Team Alpha

Chapter 5

'Trouble Likes You'

XIN

I just got out from the shower and was still drying my hair with a towel when I stopped on my tracks. Nakinig ako sa mga ingay na ginagawa nila sa baba. Wolfie's Mom got Shinshi and Isha into the Blue Scout Headquarters along with Shu at ngayon, parang kababalik lang ni Wolfie galing sa headquarters at nag-iingay na sila dun sa baba.

Umupo ako sa kama at pinakinggan sila.

"Nasan si Xin?" I don't know why, but I felt shivers with Wolfie's voice and his tone. Tiningnan ko lang ang pinto ng kwarto ko habang nakikinig parin ako sa kanila. "No, calm down. Walang kasalanan si Xin. It was just.. just a mistake." Rinig kong depensa sa akin ni Seth. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa tuwalyang nasa kamay ko. Mistake, huh? Tiningnan ko ang kamay ko at bahagya nalang natawa.

"Geez, Seth. Ikaw dapat ang kumalma. Wala naman akong gagawin kay Xin. Nagtatanong lang ako kung nasan siya. I just want to ask her if she's okay. I saw what happened to her hands." Pagkatapos sabihin ni Wolfie ang salitang 'yun ay natahimik sila. Humarap nalang ako sa salamin para suklayin ang buhok ko.

"She's in her room. She's fine. Bukas nalang natin siya kausapin. I think she's way too tired." It was Jun who said those lines. Well, after seeing me sleep for 24 hours, that was enough to state what I was really feeling. Napabuga nalang ako ng hangin at humiga na sa kama kahit basa pa ang buhok ko. What am I going to do? Gumulong ako sa kama at hinarap ang bintana.

Whatever's going on, it's at it again. Trouble is following me again. It's like I am born along with mischief. Is this a curse? Or is this the payment for having killed demons and dark creatures? Ugh. What am I even thinking?

"Trouble seemed to like you, Xin." Napapitlag kaagad ako at tumingin dun sa mesa ko kung saan ko nakita si Luce na nagbabasa na ng libro. Umupo kaagad ako sa kama at tiningnan siya. Tumingin lang siya sa akin at ngumiti. "I saw what happened." Sabi niya habang nakatingin sa akin. Oh, the fire. Why are they making such a big deal out of it? Tumango nalang ako at niyakap ang mga tuhod ko.

"Wow! After Storm and the Blue Night. Now this? Nung nagpaulan ba ng kamalasan, nasa labas ka ba nun?" That was the most used jokes that I heard from him. Mahina lang akong natawa at natawa narin siya. That's when the door swung open and iniluwa si Hoshi na may dalang dalawang baso ng gatas.

"Oh, hey demon guy." Bati niya kay Luce. Demon guy? Really? Lumapit kaagad si Hoshi sa akin at binigay ang isang basong gatas na dala niya at tsaka umupo sa tabi ko habang iniinom naman 'yung gatas na basong dala niya. Luce raised his eyebrows at him at smirked. "We're having a conversation here?" Luce said, stating his point. Why? We can talk while Hoshi's here. It's not like we're talking about something confidential. Tumingin naman si Hoshi sa kanya at ngumiti lang.

"Oh, me? Don't mind me. Think of me as a realistic handsome prince stuff toy. Go on." Pasimpleng sabi ni Hoshi at kinuha ang cellphone ko tsaka naglaro dun. Diba kakabigay lang ni Milo ng cellphone sa kanya? Hindi ko nalang muna pinansin si Hoshi at tiningnan muli si Luce na lumingo-lingo nalang at mahinang natawa.

I just shrugged my shoulders and smiled.

"As I was saying, trouble seems to like you." Pag-uulit ni Luce. Naghintay lang ako na magsalita pa siya para malaman ko ang punto niya.

"No, Jun likes Xin. Not trouble." Napalingon kaagad kaming dalawa kay Hoshi na nakatingin sa amin.

"Stuff toys are not supposed to talk." Mariing sabi ni Luce sa kanya pero nagkibit-balikat lang si Hoshi at binalik nalang ang tingin niya sa paglalaro sa cellphone ko. "I'm a stuff toy with batteries." Palusot niya at ngumiti na naman. Napasapo nalang si Luce sa noo niya at hinilamos ang palad sa mukha niya tsaka tiningnan ako.