Kabanata 2

Kabanata 2

CHOOSING her was martyrdom, staying was a sin...

Tinanaw ni Bjourne ang madilim na kalangitang nagpapaalala sa kanya ng araw na kinailangan niyang tumalikod mula sa liwanag ng Maylikha. How long has it already been since he made his choice? Since they made that choice?

He lost count of the years already. But there never was a day he didn't regret letting her do what she thought must be done in order for them to be forgiven.

Sumara ang kanyang mga mata at hinigpitan niya ang hawak sa espadang ni hindi niya tinangkang tanggalin sa lagayan mula noong araw na...

"They wouldn't stop. They're still going to raise a rebellion no matter how hard we try to keep the seals closed," ani Elmont na ngayon ay ilang hakbang ang layo mula sa kanyang likod.

Bjourne breathed in the damp woody air then released it heavily. "The rebellion has started long before humanity even found out about the existence of the cursed beings." Nilingon niya ito at tinitigan ito sa mga mata. "They're just trying to release him so he could come for me."

Elmont's scarlet red eyes twinkled with emotions he cannot utter, his curly midnight black hair slightly covered the upper left side of his face. It's already been nine years since Elmont landed in his care.

That day he gave out everything he knows, Bjourne felt nothing but his eagerness to survive. To not be one of the outcasts anymore.

To live... And earn the chance to return to the Father.

"This world will never be ready for his wrath. People are fragile. Even the ones you've turned..." may bahid ng lungkot na ani nito.

Lumamig ang titig ni Bjourne kay Elmont kasabay ng pag-igting ng kanyang panga. "I trust my warriors. I prepared their hearts for the war that's coming."

"But... Will their loyalty remain to you once they find out who you truly are? Who you were in heaven and who you chose to become for her?" Bumuntong hininga ito. "It was your choices that started all these..."

Naging kasing dilim ng kalangitan ang kanyang ekspresyon. "The only regret I have is I betrayed my brother."

"Is it?" malamig na tanong ni Elmont.

No. He regrets a lot of things. At isa roon ay ang hinayaan niyang mangyari ang kagustuhan ng babaeng mahal niya.

He let love destroy loyalty... And now that choice is destroying the world.

"We both know who's holding the last key. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit hindi mo pa sinusundo ang may hawak."

Bjourne looked at the woods again. "Hindi pa panahon. As long as she's not reaching the right age, I can only get close, but I still cannot hold her. We both know what happened when I touched her."

"They got stronger, I know. But you can keep her safe even when you're not holding her."

He pursed his lips for a moment. "She's slowly blooming into the woman I've been in love with for eternity. How can I resist her if she's arm's reached?" Lumamlam ang kanyang mga mata. "I've waited forever, Elmont. Forever... Just to hold her in my arms again the way I used to. I can't let my love for her fuel the enemies' powers."

Natahimik silang pareho ng ilang sandali hanggang sa tuluyang humakbang si Elmont patungo sa kanyang tabi. Tumitig ito sa kawalan bago basag na ngumiti. "I'd like to think love is the strongest force in this world. It could make or break anyone. Even the most terrifying beings in the universe..." Tumingin ito sa kanya. "Can you still wait a few years when men are already knocking on her doors?"

Gumuhit ang makahulugang ngisi sa kanyang mga labi kasabay ng pagtalim ng kanyang tingin. "I didn't wait this long to let another man hold her... Again."

HINDI talaga nagpapigil ang mga binatilyong paborito niyang lycan. Sinundan talaga siya ng mga ito para masilayan ang babaeng sinasabi niyang "kanya".

"It's not like we're going to fucking steal her, King Bjourne. I mean, geez. I don't have a fucking thing for old women." Ngumisi si Alexander. "No offense."

Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay. "Quinnser, what did I say about the damn curses?"

"Uh, you cursed, too."

Naging nagbabanta ang kanyang tingin dito. "Alexander—"

"Okay, okay I'm sorry." Umakto itong tila sini-zipper ang bibig. "There. No more curses. For tonight I guess."

Tinulak ni Layco ang kaibigan habang nakakunot ang noo nito. "That's enough. Show some respect."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, grandpa? Last time I checked, you ain't the daddy of the man who signed my birth certificate," sarcastic na tugon ni Alexander.

"Knock it off, Quinnser," sita ni Pearce na naging bahagi ng trainings niya mula nang mapili ng Alpha ng Galum.

"Yeah, knock it off or just go home," dagdag ni Levi.

"Oh, cool. So uhm," nakakalokong tumawa si Alexander habang pabalik-balik ang tingin kay Levi at Pearce. "Tapos na LQ, huh?"

"Gago!"

"Ina ka!"

Alexander covered his ears then looked at Bjourne. "They cursed."

Nahagod na lamang ni Bjourne ang kanyang batok. "Tama na 'yan bago ko kayo ibiting pare-pareho nang patiwarik." 

Nadinig niya ang parating na pamilyar na sasakyan. Nasa kalagitnaan pa sila ng kakahuyan at ilang kilometro pa ang layo nila sa kalsada kaya kung hindi titigil ang mga ito ay baka makalagpas ang kotse nang hindi niya nasisilayan ang babaeng kung pwede lang ay matagal na niyang inuwi.

"That's enough. Remove your shoes and bags now," utos niya sa mga ito.

Agad namang nagsisunod ang makukulit at humanap ng pagpipwestuhan ng mga gamit para sa pagbibihis nila mamaya. Nang makabalik sa kanya ay pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang mga ito. Excitement sketched on their faces as he smirked.

The moment Bjourne ran, the four future Alphas followed him immediately. They jumped over fallen trees and as they trailed down the edge of the hill, Bjourne slowly transformed into a huge white furry wolf with gray lining that extended from his nose up to his spine and until  his tail. 

Nang lingunin niya ang apat habang tumatakbo ay unti-unti na ring nagsipalit ng anyo ang mga ito.

Levi turned into a black wolf with magnetic blue eyes, Pearce's furr was amber mixed with black, Alexander's a mix of black and white because of his curse, while Layco turned into a dangerous ash gray wolf.

Bjourne smiled internally. Naaalala niya pa ang unang beses na nakita niya ang mga ito sa ganoong anyo. The first thing they did was bow to him and then attacked him in a playful way.

"Run faster, puppies," ani ng may pang-aasar sa mga ito gamit ang isip.

"Ha! Careful with your joints, grandpa," balik na asar ni Alexander.

Tinawanan lamang niya ito at mas binilisan ang takbo. Hindi naman siya binigo ng apat. They raced with him until they reached the end of the woods, a couple meters away from the asphalt road.

The car was already approaching, its headlights guiding it through the night.

Humakbang si Bjourne nang mas malapit, tinatanaw sa kanyang pwesto ang pamilyar na babaeng tila iritable habang may kausap sa telepono.

He smiled internally. It's been a while, Nafas.

"I don't see the grandma," ani Alexander.

Levi groaned. "Because she ain't a grandma. That's her, idiot."

"What? No. No way." Bigla itong tumakbo patungo sa daan dahilan upang biglang mapahinto ang sasakyan.

The woman inside gasped. Her green eyes widened in terror as Alexander jumped on top of the hood of their car, peeking through the windshield to see her clearly.

"Damn it, get back here you bastard!" asik ni Bjourne ngunit hindi ito nagpapigil. Talagang tumalon pa pababa saka nagtungo sa tapat ng bintana sa backseat.

The woman screamed while Alexander's paw was tapping on the window, his tongue hanging on his open mouth.

Wala nang nagawa si Bjourne. Tumakbo siya palapit dito at dinamba si Alexander na tumatawa sa kanyang isip. "Say hi now, King. I already made the move for you."

He snarled at Alexander. Ngunit nang makitang nakasilip ang dalaga sa bintana, nakatitig sa kanya habang nakaawang ang mga labi, natagpuan niya ang sariling unti-unting nilalapit ang ulo sa bintana.

She looked at his golden eyes as if she's peeking into his soul.

As if she can recognize him...

"Lady Marifer, anong ginagawa mo?!" halatang nahihintakutang ani ng driver nito nang ibaba ng dalaga ang bintana.

She swallowed hard without tearing her gaze off him. "I—It's okay. May pambayad ako ng anti-rabist."

"But it could kill you!"

"Then bury me in gold casket in the most expensive cemetery, damn it!" Tuluyan nitong nilabas ang nanginginig na kamay at akmang hahawakan na ang kanyang ulo, ngunit bago pa man lumapat ang palad nito sa kanyang balahibo, pinatakbo na ng driver ang kotse.

She looked outside the window with confusion clearly written in her pools. Bjourne can't help but stare back at her, wishing he could run after the car and let her feel his furr the way she wanted.

Napabuntong hininga na lamang siya nang tuluyang nawala sa kanyang paningin ang kotse. At sa kanyang isip, muli niyang binitiwan ang pangakong lihim din niyang sinabi rito noong una silang nagkita walong taon na ang nakalilipas.

"I'll hold you in my arms again soon..."