(POV Eliana)
Pagmulat ng mga mata ko, nakaupo si Tristan sa tabi ng kama ko. My whole body aches and then I remembered my frightening experience. I think I was in a werewolf form for a few minutes bago ako mawalan ng malay.
"Tristan, anong nangyari?" tanong ko sabay bangon ko sa kama. I can feel my head is splitting into two.
"I found you in the garden. Apparently, you have transformed earlier that I have expected," sabi niya sabay bigay sa akin ng isang hot lemon tea.
"Yeah, naalala ko na ang lahat. Bakit ba nangyari sa akin ito?" tanong ko sabay hawak ko sa ulo ko na masakit.
I also remembered that I hit my head on the door when I transformed as a werewolf. Kahit pala nasa werewolf form ako, clumsy ako.
"Eliana, I spoke with Lancelot earlier today."
"And may kinalaman ba sa akin yan?" tanong ko habang umiinom ng lemon tea.
"He has a proposal for you and me."
"Tristan, go straight to the point. Masakit ang ulo ko. Wag ka na magpaliguy liguy--"
"He wants to marry you instead," derechong sabi ni Tristan at dahil sa gulat ko, bigla ko nasamid sa lemon tea. Hinagod ni Tristan ang likod ko dahil ubo ako ng ubo.
"Anong trip nung lalakeng yun? Kukurutin ko talaga yun eh. Kung ano anong pinagsasabi!"
"Eliana, he is serious with his proposal."
I can sense na seryoso din si Tristan. Siguro gusto niya din na tanggapin ko yung proposal ni Lance para di niya ko pakasalan. Makakalaya siya sa responsibilidad niya sa akin.
"Do you really hate me that much, Tristan? Do you feel disgusted by idea of us getting married?" mahina kong tanong habang inuubos ang lemon tea.
He is rejecting me again. Akala ko nagkaroon na kami ng connection at attachment after ng ilang days, pero iiwan pa din pala niya ko when the oppurtunity presents itself.
"Eliana, I don't hate you."
"But you don't want to marry me. Alam ko naman yun."
"Listen to me. Kilala mo si Lancelot. Matagal mo na siya kaibigan and you don't know anything about me. I am just giving you options. Kahit anong piliin mo, tatanggapin ko."
"As much as I would love to grab that offer, Gwen will be hurt kung magpapakasal ako kay Lance. So I am sorry Tristan, I guess you are stuck with me whether you like it or not," sabi ko sabay bigay sa kanya ng tea cup.
Alam ko ayaw niya na maikasal sa akin, pero hindi ko akalain that he will consider that idea. Alam din naman niya na mahal na mahal ng kapatid niya si Lance. Kahit gusto ko tanggapin ang offer ni Lance, hindi ko ata kayang saktan ang kaibigan ko. Mas mabuting mag suffer na lang kami ni Tristan pareho.
The next day, wala kami kibuan ni Tristan sa loob ng kotse nang hinatid niya ko sa school. I already asked Lance to meet me earlier bago ko pumasok sa school. Andoon na siya sa may parking lot pagdating ko.
"Hey, Elle. Good morning!" sabi niya sabay kaway sa akin.
"Ano yung pinagsasabi mo kay Tristan?" sabi ko habang hinihila siya papunta sa chapel sa likuran ng university.
"I am just giving him options, Elle. He does not want to marry you willingly so I can marry you on his behalf. Magkaibigan tayong dalawa sa loob ng tatlong taon. Kilala mo ko, alam mo na hindi kita pababayaan."
Hindi ko akalain na si Gwen ay isang werewolf pati si Lance. Kung hindi pa ako kinagat ni Gwen, malamang hindi ko na malalaman ang sikreto nila kahit kailan.
"Nababaliw ka na bang lalaki ka? Alam mo na in love sayo ang kaibigan ko di ba? Gusto mo ba mag-away kami for eternity? Do you want to break her heart into pieces!" sabi ko sabay hampas sa braso niya.
"Aray naman, Elle. Binubugbog mo na naman ako eh! Alam mo naman na di ako lalaban sayo."
"Lance, seriously. Salamat sa offer mo. Walang babae ang tatanggi sa offer na yan, pero I care about Gwen. She's stuck in a wolf form hanggang ngayon. It will break her heart kapag nalaman niya na nagpakasal tayo," mahinang sabi ko sabay upo sa stairs sa tapat ng chapel.
"And you prefer Tristan over me?" he said with puppy eyes.
Parang nagpapaawa effect dahil tinanggihan ko ang alok niyang kasal. I should feel honored as Lance is really a good looking man. Kahit playboy siya, I know that he has a pure heart. But I can't hurt Gwen, hindi kaya ng conscience ko na saktan ang best friend ko.
"Alam mo naman na charades lang ang wedding namin ni Tristan. He just wants to marry me because of his responsibility. So wag ka magdrama dyan na mas prefer ko si Tristan over you."
"So you like me over him?" sabi ni Lance sabay lapit ng mukha niya sa akin. He is too close kaya nilagay ko lang palad ko sa mukha niya para itulak siya.
"Kung hindi ka playboy, kung hindi ka maharot sa mga babae, kung hindi ka mayaman at kung hindi ka pogi, siguro type kita," nakangiti kong sabi sabay kurot sa pisngi niya.
"Elle, hindi na ko yun pag ganun," sabi niya sabay lagay ng ulo niya sa balikat ko.
I know that Lance just wants to help me. His intentions are pure at gusto lang niya akong tulungan. Tama si Tristan, he is a stranger and Lance on the other hand is a good friend of mine. Kabisado na namin ang sumpong ng isa't isa.
"I will marry, Tristan. Ayoko ma stuck sa werewolf form. I was so scared last night nang maging werewolf ako kahit hindi pa Red Moon."
"Are you fucking serious, Elle? Did you really transform last night?"
I can see in his face that he is really worried. Wala na ang kanyang playful aura. He is too serious as if I am facing a different kind of Lance.
"It is just quick and I passed out. Kahit si Tristan ay nagtataka."
"Elle, habang andito sa school, I will look after you," sabi niya sabay halik sa mga kamay ko.
"Di naman kailangan. I am fine. Sana lang di na maulit yung kagabi."
"Basta aalagaan kita, Elle. Andito ko palagi sayo. You are part of our werewolf family now."
A smile appeared on my lips because of his genuine care. Kung natuturuan lang ang puso, sana tinuruan ko na ang puso ko na si Lance ang mahalin.
"Teka Lance, maiba ko. Tristan told me that you are also a werewolf. You are about three centuries old. Eh bakit ka nag-aaral dito sa university?"
"Are you really asking me that question? Andito ko dahil sayo, Elle. Alam mo naman na loves kita," sabi niya sabay halik uli sa kamay ko.
"Because of me? Or because of the college ladies?"
"That's another reason too," he said as he winked at me bago niya ko hilahin papunta sa classroom.
BINABASA MO ANG
Teach Me How To Werewolf [COMPLETED]
Werewolf[COMPLETED] Ako si Eliana, isang college student na aksidente na naging werewolf. To avoid being stuck in a werewolf form, I was forced to marry a werewolf royalty named Tristan Eriksson. Being married to this werewolf prince is not a fairy tale af...