Alpha Travis

Kabanata 5

Akala ko ay pagkatapos ng ilang araw ay makakalagpas na ako sa nangyari last week, but it seems like I am wrong, once again.  For I am currently sitting inside the Dean's office, not just outside waiting and talking to Miss Grims, the lady behind the desk, but seating opposite to Dean Greg. I was just listening and taking down notes a while ago before a few staffs of the University came and called for me. They even showed a gray colored card to the Professor in front, he even eyed me with such fear before nodding, at ang halos lahat ng mga kaklase ko naman ay minatahan ako na para bang ang laking kasalanan ang nagawa ko.

"Let's just wait silently for the arrival of the Sire. Shall we, Miss Lopez?" A few days ago I was hell bent on meeting with the Dean and report such happenings, but right now all I could think of was to run off and just leave this damned University.

I just experienced the best day of my life last Saturday when I celebrated my eighteenth birthday, pero bakit parang ngayon ay halos bagsakan yata ako ng langit at lupa. Truly, every happiness comes with sadness. The price we'll always pay for being happy. 

Hindi naman nagtagal ay bumukas nga ang pinto ng silid at tumayo naman si Dean upang dumalo sa kadarating lamang na panauhin. At dahil nga nakaharap ako sa upuan ni Dean ay hindi ko makikita ang dumating dahil nasa likuran ko ang pintuan. All I could do was to stand up and just face Dean's table direction, before I eyed the floor warily. 

"Sire Travis, the council's ready for you." Pagsasalita ni Dean.

Wala naman akong narinig na salita sa kadarating lamang na lalaki ngunit may naamoy naman ako na kakaibang scent, it's like a mixture of deep musk and some added cinnamon scent to it. It's addicting, lalo na ng huminga ulit ako ng malalim at naamoy naman ang pabangong naamoy ko na noon ngunit hindi ko matandaan kung saan at sino. 

Bumalik na si Dean sa upuan at iminuwestra ang upuan sa gilid ko para sa kadarating lamang na tao, "Please, take a seat."

Nahiya naman ang pang physical education uniform kong suot nang makita ko sa peripheral vision ko na naka-formal attire ito. It's a he, and that explains the scent and such, ngunit ang hindi ko maintindihan ay kung bakit parang pamilyar saakin ang amoy na 'yon. 

"So, Miss Lopez as you already know, you've made a huge ruckus by disobeying the rules of the University. It was clearly stated in your handbook, bold and italicized, that when the alarm went on, worse was when horns are used, in any grounds,  you must leave the school grounds as soon as possible." The Dean started to get things heated up.

Nakakahiya! At talagang kailangang marinig ng katabi ko ito. 

I sighed deeply before trying to locate the right words to say but I ended up shutting my mouth and kept on looking at the floor. Ano kayang feeling ng matapakan araw-araw? Hindi kaya sila nasasaktan? Tapos paano pa kapag may tae ang sapatos?

"Any reason or explaining to do?" Dean Greg crossed his arms in front of his chest, it's now business.

"I was just trying to get the li-"

But suddenly, "And what would be the reason of your distance, then? Is that required, na makipag usap sa mga hindi mo kakilala na ganoon kalapit? What a bullshit."

Napabaling naman kaagad ako sa tabi ko nang nagpantig ang tainga ko sa mga narinig ko. You must be kidding me! How come na nandito nana 'tong lalaking ito. Palagi nalamang siyang nasa paligid ko, simula yata ng dumating ako dito palagi nalang siyang nasulpot.

"Excuse you?" He went overboard. How come he could accuse me of such thing? Mga makikitid ang utak ng tao dito. 

"Miss Lopez, lower down your voice." Dean warned me with his commanding voice.

But I've had enough of this man's attitude, lahat ng moment na naroon siya at kung ano-ano ang pinagsasabi saakin ay biglang bumabalik saakin. It's just too much. 

"Mawalang galang na po, Dean, pero sumobra naman na po yata siya sa sinabi niya saakin! Kasalanan ko ba na ayaw ko makipag socialize sa mga tao dito kaya pumunta ako sa pinakalayong lugar sakanila, as far as possible, because I can't seem to keep up with their attitude." I inhaled a huge amount of air before I continue, "And what about him, Dean? What would be his reason and his so-called gang for being there?"

He scoffed loudly, "I was there because there were reports of students that they saw a human crossed the borderline. More so, a troublesome one. That was one fucking dumbest thing you could do. You don't know the dangers hiding in the woods."

Napataas naman ang kilay ko dahil sa sinabi niya, kaya naman bumaling ang buong katawan ko sa direksyon niya, "Oh, really? Parang mas ligtas nga ako doon sa kakahuyan kasama 'yung lalaki, kesa dito na kasama ka sa iisang silid! I was much safer there than being here in a room with you."

His anger intensified due to what I've said, pagalit siyang napatayo sa upuan at laking gulat ko ng halos masia ang upuan dahil sa paghawi nito sa gilid niya. I looked at Dean, pero parang siya 'rin ay nagulat sa inasta ng lalaki. Bumaling naman muli ako dito at halos mabuwal ako sa pagkakaupo ng biglang mag iba ang kulay ng kaniyang mga mata. His eyes are now rimmed with gold and mixture of black and gray orbs.

Naalarma naman si Dean kaya bigla itong tumayo ay hinawakan ang mga palapulsuan ng lalaki sa aking harapan, but then the sudden action intensified his sensitivity, hinawi niya na parang napakagaan na bagay si Dean sa gilid at nagresulta ng pag hampas nito sa dingding. 

"Dean!" Dumaan naman ako sa likod ng table ni Dean para puntahan siya sa gilid ngunit bago pa ako makalapit ay nagsalita ang lalaki sa harapan ko.

"Don't you come near him, Althea." He growled, like some animal in wild, like a dog firing with anger. 

Kahit na takot na takot na ako sa nangyayari ay sobrang naaawa ako kay Dean na nakahawak na sakaniyang likod at tila nahihirapan huminga, "Nasisiraan ka na ba ng ulo? How could you do this!" 

Akmang hahakbang ako papalit pa lalo ay nagsalita naman kaagad si Dean, "Iha, listen to him." Ang tanging nasabi nito habang hinihimas ang likod.

Nabigla naman ako ng nagsimulang humakbang ang lalaki papalapit saakin, I took steps backwards until my back touched the wall behind me. Napahiyaw naman si Dean sa gilid, "Travis, control yourself around her!"

Ang matalim nitong mga mata na parang umiilaw ay sobrang prominente , his jaws are clenched tightly while his breathing is uneven. Nang humakbang pa siya ng kaunti ay halos dumikit ang mukha ko sa dibdib niya, he crouched and leveled his face on mine until we're just inches apart. His breath smelled like a mixture of mint and freshly saved cream, he kept on looking at my eyes.

"Calm me down," He took a deep breath, para bang inaamoy ako at ang mga mata nitong nag-iintay ng sunod kong gagawin.

Halos nangangatog na ang tuhod ko at konting galaw nalang talaga niya ay feeling ko matutumba na ako sa kinatatayuan ko, kaya naman I breathed shakily and all I could do was to slowly move until our forehead met. Kasabay ng pagdikit ng aming mga noo ay ang pagbigay ng aking mga tuhod ngunit bago pa ako bumagsak sa sahig ay agad niyang hinawakan ang aking baywang ng mahigpit.

"You can't push me away now, it's either I'll let you go or I'll die." He said while trying to calm himself.