Chapter 33: Warning

I sat on the bed the moment I woke up. Mataas na ang sikat ng araw sa labas ng bintana. Pinusod ko ang buhok ko at nagtungo sa bathroom upang maghilamos. Pagharap ko sa salamin, napansin ko ang tila mga pasa sa aking leeg.

Hinawakan ko ito gamit ang aking daliri bago napagtanto kung saan ito galing. Agad kong linugay muli ang buhok ko at napahawak sa aking dibdib.

Those fading bruises were from Zackary's lips...

Agad akong umiling sa naalala. Kahapon pa ako nakabalik mula sa apothecary pero ngayon ko lang ito napansin because I was covered in bundle of coats and heavy clothes yesterday because of the dreary weather.

Matapos magayos, nagtungo ako sa hallway at napansin ang nakasarang kwarto ni Anabeth. Halos kadarating ko lang kahapon noong magpaalam siya na kailangang umuwi dahil may sakit ang isa sa mga kapatid niya. Anabeth was the oldest among her siblings kaya naman isa siya sa inaasahan ng kanyang pamilya.

Bumaba ako sa hall para magagahan. Habang kumakain kasabay ang ilang mga senior staff sa iba't ibang table, muli kong naalala si Zackary... the kiss I stole and his drowning kisses. Nakakatakot isiping masyado na akong napapalapit sa kanya. Tama pa ba itong nararamdaman ko?

Matapos mag-agahan, dumeretso ako sa tower para simulan ang mga reports tungkol sa training camp. All the previous health files and log sheets from the camp were spread in the long table and I knew I had a long day of work ahead.

Inalis ko ang coat na suot ko at sinabit sa likod ng pinto, pinusod ang aking buhok bago nagsimula. I sat on my work station with files as thick as books. While deeply immerse in my work, one of the senior staff knocked on the door and asked me assist the injured orders in the infirmary.

Nagtaka ako noong una because there's always a staff assigned in the infirmary at this time. Pero tumayo parin ako at inabot ang coat ko sa pintuan bago nagtungo sa infirmary. They usually call for other staff during emergencies.

Pagdating sa infirmary, tahimik ang paligid. In my mind, I was preparing to treat heavy injuries. Pero nakita ko ang dalawang orders na naghihintay sa loob at may kausap.

"Sir Alex, gasgas lang ang mga ito. Hindi naman natin kailangang pumunta pa dito."

From the slightly opened door I noticed how Alexander glared at the order. "Gusto mo ba mas malala?"

"Sabi ko nga, kailangan ko ng gamot."

Tuluyan kong binuksan ang pintuan at binati sila. Agad silang humarap at marahan na yumuko upang bumati. Alexander stood in the middle of the two, his eyebrows scrunched so early in the morning. Wala bang araw na hindi nakakunot ang noo niya?

"What happened?"

"Wala ito, Ms. Eleanor-" Hindi naituloy ng order ang sasabihin nang tila may naalala. "Injuries na nakuha namin sa field... mukhang delikado kaya pumunta na kami dito."

Tumango ang katabi niya. Pinagmasdan ko ang mga galos sa kanilang braso. There's a certain point in history that hybrids could heal themselves and didn't need much medical attention. But as our bloodline fades in time, ganoon din ang ginawa nito sa kakayahang makagaling. That's why having this kind of skill... to heal, was sought after.

Mababaw lang ang kanilang mga galos, but I still made sure I cleaned them properly and and dabbed enough ointments and medicines to easily heal. Habang nasa gitna ng ginagawa, hindi ko mapigilang mapansin si Alexander. He was waiting patiently in a corner. I didn't know he's this hands-on... just to make sure his subordinates were properly treated.

Nang matapos, lumapit ako kay Alexander. I was smiling, telling him it was all done. Pero sa halip, sumimangot lang siya, folding his arms in front of his chest.

May mali ba akong nasabi?

Naglakad siya sa side door ng infirmary at lumabas sa lawn. Nagtataka na sinundan ko siya. "Alexander, sandali... may nasabi ba akong masama?"

Muli siyang humarap sa'kin habang sinusundan ko siya, 'causing me to stepped back right away. He stared at me, displeased, until his gaze lowered down to my neck. At first, I wasn't aware what he's pointing with his gaze. Nang bigla ko itong maalala, agad kong tinakpan ang leeg ko.

I didn't know what to say so I just stared wide-eye at him.

Bumuntong hininga siya nang makita ang reaction ko. "Eleanor... mas makabubuti kung hindi ka magiging malapit sa kanya."

"I know..." I mumbled, lowering my head.

I was aware since the beginning... of my difference with someone like Zackary Van Zanth. I didn't want his image to be tainted. He already helped me get on my feet. I didn't want to cause any more inconvenience to him.

"I'm sorry... I'll know my place next time..."

I heard him curse under his breath, kaya nagalala ako na baka mas lalo siyang nagalit sa'kin. "That's not what I'm trying to say, Eleanor," he muttered, voice lighter. "I'm just saying you should protect your emotions too. Madami ka pang hindi alam sa kanya... mga bagay na maaaring masaktan ka."

I blinked, now more confused of his words. Bumulong siya bigla sa hangin.

"I'm gonna punch him real hard..."

Pinagmasdan ko si Alexander. "Thanks for warning me," I mumbled. Kahit paano, nagawa kong ngumiti. "It's like you're watching over me too."

Natigilan siya sa sinabi ko. He was about to say something, but decided not to. He kept his knuckles close saka bumuntong hininga. "Kailangan na naming umalis."

Nakatayo ako sa paanan ng main door nang magpaalam ang tatlo at tuluyang lumabas ng apothecary. Nang makitang nakalayo na sila, humugot ako nang malalim na hininga at muling naglakad pabalik sa tower. Pero isang bagay ang hindi maalis sa isipan ko.

Madami ka pang hindi alam sa kanya... mga bagay na maaaaring masaktan ka.

Pain... I don't think I could handle more of it.

That afternoon, Senior Violeta called me in her office to informed me about this activity that Anabeth was supposed to be part of, and since she won't be back in the apothecary until tomorrow, the senior asked me if I could fill in for her.

I didn't hesitate and said I would go in her place. Pero isang bagay ang napansin ko sa mukha ni Senior Violeta. She seemed hesitant for a moment.

"It's a program organized by the young people from the elite families in town."

Elites...

I barely had interactions with them in town and the one time I did, it didn't end up well and I ruined someone's birthday party. I was aware they're the kind of people who want nothing to do with me.

"Will you still accept the field work?"

I bit my lips before nodding. "Yes."

I packed the things I needed for the field work tomorrow. I accepted it because I was thinking Anabeth would do the same if ever something happened and I couldn't do my work.

It was honestly a good program which aims to help residents in the far villages of Van Zanth. It was nice of them to have this initiative. If I had the same power and resources, I'll do this kind of programs as much as I could.

Pagdating ng umaga, alas sais palang ay nasa paanan na ako ng main door at naghihintay. An unfamiliar car approached the driveway, followed by a private driver from one of the families.

"Ms. Anabeth?"

Bahagya akong yumuko para bumati. "I'm Eleanor. I'll fill in for her today."

Hindi ito umimik nang buksan ang pintuan para sa'kin. While seated on the backseat, I couldn't help but wonder what kind of people I'd be facing today. I believe they're good people because of the activity they chose to spend their time.

After twenty minutes, the car arrived at the starting point of the hike up the mountain. There's already a group of people hanging around the area. Mukhang sila ang makakasama ko sa program. There were four ladies and a guy wearing glasses. But what made up most of the group were the personal helpers they brought with them who carry their bags and things.

Sabay-sabay silang lumingon pagdating ko, and I knew right away they aren't going to be as pleasant as I hoped. They had their eyebrows arched, scanning my presence with their eagle eyes. They were all tall, slim, with the finesse of being raise in a well-off environment. Their snotty faces, chin in the air, and roll of their eyes greeted me the instance I walked to them.

"I thought you had the other one on the list?" one lady asked the other.

"I don't know. She must be the one who filled in."

They talked as though I wasn't in front of them. I cleared my throat and stated. "I'm Eleanor from the-"

One of the ladies cut me off. "No need to introduce yourself. We know who you are." The statement came with a snide tone and I stood there, completely aware that the whispered conversation that followed was about me.

"She's the woman who hangs around the alpha..."

"Shameless..."

Before their words sink in, the guy with them motioned the start of the hike. I gripped the strap of my own bag tightly, while their words still hang over my ear.

Nang magsimula kaming umakyat ng bundok, isa sa mga helper ang nagalok na buhatin ang dala kong bag ng mga gamot para hindi ako mahirapan. But one of the elites walking in front of the trail turned her head back to us.

"She could carry her own things, right Eleanor?" the lady said with a sweet smile. Most of them looked like we're all in the same age but they grew up in a different world I wasn't aware of... and it was becoming clear to me.

"I heard you use to serve people so I guess carrying your own stuff would be easy for you."

Everything I heard from her was true, but IT still made my heart sting, specially it's the thing I was trying my hardest to forget. Kinuha ko mula sa helper ang bag na inabot niya kanina.

"Kaya ko na po ito."

The hike to the mountain was shorter compared to the other villages we've been through, and including the hike to the training camp, which was the most tedious. Today's mountain terrain was less steep, with more solid forest ground and clear trail. But I could tell the elites weren't use to this kind of activity.

"Who chose this village anyway? We could have chosen the ones closer to town."

"This hike is killing my feet!"

The rants and complains from them outnumbered the minutes we spent hiking the mountain. Every minute someone would complain about something, like the annoying rays of the sun hitting their faces, the wet ground from the dew of the previous night making their shoes soaked, the mud and moss on the path.

"It's all their fault!" one of the ladies whined nang lampasan namin ang isang mababaw na ilog, donning a disgusted look on her face nang umapak siya sa maputik na river bank. "If not for my parents nagging, I'd never be in this freaking place!"

Tahimik lang ang mga helpers na kasama namin at tinulungan nalang ang mga amo nila na makatawid at maayos na makarating sa aming destinasyon.

Isang oras din ang lumipas bago namin narating ang village. The village of ten families were located near a large running river dotted with gigantic rocks. Most of the houses in the village were made like cabins. They also have this large water system by the river bank which filters drinking water and patches of vegetables at the center of the village which were open for villagers. For a mountain village, this one had the most self-sufficient system.

One of the villagers approached our group, the village leader, an old man leaning against his cane and cradling his curved back. The elites forced their smiles, nudging and glaring at each other, on who would accept the handshake from the village leader.

Nang mukhang walang gustong lumapit, I stepped forward and accepted the wrinkled hand held in front of us. "Thank you so much for having us."

"Buti nakarating kayo," his raspy voice stated. "Kailangan talaga namin ng tulong ngayon. Karamihan sa mga bata ay may mga impeksyon at inaapoy ang lagnat."

someone hissed from the group of elites. "You didn't say there's an infection lying around here," asik nito sa kasama na pilit siyang pinatahimik.

Pero maging ang iba ay ganoon din ang tingin. "How would I know? Taga-rito ba ako?"

"What if we catch the flu?!"

Patuloy sila sa argumento hanggang sa magsalita ang matanda. "Hindi ito nakakahawa. Galing ang impeksyon sa ilog kaya nilalagnat ang mga bata."

"It must be bacterial infection." I said. "May mga dala po akong gamot para sa-"

Natigil ako sa pagsasalita nang muling marinig ang reklamo mula sa grupo.

"Hindi ba tumawid tayo sa mga ilog kanina?"

"Ew! Ew! What if we're contaminated with it?"

My shoulders raised as I held in a breath, saka ko ito unti-unting pinakawalan. Humarap ako sa matanda, trying to smile despite the fact na pinagtitinginan na kami ng mga residente na lumabas sa kanilang mga tahanan dahil sa ingay.

"Pwede niyo po ba akong dalhin sa mga batang may sakit? May mga dala po akong gamot."

Iniwan ko ang grupo na hindi parin magkasundo. I expected too much from them... but the way they complained about their petty concerns in front of a village with sick children was too insensitive. Ako na ang humingi ng paumanhin sa village leader para sa kanila.

"Wala 'yon, hija. Sanay na kami," sabi ng matanda nang dalhin ako sa unang bahay. "Mangilan-ngilan lang ang totoong may pakialam, isa na ang pamilya Van Zanth, at tuwing bumababa ako sa bayan, laging pinapaalala ng pamilya na bisitahin ko sila upang dinggin ang mga kailangan ng village. Nagkataon lang talaga hija na sabay-sabay nagkasakit ang mga bata."

"I'll try to let them know of the situation here pagbalik po namin sa bayan," I promised him.

"Isa ka ba sa kanila? Nakakatuwa dahil hindi ka tulad nila."

"Isa lang po akong staff sa apothecary," sagot ko. "But I love what I do..."

Buong umaga kong inisa-isa ang mga bahay sa village, checking on the children and anyone who had a symptom. Seven kids were suffering from fever because of the infection kaya humingi ako ng tahimik na lugar kung saan ako maaaring mag-prepare ng gamot.

Ang huling batang binisita ko ay isang batang babae. She had this ringlets of dark hair and round puffy face. She was staring at me with wide eyes nang abutin niya ang pisngi ko gamit ang maliliit niyang palad.

"Pretty..." she mumbled, smiling, exposing her two missing front tooth.

Ngumiti ako at hinawakan ang pisngi niya. "Ikaw din... kaya magpagaling ka para hindi na magalala ang mama mo."

Lampas tanghali na nang bumalik ako sa paanan ng village kung sana ko iniwan ang grupo. Kahit paano, nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang makitang nandoon parin sila at ginagawa kung ano ang pinunta namin sa lugar.

But most of the people distributing newly cooked food to the villages were the helpers. Nasa sulok ang mga elotes, iritable, habang nakaupo sa benches sa ilalim ng isang oak tree.

"Kailangan ba tayo matatapos?" I heard one said.

"We have the pictures and documentation, do you think we could go home?"

"My parents expected me to be here the whole day. Baka magsumbong pa itong mga kasama natin."

Nagkatinginan sila nang makita ako. Lumapit ang isa sa kanyang kasama at bumulong, until the whispered conversation circulated among them.

"Is it true? She's seducing the alpha..." One of them cast a sneer in my direction.

"I heard she's aiming to be a resident here... so the words must be true..."

One of the ladies nudged the other. "You're close with Rebecca right? Once she learned about this..."

"Just wait until she comes back in Van Zanth..."

***