Make Up, Murders, And Macchiato

01| s t a b b e d

01
s t a b b e d

THE cold wind of December seeped through Astrid's heavily layered outfit sought to combat the cold of air of Christmas but even her double breasted velvet coat cannot protect her from the cruel chilling breath of nature. This is the sole reason why she hates December aside from she is wasting an hour or two on planning her next layered-cold proof outfit she's also having a hard time waking up in the morning it's like she is under a cryogenic treatment.

"I hate December." Astrid whispered under her breath while her free hand continuously rubs the sleeves of her clothes.

Inayos niya ang strap ng bag ng kaniyang laptop na nakasabit sa kaniyang balikat at nag simula na siyang maglakad palayo sa library.

Currently she's making her way outside Pontus University. She looked at her wrist watch to check the time. T'was 10 in the evening, regrets rushed through her body she should've changed the schedule of her seminar but she doesn't have a choice but to choose the latter schedule.

Nagkaroon siya ng seminar tungkol sa Symbolism and History of Cults, it is a specialized seminar spearheaded by the Anthropology Department and apparently she was chosen to represent the said department and talk in front of history geeks.

She really enjoyed giving that talk dahil halos lahat ng um-attend ng conference ay nag participate at nagpakita ng interest sa topikong kaniyang tinalakay.

Kasalukuyang nasa huling taon na siya sa kursong Anthropology. Studying the past and how the changing tides of time affect the social construction are the reason why she chose anthropology and besides her late grandmother is also an anthropologist naging miyembro din ito ng isang ad hoc team na nakabase sa America upang pag aralan ang kasaysayan ng Salem Witch Trial.

Habang binabaybay niya ang daan palabas napansin niyang parang nag iiba ang unibersidad sa tuwing sasapit ang gabi. Pontus University became a vast galaxy of darkness a black hole to be exact where even a single thread of light cannot escape the darkness that swallowed the whole vicinity.

Kaya ayaw na ayaw niya ang umuwi ng gabi although ligtas naman ang maglakad kung dis-oras ng gabi sa unibersidad ay di niya pa rin maikakaila ang takot na dala ng mga kwentong paranormal na umiikot sa bawat sulok ng Pontus University.

"I should stop thinking about ghosts and ...." Nagulat siya nang biglang may nagsalita sa likuran niya kamuntik na niyang mabitawan ang laptop na hawak hawak.

"Astrid?" Napalingon siya sa pinanggagalingan ng isang matikas at baritonong tinig ng isang binata. Kahit madilim ay naaninag ni Astrid ng bahagya ang mukha ni Leone Vega ang tatlong'put taong gulang na professor niya sa Asian History.

Kitang kita niya ang magandang hubog ng mukha nito , those perfectly chiseled jaws aren't that hard to notice and his fitted white long sleeves na halos ipitin nito ang mga biceps ni Leone.

Si Leone ang gurong pinagkakaguluhan ng mga kababaihan sa unibersidad.

Bigla namang naglaho ang inis na kaniyang naramdaman kanina nang bigla itong ngumiti sa kaniya. His perfect set of white teeth is also his asset to captivate the hearts of everyone.

"Why are you still here? Its late na. You should've left the university before 8? Madilim na dito." Nag aalalang wika nito sa kaniya. Panandaliang nagwala ang kaniyang puso.

"Pauwi na po ako daddy, i mean sir. Bago lang din natapos yung seminar ko." Wala sa isip niyang sagot.

"Oh? Seminar? About what?" Interesadong tanong ni Leone

"Symbolism and the History of Cults." Nahihiyang sagot ni Astrid, they rarely talk ayaw niya kasing ma-issue-han ng mga estudyante ng Pontus na nakikipaglandian siya sa professor niya.