Another Piece
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Callum's brows crumpled after three knocks. Walang sumagot sa kaniya kaya napasilip na siya sa loob ng silid ng dalaga. He was standing at Aldeheid's balcony in the middle of the night. He knew it's bothersome since it's late but he couldn't wait for the sun to rise. Kailangan niyang makausap agad ito para matapos na ang lito nilang lahat.

But first of all, where is his little Alde?

He sensed her near but she was not in her bed. Hindi niya rin makita ito kahit saang sulok man ng kwarto kaya hindi niya napigilan ang pumasok nalang na walang pahintulot.

He bit his lips and scolded himself. Nagtresspass na naman siya at sa silid pa talaga ang normal na tao, mas malala pa ay sa babae.

He quietly entered her room and closed the glass doors. Lumipad ang tingin niya sa kabuuan ng kwarto. It never really failed him to feel nostalgic every time he's inside Aldeheid's room. Hindi ito dahil sa desinyo kundi sa pamilyar na amoy at komportableng bahid nito.

He immediately brought his attention back to his intention. Bumalik ang kunot sa noo niya at panay hanap sa dalaga. She was really near him ngunit may nakatakip sa kanila. Perhaps she's outside her room right now.

Pumihit siya upang umupo sana at hintayin ito ngunit bago pa man siya makagalaw ay napanganga nalang siya nang masilayan si Aldeheid na kakalabas lang galing sa banyo.

His heart rumbled, his mouth deserted, and breathing stopped. Ito na ata ang pinaka-makasalanang ginawa niya sa buong buhay niya!

Aldeheid was standing there with bewilderment, staring back at Callum. Her soft hair rippled about her bare shoulders and some strands peeked inside her spaghetti strap nightgown. Napalunok si Callum at marahan na bumaba ang tingin sa katawan ng dalaga.

The V neckline seemingly showed Aldeheid's cleavage, but good thing it wasn't sinful because they were small. Pero kahit anong liit pa nun ay hindi niya pa rin mapigilang mabuhayan ng dinadalang sandata. Lalo na nang maglakad si Aldeheid palapit sa kaniya at napaglaruan ng liwanag ang kabuohan ng dalaga. He cursed underneath his breath when his eyes notices two proud beads protruding from the silk Aldeheid wore.

Doon na siya napaiwas ng tingin at panay lunok. It was the most scandalous he has ever been! At ayaw niyang ipagpatuloy ito dahil hindi iyon karapat-dapat para kay Aldeheid o kahit ninong babae.

Natauhan rin naman siya nang marinig ang dalaga na nagsalita.

"Callum? Y-you're here...so soon..." hindi makapaniwalang puna ni Aldeheid.

Callum scratched his nape and awkwardly laughed, "Yeah, I thought that we need to talk about something but I guess it's inappropriate to discuss it at this time."

Aldeheid's chuckled ridiculously, "It's fine. I just got up from a long sleep, actually." aniya mas nilapitan si Callum.

Agad rin siyang huminto nang makita ang pag-atras ng binata. They both looked at each other's eyes; Callum in plead while Aldeheid in perplex. Napaangat naman ang pares niyang kilay nang bumaba ang tingin ng lalaki sa dibdib niya. That's when she realized how shameful she was!

Nag-init ang mga pisnge niyang tumalikod at ipinagtakip ang buhok sa harapan. Fortunately, the length was enough to cover her boldness and shame.

Pumihit siya ulit paharap at binati ang titig ni Callum. "I'm really sorry about it. Hindi ko lang inasahan ang pagbisita mo."

When Callum smiled, she immediately regained her confidence back. Pumanhik siya patungo sa higaan at doon na umupo, she tapped the bed to let Callum sit down. Napako lamang si Callum sa kinatatayuan habang may iba't-ibang kabastusan ang pumasok sa isipan niya.

If only he doesn't know Aldeheid's innocence, he would have misinterpreted her hospitality as invitation for something.

Iwinaksi niya iyon sa isipan at ibinalik ang sarili sa tamang pag-iisip.

You're a beta, Callum. Act like a fucking one and stop thinking like a rapist! tahimik na kastigo niya sa sarili. Matagal-tagal na rin kasi siya nakaramdam ng pagkagusto kaya siguro nakalimutan niya kung paano ito kontrolin.

Walang reklamo na sinunod niya ang dalaga at naupo sa kabilang dulo nito. Both of them were facing the glass door of the balcony.

"So...?" simula ni Aldeheid na may kuryosidad na nakatingin sa lalaki.

Tumikhim muna siya at inalala ang kanyang intensyon, "I didn't forget when I told you that I'll bring you something once I come back."

Marahang tumango ang dalaga na may bahid na ngiti sa labi, "And you come back so soon, I assumed that it's something important?"

Doon nahiwagaan si Callum sa pagkatalino ng babae. Ni hindi man lang ito nagtanong kung ano ang ibibigay niya. Not only that she didn't think that it wouldn't be a material but something she knows she'll benefit.

Mas na turn on tuloy si Callum.

"You've got some wit, Alde." he chuckled first, "Yes, it is apparently important and I don't really expect you to answer them."

"Oh, they are questions?" she gaped.

Callum dropped his eyes shy, "Unfortunately..."

But she only giggled, "It's okay, I like being asked but depends on the degree of your questions."

Napangiti si Callum doon at tumango bago nag-umpisang magtanong.

"I remember you said you were sick. Can I, by any chance, know what your condition was?"

Pansin niya na natigilan ang dalaga sa tanong. He felt like he asked the wrong question. Napamura na lamang siya sa sarili niya. Unang tanong at mali na agad.

But he heard Aldeheid fixed herself in the seat and smiled, "Is this something I can bargain?"

Napakurap siya at walang pag-alinlangan na tumango. He's doing everything for Aldeheid, of course it is something beneficial to her.

Napalabi muna ang dalaga bago nagkuwento, "I have been suffering from congestive heart failure. I got it last four years ago that's why I stopped going to college. I kept myself secluded after learning how much time I have left but things happened and my mom died, after that I was sent here in Malcolm since it's where my sister lives. I never stepped out and entertained people in Malcolm that's why some of you would think I was a tourist or new comer when I actually am staying here for almost 5 months." Aldeheid does not know if it's better to tell Callum about it but she didn't hesitate anyways. Hindi naman pribado ang impormasyong iyon at baka makakatulong rin iyon sa nangyayare.

Meanwhile, Callum who's been listening almost want to let his little Alde know that he'd known her ever since she resided in Malcolm, but of course, he didn't want to look like a creepy stalker in Aldeheid's eyes, so he decided to keep it.

Magsasalita na sana siya ngunit napukaw ang atensyon niya sa sinabing sakit nito.

His chest immediately slammed, sumikip ito at siya nama'y nanlamig. Sa lahat ng sakit, bakit iyon pa na may masakit na dulot sa kaniya noon? The same disease caused his adoptive brother to die, that's when his life started to crumble.

Mabilis siyang napaayos at pigil ang sariling maisip 'yon. It was all in the past and he's changed for the better. Hindi niya hahayaang mangyare ulit 'yon lalo pa't ang kaharap niya ngayon ay may nagbubukod tanging impluwensya sa kaniya, at kahit sa mga kaibigan niya.

"Who were you before that night?" halos pabulong niyang tanong.

Aldeheid swallowed and carried her legs to the bed and hugged them, "I was the weak Aldeheid before. I had this swollen stomach and legs. There's never a day when I couldn't get headaches. Hindi rin ako komportable sa masisikip kaya lagi akong nakabestida na maluwag. And since I have that, I tend to distant myself from people." and little smiles escaped.

Callum knew that, everything about her condition, pero hindi niya alam ang huling nitong nilathala. Now he figured why she had been forcing herself to shove him away. Napangiti na lamang siya. Akala niya talaga ay ayaw lang ng babae sa kaniya.

"And ever since that day, you felt like you were gradually changing?"

Aldeheid puffed her cheeks and nodded. Mabilis na nag-iwas ng tingin si Callum dahil baka masaksihan ng dalaga ang ngiti niya.

"I saw you last time at the hospital, may koneksyon ba 'yon sa sakit mo? Were you there for monthly checkups?" tumango kaagad si Aldeheid.

"Yep!" popping the 'p', "I came alone because Dorothy had an appointment that time. How about you? Nakita rin kita doon at pati si Harrison."

Callum loved the way Aldeheid addressed the Malcolm's alpha. Para kasing kaibigan niya lang ito, no fright nor any special treatment, kagaya lang ng kung paano ito makipag-usap sa kaniya. Minsan iyon lang ang kailangan niya, eh, yung tratuhin siyang isang normal na mamamayan.

"We were there to check the children that was attacked by a bear the night before." kasuwal niyang sagot na ikinatameme ng dalaga.

"A bear attacked people?! Jesus! Then how's the kids?"

Gusto nalang niyang putulin ang sariling dila dahil sa pagkadulas nito, na pati bagay na maaaring ikapasok ng dalaga sa mundo nila ay nasabi niya.

On the second thought, Aldeheid was already inside their world to begin with. Sadyang wala lang talaga itong alam sa kanila. And the moment she'll found out the truth, isang bagay lang ang kinatatakutan ni Callum at iyon ay ang baka umalis ito sa Malcolm.

"They're not just kids, Alde, so they're fine now." hagikhik niya.

"But kids are vulnerable, dapat hindi sila pinabayaan ng mga magulang nila. And you mentioned that it happened the night before that, how foolish of their parents to let their kids go out in the dark?"

Gusto ni Callum na matawa sa nakangusong mukha ng dalaga pero medyo nadismaya rin siya sa sarili niya nang sabihin ni Aldeheid iyon. Naalala niya kasing pinagbintangan rin siya ng ibang opisyal at mamamayan tungkol doon. Kahit pa man alam niyang hindi niya ito kasalanan ay nakaramdam pa rin siya ng konsensya.

He thought that he failed his job as their beta because he was protecting a human but if he didn't do that, Aldeheid might not be in front him right now. He won't be able to witness how beautiful his little Alde is. At hindi niya alam bakit pero mas natakot siya sa ideyang iyon.

Napatitig siya bigla kay Aldeheid nang makita itong natigilan at tila naguguluhan sa iniisip. He waited for her to speak her thoughts, and he never knew that it was another problem for him.

"Wait, isn't that when the moon was red?" she gaped at later on covered her mouth with her hands.

Mas lalong kinabahan doon si Callum ngunit ang sumunod na linya ay ang siyang nakapag-alpas ng tawa niya.

"What if it wasn't really a bear that attacked them? What if it was the same monster like the one you fought? Or what if it was the monster who hurt them?"

Napapunas siya ng luha sa magkabilang mata at malapad na nginitian si Aldeheid, "You're getting better at this. God, so cute." bulong niya lang pero umabot pa rin sa tenga ng dalaga.

"B-but what if...it was?" kagat-labi ni Aldeheid.

Callum coughed his throat, "That monster?" Aldeheid nodded.

"But what if it's me?" may paglalaro ang mga labi niyang tanong kay Aldeheid.

The woman fluttered, waiting for Callum to take back his joke but he didn't. Doon siya napalunok nalang habang nakatitig sa makahulugang mga mata ng binata.

"N-no...you can't be." she refused.

"But I'm a monster." he stated.

Her head shook, "But you never kill." she bravely faced his penetrating stares.

The side of his lip rose, "I did kill the monster, Alde." mas hinamon niya ito lalo. He couldn't help it, a human who never knew about them is defending him. It's a new thing for him!

Itinaas ni Aldeheid ang ulo niya at matatag pa ring tinitigan si Callum. She didn't know what's she doing but she just didn't want him to be sad and feel different.

Napailing siya, "It was because that monster was plotting something bad to me and you came to save me! You're not bad, okay? You even spared my life for how many times already!" aniya dahil ayaw niyang isipin ni Callum na masama ito.

She mean, she doesn't really know anything about this guy pero hindi pa ba sapat yung panatilihing buhay siya at tulungan siya sa pagbabago ng sarili niya?

Callum good-naturedly laughed, "Pero paano kung ngayon kita kakainin?" his grin reached Aldeheid's eyes and all she could do was pout.

"Can you at least let me know what's happening to me before you consume me? Ayaw kong mamatay na naguguluhan." asik ng maamong boses niya na mas nagpabuhakhak ni Callum.

She immediately reached for Callum's mouth and placed a finger on her lips to shush him, "My family is already sleeping! They might know I let someone in!" she whispered a shout.

Gumilak ang mata ni Callum at nagtango-tango sa kaniya. Marahan niyang inabot ang kamay nito upang alisin ang pagkakatakip, "Little Alde, they figured last days ago..."

Brows furrowed, "Figured what?"

Callum's lips parted before he shook his head, "Guess they never told you anything." he sighed, "Hanggang kailan ang kaya nila..."

Nalito roon si Aldeheid at magtatanong na sana nang maunahan siya ni Callum.

"Nga pala, let's get back to our topic. How's your checkup?" kasuwal niyang tanong habang nakahawak pa rin sa palad ng dalaga. She did not notice it so he gently played with her fingers.

Nakita niya ang pagseryoso ng dalaga, "It was really weird. I think I've told you this before or not but she told me that my blood is being weird."

He found that funny, "Why?"

Nagkibitbalikat si Aldeheid, "Bumalik raw ito sa normal na takbo na isang imposibleng kaso kasi paanong nangyare 'yon? I mean, it's been four years but it only took one night to change everything." she frustratedly said, her brows almost lined.

Napatango si Callum at hindi alam ang sasabihin, "So, does that mean you received a miracle or such?"

"I don't exactly know. Kasi kahit ako hindi makapaniwala. I'm actually planning on visiting tomorrow, kaya hinanda ko na ang damit ko sa banyo." she giggled and tucked her hair on her ear.

Later on, she yawned and smiled at Callum with teary eyes. Natawa ang binata at agad ring nahiya dahil sa napagtanto.

He carefully rose up from the bed and faced Aldeheid, "I think that's all for tonight. You go back to sleep, Alde."

Napanguso ang dalaga, "What? But I thought you're giving me something?"

Doon napamaang ang binata at natawa dahil nakalimutan niyang wala nga pala siyang naibigay na impormasyon rito. He could only scratched his head as Aldeheid giggled.

"Nah, it's okay. You spared me my life this time again so I guess that's enough?"

He was supposed to be glad that Aldeheid didn't force him but what he heard just crumpled his face.

"I will never do anything bad to you, Alde." almost sounded bitter.

Aldeheid noticed his change of mood so she got a little disappointed of her insensitivity. Parang kakasabi niya lang kanina na ayaw niya itong isipin ng lalaki na masama siyang tao pero ngayon anong ginawa niya?

"I'm sorry...that was such a rude—"

"It's fine. I just want to let you know that I will never hurt you, got that?" at marahang inabot at buhok nito upang tapikin.

She nodded and smiled. Tumayo na rin siya upang ihatid ang binata, she halted and confused herself. "Uh—do you want to go out from the door or the...balcony...?" and bit her lips.

Natawa lamang si Callum, "I don't want my little Alde to get in trouble, so I'm jumping out of your balcony...again."

Marahan siyang tumango at sumunod sa binata. The same thing he did before, nasa labas na siya ng baluster at tanging kamay at isang paa na lamang ang nakasuporta sa katawan nito habang ang kabilang mga pares ay nakalutang sa ere.

"Goodnight, Alde...I guess, I'll see you when the sun's up." at matamis siyang nginitian.

Aldeheid felt her cheeks burning from the thought of seeing him again. Mabilis niya itong iwinaksi at ngumiti na rin sa binata. She waved him a hand but stopped midway when she saw him staring at her face.

Napakurap siya at nailang. Napayuko siya sa suot at maingat na sinuri ang sarili dahil baka may masilayan na naman ang lalaki na hindi maganda.

Umangat ulit ang tingin niya nang marinig itong tumawa, "Wala bang goodbye kiss diyan?"

Napaawang labi siya at nahiya doon. And good thing it was only a joke kasi kung hindi baka himatayin siya doon. Siyempre, hindi niya pa 'yon naramdaman kahit kailan, eh.

"Sweet dreams, my little Alde." Callum bided her goodbye and was about to jump when she suddenly grabbed his arm to prevent him.

Mabilis na napatingin si Callum sa kaniya at bumaba sa dibdib nitong nawalan ng takip dahil sa malakas na ulhos ng hangin. He swallowed and looked away. Nawalan tuloy siya ng ganang umalis.

"I forgot something..." aniya Aldeheid habang nakatitig sa mga mata ni Callum.

Callum thought it was her way of saying she forgot to give him a kiss on his cheek but it wasn't. Nahiya siya sa pinag-iisip niya. Because what she forgotten was another piece of the puzzle they were all looking for.

"My doctor told me that my blood got infected. She was uncertain what kind of infection it was because it was a rare infection. That's why I'm coming back tomorrow to get her diagnosis." she swallowed hard first before continuing, "So, would you mind if I asked you to come with me?"

Nahihiwagaang napatitig nalang si Callum sa kaniya. Sa loob ng ilang minuto na pag-uusap ay ngayon niya lang nagawang basahin ang isipan nito. And damn, it was true! What he heard wasn't a dream!

Nasabik siya bigla pero agad niya namang pinakalma ang sarili atsaka na sumilay ang ngiti sa labi.

"What time will I fetch you?" aniya at pareho silang napangiti sa isa't-isa.

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nyariina