Under Love's Illusion

CHAPTER 4: Hybrid

CHAPTER 4: Hybrid

The meeting ended smoothly. Alpha laid out the plans about what we’re going to do and what steps we are going to take. The Elders had some questions while the Beta so as the Deltas gave their suggestions. The Lead Hunter gave a report about our supplies of foods. Nang matapos ang meeting ay napagpasyahan kong umuwi na lamang ng bahay.

Ang liwanag ng buwan ang isa sa mga nakapagbibigay liwanag sa mga kabahayan bukod pa sa mga ilaw na nagmumula sa loob. Huminto ako sa paglalakad. Tumingala ako at tumitig. Naalerto ako nang makarinig ng mga yapak, subalit nang maamoy ang pamilyar na bango ng aking kaibigan na si Terra ay kumalma ang balikat ko.

“Catori.”

Nilingon ko siya at nginitian. “Anong mayro’n?”

“Maaari mo ba akong samahan?”

Kumunit ang noo ko. “Saan?”

Seryoso ang mukha niya nang sumagot. “Kikitain ko si Massimo—”

“Ano?” Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya. “Terra, nandito ang Alpha. Nandito ang lahat ng mga taong lobo ngayon!”

“Hindi naman masama ang gagawin ko—”

“Anong hindi masama?” Pilit kong pinapahinahon ang sarili samantalang siya ay pilit na umaasa. “Talagang ngayon pa na nandito ang lahat? Na may posibilidad na hanapin tayo ni Finn?”

“Hindi tayo mahuhuli! Pangako!”

“Terra...” I shook my head. “It’s okay to meet him, but not now.”

She shook her head, too. Her eyes shone under the light of the unwavering moon and stars. “You don’t understand. Ngayon nga ako mas nararapat na umalis sapagkat nandito ang lahat. Paano na lang kung aalis akong wala ang Alpha at Beta at ako rin na Delta ay wala at saka magkakaroon ng pag-atake? Our pack would be in danger especially now that a serious fight might arise between us and Chiannons!”

I stared at her eyes longer, examining her expression and digging into her deep thoughts.

“Nasabihan mo ba siya na magkikita kayo?”

“I told him earlier when I met him in the river.”

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako, at wala ng nagawa kung hindi ang pumayag. May dinaanan kaming parte kung saan sumaktong walang nagroronda.

“How’d you know this?” I asked quietly.

She shot me a look. “I memorized their routine. Don’t you remember?”

I laughed it away to shrug off the topic. Habang naglalakad ay hindi ko napigilan ang sariling magtanong.

“Are you happy with him?”

My question halted her. Ilang sandali bago siya naglakad ulit sa mas mabagal na paraan. I caught her smiling in the corner of my eye. She kicked some rocks we passed by and snatched small branches of the trees.

“Of course.” Genuine happiness was present in her voice. “I will always be.”

“How many months are you two... again?”

I almost whispered the last word. I’m sure she had told me before about her relationship with Massimo, but there’s a part of me asking, wondering, wanting to know. Ang pagkakuryus ko ang nagtulak sa bibig ko na magsalita.

“Months? Two years. Have you forgotten?” She laughed. “Going three actually.”

Naibuga ko ang hiningang hindi ko namalayang napigil ko na pala dahil sa itinanong ko. The fast beat of my heart earlier calmed down when she did not notice anything on my question.

What’s wrong with me?

The light guided us in the forest. The sound of crickets played together with the wind touching the leaves of the trees. Isang ungol ang pumailanlang sa may kadilimang kagubutan. Nasisiguro ko na ang ungol ay mula sa lobo sa ibang pamilya. From our distance, I can hear the gushing of the river hitting the stones of its bank. Mas luminaw ang ingay nang mapalapit kami.

There, on a huge stone beside the river, sat a man who is probably my friend’s lover. He stood to welcome Terra in his arms. Ang kaibigan ko ay nakulong sa matikas na braso ng lalaking ilang pulgada ang tangkad sa kaniya.

She freed herself from him to face me. “Thank you, Tori. I always owe you.”

I smiled at her, but my eyes lingered on the man named Massimo. The moonbeam struck his face, and the features just introduced themselves to me. His deep set eyes glimpsed at me before turning to his beloved. His nose stood proudly and paired it perfectly with his lips. Ang kulay ay paniguradong hindi sobrang kaputian—sakto lang. And his hair, it has the deepest black color that highlighted him more.

Our eyes met for the second time. “Thank you for helping her.”

Terra leaned on his muscular body.

I pursed my lips. “I shall leave.”

I took few more steps to finally leave them alone. When I reached the village, I walked like nothing happened and greeted a warrior telling him I’m checking the ground. Inikot ko na rin muna ang aming lugar para tingnan ang kalagayan.

When almost all of the lights coming from the houses were turned off, I decided to go back to my home. Sinulyapan ko ang bahay ‘di kalayuan kung saan nananatili ang Alpha at Luna.

I lied on the bed. The softness comforted my aching back and the dark soothed me better than anyone. Ang pakiramdam na may mali sa akin ay bumabagabag sa ‘king isipan. I cannot point out what’s wrong until my eyes got tired and I fell asleep.

I was in between of sleeping... and dreaming. Medyo malinaw ang mga pangyayari. Nasa loob ako ng isang bahay at nang dumaan ako sa bintana ay nakita ko ang mga puno sa ilalim ng maliwanag na buwan. I stopped in front of the mirror and took a look at myself. It wasn’t my reflection. It was... Terra’s.

I was wearing a red night gown. The color gave emphasis to her fair skin, and its fitness was just right for the curves.

I saw my reflection as Terra through the mirror. Someone appeared from behind and hugged me. When I turned to see who it was, I recognized it as Massimo. He placed his head above my shoulder and sniffed my neck. I craned it to give him more access when he started planting small kisses on my skin.

“Massimo...”

His hands touched my abdomen and pulled me closer to his body. I can feel his heat.

He moaned. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too.”

Together, we both stared at my reflection. I glanced at him. He smiled showing his perfect set of teeth, and with the beam of the glowing moon, his fangs slowly came out. The black orbs in his set of eyes turned red. Nakatingin lamang ako sa kaniya at lalong nakaramdam ng pagkaakit.

His lips swiftly brushed away the strap against my right shoulder. Muli siyang nag-iwan ng halik.

I shivered and felt giddy.

The tip of his fangs touched my skin. The heat inside me intensified instead of feeling the coldness of the night.

“I love you,” he murmured.

Ang kaliwang kamay niya ay tumulak sa aking pisngi para mabigyan ako ng isang halik sa labi. Tinugon ko ito ng buong puso at tuluyan na siyang hinarap. Ikinawit ko sa kaniyang batok ang dalawa kong kamay at bahagyang tumingkayad para mas mapalalim pa ang aming halik na pinagsasaluhan.

His hand cupped the lower part of my back. Iniyakap ko ang aking paa sa kaniyang kanang binti. Sinuportahan niya ako hanggang sa dalawa ko ng binti ang nakakapit sa kaniyang bewang.

His kisses became needy... desperate. It didn’t leave a part of Terra’s lips untouched. His lips went down to my jaw and neck and to the other parts of my body that we both fulfilled our desire.

We slept naked and tired after making love.

I was panting when I realized that it’s already morning. Ilang minuto muna akong pumikit dahil sa p*******t ng sentido dulot ng pagkapagod sa panaginip. What was that?

Tumayo na ako at nag-ayos ng sarili. Buong oras kong iniisip pa rin ang napanaginipan kahit pa noong kumakain na ako. At dahil hindi ko pa rin nakikita si Terra buong umaga ay lalo lamang akong nakaramdam ng pagkabalisa.

Lumabas ako ng bahay nang makitang sikat na sikat na ang araw, ngunit hindi ganoon kainit. Yumakap sa akin ang malamig na hangin sa labas habang naglalakad ako papunta sa bahay ni Terra. Nakailang katok ako bago ito tuluyang bumukas.

Kung gaano kabalot ang kaniyang ibabang parte ay ganoon naman kahubad ang kaniyang pantaas. Tanging ang dibdib lang niya ang natatakpan ng telang malapit na rin masira. Her hair was a mess, but her face told me that she has been up before I came.

“Anong problema?”

Itinulak ko ang pinto para makapasok at maisarado ang pinto nang sa gayon ay hindi na makita sa labas ang hubad niyang katawan. Sinuri ko ang kaniyang kabuuan at napahinga nang malalim. I was waiting for her to say something, pero mukhang siya rin ay naghihintay sa rason kung bakit ako pumarito.

“Kailan ka dumating?”

She let out a soft laugh. “Akala ko kung ano na.”

I followed her when she stood in front of the full-length mirror. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa bandang tiyan.

“Kanina, bago sumikat ang araw,” sagot niya, nakangiti sa salamin. “Kumain ka na?”

Tumango ako. “Ikaw?”

“Oo, mabuti na ang sigurado.”

I frowned. Nagtama ang tingin namin sa salamin. Kinagat ko ang loob ng pisngi ko, naiipit sa desisyon kung itatanong ba sa kaniya ang nakita ko sa panaginip o ipagsasawalang-bahala na lang.

The memory was still clear... vivid. Naaalala ko pa rin ang bawat kilos, bawat haplos na nangyari. I could still feel his touch and smell his scent. I could hear his moans and groans. I could taste his sweetness in my lips which was actually Terra’s. I could see his sexy body. It felt so real that not understanding what is the reality and what is not means killing my thirst to satisfy my curiosity.

“How were you two last night?” I finally asked without stuttering.

She caressed her stomach. “We were fine.”

“Tell me more!” I tried to sound excited. “I wanted to hear your stories.”

“Last night was amazing! It was like I did not see him for so long! I missed him so much!” She turned to me cheerfully with a smile showing all her teeth. She held my hands and squeezed it. “You should find your other half!”

My lips twitched. “Did you two...”

I needed not to say it.

She blushed in an instant. “Of course! Ano ka ba naman?”

Doon ko nakumpirma na totoo ang nakita ko.

“What if you get pregnant dahil sa ginawa ninyo kagabi?”

She chuckled. “Oh, come on! Kahit naman hindi namin ‘yon ginawa kagabi, hindi no’n mababago ang katotohanan na buntis na ako.”

I was too surprised to even utter a single word.

Umayos siya sa pagkakatayo at ngumiti sa akin na parang hindi isang surpresa ang binitiwan niyang salita.

“Ilang araw na ang bata...”

“N-No...”

Kung saan-saan naglulumikot ang mga mata ko para makahanap ng sasabihin, pero masyado akong nagulat. Hindi ako makatingin nang diretso sa mukha ng aking kaibigan.

“No, Terra...” It was a whisper, hoping for her to hear my message. “I-It can’t be... You can’t be...”

Ilang beses akong umiling para paniwalain ang sarili ko. Nagsimula ng tumulo ang luha sa ‘king pisngi.

“This is not good, Terra.” Tumayo ako at hinawakan siya sa magkabilang balikat. “You can’t be pregnant with his child!”

Shock was written all over her face upon seeing my reaction.

I shook her shoulders. “You can’t be! That would bring trouble for us!”

Tinitigan niya ako. “I wouldn’t kill our baby, Tori.”

“Bu—”

Disappointment washed her. “I thought you’d be happy. I thought you’d support me.”

Malungkot siyang napailing. Lumakad siya palayo sa akin at pumuwesto sa isang upuan. She rested her back and closed her eyes. Hindi ako umalis sa pinagkakatayuan ko.

“You can’t expect me to do what you want, Terra!” I massaged my templed. “I would have supported you if it was a werewolf.”

“Then you should have not supported me to be with him.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks. Pinunasan ko ang basa kong pisngi.

“Dapat una pa lang ay pinagbawalan mo na ako sa kaniya. May magagawa ka noon, Tori, pero hindi mo ginawa,” dagdag niya. “Mailalayo mo pa ako no’n sa kaniya, pero isa ka sa dahilan ba’t mas nagkalapit pa kami.”

“I wanted you to be happy, Terra! But being pregnant with his child is in another level that you should have known from the start! It’s a mistake you should have not done! The boundary you should have not crossed!”

Her bloodshot eyes met mine. “I am happy right now, Tori! Can’t you just be happy for me, too?”

I looked at her in disbelief. “You want me to be happy for you, Terra? Isn’t that so selfish?”

“Please...” She seemed hopeless.

“No, Terra.” I sniffed. “You’re putting our lives in danger.”

“T-Tori, please...”

“Hindi lang buhay nating dalawa kung hindi pati na rin buhay ng buo nating samahan! Your pregnancy might cause conflict between our pack and his clan! And you want me to be happy for you?”

Tinuyo ko ang luha sa aking pisngi at saglit siyang tinapunan ng tingin. Nagtungo ako sa pinto at binuksan ito. Sa huling pagkakataon ay hinarap ko siya.

“You are a werewolf, and he is a vampire, and the child you are carrying is a product of a forbidden love.”

#