Mist and Moonlight

CHAPTER 52: The Girl Who Cried Wolf

Artemis' POV

A week after Halloween party we are back to normal. The students had a party hang-over. May ilang Junior high na nanghinayang dahil hindi daw sila naisayaw sa slow dance.
Others keep grumbling dahil walang alcohol na naiserve sa party.

"We will have a quiz next week. Tungkol sa mga natutunan niyo sa mga lesson ko." the teacher in front announced.

He dismissed us early. Nagiwan din ang iba ng assignments. May form silang binigay sa amin. The header says: My Future Plans. Will they give the Universities we will be applying a recommendation form?

Sabay kaming naglalakad ni Jared sa hallway. After that party sumasama na sa amin ang isang ito, he has another reason too.

"Artemis!" sabay na tawag nila Genevive at Naia. Nasa likod nila ang tatlo pa naming kaibigan.

"Wag kayong tumakbo." Lincoln and his principles. "Baka makita kayo ng prefect."

"Hi!" inakbayan nila ako. Nakita kong nagfist bump ang mga lalaki. Sumabay sa paglalakad namin si Lindsey. Nagkaroon na kasi ng sariling mundo ang tatlo.

We can't replace Daniel's place but we learn to accept that he's gone. Natutunan na din makisama ng lalaking ito.

"Tara sa cafe." Anyaya ni Naia.

"You are not grounded anymore?" Lindsey glanced at her.

"Not if I have a bodyguard." she proudly answer smiling.

"I'm in." Nagulat sila sa sinabi ko. They hugged me and giggled, napatingin tuloy ang iba sa amin.

On the way there tinawagan ni Lincoln si Kuya. Tinext naman ni ito ni Jared. The latter still does his job as a reaper.

Halos puno ang cafe pagpasok namin. It's a weekday, Wednesday to be exact. May ibang nakatambay ang iba'y oorder lang para sa take-out.
Madami ang napataingin sa amin o sa mga kasama namin. We sit on our usual seats sa tabi ng bintana.

"Ako na kukuha ng order." sabi ni Lincoln bago tumayo sinundan siya ni Jared para tulungan.

We send some glare to the person who should be with them. Prente siyang nakaupo sa single couch waiting for his order to be given to him. He only give us a shrug.

"Bakla ka ba?" Genevive ask crossing her arms on her chest.

"Ako? Halikan pa kita diyan eh." Justin retorted proundly.

"My god. Para kang babae." pagrereklamo ng katabing halos patayin siya sa titig.

Talk about chivalry. Magaling siyang manguha ng number ng babae pero hindi niya alam ang salitang gentleman. When those two—Jared and Lincoln—helps a girl, Justin will laugh at her secretly.

They argue all the time. Bilang pa sa daliri ang pagiging magkasundo nila. It's one thing that they have in common, trouble making.

Dumating ang dalawang kasama namin. Trays of cakes and drinks were put on the table.

We were talking about girls stuff and arguing with boys about this and that when a shriek was heard outside. Napalingon kami sa pinanggalingan nito.

There's this girl panting breathlessly. She came from an alley hindi malayo dito. Pinagtitinginan siya ng mga taong nadaan. She's paper white na parang nakakita ng multo.

Gentleman as they are pinaupo nila ang babae sa upuan. Nanghingi din sila ng tubig para dito. "Anong nangyari?"

"L-lobo..." hinihingal nitong sagot even after drinking the water. "i-ina-take ako."

Hindi lahat ay narinig iyon. Some snickered others curiously stare at her. May nagbubulungan pa bago umuling. "Nagloloko lang yata siya eh. Tsk tsk."

"Dito lang kayo. We will check for her things." the both of them rush to where she came from.

Before we can complain they were gone. Napabuntung hininga si Lindsey. "Too much chivalry will kill him."

"Sinabi mo pa." Justin seconded.

"Try that too baka sakaling may magkagusto sayo." pambabara ng katabi niya.

"You want me to die early?" he holds his chest.

"It came from your mouth not mine." we laughed at her answer. The former  didn't talk anymore. Alam niyang mababara lang siya.

Did he bring his dagger? Sugod nang sugod wala pa yatang dala. I can't smell a scent of wolf on her. Naia shake her head confirming my suspicion.

Is she really attacked or did she lie about it?

"May bibilihin lang kami sa bookstore." Naia smiled. I know that smile.

"Samahan ko lang siya. Baka magshopping na naman." I assured them rolling my eyes.

"Bumalik kayo agad ha." Lindsey sipped on her drink pagkatapos kumain ng cake.

Bookstore? Strict parents really make the best liar. Sinundan namin ang daan kung saan sila pumunta. The alley looks empty. We scan the area the only scent that se get is garbage and dirty waters.

"You think she lied?" the seriouness of my voice filled the alley.

"Yup. I can't smell it on her." dagdag niya "it should be strong pero wala."

Bumalik kami sa pinanggalingan namin. We saw nothing at all. Saka anong ginagawa niya sa eskinita?

When we return nakasibangot ang mga kasama namin. The both of them look distressed. Hinead to foot nila kami. Para na namin kapatid si Lincoln so he will naturally be concerned.

"We told you to stay here." Lincoln reminded.

Oops someone's angry. Nakaupo lang siya at walang imik. He only stared at us reading my face.

"Nag-ikot kami sa bookstore." Naia lied smoothly "but I forgot the money so we returned."

"Naalala lang namin noon nandun na kami." please believe us, crossing my fingers.

Naupo na kami at bumalik sa pagkukwentuhan. I have to lie kahit alam kong malalaman din niya ang totoo.

Inubos namin ang inumin at pagkain.
Sayang naman. Some parts of the world can't eat like us mabuti at nakakakain pa kami ng tatlong beses sa isang araw.

Lucian is on my bed. Malaki na ito nakakasampa na ito sa kama ng hindi natalon. He whimpered.

"Let's go for a walk." I grab his leash on my table and let him lead the way to park.