Team Alpha

Chapter 44

'The King of the Sea'

XIN

"Xin! Xin!"

I found myself coughing out water at naimulat ko na ang mga mata ko. My senses were slowly coming back to me just as I could realize the situation. Jun was beside me, soaking wet and looking at me and he looked so relieved. Nandito rin 'yung iba at kumunot nalang ang noo ko nung makita kong maraming studyanteng nagkukumpulan sa ilog.

"A-Anong nangyari?" Tanong ko at tatayo na sana pero hindi ko maigalaw ang paa ko kaya napahiga nalang ako ulit.

"They said that there's a giant white snake in this lake, and it took you underwater. Jun and Baxter were able to get you out, but the snake escaped." Pagpapaliwanag ni Joshua na hinuhubad ang jacket niya at tinakip sa katawan ko. Napaubo nalang ako at naramdaman kong binuhat na ako ni Jun at naglakad na pabalik sa UHT. Napapikit nalang ako at huminga ng malalim.

I can't even remember a thing that happened.

"Aren't those mermaids?" Saglit na natigilan si Jun dahil sa mga tanong ng mga studyanteng nasa lake at nakaturo sila sa mga tumatalon sa tubig palayo sa UHT. We looked at the figures of what appeared to be mermaids, jumping out of the water like dolphins. Hindi ko na nakita ng maayos ang mga 'to dahil tumalikod na muli si Jun at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad pabalik sa UHT.

We were near the back exit when Dean Maleficent suddenly showed up.

"What happened? Is she okay?" Tanong niya at lumapit sa akin. I just clutched on to Joshua's jacket at tiningnan ang Dean na hinubad narin ang robe niya tsaka tinakip sa akin. "The water in that lake is freezing cold." Sabi niya at ramdam ko na ang pangangatal ng labi ko.

"Take her back immediately. I'll send a heater to your dorm. Quickly! Before she catches a cold." Tiningnan ko lang ang mukha niya na nakatingin sa akin. It's not like yesterday she was so against my decision for the trolls that she nearly hated me, and now she's worried sick. Tiningnan ko nalang si Jun na nakatingin sa akin at kay Walter na bahagyang inayos ang pagkakalagay ng jacket sa katawan ko.

The moment we arrived at the dorm, Jun immediately put me into the bath tub and started running hot water. Nilinis ko ang katawan ko at nagbihis na tsaka na humiga sa kama ko. But I was still shivering kaya lumapit si Xy sa akin at niyakap ako. His little hands were hugging me as tight as he could.

The natural heat of my body as a wolf was gone. I was just one shivering mess.

"Xin?" Sabay kami ni Xy na tumingin sa pinto nung dumungaw ang ulo ni Wolfie tsaka na siya tuluyang pumasok. Wolfie immediately transformed into his wolf form and moved closer then snuggled me in. Pinikit ko lang ang mga mata ko pero naimulat ko naman agad ito nung bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Jun na may dala-dalang heater.

He turned it on and pointed it at me, adding heat to Wolfie's natural heat.

"Sis, gusto mong kumain ng porridge mamaya? I'll make you some?" Rinig kong tanong ni Duke mula sa pinto. I just gave him a slight nod and snuggled closer to Wolfie. Tumabi narin si Xy sa akin pero aksidente niyang naapakan ang buntot ni Wolfie. Wolfie just groaned at him but Jun hissed a warning to be gentle.

Umalis nalang si Xy at bumalik sa kama niya matapos niyang batuhin ng unan si Wolfie. The pillow landed on my side kaya kinuha ko ito at niyakap.

"We tracked the snake. Pero hindi namin makita." Noise was buzzing everywhere at nakita kong pumasok sina Dino at Baxter. Baxter had a robe on him at halatang lumusob siya sa napakalamig na tubig ng lake na 'yun. I just pulled Baxter closer to share the heater with him. He just snuggled with me and looked at the others.