Wild Flower

X: Missing Petals

WOLFSBANE

Lunes, pinilit ako ni Hemlock na pumasok siya sa unang araw niya sa café. Kahit sariwa pa ang sugat niya at may bandage pa siya, pinilit niya parin ako. Kahit pinagsabihan ko siya na magpahinga muna, nauto parin ako ng ka-cute-an niya.

7:20 AM na at malapit na naming buksan ang café. We were just doing our finishing touches to make it look even more presentable. Pero dahil tapos na kami sa baba, hinihintay nalang namin ang 7:30 sa taas at hinihintay nalang din namin si Hemlock matapos magbihis.

Bella crossed her legs and arms as we watched cartoons (siyempre, cute sila! At walang kwenta ang mga nasa balita). The same applies to Castor and Ivy, only that she is tapping her feet impatiently. Typical Ivy.

Bumukas ang pinto sa kuwarto ko, it means that tapos nang magbihis si Hemlock.

"You took your ti-" Bago pa man ako makatapos, nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita si Hemlock. Tumingin din ako sa iba and they have the same reaction. Even Castor was frozen. I took one more look at Hemlock at kinusot ang mga mata ko kung totoo ang nakikita ko.

He is wearing my uniform when I was 12 years old, it had the same color as mine, Violet (read. Purple with a tint of red.) He also wore the traditional Wild Flower uniform, black long sleeves, pants, apron and shoes. Along with the black ribbon and the purple gemstone around his neck.

Hemlock hid his arms behind him as he twirled the black ribbon on his hair. "Ayos ba?" He said shyly.

"A-a-a-ang cute!" Bella rushed to him and squeezed him tight. Sumunod si Ivy habang kaming dalawa ni Castor ay nakaupo lang sa mga upuan namin. I looked at the time, 7:28. I got their attention with a clap of my hands.

"Guys, baba na. Magbubukas na tayo." I announced habang pababa sa hagdan. Kailangan pang awatin ni Castor ang tatlo kong pinsan. Nakita kong kumaripas ng takbo si Hemlock palayo sa dalawang babae na parang leon.

"KUYA WOOOOOLF!!!"

Nasa pinaka-baba na ako ng hagdan nang marinig ko ang sigaw ni Hemlock. Mabilis ang mga pangyayari nang lumingon ako sa kanya. One moment, he was standing at the middle part of the stairs and the next, he was flying straight at me wait, flying? FLYING AS IN LUMILI-

"Aray!" I gently caressed my head nang nakahiga sa sahig. Hemlock is on top of me and is looking behind him.

"Kuya! Lalapain ako ng mga nababaliw na mga babaeng yun!"

He hid behind me as I sat up. Hinihimas ko parin ang ulo ko nang ituro niya ang aming nasa harapan. Halos himatayin ako sa nakita ko, indeed, Ivy and Bella were like mad women in pursuit of this little flower. With matching kurot gestures pa, para silang mga alimango na nag-katawang tao.

"IVY! BELLA! STOP IT!" My voice boomed across the café at saktong tumigil ang dalawang babae.

"Sorry po, kuya Wolf." Ivy twirled her hair and bowed her head, the same happened with Bella. Para silang mga maamong pusa kung kanina ay mga mababangis na leon.

Castor followed and as usual, he kept his serious face. Hindi nga man lang kinamusta ang kalagayan ko nang nakaupo ako sa sahig. Hemlock quickly dusted his uniform and went to the cashier. Lahat ay nagpunta sa kani-kanilang puwesto habang binuksan ko ang pintuan. A line was already waiting outside.

"Welcome to Wild Flower." Magalang kong sinabi sa mga naunang customer. I hope they didn't see what happened a few seconds ago.

Almost all of them took notice at Hemlock, an unfamiliar face for them. They took one look at his cute and innocent smile and another at his bandaged head.