Animated Love

Chapter 6

Maaga pa lang ay nagising na si Chihoon. Nakita niya si Shanelle na masarap pa ang tulog. Di na niya ito ginising at pumunta na siya sa banyo para maligo.

He decided to go out today and know more of himself. Alam niyang bago siya naging dormant corpse ay may nangyari pa sakanya. Di niya ito maalala kahit anong pilit niya.

Pagkatapos niyang maligo ay lumabas na ito. Lumakad lakad siya ng ilang oras hanggang sa narating niya ang isang lumang bahay.

Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng sense of familiarity sa lugar. As if he did live there before. Kung titignan ang lugar isa itong makalumang estilo ng bahay.

"Here everybody. The next exhibit we're going to visit is this study room of the late Qing dynasty's manor. The owner of this manor liked to read during his time," narinig ni Chihoon ang nagsalita kaya lumapit siya dito. May ilang mga tao siyang kasama kaya napagdesisyunan niyang sumunod sakanila sa loob ng lumang bahay.

"Also, a considerable number of books are collected in the museum. In addition, the owner also liked photography. He was an early photography enthusiast. Come this way with me." Ibang direksiyon na ang tinungo ng mga tao kaya mag isa na niyang pinasok ang loob ng lumang bahay.

Nakita niya doon ang maraming antic na gamit. Mga lumang jars, lumang orasan, pati na ang lumang camera. It was like he is looking at the past.
This might be my home in the past. I will start from here. He looks around for the last time saka nagdesisyong umuwi.

Tahimik pa ang bahay pagkauwi niya. Ibig sabihin di pa gising si Shanelle. Nagdesisyon siyang pumuntang kusina para uminom ng tubig. As he was drinking water, he saw Shanelle walks at the stairs with half-opened eyes. She is yawning. As she steps on the next stair, she slips her feet. Her eyes widen and she screams as the realization strikes her that she was going to fall.

On a quick snap of a finger nasa baba na agad si Chihoon at nasalo niya ang mahuhulog na sanang si Shanelle. She was in a sudden shocked moment as she looks at the guy who saves her. His arms are at her back and she is grabbing his neck for support.

Wait. Something's not right. Mabilis siyang humiwalay sa lalake at tinuro niya ito. "Y-you...how did you came to rescue me ngayong ang layo mo kanina? You can't possibly run as fast as the wind to just--- You did! You run as fast as the wind!" she yells in surprised.

Chihoon nodded as he was still holding Shanelle on his hands. "I did." Hindi kasi normal na tao lang. He has special abilities like jumping high, moving as fast as the wind and he can hear from a long distance.

"You are a ...M-monster?!" Napalunok na sambit ni Shanelle at unti-unting lumalayo sakanya.

Napahilamos si Shanelle sakanyag mukha saka napaupo sa sofa. Umupo din si Chihoon sa sofa at tinitignan si Shanelle.

Chihoon knew at that moment that he should tell Shanelle what really is going on. Pero di niya ito bibiglain. He will tell her more of himself pag ready na ang babaeng makinig.

"Your current heart rate is over 120 bpm. I know you have many things to ask. I will try my best to answer it," he said.

Tumingin si Shanelle sakanya. "C-can you fly? What really are you? D-do you have magic or something like you know Superman... Batman or Kingsman?"

"Pft. Kingsman? Nah, just think of me as having eaten the devil fruit. I was cursed. Well, yun ang alam ko. Someone out there wants to kill me. And about sa abilities ko, I haven't tried flying at all. But I can jump to a high place. Wala akong maalala sa nakaraan ko. Dito sa mundong ito ikaw lang ang kilala ko."

He looks at Shanelle na nakangangang nakiking lang sakanya. "Once I found the person I've been looking for I will leave you then. Di na kita guguluhin. As to repay you for giving me life and for letting me stay here, I will guarantee your safety at all times."

Napataas ang kabilang gilid ng labi ni Shanelle sa narinig. "Oh... safety? Di kaya mas delikado ka para sakin?"

Umiling si Chihoon. "I don't think so. You really look like an unlucky person." Napasimangot si Shanelle sa tinuran ng lalake. "I won't let you die while walking down the stairs or get bored in the middle of the night and fall to your death in the sewer. I was awakened because of you, so basically, we are one at heart. Pag may nangyari sayo, baka may mangyari din sakin."

Mataman lang na nakatingin si Shanelle sa lalake saka napasabunot sa buhok niya. Di niya maintindihan kung anong nangyayari but she knows that he is not the kind of person to do bad.

"Okay then, you can stay here. However, there are some problems that we need to go over. Understanding each other's appeal thoroughly. Also, lifestyle habits and background information. One more thing, my dad. He shouldn't meet you so be sure he won't see you around."

Tumango-tango si Chihoon. "okay. May tanong ka pa ba?"

"What species are you and where did you come from?" Mabilis na turan ni Shanelle.

Nag isip muna si Chihoon saka tinignan si Shanelle. "I am a hundred-year-old human. Yun ang naaalala ko. Regarding on how I acquired my abilities, I still don't know. Pupunta ako sa library or sa museum to at least know what happened to me."

Napalunok ng laway si Shanelle. "Ibig sabihin immortal ka?"

"You can say that. And I still want to know my other abilities aside from running as fast as the wind. Yesterday, while I was buying my things, nakarating ako sa isang laboratory. There I acquired some information. It is about telomeres and telomerase."

"Telomers what?" nakataas ang kilay na sambit ni Shanelle. Magaling siya sa Math and English but never in Science for Pete's sake.

"Telomeres and telomerase. Telomere is a part of our DNA that affects how are cells age. And telomerase is an enzyme used in the creation of new cells and a part of our RNA." Explain ni Chihoon sakanya.

Nanatili naming nakanganga si Shanelle sa sinabi ng lalake hindi dahil sa bilib siya ditto kundi dahil wala ni isang word siyang naintindihan sa sinabi niya.

"That might be one reason bakit mahaba ang buhay ko." Pagpapatuloy ni Chihoon.

Tinapik naman ni Shanelle ang kanyang pisngi to let herself stay awake sa lecture ng ghost slash monster na kaharap niya.

"Human aging is a very complicated study. Alam ko sa takbo ng isip mo di mo maiintindihan kahit I explain ko sayo. To put it simply, my condition is most likely due to some genetic mutation."

"M-mutation? Then you are a mutant?" malalaki ang mata na sambit ni Shanelle. How can this be possible? She is looking at a perfectly made mutant! Help me. What did I get myself into! Napahilamos na naman siya sakanyang mukha. "So, can you eat solid foods? Or mga insects ba ang kinakain mo?"

"Kagabi when I ate solid foods, sinuka ko lahat that's when you were asleep. So ibig sabihin I can't eat solid foods. I then though that my body prefers fluid of a human's normal diet like milktea. And no, I don't eat insects."

Napangiwi si Shanelle. Okay? So kelangan ko pa palang isama sa budget ko ang diet drinks? Putchang buhay naman oo. At milktea? Huwaw men! Magiging suki ata ako ng Bubbleloca neto. "So... sinabi mo kanina na may kaaway ka at gusto kang patayin. May ideya ka ba sa kung anong klase din siyang tao?"

Chihoon tilts his head at nag isip muna bago tumingin sa babae. Ibubuka na sana niya ang bibig nang sumigaw ito.

"Stop! D-don't tell me," she covered her ears saka tumakbo palayo. The lesser I know the safer I am. I didn't hear anything. I didn't hear anything!