina, mas kakaunti ang bilang ng mga estudyante na natambay ngayon sa malawak na field. I've decided to went further than the usual, pumunta ako doon sa linya ng mga pine trees na nagsisilbing barrier ng nasasakupan ng campus at ng kakahuyang tila walang katapusan. 

Nang umupo ako sa ilalim ng silong ,dahil sa naglalakihang katawan ng puno, ay inilabas ko naman ang sweater ko sa bag at iyon ang ginawang upuan. Pinangtakip ko na 'rin sa mga hita ko dahil mas umaangat ang pencil skirt kong uniporme. Hapit na hapit pa naman kaya medyo nahihirapan akong umupo ng lapat sa sahig.

The sun is shining above us, blessing us with its heat and light, but here I am shying my body away from both of it. Binuksan ko naman ang takip ng tubigan ko, medyo napasara ko yata ng masyado kaya naman hirap akong pihitin ito, itinagilid ko naman ang katawan ko sa kakahuyan at doon ipinuwersa ang pagbubukas. I even had to clench my teeth tight because of its difficulty. 

"Magpainom ka naman please..." I begged the bottled water as I try to open it. Isang pwersahang ikot ng takip ay tumilapon naman ito sa hindi kalayuan!

I sighed at my clumsiness, uminom muna ako ng tubig bago ko hinanap ang takip ng aking tubigan sa damuhan. I even had to go further nang makita kong kuminang ang silver na takip ng aking tubigan nang tamaan ng sinag ng araw. Nang damputin ko ito ay laking gulat ko ng may pumulot din na kamay dito. Medyo napahiyaw ako, hindi dahil nagbungguan ang kamay namin, ngunit dahil hindi ko naman ito napansin kaninang nakamasid ako dito sa kakahuyan!

When I looked up, it was a man in his late twenties, with stubbles in his chin that made him look a lot older than he is. But what intrigued me the most is that he's just in his khaki shorts and nothing else! His ripped six pack abs is showing, glistening even under the scorching sun. I can't tell whether if he's homeless or something in that manner because his good looks is giving him the way out.

"May I ask what is an unarmed alluring lady is doing in the middle of the woods?" He asked before playing with the lid of my bottled water.

"Well, basically we're not yet in the middle of the woods, but to answer your question, I am here for that thing in your hand." I even pointed directly to his hands.

Suddenly, the wind blew in my direction hastily, the sudden change of air is felt. Mas lumamig kumpara kanina at tila ba naalarma ang payapang estado ng mga estudyante nang biglang mag-alarm ang emergency bell sa buong building ng University. It was even intensified with some blowing of horns on top of the building. Hindi man ako ganoong sumusunod sa patakaran ng eskwelahan ay marunong naman akong makiramdam.

Pagbaling ko sa lalaki ay malamlam saakin itong nakamasid ng may ngiti sa mga labi. "Kung iaabot mo nalang saakin 'yang takip, kasi kung naririnig mo naman ay kanina pa dapat ako tumakbo papalayo..." I paused and looked behind me,  "Look, I need to go." At lumakad ako patungo rito.

Bawat paghakbang ko papalapit dito ay tila ba nadadagdagan ang excitement sa mata ng lalaki, nang makalapit dito ay ngumiti naman ako rito at magalang na inilahad ang palad sakaniya para siya mismo ang mag bigay nito saakin.

Itinaas naman nito ang kamay na may hawak sa takip at iwinagayway pa sa ere ito, napawi naman kaagad ang ngiti sa labi ko ng gawin niya ito na tila ba nakikipag biro pa ako sakaniya. Hindi niya ba naririnig ang napagkalakas na bell sa di kalayuang building? He's some ridiculous man!

"What the..." At nilapitan ko ito ngunit nang tangkain kong agawin ito sa hawak niya ay inilipat naman niya ito sa opposite na puwesto. "You must be out of your goddamn mind, Sir!" Hindi ko na napigilan at dinakma ko na ang kamay nito ng biglang dumaan ito sa harapan ko. 

I was holding his hand on mine when somebody emerged from my behind, napalingon naman kaagad ako rito. Fate must be laughing at me right now for it is the same man that was making my blood boil from the moment that I met him. This is ridiculous!

Nagpupumuyos sa galit ang mukha, his cheeks are now becoming red and he's breathing heavily as seen on his chest. Gone where his deep colored brown eyes, it's like a hint of gold is visible around his eyes. Low growls are heard in the open space, the same fucking sound that only animals can make.

I blew a hot air before taking my hand off his, ngunit parang manggagalit pa itong lalaking nasa harapan ko at hinila pa ako papalapit sakaniya na nagresulta ng halos magkadikit na mukha naming dalawa. His breath scent is slowly invading my comfort zone. His eyes are telling me things that can't be heard.

"See you around, my precious butterfly." He whispered in the air.

And as if on cue, foot steps are heard coming towards this area. Gasps and low breathing from a group of bulky men and some fiery looking women is all I could hear. 

"You fucking take your paws off her or I'll rip you to bits. Your choice, Fiore." A deep warning growl escaped through the man behind me after saying such command.

The man in front of me, whom I assumed that his name is Fiore, suddenly let go of my hand delicately before taking a step backward. Slowly, his stance is claiming defeat. Agad naman akong dinaluhan ng mga lalaki at ang isa ay hinaklit kaagad ang aking braso, I hissed silently.

Tumingin naman ng saglit ang lalaking humahawak sa braso ko doon sa lalaking nakita ko sa clinic, iginiya niya ang ulo ng babahagya bago tumango. He didn't even glanced at us, at pinagpatuloy lamang ang pakikipag titigan kay Fiore.

Hinatak naman ako ng walang konsiderasyon, mabilis at hindi ako kaagad maka sabay sakanilang paglalakad dahil sa sobrang bilis nitong maglakad. The other two men are just behind us. Nang malapit na sa punong sinilungan ko kanina ay tumigil ako sa paglalakad, "Wait, kukunin ko lang 'yung gamit ko." Akmang aalisin ko na ang hawak nito saakin ngunit bigla naman siyang lumingon sa dalawang lalaki.

"Get her things." Utos nito at pinagpatuloy ang paghaklit saakin papalayo sa kakahuyan.