Kabanata 5

FIVE

Chleo

Katakutakot na pakiusap ang ginawa namin kay Alpha Pierre para lang hindi niya kami isumbong sa aming mga magulang pero sa huli, wala kaming nagawa nang siya mismo ang naghatid sa amin pabalik ng Brenther.

Kabado ang mga kasama ko, ngunit mas matindi ang takot na nadarama ng aking dibdib. I'm sure my dad would be furious. Baka mamaya ay ma-grounded pa ako. Ang tapang kong sinabi sa utak kong alang-alang sa grades ay papasukin ko ang lungga ng Alpha King at haharapin ko na lang ang galit ni Daddy kapag nalaman niya, pero nagkamali pala ako. Takot pa rin ako kahit na sinubukan ko nang naihanda ang sarili ko sa posibleng mangyari.

My hands were trembling the moment we finally dropped off Bently and Lou Ann. Ang swerte ng dalawa dahil sa city proper lamang sila ibinaba ni Alpha Pierre, pero kami ni Drako? Siguradong hanggang sa mismong pinto ng aming mga bahay ay kasama namin siya.

"I'm really disappointed with the two of you. Vourden isn't a place for kids. You know that better than anyone of your age." Seryosong sabi ni Alpha Pierre matapos niyang muling paandarin ang sasakyan.

Nagtinginan kami ni Drako, parehong kinakabahan dahil kami na ang sunod na ihahatid sa aming mga bahay.

Drako sighed and broke the moment of silence. "We're truly sorry, Alpha Pierre. We were just really curious about the Alpha King." Pagsisinungaling nito, inililigtas na naman ako sa dagdag na kapahamakan. Hindi ko tuloy naiwasang tapunan ng tingin ang kanyang marungis na mukha, hanggang sa bumaba ang mga mata ko sa sugat sa kanyang braso.

Nakagat ko ang aking ibabang labi saka ko tinignan ang ilan pang peklat sa kanyang kamay. Those marks, it was all because of me.

Napahagod si Alpha Pierre sa kanyang buhok, halatang dismayado pa rin sa aming dalawa.

"The Alpha King isn't someone you should be curious about. His state right now is complicated and that makes him the most lethal man in the district. Kung hindi uuwing sugatan ay wala nang buhay ang mga Deltang ipinadadala ko sa Vourden para magbantay. Imagine showing you how ruthless he can be towards my men? Siguradong hindi magandang karanasan iyon para sa mga batang tulad niyo."

I gulped and tried to lighten up the atmosphere before it suffocate me first. "Why is he like that, Alpha Pierre? Is his wolf too strong for him to handle?"

Humigpit ang hawak ni Alpha Pierre nang lumiko kami sa sunod na kanto. "It's not just because he possesses the strongest spirit wolf, Chleo. It's because of his history, too. Unfortunately I can't tell you about it yet. Hindi niyo pa maiintindihan nang maayos kahit pa ipaliwanag ko. Basta lagi niyong tatandaan na hindi kayo dapat basta nagliliwaliw sa teritoryo niya hangga't hindi pa siya mismo ang nagtatanggal sa pader na naghihiwalay sa kanya mula sa atin."

Kumunot ang aking noo. "I thought the walls were built to protect Vourden?"

"Partly, yes." He sighed. "But the bigger reason is something young kids like you won't understand yet."

Those words puzzled me until we finally stopped in front of Drako's house. Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Alpha Pierre saka niya nilingon si Drako. "I will let you go away this time pero sa oras na maulit ito, talagang makakarating na sa magulang mo."

Mahinang tinango ni Drako ang kanyang ulo. "Salamat Alpha Pierre at pasensya na." Nabaling ang tingin niya sa akin. "Magkita na lang tayo bukas, Chleo."

I nodded my head and watched Drako get off the car. Nang tuluyan siyang nakapasok sa kanilang bahay ay tumulak na rin kami ni Alpha Pierre. Napahiling na lang ako na sana ay hindi rin niya ako isumbong sa Daddy ko...at mukhang dininig ng Moon Goddess ang aking panalangin dahil nang huminto ang sasakyan sa bungad ng kastilyo, sinilip lamang ako sandali ni Alpha Pierre saka niya ako sinenyasang lumabas.

"Your Dad is with the Quinnsers. I won't mention it to him but you have to promise me you won't do such foolish act again, Chleo. Lucius, among all of the Alphas of Remorse, despice Vourden the most." Seryoso niyang sabi saka siya lumabas ng kotse upang pagbuksan ako ng pinto.

Pagak akong ngumiti saka ko bahagyang niyuko ang aking ulo upang magpakita ng respeto. "Maraming salamat, Alpha Pierre. Tatanawin ko po itong malaking utang na loob."

I held my cup of hot chocoloate as I watch Mom prepare herself for the pack gathering. Isang simpleng itim na dress ang suot ng aking ina ngunit sapat na ang paraan kung paano niya dalahin ang kanyang sarili para ipakita kung sino siya sa lipunan.

Mom glanced at me through the reflection on the mirror while she's wearing the falliet. It's an heirloom that gets passed down to every Luna of our pack, symbolizing her importance to the Alpha and his people.

"You're silent. Is something wrong, Chleo?" Malambing na tanong ng aking ina.

Pilit akong ngumiti saka ko iniling ang aking ulo. "I...I was just wondering, Mommy."

Tuluyan siyang umikot upang humarap sa aking direksyon. "About what?" Ang kanyang ekspresyon ay nagtatanong.

Lumunok ako bago naglakad palapit sa kanya. Sa totoo lang ay nangangamba akong itanong ang bagay na ito, ngunit hindi ako mapapakali hangga't hindi ako naliliwanagan.

"Is Dad your first love, Mommy?"

Nakita ko ang mgkahalong gulat at pagtataka sa kanyang mga mata. Sandali siyang natahimik, ngunit mayamaya ay unti-unting gumuhit ang isang matipid na ngiti sa kanyang mga labi.

Mom reached for my hand and gently gave it a squeeze. "To be honest, no, Chleo, but he is my greatest."

Lumunok ako at muling nagtanong. "I-Is it true that Daddy got his scar from the Alpha King's brother?"

Bumuntong hininga si Mommy bago mahinang tinango ang kanyang ulo. "Elmont... Elmont was the first man I had fallen in love with, but things were too complicated that I had to give up what we had for the betterment of everyone."

Kumunot ang aking noo. "What do you mean, Mommy?"

She faked a smile. "Will you promise to keep it a secret if I'll tell you?"

Tinango ko ang aking ulo. "I promise."

She gave me a teasing look. "Sure? You ain't gonna share it even with Lay?"

"I promise."

"Okay." Hinawi niya ang aking buhok saka niya marahang hinaplos ang aking pisngi. "The Alpha King's brother, despite the love we were sharing, will never be able to give me what I was dreaming to have."

"But why?" Lalong nalukot ang aking noo dala ng kyuryosidad. "Ano bang pangarap mo noon na hindi kayang ibigay ng isang mula sa original ruling family?"

My mom stared at me for seconds, until she finally reached for the picture frame on top of the table and handed it to me. Bumaba ang aking tingin sa larawan, at mataman kong pinagmasdan ang aming family picture na kinunan two years ago. My mom and dad were smiling ear to ear. Hawak ni mommy ang aking mga balikat habang si Layco ay nakasakay sa likod ni Daddy. Our home is filled with a lot of pictures, but this will always be my favorite.

"A family. A complete and happy family." She pecked a kiss on top of my head. "Elmont cannot grow old like normal lycans as long as the walls surrounding Vourden is still standing...he will always remain as that teenage boy I met when I didn't know what love and true happiness really mean yet."

"Paano nangyari iyon, Mommy?" Puno ng pagtataka kong tanong.

"It's a long story but soon, honey, soon you will finally know the real history of the Coulsons...even the things love can do when it isn't healthy anymore."

Lumungkot ang aking mga mata. "How will you know that it was already love you were feeling, Mommy?"

My mom flashed a sweet half smile. "Hindi ko masasagot iyan dahil bawat tao ay may kanya-kanyang depenisyon ng pag-ibig, Chleo. You're already fourteen and sooner or later, I know you will finally find the answer yourself. I just hope that once love finally come to your life, you would never throw away your dreams just so you could drown yourself with the feeling it would give you." Yumuko siya at tinuro ang aking noo. "Love will fade, love will change, so don't let love be the main thing you'd blame someday once things begin to crumble under your feet 'cause you chose to put all your focus into it. Isa pa, if love is true, it will always be beneficial to both people because once it becomes toxic, honey that isn't love anymore. It's already a burden you must take off from your shoulders. If it is the most beautiful thing you ever felt, you have to make sure it's not going to be the same thing that will destroy you...because once it does, it will surely leave a mark you'll never be able to get rid off."

Mom breathed in deeply. "Elmont and I found love in each other's arm, but we lost ourselves in the process of showing what we feel. That's when I realize it's time to leave him."

I gulped. "So you could find yourself again?"

She smiled. "And to give him the chance to find his..."