War
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"One group from west has signaled warning. Yellow smoke." aniya ng alpha nila pagkapasok nila sa opisina nito. "Make sure to stay beside the target and do everything to save everyone from harm, including yourself." turo niya kay Romeo.

Tumango ito, "But never make the first move. As possible, let this problem be words and let peace ruin it."

Matapos nitong ipahayag ay agad na iginaya niya si Aldeheid pababa sa nag-iisang lumang hagdanan ng mansyon. Gawa ito sa makapal na kahoy at kahit paman napaglumaan ng panahon ay bakas sa itsura nito na minsan lang nagagamit. Pagkababa ay bumungad sa kanila ang dalawang pinto.

"The left one is where we escape." Romeo stated even without Aldeheid's inquiry.

Tikom bibig na tumango nalang si Aldeheid atsaka sumunod sa komander papasok sa isa pang pintuan. She was a little surprised upon seeing Jarriet and Miss Zaveri inside. Tila ba'y hinintay siya ng mga ito dahil parehong nakaupo paharap sa pinto.

Miss Zaveri only saluted her and went back to reading, her legs that were wrapped by red lace were crossed, while Jarriet ran to her for a hug.

"Woah, ang laki nga ng tinangkad mo." ani nito at pinagkompara silang dalawa.

Aldeheid only chuckled after the commander stepped in between them, obviously shooing Jarriet away. Napamusot nalang ito at iritang hinila ang buhok sa parteng tenga ng komander.

"Para kang tanga, ang oa. Bakit, ako ba ung uso, ha? Sumbong kita kay Harrison, eh." tampo ni Jarriet habang si Claudette sa likod niya ay napangiwi sa nasaksihan.

Romeo ushered Aldeheid to sit down and gave her all the couch pillows since he does not know how many will satisfy her. Basta binigay nalang niya lahat para walang beta ang magtampo kung sakali mang malaman nito.

Aldeheid awkwardly placed two pillows on her back, two on either side, and one heavy leather pillow on her lap. 'Hindi naman obvious na nahihirapan siya umupo.' ani Jarriet sa isipan niya.

Makalipas ang ilang minuto ang namukod tangi lamang ang katahimikan sa loob ng silid na iyon. Lahat ay parehong pinagmasdan ang paligid at sabay lilingon sa itaas ng kisame sa tuwing may pagsabog at mga hakbang ang maririnig.

Jarriet, with an almost dried throat, tried to ease their anxiety. "Uh—lahat naman siguro dito ay alam ang nangyayare, diba?" her face almost looks like the grinning face with sweat emoji, pero mabilis iyon naglaho nang makita ang walang emosyon na mga mukha nina Claudette at Romeo.

Napamura nalang siya sa isipan atsaka binalingan si Aldeheid na nahihirapan paring umupo hanggang ngayon. "I can hear how fast your heart beats but whatever happens, this will never be your fault." mahinahon niyang sambit habang isa-isang kinuha ang mga unan mula kay Aldeheid at pasimpleng binato kay Romeo.

"War..." she raised both arms, "This thing always happens here in Malcolm, and prolly somewhere in Fordice."

Jarriet reached out some cinnamon bread and an apple juice to offer them to her visitor. "Sa pagkakatanda ko nga, nakatatlong digmaan na simula noong ipinanganak ako, pang-apat ang ngayon. Pero hindi naman ganoon ka lala ung dalawang nauna, hindi kagaya ng ikatlo na halos bumaha na ng dugo ang Malcolm. Kaya isa lang ang hiling ko sa digmaang ito ngayon, na huwag sana maulit ang ikatlo."

"I would like to clarify that the alpha has not yet declared war." Jarriet scoffed and rolled her eyes at Romeo's comment.

"Hindi ka kasali sa kuwentuhan namin." asar niya na nagpataas sa gilid ng labi ni Claudette.

"Then spread facts." Romeo countered and immediately turned his back on Jarriet to shut her off.

The pissed Jarriet could only raise her middle finger in the air. "Bwesit talaga lahat ng kaibigan ni Harrison."

Claudette has finally laugh, "Unfortunately, you cannot escape this nightmare." pang-asar niya pa kay Jarriet bago bumalik sa binabasa.

Wala nang nagawa pa si Jarriet kundi magtimpi sakanila.

Aldeheid, on the other hand, held her cinnamon on her laps as she felt so sad and heartbroken after what she heard. Sad how the people in Malcolm have to experience the pain she felt of losing a family.

Napatingala siya at huminga. Hindi niya lubos mang akalain na ganito na pala siya kalapit sa mga tao sa Malcolm. Despite the short time she had been with them felt so long to her. Kung hindi man kinuwento ni Jarriet iyon ay hindi niya rin mapapansin na marami pa siyang hindi nalalaman tungkol sa Malcolm.

Aldeheid coughed, "May I, by any chance, know what happened during the third one?"

Jarriet stopped midways and gaped, napalunok rin siya bago naupo sa katabing upuan nito.

"I can only tell you my point of view from that war." sambit niya na halatang may tinatakpan.

Aldeheid nodded in agreement as Jarriet started.

"I was 19 when it happened. Galing ako sa Avrieda noong umuwi ako ng bandang alas tres ng hapon. Malayo pa man ako sa lugar ay pansin ko agad ang madilim na ulap na pumapaligid nito. It was dark. The horse that I was riding was too scared to run nearer, as if he'll slowly die when he comes near. Kaya naman ay mag-isa akong pumasok dito. At siguro dala ng dumadaloy sa dugo ko ay agad kong naamoy ang lansa ng dugo sa lupa. And when a hybrid smells blood, it's a problem."

Napahinga ng malalim si Jarriet bago nagpatuloy, "Hybrids sense danger and either way, we can also feel what's happening and what we have to do. Wala akong alam sa panahong iyon kung saan nagsimula ang digmaan at kung ano ang dahilan, basta ang ginawa ko lang ay ang patayin lahat ng humaharang sa'kin. Doon ko lang napagtanto na ang kalaban pala namin ay ang mga kagaya ni Adelaide nang mapatay ko ang isa sa mga kaibigan kong gumagamit ng mahika."

Aldeheid gasped at what she heard. It was indeed, scary.

"Yeah, shits happen." pagsang-ayon ni Jarriet, "And I woke up the day after in the hospital with a lot of hybrids inside. Noon, akala ko talaga ang dahilan ay dahil na naman sa pinangakong lupain ng Alpha Malcolm the 2nd, pero nagbago iyon nang makilala ko si Rios. It was not his story but he was not afraid to share it. Ika nga niya na deserve ng lahat malaman ang totoo kaysa sa mga sabi-sabi lang." proud niyang sambit.

Aldeheid has finally found a reason to smile after a very tragic story. "So, what exactly was the reason of that war?" Aldeheid cluelessly asked.

Doon ulit nawala ngiti ni Jarriet at panay lunok ulit. She was about to find another way not to answer her but Claudette suddenly spoke.

"Everyone deserves to know the truth, so...?" naghihintay sakaniya kaya napatiging bagang nalang siya sa kaibigan.

Tumikhim siya at walang nagawa kundi sabihin nalang ang totoo.

"What happened last time was the same reason that is happening now."

Aldeheid blinked fast as she was bamboozled. She asked, almost in whisper, "Am I involved..?"

Jarriet shook her head, "All of us are, Alde. Everyone in this town is involve."

"The truth is, it's sole cause is betrayal and revenge. Callum and his adoptive mother were at fault."

Hindi na alam ni Aldeheid ang sasabihin at tanging pagtikom bibig nalang ang nagawa niya. That is why she was their priority, and that is why she felt this anxiousness after the bear attack. Naramdaman niya ang pagkatakot pero hindi niya ito pinakita sa mga taong kaharap niya. If this yet another war is for the person she cared for, then she'll do everything just to protect him.

At ang malakas na putok ang nagpatalon nila sa kanilang mga upuan. Isang senyales na nagsimula na ang madugong digmaan.

"The alpha has officially declared war." the commander, in his overall gear, announced.

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nyariina