THE UNTAMED LUNA

THE UNUSUAL PRESENCE

Surprisingly, a guy pulled out a chair beside a guy who looked exactly like him.

I glanced between them. “Twins?”

“Joel,” the other one said, flashing a small smile.

"Jade" the other one inserted.

I sat in between of them.

My heart fluttered as I realized, the handsome man in the front, I mean, my new subject teacher... is the one who made my pulse race. When his eyes met mine again before turning to the board, my breath caught. The soft rustle of chalk, the scent of his cologne, and the calm authority in his voice wrapped around me. It wasn’t just an attraction... it felt like the start of something I couldn’t yet explain.

"Aheeemp!" I pretended to have a cough with an itchy throat, I covered my mouth silently using a handkerchief.

"Water?" one of the twins offered me mineral drinking water. I didn't expect he had one.

"Oh, thanks." I told him. I winked at him as a sign of appreciation. Then he turns his gaze to the front as if nothing has happened.

"Class, you have a new classmate starting today. Ahh.. Miss...? could you please stand again and tell us your name and where you are from?" The teacher asks, looking at me. I immediately stood up and smiled. Of course, I wanted to make a good first impression on my English teacher and on my classmates.

"Hello guys, my name is Abby Jezz Urdanzo. I am 17 years old, a new transfer student from Surigao City," I said as I started to sit down.

But he interrupted my motion by adding, "Tell us something about yourself. What brings you here, and what do you like to do?"

I hesitated again. I hate being in the spotlight.

"Well, my parents got a new job here, so we have to move here also. I like to do a lot of things. Reading, cooking, and music. But I am most interested in kids. I would like to be a teacher someday, a kindergarten teacher. That is what I hope will be my course next year." I quickly sat down before he could ask another question.

"Thank you, Miss AbbyJezz Urdanzo. Everyone, make sure to make her feel comfortable on her first day, alright?" He adds.

"My name is Mr. Albanzo, by the way. Now, will be starting a new book today." He turns to the large box and opens it. He begins passing out books. I looked at the cover and smiled.

"Noli me Tangere," a novel written by Jose Rizal in the year 1887. This is one of my favorites.

"Have you read it?" He asked when he paused at my desk. I just nodded while looking into his eyes again.

I find myself lost in their azure eyes for extended periods. How did I become so lyrical all of a sudden? His grin widens as he proceeds to distribute handbooks to the individuals flanking me. To be honest, I cannot recall anything that occurred during the remainder of the class. The only thing I remember is Mr. Albanzo's melodious voice. Standing at an impressive height of perhaps six feet, Mr. Albanzo possesses a captivating smile and flawlessly aligned, pearly white teeth. Mr. Albanzo has one dimple that looks like "Rico Yan," the famous Filipino actor back then. He has a sharp jawline. He has some stubble and probably didn't shave this morning. Mr. Albanzo has very wide shoulders and is wearing low-slung jeans. Those are nice.

"Hey, I need to stop; this is ridiculous." The sentence I heard from the wind made me realize there was a sudden motion.

"Concentrate AbbyJezz!" I said to myself. The bell rang, and I didn't notice that time had actually passed

.

"Argg!" I looked around the room in a bit of a daze. Students are leaving. But I'm still sitting when Jade asks me something.

"Oh... I'm sorry, what?" I am a little confused.

"I said, my brother and I can walk you to your next class." I noticed my schedule was in his hands. I must have given it to him while I was in my Mr. Albanzo dazed.

"Oh, sure, I mean, yes, please." I managed to sputter. He laughs slightly and smiles.

Mr. Albanzo received a nod from him as he glanced over. Exiting the room, a final glance was exchanged between them. Another deep breath was taken, realizing the next encounter might not be until tomorrow. Thoughts of craziness crossed my mind. Later in the afternoon, a brief chat with Tagi was held on social media after the final subject of the day.

In the chat room:

"Tagi, you will be surprised by what I am going to say."

"Oh! Let me guess! Did your mom buy a motorcycle?"

"No! But maybe after ten years." I said jokingly.

"Nice, oh! I have to go to the market. Mom is waiting for me. Let's chat later. Bye!" She said.

I felt sad because I was far away from her. I am still excited about telling her that I have a crush at school, and that about my English teacher.

“Do I need to say it?” I asked myself.

"Whatever."

Ever since I departed Surigao, my closest friend has been constantly occupied. Once her classes conclude, she promptly heads to the market to relieve her mother, who oversees their store throughout the day. Consequently, I find myself lacking a companion to connect with at school. Its fine. I opted to board a Jeep and head straight home.

As I approached the gate of the house, the feeling of being watched refused to fade. The street, though familiar, suddenly seemed alien, the lamplight stretched into long, distorted shadows that wavered across the cracked pavement. My breath formed pale clouds in the cold air as I paused, trying to calm the restless pounding in my chest.

A faint fragrance drifted past me... floral, sweet, yet heavy, the same scent that had haunted me since I turned the last corner. It wasn’t just a memory. It was here, close. I drew in a deep breath, and that was when I heard it: the faintest rustle of fabric, followed by the slow rhythm of another’s breathing.

My pulse quickened, echoing in my ears like a drumbeat. The stillness of the night seemed to close around me, muting the distant city sounds until only my fear remained.

I turned sharply. The street stretched empty behind me, save for the orange flicker of a dying streetlight. A pair of pedestrians passed further down the road, chatting softly, their laughter quickly swallowed by distance. Somewhere, a motorcycle engine roared and faded into the mist. But none of them carried that same lingering scent... that unmistakable trace of someone unseen.

The hair at the back of my neck prickled. The air itself felt alive, watching, waiting.

I forced my feet to move faster. Each step toward the gate felt heavier, as though the shadows clung to my ankles, trying to pull me back. My fingers trembled as I reached for the latch, the metallic chill biting into my skin.

Once inside, I slammed the gate shut. The sound rang out sharply in the night, its too loud, too final. I twisted the lock until it clicked, then leaned my weight against the iron bars, breathing hard.

For a long moment, nothing...

Only the whisper of wind and the steady thudding of my heart. Then... a faint tap. Somewhere beyond the gate. Like a foot brushing against gravel.

I froze.

“Who is following me?” I whispered, my voice barely audible, trembling between fear and disbelief. Because the silence that following me was suffocating. But the scent of perfume… was still there...