The Alpha's Mate (Alphas of Lair Series #1)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Sa halip na kausapin ang dalawa ay nagpasya akong magkulong sa kwarto. Sa tingin ko ay mas mapapadami pa ang magagawa ko kung wala akong malalamang impormasyon ngayon. Maybe after an hour or two, my brain will be ready to absorb words. Sa ngayon, kailangan ko munang makausap si Gesa.

"Where are we before we're interrupted?", tanong ko sa kanya gamit ang earphone. Inilabas ko ulit ang aking laptop at nagsimulang maghanap ng ibang impormasyon tungkol sa mga magulang ni Duke. Bago pa man ako mapunta sa search engine ay nakatanggap ako ng e-mail mula kay Gesa. Binuksan ko iyon at nakitang laman na nito ang mga impormasyong nakalap niya tungkol kina Duke.

Inisa-isa kong binasa ang mga iyon. Even Karleen's profile is present, Duke's beta which is Victor Isaac "Vil" Laurer and his whole pack. Nang marating ang pangalan ng kanyang mga magulang ay mas tumutok ako sa pagbabasa.

"Sasabihin ko ba sa'yo o ikaw na lang ang magbabasa?", tanong sa'kin ni Gesa. Napapikit ako at napahawak sa sentido. Wala pa akong maayos na tulog ngunit kailangan ko itong matapos ng sa gayon ay may pagbabasehan man lang sina Duke kung saan niya hahanapin ang kanyang mga magulang.

I spent three hours reading their profile. Gesa kept silent all the time. Tanging pagtitipa lang sa kanyang laptop ang aking naririnig. I heard she even cancelled some calls just for me to be focused. Aniya'y ayaw niyang patayin ang tawag namin dahil maaaring magtanong ako. Kung saan nakuha ni Gesa ang mga impormasyon ay hindi ko alam. But I guess, she's not the head of Intelligence Department for nothing. Halos kumpleto ang ipinasa niyang profiles sa'kin. Ultimo mga napatay ng mga dating Alpha ng Winston ay nandoon.

Lumabas lang ako ng kwarto ng maramdaman ang gutom. Napatingin ako sa aking wrist watch at nakitang ala-una na ng hapon. Dumeretso ako sa kusina upang kumuha ng pancakes at agad iyong iniluto. Napatingin ako sa aking likod ng maramdaman ang papalapit na tao.

It was Theron, still in an emotionless manner. Tila wala na itong pakialam sa'kin. Lumapit siya sa ref at kumuha doon ng bottled water. Shall I call him? What would I say? Sasagot kaya siya? Questions started to form but I still decided to speak.

"Theron.", I called and he stopped. He slightly turned his head but he didn't face me at all. Napabuntong-hininga ako at humarap na lang sa nilulutong pancake. Binaliktad ko iyon at hininaan ang apoy ng kalan.

"Bakit hindi ikaw ang sumundo sa'kin sa eskwelahan?", I asked him before he could even leave. Narining ko ang paghila niya ng upuan at ang paglagay niya ng tubig sa ibabaw ng lamesa. I turned my head just to see he's already staring at me. Tumaas ang kilay ko sa naging asta niya.

"Why would I? Nandyan naman si Marcus.", walang gana nitong sagot at uminom muli sa kanyang botelya. Pinatay ko ang kalan at kumuha ng pinggan upang ilagay doon ang luto ng pancake.

"What I mean is, bakit alam ni Marcus na nandoon ako?", tanong ko at inilapag ang plato sa lamesa. I sat across his chair and waited for his response. Nang wala akong nakuhang sagot ay tumingin ako sa kanya at naabutang nakayuko ito at nakatitig sa lamesa.

"Noong gabing umalis ka, hindi kita sinundan. But I know, I heard you walk out of the door. Hindi kita sinundan sa pag-aakalang babalik ka naman kaagad. And I wasn't worried. You're the assassin, and I bet you are far more stronger than a hunter like me, so why would I?", malamig nitong sagot habang nakatitig sa'kin. My hands suddenly loosened its hold on my fork. Knowing that he wasn't worried about me gave my heart an odd feeling.

"Pero dumaan ang oras at hindi ka parin umuuwi. I was torn between finding you and staying at home. But then, iniisip ko na nandito ako bilang associate mo. I was only drag on this mission because I requested it to the Chief. Pero sa pagdaan ng mga araw, I feel like I wasn't here because of the mission.", dagdag nito. The last line of his sentences became soft and gentle, tila ba iniingatan niya lahat ng salitang binibitawan niya. He leaned his back on his chair and crossed his arms at the front of his chest. I cut a big part of the pancake and ate it right after. I reminded myself not to be confused at his words. Paulit-ulit kong ibinulong iyon sa sarili ko. Ibig sabihin, hindi talaga siya kasali sa misyon ko. He's here because he requested it. But what for?

"When the sun rose, I decided to find you. I pushed away all my thoughts. Bakit naman kita hahanapin? You're the assassin, I am a hunter. I am far more lower than your skills.", tumawa ito ng mahina at bahagyang umiling.

"But I guess, I care.", naging mahina at maingat ang kanyang boses. Pinaglalaruan nito ang walang lamang botelya sa kanyang harapan. Hinintay kong dagdagan niya ito ngunit nanatili siyang tahimik. Naguguluhan ako sa kanyang mga sinasabi. But I stayed focused. I want to know how did Marcus know that I was in the school early this morning.

"Papasok palang ako sa bathroom nang dumating si Marcus.", aniya at ngumisi. Ibinaling nito ang kanyang tingin sa ibang direksyon. I saw how his jaw tightened. It is his mannerism whenever he gets pissed and mad. And I don't know how can his mannerism pulls my attention towards him. Bahagya kong ipinikit ang aking mata. When I opened it, I saw Theron staring at me from eye-to-eye.

I grabbed the glass of water beside my plate and drink half of it. Patapos na rin kasi ako. I am sure I was starving a while ago, but I loss my appetite. Sa tingin ko, busog na busog na ako sa mga salita ni Theron.

Gustuhin ko mang tumayo at umalis na lang ay hindi ko magawa. He still didn't explained to me how did Marcus find that I was at the school, that we're living in here. But knowing Marcus, he has his own ways of finding someone. Of course, he's a hunter.

"Tinanong niya kaagad kung nasaan ka. I kept silent. Ayokong sabihin sa kanya na hindi ko alam kung nasaan ka, or else, I will be doomed. I told him it's not his business anymore. I am here, I am your partner, your associate. Kung may isang tao na kailangang makaalam kung nasaan ka, ako 'yon.", he strongly answered looking at our table. Still, I am thankful he's not staring at me right now. Kung hindi ay alam ko sa sarili ko na hindi ko siya matititigan pabalik.

I can sense where is this talk going. I already told them I don't want to be part of their life. Hindi ko alam kung bakit patuloy nila akong hinihila sa gulong ayokong kasangkutan. But as I can see, right now, I need explanations. I need words to replace my confusion.

"Nang matapos ako sa pagligo, I saw my phone at the sofa. You texted me to fetch you at the school. But I guess, my brother won again. He always win against me. I always loss at everything. Kay Dad, sa pagiging hunter, sayo.", he added. His strong and cold eyes became expressive. I can't help but stare at him. Makalipas ang ilang segundo ay narinig ko ang paghalakhak nito.

"You know what? Just forget it. Babalik na rin naman ako sa headquarters.", aniya gamit ang masiglang boses. Now, his mood changed. He is really a Luxien. But I surmise that I am much comfortable with his jolly attitude rather than the serious one.

"Bakit ka babalik?', tanong ko sa kanya at tumayo upang hugasan ang nagamit kong pinggan.

"Sinong nagsabing ako lang ang babalik? We're partners, remember?", he answered and ate the apple at the top of the table. Napatigil ako at napatitig sa kanya. I wouldn't ask because it is obvious in me that I can't get what he's saying.

"Hindi pa sinabi ng kapatid ko sa'yo? He'll take your mission. Siya na ang bahalang pumatay sa Alpha ng Winston.", pagpapaliwanag nito sa'kin. Agad napakunot ang noo ko sa kanyang naging sagot.

"And probably, one hour na since umalis siya, nakarating na ito doon.", dagdag nito at sinulyapan ang kanyang relo sa kamay.