Today's Thursday, June 10, 2022. Kananaog ko lang sa sinasakyan kong jeep nang dumating na ako sa aking destinasyon. Time check, it's six thirty in the morning. Maaga akong pumasok sa school dahil dito ko naisipang mag-familiarize sa mga keynotes ko sa Reading in Luna Roja's History.

Magkakaroon kasi kami ng short quiz mamaya.

When I entered the campus, deafening silence greeted me. May iilan namang estudyante akong nakikita, pero mabibilang ko lang sila sa daliri. Usual starting class kasi ay eight in the morning. Tumingala ako sa kalangitan.

May isang malaking ulap sa sentro ng campus na unti-unting kumulimlim. And on the left side, kapansin-pansin ang araw na unti-unting sumisilip. Sa nadadaanan ko namang mga halaman ay napupuno ng hamog. I shivers when suddenly a gentle gust of wind brushed against my skin.

Tinatahak ko na ngayon ang hagdanan patungo sa second floor ng department building namin. On my way there, napahawak ako sa dibdib ko nang bigla na lamang sumikdo ang puso ko. Iniling ko na lamang ang aking ulo. Baka may sakit na ata ako sa puso.

Or someone talks about me behind my back? Sabi-sabi kasi sa mga matatanda na kapag kinabahan tayo nang walang dahilan, someone was talking behind our backs.

Iniling ko ulit ang aking ulo. At nagpakawala ng mababaw na buntonghininga. When I arrived at the second floor, arguing voices echoed. And I am sure galing ito sa classroom namin. 'Yong classroom kasi namin ay nasa dulo, kaya malapit lang ito sa hagdanan.

"You are not supposed to be here, Wolfie." My eyes grew wider when I recognized that voice. It was from Lupus. "The Mistress will be furious if she knows you're here," he added.

I turned my back and went to the edge. It's insulting if I eavesdrop. Besides it is none of my concern. But I wonder, does Lupus had this numerous enemy he always argued? Humampas ang hangin sa mukha ko nang makarating ako sa dulo. Humawak ako sa railings at tumingin sa baba.

Kahit na second floor lang ito, ang taas pa rin para sa akin. If someone fell from here, I'm pretty sure bones will dislocate. Brutally, it could end someone's life if the head fell first. I was quick to scold myself. Ano ba naman 'tong iniisip ko? Ayan tuloy naalala ko na naman 'yong nangyari sa unang araw ko dito.

"Kuya Lupus, the pack are anxious already. The Crescents kids are afraid to turn. It is their first time," rinig na rinig ko ang pag-aalala sa boses ng kausap ni Lupus. "They need the power of the Alpha to at least ease their pain when we are all under the influence of the full moon."

For the nth time, narinig ko na naman ang salitang 'Alpha'. Noong isang araw din, narinig ko ring nagbanggit si Rory niyan. What the hell does that mean? Are they talking about military? But why the hell it includes kids and the moon? Plus, the Crescents kids are afraid to turn?

To avoid headache, isinawalang bahala ko na lamang ang mga narinig ko. Kinuha ko na lamang ang aking notes. I need to study baka kasi makakuha ako ng itlog sa quiz. At ayoko pa naman ng gano'n.

"Wolfie, the remaining Alpha isn't ready. He doesn't even have the knowledge about our existence!" Nakuha na naman ang atensyon ko nang biglang tumaas ang boses ni Lupus. "The pack is expecting the worst. We all are affected after the death of our former Alpha two years ago. Yes, we are broken when our leader isn't around. But please do understand that as the pack's guardian, I am doing my best to finally bring back the prosperity that we all have before," he added. Lupus sounds like a leader.

Wala naman akong naiintindihan sa mga pinagsasabi nila kaya nagpatuloy ako sa aking ginagawa. But no matter how I tried not to listen their conversation, talagang maririnig ko dahil sa lakas ng kanilang boses.

For no apparent reason, somehow I felt guilty. Hindi ko alam kung saan galing iyon. But upon hearing Lupus' response to the person he was talking to, it occurred to me. It's as if I put myself into a situation that I am the one that they are talking about.

"Pero Kuya, if we told him who he is, our problem will be solved!" Nagulat na lamang ako nang biglang tumaas ang boses ng kausap ni Lupus.

Mas lalo akong nagulat nang biglang may kumalabog. "You really can't understand, do you? Everyone will come for him if we expose him to the world! Are you saying that you are willing to put your Alpha in danger?" My surprise doubled when I heard how upset Lupus sounds.

Hindi niya nagustuhan ang sinabi ng kausap niya.

"Whatever the danger may be coming for him, he still needs to execute his responsibilities to the pack! He can't just hide forever, Kuya," nadidismayang sagot nito. "And it is not our problem why he is different! It is his parents' fault why the world will condemn him if they will know," galit na galit na dagdag nito.

I flinch when I heard a sonorous thud. It's as if a body suddenly fell hard upon the floor. Sunod-sunod ko pang narinig ang pagdaing ng isang tao. My eyes grew wider when I realized. Sinuntok ni Lupus ang taong kausap niya.

"You don't have the right to insult our late Alpha, Wolfie! Kapag narinig 'yan ng Mistress, she will pretty sure shred you into pieces," he warned the person named Wolfie. "You are still young, you will never know what true love brings you."

Namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan nilang dalawa. I've said earlier, I don't want to eavesdrop. But they kind of let me listen to their conversation. Ang lalakas kasi ng mga boses. Dahil dito, hindi ko natuloy ang plano kong mag-aral para mamaya.

"Now, leave," Lupus authoritatively said.

Nagsilakihan na lamang ang aking mga mata nang mamukhaan ko ang lalaking lumabas sa classroom namin. Siya 'yong lalaking bumangga sa akin kahapon. So, siya ang kausap ni Lupus. Kapansin-pansin pa ang duguan niyang labi.

Our eyes met. Tinignan niya ako ng masama. Tila ba'y pinapahiwatig niya sa akin na may atraso ako sa kaniya. He once again throw me his death glares before turn his back on me.

Para saan 'yon?

Iniling ko na lamang ang aking ulo at ibinaling ang aking atensyon pabalik sa notes. Pero nahinto lamang 'yon nang marinig ko ang boses ni Lupus.

"Kai?" Napaangat ako ng ulo. "Kanina ka pa ba diyan? Did you perhaps heard―" Hindi niya tinapos ang gusto niyang sasabihin nang tumango ako.

Fear quickly plastered upon his face. And as quick as fear plastered upon his face, kasing-bilis din na kumunot ang aking noo. But he was also quick to withdraw it and smiled.

"Sorry. You both kinda loud, kaya narinig ko," panghihingi ko ng paumanhin.

Naglakad ako papalapit sa kaniya. At pumasok sa classroom. Inilapag ko ang aking bag bago umupo sa upuan ko.

"How much did you hear?" he once again asked.

I scan my notebook to the next page before looking at him. "Half of it, I guess? But no worries, I don't really get it what's happening between you two. Besides, it is not in my nature to be nosy. It is none of my concern, so, yeah." I turn my attention back to my notes.

I heard a sigh escaped from his lips. "But it is your concern," I heard him whispered. Tinignan ko siya nang naguguluhan.

"How did it become my concern, Lupus?" Nakakunot-noo kong tanong sa akin. Surprise was on his face after hearing what I said. "I'm sorry, I heard you whisper that it was my concern," I added.

An awkward laugh escaped from his lips. Kinamot pa niya ang kaniyang ulo. "May sinabi ba akong gano'n?" he asked.

And I was quick to nod as a response.

"Wala naman," mabilis niyang dagdag.

✢

Nagmamadali akong naglalakad papunta sa cafeteria dahil naghihintay na sa akin ang dalawa. Sabi pa ni Hecate, Rory will join our table. And for unknown reason, I got excited. Hindi ko alam kung saan galing 'yong pagkasabik ko.

Well, Rory and I somehow came back from what we are before. I am not sure, pero kaya ko na siyang tignan ngayon. I've told him about what I saw in the archive library last Tuesday. He said, Lolo niya raw 'yon. At tama nga 'yong sinabi sa akin ni Lola.

I am ashamed of what I think that day after finding it out. Tila ba'y sisirain ko pa ang nabubuo naming pagkakaibigan kahit minsan hindi ako sigurado. I mean, Rory and I barely talked to each other unlike with Hecate and Lupus.

Talaga nga namang tahimik si Rory. Pero ang gaan lang ng pakiramdam ko sa kaniya. It's as if I knew him already. And those gaze is really familiar. It's the same feeling I've felt two years ago. Before I pass to the comfort room, my eyes grew wider when someone suddenly grabbed my wrist violently.

"Sino ka?" I asked. Pilit ko pang binabawi ang pulsuhan ko sa pagkakahawak niya. "Bitawan mo 'ko! Ano gagawin mo sa akin?" Fear took over my system.

Pinihit niya ang seraduhan ng toilet room, at binuksan ito. Wala akong nagawa kundi ang sumunod sa kaniya dahil hawak-hawak niya pa rin ako. Humarap siya sa akin at doon ko nakita ang hitsura niya. Siya 'yong lalaking kausap kanina ni Lupus.

Mas lalo akong kinabahan nang bigla niyang isinarado ang pintuan. Habang ako naman ay nanginginig na sa takot.

"Please," naiiyak kong pakiusap. "If you are worried of what I heard this morning, hindi 'yon kakalat. Isa pa, hindi ko naiitindihan pinag-uusapan niyo ni Lupus," natatakot kong dagdag.

Nakatitig lang siya sa akin ng masama, sinamahan pa ito ng pagkadismaya. "You will never understand it because you have no knowledge of who you truly are," he said.

Tiningnan ko siya nang naguguluhan. When he saw my reaction, he laughed in resentment. Magsasalita na sana siya nang biglang nasira ang pintuan. There we saw Lupus and Rory. They were both looked furious.

Rory gently grabbed my wrist and locked me in his arms. Talagang dumikit ang mukha ko sa matipuno niyang dibdib. Habang si Lupus naman ay naglalakad papalapit sa lalaki. As far as I can remember, his name is Wolfie.

Nakita ko ang galit ni Lupus. And I saw his raging fist. Before it could landed to Wolfie, the adrenaline in me fired up and I absentmindedly rushed in front of him. Sa halip na kay Wolfie ang suntok na 'yon, sinalo ko ito para sa kaniya.

I don't know, my instincts tell me that I am responsible for what is coming. I just concluded that Wolfie doesn't deserve it.

It is me who deserved it.