The Havoc He Brings

III

Now what? I'm already inside the building and nakalimutan ko kung anong gagawin ko dito.

Nagdrama pa kasi eh.

I checked my phone to find the to-do list I made last night. Oh right! School things.

I head straight to the 3rd floor after kong nabasa sa Mall map na dun nakalocate ang store for school stuff. I'm not stupid to waste my time roaming around trying to find the store.

Oh s**t! The store's packed with humans. I can't deal with them now.

What to do? Should I go home and go back tomorrow with Hiro? Yeah, I definitely should do that.

Tumalikod na ako para maglakad pabalik sa elevator ng may nabangga sa akin. The impact of the collision is enough to make a lowly human fly away but both of us remained standing, unfazed.

I breathe in to see if my hunches were true and damn... I can't smell even a faint trace of being a human. This person is one of us.

I've never met any of our kind in the human world yet aside from my brothers. So who could this be?

"My apologies, beautiful." his deep raspy voice echoed in my head.

He went inside my mind just like that!

He is way taller than me, like so much. I'm kinda intimidated so I tried to calm myself. I eyed him from down his feet.

He's wearing the same shoes as I, the same faded jeans, and even the same black shirt. Like what kind of sorcery is this?

"I see, what's my score?" he asked inside my head.

I bet we look ridiculous now. Just standing still, facing each other, outside the store, and even wearing the same clothes.

I fixed my composure and finally, looked up at his face. He has this annoying grin on his face. And he's wearing the same shades as I but thank goodness it's in a different color. If that's even a good thing.

"Pardon?" I answered back, entering his mind too.

His grin grew wider before answering. "You were checking me out. So how did I do? What's my score?"

"Zero," I rolled my eyes and walked past him. I'm not dealing with him any longer.

But after I took a few steps far, he talked out loud.

"Really? Zero, Luxe? I doubt that." mockery is evident in his voice. And wait, he knew my name?

I looked back at him and saw that he took off his shades. He has this weird look on his face now. I eyed him intently to see if I know this man before me.

"You forgot about me, Luxe? Ouch, that hurts." he acted like crying but I just stared at him in disbelief, not moving an inch.

Do I know this man? Cause I'm not recalling anything that I did.

I guess he noticed that he doesn't ring a bell so he started taking a long stride towards me. And just as he stopped in front of me, he placed his hand on top of my head and messed my hair.

My eyes widened as I remembered who he is. There's only one person who messes with my already messed up hair. I looked at his face to see a bright smile plastered to it.

"You still don't brush your hair after washing," he said sounding so nostalgic.

"Croix." I blurted out my head.

"Now you remembered."

---------

"I never expected to see you in this part of the world. As far as I remember, YOU hate them," he said in a matter-of-fact tone.

We're here now inside an almost empty restaurant still inside the mall. It only has four customers with us included so it's perfect for me.

I rolled my eyes at his remark before telling him everything that happened why I got in this situation.

"You what? HAHAHAHA oh God, I can't with you!" he laughed his a*s out.

I just let him. Mabulunan ka sana sa sarili mong laway at mamatay. Tss.

I guess he noticed that I was not happy as he is so he tried to suppress his laugh and kept a straight face.

"Kidding aside. How are you coping up with this?"

"I just moved yesterday and still not in school, not a fan but I'm fine for now."

"Want me to tag along?" he asked with his hopeful eyes.

"Sure. You go and get me my stuff while I just wait here."

"Nooo, I meant in school! Let's be classmates again. I can't remember the last time we were. Was it 10 years ago?"

"20, Croix. 20 years ago." I corrected. "And no, manggugulo ka lang sa akin dun. Baka di ko pa magawa ng maayos itong punishment."

Hinawakan nito ang kamay ko and put on his serious face. I rolled my eyes at what he did.

"I know that face, Croix." mapakla kong sabi.

"Promise, I'll behave. Kaya payagan mo na ako ha? Pleaseeee? Behave lang talaga ako like a super promise." nakataas pa ang kanang kamay nitong kumbinsi.

He's so stubborn, no? Ayaw pa gumaya sakin na good girl. Tsk tsk.

Tumayo lang ako at lumabas ng restaurant. Agad naman itong nakasunod sakin. Yun nga lang, nagdadabog. Ang bigat ng paa, parang di halos malakad dahil sa sama ng loob HAHAHA!

"Sige na kasi, Luxe! Di naman ako manggugulo eh. Behave lang talaga ako, promise talaga!" kumbinsi ulit nito pero hindi ko pa rin siya sinagot.

Halatang naiinis na siya sa di ko pagpansin sa kanya. Huminga ito ng malalim bago nagsalita ulit. Pikon!

"Bahala ka nga mag-isa mo! Palibutan ka sana ng mga tao!" asar nitong sambit.

Kita mo to, parang bata mapikon HAHAHA!

Nilingon ko ito at nakitang nakatayo na lang ito habang nakabusangot at lukot ang noo at ilong.

Wala na, naasar na talaga siya HAHAHA! Tama na nga to.

"How can I carry both of our stuff from the store if I'm all alone?"

His face lit up. Oh god! This man is such a child, in mind and heart. Pwedeng ipa-keychain to?

Nagmadali itong lumapit pero nagulat ako nang dinaanan niya lang ako. Kita ko pa kung paano ang pagkembot ng matambok niyang pwet bawat lakad.

Buti pa si Croix may pinagmamalaki sa likod. Ikaw ba meron? Joke.

"Luxe, hurry! I'll shoo those humans away from the store so we can buy our stuff na!"

Di naman masyadong halata na excited?

- - - - - - -

8:00pm

We just got home after soooo many hours. Oh god! I thought my arms would rip off because of the bags I'm carrying. I can't even feel my legs with all the walks we did.

Who sane people would take almost half a day shopping when in fact we were just supposed to be buying school stuff? Croix is a monster!

"Luxe, I can't feel my legs T-T" reklamo ni Croix.

Nakasalampak na ito ngayon sa sahig kasama ang sandamakmak na binili namin habang ako ay nakaupo sa long couch.

"Because you're stupid, dumbass! Tss."

Bigla namang kumalam ang tiyan ni Croix kaya agad ko siyang nabato ng vase na nasalo niya lang naman.

"Wag naman vase, malaki laki to eh. Pwede yung remote na lang na katabi nito?" nakangisi nitong tanong.

Binato ko nga rin ng remote, nakakainis eh. Sa sobrang dami ng dala namin at sobrang pagod na rin ay di na kami kumain bago umuwi.

"Hiro is coming over, right? Let's ask him for foods." nagmadali itong bumangon at inabot ang cellphone niya sa ibabaw ng center table para siguro tawagan si Hiro.

Saktong nagring ang front door bago ito nagclick at pumasok si Hiro na may dala ring sandamakmak na bags.

Shopping Spree Day ba ngayon? Tss.

"You went on shopping too? I hope you did not buy any foods because all this are." bungad nitong sabi.

"Wow! Daming foods!" nagulat na lang ako na nasa harapan na ni Hiro si Croix at kinuha na ang mga bags para dalhin sa kusina.

Spell matakaw? Croix. Yes.

Lumapit naman si Hiro at tumabi sa akin ng upo. Sinandal nito ang ulo sa balikat ko at nagbuntong hininga.

"Something's wrong?" umiling lang ito sa tanong ko.

"Five minutes." ngayon naman ay tango lang rin ang isinagot ko.

Akala ko ay iidlip lang ito pero isang minuto pa lang ang lumipas ay nagsalita siya.

"I saw her."

Ito pa lang ang sinabi niya pero alam na alam ko na kung sino ang ibig niyang sabihin. Hindi na ako nagsalita at hinayaan ko lang itong magkwento.

"She's at the seminar too. Can you believe it? For once, we liked something in common." bahagya itong natawa.

"But I didn't talk to her. I can't muster the courage to do that yet. It's been a hundred years of waiting so I wanna think this through."

I just patted his hand to encourage him and we fell in silence right after. Five minutes passed, he lifted his head and faced me with his usual look, smiling.

Much better. I prefer this side of him.

"Come here, Lulu. I know your feet's sore, si Croix ba naman nakasama mo sa mall." bahagya itong tumawa bago kinuha ang dalawa kong paa at itinanday sa kanya. Pinisil pisil niya ito.

"That guy has always been a monster when he's thrilled." pailing-iling kong komento na sinang-ayunan naman ni Hiro.

"Where'd you met him?"

"We bumped on each other just outside the store. He even hit on me, tss."

"The guy's our resident flirt back in our city, wala na atang magbabago dyan." sabay na lang kaming natawa.

Patuloy pa rin siya sa pagpisil pisil sa paa ko, in fairness, medyo nawala na rin yung manhid sa paa ko. Effective din pala tong ginagawa ni Hiro.

"I met a nice human." sabi ko at bigla itong napatigil sa ginagawa.

He just remained still there trying to analyze what I just said, hands stiff on my legs. Was that really shocking?

Napabalikwas ito ng tayo at binalibag lang nito ang paa ko sa sahig. Bastos na bata.

Tiningnan ako nito na nanlalaki ang mga mata, tila hindi makapaniwala sa narinig.

"LUXE APPROVED?!" sigaw ni Hiro. Ang oa magreact ni Hiro, grabe.

"Did I heard it right? LUXE APPROVED?!" biglang litaw ni Croix habang nakaakap sa tatlong bags ng chips. Tumabi pa ito kay Hiro at nanlalaki rin ang mga mata. Isa pang oa, tss.

"You're too dramatic guys. It's not that big of a deal." sabi ko at iniwan ko sila para tumungo sa kusina.

I used up all my energy today, I need blood.

Sumunod naman ang dalawa sa akin di nagtagal at kinulit ako.

"IT IS a big deal! Luxe approved na kaya yun! So who's the lucky human?" tanong ni Hiro at naupo sa isang barstool. Tumabi naman si Croix sa kanya.

"Is this a woman? Is she busty? Or perhaps breasty?" natawa naman silang dalawa dahil sa komento ni Croix.

Tsk. Mga lalaki talaga.

Inirapan ko lang sila at pinagpatuloy ang pag-inom. Nakailang bag na ba ako? I lost count.

Laking gulat na lang namin ng biglang lumitaw si Aden sa kusina na may malaking ngisi sa mukha.

"LUXE APPROVED JUST AROUND THE CORNER! COME WITH ME, NOW!" halos di magkamayaw ang dalawa sa pagmamadaling pagsunod kay Aden sa labas na sobra pa sa excited kung kumilos.

Yes finally, peace.

Niligpit ko lang ang mga pinag-inuman ko at mga dinala ni Hiro na pagkain bago tinungo ang sala. Dinala ko naman sa spare room ang mga pinamili ni Croix at sa kwarto ko naman ang akin.

They haven't returned yet. Should I check them out? Nah, matanda na ang mga yun, they can handle themselves.

But maybe I should just check the gift I sent? Yes, I should do that.

Tinalon ko ulit ang terrace para mas madali akong makababa. Tinakbo ko ang daan papunta kung saan ako tinulungan ng matanda kaninang umaga at umakyat ako sa isang malaking puno malayo sa bahay nila at doon ko sila pinagmasdan.

Hiro and Croix were helping to carry the gifts inside the house while Aden is talking to the old man. I heighten my senses to eavesdrop on them.

"Nako po, salamat sa lahat ng ito pero hindi ko po ito matatanggap. Nakakahiya naman po." pagtatanggi ng matanda.

"Wag po kayong mahiya, sir. Bigay po ito ng isang taong nalubag ang puso dahil sa kabutihan na ipinakita at ipinaramdam niyo po." ani Aden.

Ang tigas rin ng ulo nitong matanda na to. Why can't he just accept it? Humans loves gifts, right?

"Kung ganun po ay tama na po sa akin ang isang salitang salamat." nakangiti nitong sabi.

Oh, right. That's why he is Luxe Approved.

"No, I insist. Hayaan niyo lang po kaming ibigay ito sa inyo at kayo na po ang bahala kung anong gagawin niyo sa mga ito pagkatapos." pagpapaliwanag ni Aden.

"Mamimigay po ako sa mga kapitbahay at kapamilya ko kung ganun, ayos lang po ba iyon?" tanong ng matanda.

I gave that to him but now he wants to give it to others? I can't with this human, he's too nice for this world.

"Kahit anong gusto niyo po, Sir Santiago." sagot ni Aden.

Sakto namang natapos na sila Hiro at Croix sa paghahakot. Tatalikod na sana ang matanda para siguro isalansan na ang mga ipamimigay niya pero lumingon itong muli kay Aden.

"Pwede ko bang malaman ang kanyang pangalan?"

"Luxe. Yan ang pangalan niya."

"Isang magandang pangalan para sa isang butihin rin ang puso. Alam kong siya iyong pinakaunang pasahero ko ngayong araw. "Maraming salamat, Luxe.", pakisabi po sa kanya iyan." sabi nito bago nagbigay galang kina Aden at naglakad na pabalik sa bahay nila.

I can't stop myself. I went inside his head and said,

"Maraming salamat din, Elmer."