Chapter 39: A Stranger

Since we came back from the Van Zanth mansion, I have been tormenting myself by spending every possible time in the tower working. There were times I only go back to the main building to rest during evenings.

Anabeth knew something was up. She saw me in tears when I left Zackary's room days ago. But she didn't ask me questions which I was thankful for. Although I could see her getting more and more concerned.

"I guess you're not going this weekend?"

We were having breakfast in the hall when she asked me about it. Bago umalis sa mansion, inimbita kami ni Zanra na dumalo sa wedding anniversary celebration ng kanyang mga magulang na gaganapin sa Sabado.

"I'm not sure," I told Anabeth, unable to give a solid answer.

Ms. Laura and Sir Zander were one of the people I admire in Van Zanth. Despite their titles and position, they were kind enough to help me settle here. I wanted to congratulate them but is it still right for me to attend?

"Are you avoiding him?"

Muli akong bumaling kay Anabeth dahil sa kanyang tanong. Him... Zackary. I was the one who wished for us to stay away from each other's paths. I should be okay with it. But no matter what I do, I couldn't lie to myself.

After breakfast, we were about to head to the tower when we passed by the announcement board on the hallway kung saan ilang staff ang binabasa ang bagong paskil dito.

"It's the time of the year again..." muttered Anabeth nang pareho kaming huminto para basahin ito, a long announcement requiring volunteers for another field program.

Pagdating namin sa tower, tinanong ko agad si Anabeth tungkol dito.

"It's a field activity," started Anabeth while both of us were seated in our work station. Her, in front of the long table with apparatuses for making medicines, and me, in my table drowned with old books and research materials.

"Volunteers are stationed in different villages for a month, like a roving medical team. Pinagdaanan ito ng halos lahat ng staff and everyone had different experiences about it. But if there's one thing in common, it was draining."

"Volunteers sleep in tents and camps, sometimes with no clean water or food to cook. They travel with other staff, rain or shine, in mountains and dangerous terrains. I love field work pero ito 'yong hindi ko gugustuhing ulitin."

Hindi nawala sa isip ko ang tungkol sa program buong umaga. I was already thinking of the list of requirements and if I was eligible to be part of it.

Pagdating ng tanghali, habang paalis kami sa tower para maglunch, nabanggit ni Anabeth na kailangan niyang dalhan ng gamot si Ms. Venise.

"Is she sick?" tanong ko.

Humarap siya sa 'kin, nagtataka, saka siya biglang may naalala. "Oh, right!" she exclaimed, the sudden burst of enthusiasm almost made me jump. "Hindi ko pa pala nasabi sa 'yo. Aunt Venise is four weeks pregnant."

My mood instantly shifted with the news. "Vincent is going to be a big brother."

Natawa si Anabeth sa sinabi ko. "Yes, and the little fella is very excited about it."

Niyaya ako ni Anabeth na sumama sa paghatid ng supplement kay Ms. Venise, and because I miss the family and little Vincent, I agreed to go with her.

By afternoon, the apothecary service car dropped us to a familiar neighborhood. Unlike the place where most elites live with lonely streets and towering gates, Ms. Venise's neighborhood was more pleasant, welcoming. Low hedges surrounded the open yards in front of elegant houses with vine covered brick walls.

Nadatnan namin si Vincent sa naglalaro sa yard, with plentiful wooden toys on the grass. Nang mapansin niya ang pagdating namin, agad siyang tumayo mula sa damuhan at tumakbo para salubungin kami.

"Anabee! Elya!"

He run to us with his little arms opened wide, expecting a hug. Agad namin siyang sinalubong ng yakap. Anabeth pinched his cute little cheeks.

"Hey there, little guy."

"I'm a brother. My mummy have baby on her tummy."

Natawa si Anabeth. "He tells it to every people who visits," she told me.

"It's nice to see you again, Vincent," I greeted him. "Where is your mum?"

The child gave me a toothy grin. "She get snack for Vincent."

Tumakbo siya papasok sa bahay. "Mummy! Mummy!"

Napapailing na sinundan namin siya. "He's really an adorable child."

"Madaldal na din siya," nakangiting dagdag ni Anabeth. "He's into initiating conversations with anyone about anything. One time, Aunt Venise discovered him talking to one of their neighbors in the yard, explaining how to operate his toys."

Pagpasok namin sa bahay, nadatnan namin si Ms. Venise sa living room hawak ang isang tray ng mga inumin. Agad namin siyang binati at tinulungan.

"I should have prepared more," tukoy niya sa kanyang hinandang meryenda para kay Vincent. With loose bun and simple house clothes, she remained gorgeous with her high cheekbone and model-like physique.

"It's okay, Aunt Venise. Baka pagalitan na kami ni Uncle Sebastian kapag nalaman niyang pinapagod ka namin. Alam mo naman 'yon," biro ni Anabeth.

Ms. Venise gently laughed. "I know. He didn't even let me work everyday in the shop and he's getting all anxious as if he's the one pregnant."

Anabeth burst out laughing. "Is he around?"

"He's in a meeting with the former alpha."

Nang muling mag-alok si Ms. Venise na maghanda ng meryenda, sinamahan siya ni Anabeth sa kusina para tulungan. Naiwan ako sa living room kasama si Vincent.

Pilit umakyat sa tabi ko si Vincent sa mahabang sofa. I lifted his little body and settled him beside me.

"Elya..." he asked, unblinking. "Where is Zacky?"

Nabigla ako sa tanong niya. It took me a moment to come up with a respond. "He is busy protecting Van Zanth."

"From monsters?" Vincent stared at me with wide, curious eyes.

"Yes, from monsters."

He kept swaying his little feet outside the sofa, thinking. "Who protect Zacky?"

His question caught me off-guard, specially coming from a three years old. "Someone who is destined to be on his side so Zacky wouldn't be alone."

"Is you, Elya?"

Ngumiti ako at umiling. "Someone greater."

Pagbalik ni Anabeth at Ms. Venise sa living room, we all settled on the sofa with tall glasses of fruit juice, chocolate cookies and a large plate of sliced fruits on the table.

Anabeth took the pack of medicine from her bag and gave it to Ms. Venise. "Uncle Sebastian requested it so it's specifically made by the senior staff."

Napangiti si Ms. Venise sabay iling. "Such a worrier," she mumbled.

Nagkwentuhan kami habang kumakain while Vincent sat with us on the sofa, messily eating cookies. Every now and then, Ms. Venise would wipe Vincent's mouth or check the orange juice in his kiddy cup. She was very attentive of her child.

Sa gitna ng usapan, nabanggit ni Ms. Venise ang tungkol sa anniversary party sa darating na Sabado. Tinanong niya kung pareho kaming makakapunta. Although uncertain, I just nodded.

"What was it like during their wedding?" biglang tanong ni Anabeth. "Their story was quite known for facing impossible odds. Habang lumalaki, 'yon ang lagi kong naririnig."

Napangiti si Ms. Venise. "It's true. But despite that, they had a simple wedding with only few guest. Laura was never keen for extravagant things... and also, because they weren't fully accepted yet during that time."

Anabeth frowned. "Really? After facing life-and-death situation and all that?"

Ms. Venise took a sip of her warm tea. "The town's people were divided and the council was keeping an eye on them. It was a very stressing situation for Laura. And even though I used to be a nasty bitch, I was genuinely worried for Laura and the twins."

Anabeth scooted closer, wanting to hear more of it. Maging ako hindi napigilang makinig. Their story was something I had admired since I learned about it.

"There was a time I had to get her out of the mansion to stay with me in one of my family's villa so she could be away from the stressing environment. Panay ang bisita noon ng council sa mansion, added to the fact that she could hear their meetings and every problems encountered in town."

"Looking back, I think that's when we became close. She was really a simple person, walang ka-arte arte sa katawan. I even had to teach her to dress the part of being an alpha's mate... but both Zander and Laura proved again and again that they're more than mates."

Kumunot ang noo ni Anabeth. "Is there something more than that?"

"Of course," answered Ms. Venise. "What's more rare than finding your mate is falling in love with them. Some mates are forced together only because of the bond. Some stay away from each other's lives and live with the consequences."

"I didn't know that," Anabeth silently exclaimed beside me. "I thought if you're someone's mate, you automatically feel the attraction."

"The bond is given but the attraction is always up to the two people involved," commented Ms. Venise. "If they lack this part, being mates is nothing but an agreement."

By late afternoon, nagpaalam na kami kay Ms. Venise. We promised to visit her some time soon while she promised to prepare home cook meals for us.

While on the bus going back to downtown, nabanggit ni Anabeth na gusto niyang tumingin ng dress para sa party.

"You should also buy one," alok niya.

Umiling ako habang nakaupo sa tabi niya sa bus. I still have the dress we bought last time. And I don't even know if I could attend the celebration.

The sun was about to set behind the mountains surrounding the town nang bumaba kami sa bus at naglakad patungo sa shop ni Ms. Venise.

Nang nasa tapat na kami nito, napalatak si Anabeth nang maalala ang isang bagay.

"May pinapabili nga pala si Senior Rowena," she exclaimed, nervous that she almost forgot about it. "Just wait for me inside. Mabilis lang ako."

I watched Anabeth rushed to the line of shops on the street bago ako pumasok sa shop ni Ms. Venise. The tiny bell chimed at the door as I pushed it gently.

One of the staff greeted me with a smile upon recognizing me. She motioned for me to wait shorty at the settee while they attend to the customers who came before me.

Tahimik akong umupo habang pinagmamasdan ang mga naka-display na dresses at gowns sa paligid ko. The tulle skirts and chiffon dresses, the intricate details on the fabrics, grains of crystals, delicate laces and embroideries, the pastel colors. It was always a feast to the eyes being here.

"Fabrice has a lot of dress shops but this one is still my favorite."

Hindi ko mapigilang bumaling sa babaeng kausap ng isa sa mga staff. She had such a nice, sweet voice. Kahit natalikod, I could easily tell she's fair and pretty. She was wearing a white summer dress, nude sandals and a long brown coat.

Habang naghihintay, tumayo ako para tignan ang hilera ng mga dress sa gitna ng shop. It must have been the new selection Ms. Venise had mentioned earlier. They were all in pastel and neutral colors. Ang gaganda nilang tingnan.

Isa sa mga dress ang nakakuha ng atensiyon ko. It was a flowy old rose dress with tiny floral embroidery on the corset shaped bodice. I've never seen such a delicate dress. I raised my hand to touch the fabric when someone held it at the same time. Pareho kaming napalingon sa isa't isa.

"Oh, I'm sorry," agad niyang hingi ng paumanhin. It was the girl with the nice voice. "I was on my way out and I just think the dress is gorgeous."

I instantly removed my hand from the dress and stepped aside. "I was... just looking..."

"You should buy it," she offered. "It would look great on you. You're tall and really pretty."

My eyes blinked, surprised by the sudden compliment even though I know she's just being nice. The dress would be perfect for her. She's pretty, slim and fair with a heart shape face and long brown wavy hair cascading down her back.

Ngumiti siya sa'kin. "Trust me, you should buy it."

She did a little wave before she head out of the shop where a long black car was waiting for her on the other side of the street. The driver, who looked so much like a butler, rushed to get the bag from her hand before opening the car door. From the glass door of the shop, I could see her smiling, thanking the driver.

She was clearly one of the elites in Van Zanth. But unlike those I've encountered, she seemed to be different. Muli akong bumaling sa dress na parehong kumuha ng atensyon namin.

It was rare for me experience act of kindness from a stranger... specially from someone with her status.

***