Chapter Seven

THEY were as blind as a bat—psychically, speaking.

Hindi malaman ni Tennyson kung paanong kakausapin si Alvin habang nagpapaikot-ikot ito sa loob ng opisina nito. He was usually well-dressed ngunit ngayon ay magulo ang hitsura ng binata. His hair a sloppy mess, his eyes wild and confused, and his shirt untucked and rumpled.

She would have laughed at him kung nasa normal lang sila na situation.

Ngunit walang normal sa sitwasyon nilang dalawa. While they were in the middle of… making love, they were both startled ng mag-spark ang lahat ng nakabukas na ilaw sa opisina ni Alvin. The lightbulbs flickered about three times at sabay-sabay na namatay—even the air conditioning unit. But they barely paid attention because they were so… preoccupied. 

And then… a door opened. Not literally but rather… psychically.

It was a door connecting their minds and worst ay nakikita at naririnig nilang dalawa ang lahat ng iniisip ng isa’t-isa. Alvin had been momentarily confused and so was she. The air hung thick between them habang nagbibihis silang dalawa; a mood inappropriate after lovemaking. At ng subukan niyang kausapin ang binata ay nasaktan siya ng sabihin nitong gusto muna nitong mag-isip. 

It scared her as well. Being made so… vulnerable and exposed to another person na ilang araw pa lang niyang nakikilala. While she was equally fascinated, the possibility of having someone with an infinite view inside her mind was scaring her. 

And now, they’re both blind as a bat—their psychic skills currently missing in action. It just turned… off. 

Ng bumukas ang pintuan ay parehas pa silang napatalon ni Alvin. Tennyson’s forehead creased ng bumaling siya sa bagong dating; a man with an equally exceptional built as Alvin and very obviously an ex-military with the same stone expression. 

“Maverick, Tennyson.” Si Alvin sa walang anumang pagpapakilala sa kanilang dalawa. “Ten, that’s Maverick over there. He’s one of the members of SCID.”

Hindi gumalaw si Maverick upang makipag-kamay sa kanya kaya naman mas pinili na lang din niyang huwag makipagkamay dito. The man barely gave her a glance dahil dumiretso ito kay Alvin; circling the man as though may hinahanap ito sa binata. At ng hindi makita ang hinahanap ay saka lang siya binalingan. “Anong ginawa mo kay Alvin?”

The accusation hurt her more than it should bagaman sinikap niyang huwag ipakita iyon. “I-I’m sorry. Hindi ko din alam. We were just—“ agad niyang pinigilan ang sarili. She didn’t want to share that special, intimate moment with Alvin sa lalaking ito; even if the former is barely looking at her now.  “A-And then… God, hindi ko alam. One moment okay ang lahat and then the lightbulbs died and then—“

“Light bulbs?” kunot noong nilinga ni Maverick ang mga bumbilya and noted the absence of light in the room. “Huh. I guess apektado ang buong building sa ginawa ninyong dalawa—whatever it may be.” Nagkibit balikat ito bago muling nilinga si Alvin na mahahalata pa ring malalim ang iniisip. “You alright, Al?”

Tumango ito. “I’m just… confused, that’s it.”

“Whatever happened, you two triggered it.” si Maverick bago siya muling nilinga. When the man was done studying her ay ibinalik nito ang atensyon kay Alvin. Clearly, Maverick is uninterested in her. “But anyway, just because parehas kayong… normal… doesn’t mean na hindi na babalik ang mga abilidad ninyo. I can still feel yours, Alvin.”

“And Tennyson?”

“And Tennyson’s.” Maverick sighed. “For now, mas maganda siguro kung magpapahinga muna kayong dalawa. Keep the distance and reconvene kapag ayos na ang lahat. Nothing new with the case na hawak ng unit ngayon so I suggest that you take the rest of the day off, Ten.”

“P-Pero—“

“Mavvy is right, Tennyson. Get some rest. I will call you kapag kailangan kita.”

It was clearly a sign na pinapaalis siya ng binata. And despite the fact na nasaktan siya sa tinuran nito ay nagmamadali niyang kinuha ang backpack niya at lumabas ng opisina nito; maintaining a stone face upang hindi mahalata ng mga ito na nasaktan siya sa reaction ng dalawang lalaki sa kanya—as though they’ve seen a monster.

Ng wala na si Tennyson ay nilinga ni Maverick si Alvin. “I thought sinabi ko na sa iyo na ilagay mo sa professional na area ang interest mo sa babaeng iyon, Alvin? I don’t remember telling you to f—ck her.”

Alvin resisted the urge to punch Maverick sa sinabi nito. It wasn’t just a simple tumble in the bed with Tennyson. Hindi niya gustong gayon magsalita ang binata sa dalaga. She was something else. Ngunit mas pinili niyang huwag salubungin ang init ng ulo ng kababata lalo pa at mainit din ang ulo niya. Instead ay tinalikuran niya ito at nagtungo sa fridge upang kumuha ng maiinom. He turned to Maverick ng kalmado na siya. “You said na apektado ang buong building?”

Tumango ito. “Yeah. I used the emergency stairs, dammit.”

“Hindi ko rin alam ang nangyari, Mavvy. So we did that and then, everything faded away. I feel almost… normal. Bagaman naroon pa rin ang sensasyon na may nawawala sa akin. I know it was still there… only turned off—for the lack of a better term.” 

“Ano’ng plano mo?”

“Wait.” Aniya bago muling bumalik sa recliner at umupo doon. “I will wait for a while hanggang sa bumalik ang mga abilidad ko. And then, I’d reconvene with Tennyson. We have to focus on the case for now. She said na siya ang dahilan kung bakit namamatay ang mga estudyanteng iyon; that someone was challenging her.”

“At paano niyang sasagutin ang hamon na iyon? Sending dead bodies of her own?”

Hindi pinansin ni Alvin ang sarcasm sa tinig ni Mavvy; alam niyang iritado ang kaibigan sa pagiging careless niya. “We will hunt down this monster bago pa siya muling makapamiktima muli. In the meantime, I need you on standby—just in case my abilities don’t… return for a while.”

Maverick nodded curtly at him bago nagpaalam at tuluyan ng lumabas ng opisina niya. Despite not being an empath, Alvin can most certainly feel na iritado sa kanya ang binata. At maski siya ay hindi rin mapigilan na mainis sa sarili. Because damn it, he had been careless. 

Wala sa loob niyang pinagmasdan ang kamay; remembering the intense feeling of touching Tennyson’s skin—feeling nothing but her… and not realizing that all of his extra senses are fading away at napapalitan ng nadarama niya sa dalaga.

He cursed once again bago kinuyom ang palad. Whatever happened—whatever triggered this—was definitely something elicited by their physical union. 

And despite the thrill… Alvin certainly doesn’t want to feel this… weakened and vulnerable once again.

—

WHEN Tennyson started to feel the universe once again ay alam niyang bumalik na ang mga abilidad niya. 

She was quick to spring into action at dali-daling kinuha ang backpack niya; shoving all things na maari niyang gamitin bago nagmamadaling lumabas ng silid ng madatnan niya ang kapatid na papalabas din ng sariling silid nito. 

When Diana saw her ay agad itong bumati sa kanya. “Hey! Papunta na ako sa silid mo. I was planning to invite you our para kumain. Wala sila Papa e.”

“Oh. I’m sorry, Di.” Nagmamadali niyang nilagpasan ang kapatid. “I made plans. Pero uuwi ako agad after. Maybe, we can do dinner instead.”

“Oh, okay.” Tennyson pretended not to hear the disappointment in her twin’s voice at nagmamadaling nagtatakbo patungo sa hagdan and into her parked car. 

Ng tiyak niyang ligtas na siya sa loob ng sasakyan—and with her own thoughts—ay ini-start niya ang kotse and drove off their lawn and into the high way. Nadarama niya na bumalik na din ang mga abilidad ni Alvin dahil nararamdaman niya ang presensya ng binata sa isipan niya; as though he was there with her—in her. When she came into a stoplight, it gave her more time to think about Alvin—at ang nangyari sa kanila. They didn’t have much time upang pag-usapan ang sitwasyon nilang dalawa. She tried calling him last night but her call went straight to voice mail.

Again, Tennyson had to pretend na hindi siya nasaktan doon.

It was very obvious the man was avoiding her. Or maybe, kailangan talaga nilang dalawa ng distansya lalo pa at MIA ang mga abilidad nila. That, as well, needs to be discussed. 

Why it happened… if it was something na nangyayari sa dalawang psychic every time they’d get too close… and if it was something na mangyayari every time an intimate, physical union occurs. 

Ng businahan siya ng sasakyan sa likuran niya ay dali-dali niyang pinaharurot ang sariling sasakyan patungo sa opisina ni Alvin. It took her an hour to get to his office at ng makarating siya ay dali-dali niyang ipinark ang sasakyan sa available slot na makikita niya. She was excited to see him lalo pa at bumalik na ang abilidad niya—and some other reasons na mas pinili niyang sarilihin lalo pa at alam niya na mababasa ni Alvin ang iniisip niya.  

When the elevator pinged to Alvin’s floor ay dali-dali siyang nagtatakbo patungo sa opisina nito. She fixed herself first sa salamin na nakita niya; sinikap na huwag masyadong ipahalata sa binata ang galak at excitement sa mukha niya at akmang kakatok sa pintuan ng opisina nito when the door opened on its own. 

Surprise—and disappointment—was quick to show on her face ng ma-realized na si Maverick ang nagbukas ng pintuan ng opisina ng binata. The man smiled politely at her bagaman nadarama niya na hindi siya gusto nito. “Hey, Ten. We were expecting you. Pasok ka.”

We? Alangan siyang pumasok sa opisina ni Alvin and saw the man on his executive desk; busy typing on his laptop. She tried reading him but got nothing. Ibinaba niya ang backpack na dala sa sofa—trying her best not to remember what exactly happened on the very same sofa yesterday—bago nilinga si Alvin. “Bumalik na ba?”

“Yes.” His voice was cool; detached. Again, Tennyson had to pretend na hindi siya naaapektuhan ng mood ng binata. The door connecting their minds had been opened and the cold dread of realization told her that it was open sa side lang niya; that Alvin’s door is tightly shut kaya hindi niya maramdaman o mabasa ang iniisip ng binata—and that it was opposite for him.

Since her door is open, she was practically broadcasting—throwing—all of her emotions and thoughts. Bago pa niya tuluyang ipahiya ang sarili ay agad niyang pinutol ang connection nilang dalawa; wincing a bit by the suddenness of being… cut off and tried to redeem herself by sitting on the sofa. She’d noticed na nadama din iyon ni Alvin dahil napaderetso ng upo ang binata and risked a quick glance on her bagaman agad din itong nagbaba ng tingin.

So… this is how Alvin plays his game, huh?

Something hot stabbed her in the stomach ngunit hindi niya pinansin iyon. Kung iyon ang gusto ng binata ay iyon din ang gagawin niya. 

“And yours?” si Maverick na nakatayo at nakasandal pa rin sa pintuan na tila ba binabantayan silang dalawa. 

Tennyson focused her attention on Maverick kahit pa alam niyang ayaw at hindi kumportable sa kanya ang naturang binata. “It’s back.”

“Good. Nothing’s new with the case today. Come with me and we will have a training session.”

Despite her surprise ay hindi na siya nagpatumpik-tumpik pa. She’d rather Maverick’s company kaysa kay Alvin na alam niyang hindi gusto na naroon siya. Grabbing her bag from the sofa ay nagmamadali siyang lumabas ng opisina ng binata without even saying goodbye to her superior.

“I’ll wait for you in the lobby.” Aniya kay Maverick at tuluyang lumabas ng opisina ni Alvin.

When Tennyson was finally gone, Maverick turned to Alvin na nakatingin sa sofa na inupuan ng dalaga bago napailing. “I warned you.”

“You did.” Aniya bago siya binalingan. “She felt my door is close.”

“Konektado na kayong dalawa, Montemayor—physically, psychically, and mentally. She’s inside your head.”

“She closed hers ng madama niya na sarado ang connection naming dalawa sa side ko. She’s… hiding.”

“She’s hurt. I don’t have to be an empathy upang hindi makita iyon. The glow in her eyes was gone the instant na makita niya ako—and felt your detachment.” Nagkibit balikat ito. “I won’t say anything anymore. But if this will affect the team, I suggest you take her out.”

Sardonikong nagtawa si Alvin doon. “Literally?”

“Of the team. We don’t need this type of emotional… problem sa unit. Nagsisimula pa lang tayo, Alvin. Eyes are hot on us. One wrong mistake and they will tear down the entire unit.” 

When Maverick left his office ay marahas na napamura si Alvin. He glanced at the sofa that Tennyson previously occupied—seeing more than the woman but memories of what happened between them kahapon—bago muling ipinilig ang ulo. 

He needs to focus.

He doesn’t need Tennyson messing up his head.

—

“YOU don’t like me, don’t you?”

Maverick smirked at Tennyson habang ini-start niya ang sasakyan. He drove out of the basement parking lot first at ng nasa kalsada na sila ay doon niya lang sinagot ang dalaga. “Let’s say I have a natural resistance to potential serial killers.”

His response and tone of voice weren’t as cruel as she thought they would be. Wala sa loob siyang nagtawa. “Yeah, well, under-control ang parteng iyon ng utak ko.”

Maverick laughed as well. “Now, I’m starting to like you.”

“Thank you. Saan tayo magtutungo?”

“Practice area.”

She didn’t ask any more after that. Instead, Tennyson did her best upang mag-focus sa daan. But the more she’s trying to focus, the more na dumadaan sa isipan niya si Alvin—and his very obvious rejection of her. And then… his door opened slightly. Wala sa loob siyang napaderetso at ng mapatingin siya sa rear view mirror ay nabigla pa siya ng makita si Alvin doon. Startled, marahas siyang bumaling sa back seat and found it relatively empty.

Maverick turned to her; obviously confused—and worried. “What’s wrong, Tennyson?”

Muli ay pinakiramdaman niya ang sarili. Since she’d been surprised, Alvin found out instantly that she was still watching him… waiting for him. Muli ay kinaawaan niya ang sarili and tried to put the door at the very back of her mind. Nilinga niya si Maverick na  naghihintay ng sagot mula sa kanya.

“I’m fine. I’m sorry, Maverick, kung na-distract kita.”

“You sure?” ng tumango siya ay muling bumaling ito sa daan. “Mavvy is fine. Maverick is too… formal.”

She eyed him—his unnaturally handsome face—bago bumaba ang mga mata niya sa leeg nito. She eyed the beating vein underneath his toned skin bago muling ibinalik ang mga mata sa daan. Funny that if she’s not thinking about Alvin, she’s thinking about killing people. 

“Ten is fine… Mavvy.”

“Ten it is.”