Animalistic

Chapter 6

Howl

Every Friday mayroon silang free time sa hapon, as their last subject, kung saan pwede nilang gamitin sa kung ano man ang gusto nila. Since wala namang binaggit si Ali sa group chat na may meeting sa club ay minabuti ni Val na magpa-iwan sa classroom para mag-aral. Kailangan niya kasing habulin yung lessons na tinuturo sa bago niyang school at may quiz sila sa susunod na linggo.

"You sure you'll be okay here?" Tanong ni Cedric, magti-training kasi sila ni Brix, na nasa basketball team din.

Lahat sila ay may lakad. Si Toni pupunta sa club niya, ganun din si Alice. Si Amiel naman ipapakalat niya raw ang kagwapuhan niya, tapos si Marie may practice daw sa cheer dance. Kaya pala grabe yung tawa niya sa kwento ni Ivanna tungkol kay Clara kasi kakilala niya pala ito.

May mga kaklase rin naman siyang nagpa-iwan kaya medyo kampante siya na di mag-iisa.

Tumango si Val. "Mm-hm wala naman kasi ako gagawin, mag-aaral na lang ako." She smiled.

"Okay, babalik-balik ako dito--bye!"

Hindi na nakapag-salita si Val dahil umalis agad ito.

She opened her notebook and started reading. After 30 minutes of non-stop reading ay naisipan niyang pag-pahingahin ang mga mata. Valentin is not that studious of a student, she just makes sure she doesn't get low scores.

Val reached for her bag and search for her water bottle kaso lang ay ubos na ang laman nito. Nag-decide na lang siya na bumili ng chocolate milk drink dahil nagki-crave siya ng matamis.

Ng nasa vending machine na siya ay naglagay siya ng pera, pinindot ang button at hinintay na mahulog ang napili. She saw something move from her peripheral vision pero di niya iyon pinansin. Yumuko siya para makuha ang choco milk, pag-ayos niya ng tayo ay tinusok niya ang straw at paalis na sana nang may mabangga siya.

She yelped. Nung maklaro niya kung sino ang naka-bangga sa kanya ay muntik niya itong pandilatan. She stepped sideways to pass pero ganun din ang ginawa ng nabangga niya, blocking her way. She stepped again on the other side but to no avail ay ganun ulit ang ginawa nito.

She let out a exasperated sigh, umatras siya at tiningnan ito sa mukha, and saw that smirk again. Hind niya binitawan ang tingin nito sa kanya. She wants to read his eyes, maybe to find out something in it, because they say that the eyes are the window to a person's soul. But all she could see is amusement.

"May kailangan ka ba?" Mahinahon niyang tanong.

"Hm wala naman. Nakita lang kita habang umiinom ako sa fountain, then I remembered Ali mentioned na may bago daw na member na transferee, a grade 10 student. You must be Valentin Aurora Sybil huh." Anito sabay kuha ng ID ni Val na naka-sabit sa leeg niya.

"Now you know, pwede na ba akong makaraan?"

"Hmm what if I say I still want to talk to you?" He said playfully.

Binawi ni Val ang ID niya mula sa kamay nito. "Kung hindi naman importante yang sasabihin mo then I have to go. It was nice meeting you." Val responded as politely as possible. She immediately walked around him at hindi na ito nilingon.

She even heard him scoff. But she didn't know that he was smiling.

A few steps ahead nakita ni Val iyong Clara, she was wearing training shorts, a long sleeved light pink top, and rubber shoes, galing siguro sa practice. Her arms were crossed habang palipat-lipat ang tingin kina Val at Voltair.

Hindi pinansin ni Val ang babae at nagdire-diretso lang ang lakad. Babatiin niya sana ito kung hindi lang naka-taas ang isa nitong kilay and lips pressed tightly together.

Bumalik nga si Cedric para tingnan siya sa classroom, he looled tired but still smiling as he looks down on her notebook. Minabuti na lang ni Val na hindi sabihin kay Cedric ang pagsa-salubong nila ni Voltair. She doesn't want to increase the bad blood happening to the two of them.

Bago umuwi ay dumaan muna sila ng kapatid sa art store, dahil kailangan daw nito na bumili ng gamit sa club nila. Habang si Val naman ay bumili ng photo paper para simulan na ang pagprint ng mga pictures na kinuha niya simula noong lumipat sila sa bayan. They also went to PanaPati, a bread and dessert shop, para may tinapay silang pang toast sa bahay.

Wala pa ang ama nila pagdating sa bahay. Val decided to cook dinner. Nang malapit na itong maluto ay doon pa naka-uwi si Yosef.

"Hi, dad!" Iniwan niya saglit ang niluluto para salubungin ang ama.

"Hello, baby ko. Agh so tired!" Ani to.

"May nangyari po?"

"Yeah, kinailangan namin na operahan yung isang aso, nagkaroon kasi ng bladder stone. Marami yung nakuha, tsk kung ano ano kasi pinapakain sa aso." Yosef ranted.

Bumaba si Ivanna at nagmano sa ama.

"Luto na?" Tanong nito kay Val.

"Mm-hm paki-kuha na lang ng mga plato." Ani Val.

Sinunod naman ng kapatid. "Okay."

Yosef can't help but smile as he look at his two princess. He is thankful that her wife had brought these lovely daughters of his to this world.

"I'll just change!" Ani Yosef at umakyat na, he heard Val say 'okay'.

After dinner ay naligo na si Val, pagtapos niya ay sinilip niya ang ate sa kwarto at nakita ito kaharapan ang wooden easel stand na may sketch paper na nakasabit doon. EDM was playing on her laptop pero relax na relax ito na gumuguhit.

She went back to her room at lumabas sa terrace para magpahangin. Hindi naman siya nag-aalala na lamukin dahin naka-sweat pants siya at sweat shirt.

She sat on the hammock that she tied around the wooden planks above her. Rajah positioned himself below it. Hawak-hawak ni Val ang camera niya, she wanted to capture the moon above the woods. The calendar showed na bukas pa ang full moon.

Nagplano rin siya na bukas ng umaga ay pupunta siya sa kakahuyan at maglakad-lakad or take a jog, may trail naman daw na ginagamit for jogging papunta sa bayan sabi ng ama niya.

She laid down on the hammock, she wants to enjoy the cool breeze. Tinulak niya ang dingding sa gilid para gumalaw yung duyan. Then she did not realize that she dozed off.

Naalimpungatan si Val nang makarinig siya ng ungol ng aso, the sound was being carried by the wind. Umupo ng maayos si Val, and noticed Rajah got goosebumps and was hissing to where the sound came from.

Out of curiosity Val turned her camera on and placed the viewfinder against her eyes, she knew it was difficult to find somehting because it was dark, but it was not impossible.

Val directed the camera at the outline of the woods, slowly moving it. The was a howl once again. Then something caught her eye. She adjust her lens to see clearer, and what she saw took her breath away.

There was a figure standing not far away from the outline. It was a dog--no a wolf. Hindi makitang mabuti ni Val ang kulay ng balahibo nito dahil sa dilim. But what made her gasped is when it looked straight at her which made her press the shutter button, taking a picture of the creature.

May tumahol at agad na umalis iyong lobo na tinitingnan niya. Unti-unting naibaba ni Val ang dalang camera at bahagyang natulala.

She was scared but somewhat amazed to see a wolf so close to their house. Eventually Rajah stopped hissing and startded scratching the door to her room. Doon nabalik sa huwisyo si Val.

As they entered the room and locked the door, hindi niya maiwasang isipin kung itutuloy niya ba ang gagawin niya bukas o hindi. Siguro naman walang lobo na magpapakita sa umaga. Val can only hope.