Confusions
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Nakauwi si Aldeheid na may kunot ang noo habang tinitigan ang resitang binigay sa kaniya ng doktor niya. It was still the same medicines, though, ang sa kaniya lang ay kung bakit iyon nasabi ng doktor niya kanina.

She could still recall being stunned when her doctor told her that her heart was acting strangely. She assumed it was something terrible, but it wasn't. Kahit doktor niya ay hindi inasahan ang himalang nangyare sa kaniya. She mean—she has this illness for four years and has been informed she won't be able to get some miracle since it's too late even if she gets a heart transplant.

Mayroong malubhang sakit si Aldeheid na pinangalanang congestive heart failure. She got it when she was suffering from hypertension. Hindi inakala ng ina niya na maaaring ikakabuwis pala ito ng buhay niya. When she first had the illness, it was about the same time that she began to withdraw from society. Natatakot kasi ang ina niyang mauna pa mawala ang anak lalo pa't mas marami pa itong pangarap na aabutin.

But now after four years of suffering bigla nalang e-anunsyo ng doktor niyang unti-unting kumukupas ang bara sa kaniyang puso at ang pagnormal ng tibok nito. It was too absurd for her to believe. Kasi wala naman siyang ginawang ibang bagay upang ikagaling niya. She's even ready to die because of that condition but hearing that miracle is both delight and unbelievable to her.

Napatungo nalang siya sa kaniyang kama habang pinag-iisipan ang bagay na maaaring maging dahilan ng lahat. It was all normal yesterday. Normal lang ang sakit sa kaniyang katawan, her swollen abdoman was there and even legs. Nararamdaman rin niya ang pagsasakit ng ulo niya kahapon at lahat ng bagay ay nakalimutan niya pa. But this morning when she woke up, it just all became new.

She was supposed to be feeling normal without her condition but living with it for years felt new to her. Nakakalito at hindi siya komportable doon. Oo nga't natutuwa siya sa himalang nangyare ngunit hindi parin siya panatag doon. She needed an explanation and she thought she had an idea where she could find it.

"Callum!"

Mabilis niyang pinanhik ang balkonahe at napapatingin sa buong paligid. It was eleven in the morning, so it was scorching hot outside. Pero hindi iyon naging hadlang upang huminto siya. Bumalik siya sa loob upang kumuha ng payong na magpoprotekta sa kaniya mula sa init. Childish, she thought. Lalo pa't hindi niya alam kung kailan si Callum magpapakita ulit. Nasaksihan niya nga ang nangyare kagabi kaya imposibleng magpapakita pa ito sa kaniya!

Callum would be very scared of the thought she might spread out what she has witnessed. Baka nga umalis na iyon sa Malcolm!

Aldeheid shook her head in disagreement. "No, he won't. He's called the beta, so he's probably one foundation of Malcolm." pagpapagaan niya sa loob.

She stayed there and waited until Callum appeared again. Dapat ay matatakot siya sa binata pero hindi niya iyon magawa, her heart just doesn't allow her. Hindi niya alam kung kailan ang susunod na paghaharap nila ngunit hindi siya susuko. Until she's still alive, she will wait for him no matter what.

Callum could only bit his lower lip to prevent himself from smiling. Ayaw niyang mangyare 'yon dahil bukod sa nasa bubongan siya ng bahay niya ay baka tawagin pa siyang baliw sa makakakita sa kaniya.

It's been a week since he has been watching at Aldeheid's balcony. Natutuwa siyang isipan na lagi na niya itong masisilayan sa tuwing naroon siya sa bubong nila. Hindi niya alam kung buong araw ba si Aldeheid na nagmamatyag sa balkonahe pero alam niya kung sino ang hinihintay nito.

"One more day, Alde...One more day," he whispered to himself silently watching the prettiest woman he ever laid his eyes on.

Unang araw palang nang makita niya ito sa balkonahe ay alam na niya kung ano ang pakay ng dalaga roon. He might be blocks away from Aldeheid but he can easily sense everything inside her even from meters away.

It was weird, though. Him being able to read her mind even with blocks away. Takot nga siyang gawin ulit ang kakayahang iyon pero heto, at ang dali-dali nalang niyang makabasa.

Despite being baffled, he remained happy with his view.

Ngunit kahit paman na gustuhin niyang lapitan si Aldeheid ay hindi niya magawa dahil sa utos ng alpha nila. Sure that he can just go against a Malcolm but he refused to disagree the alpha's decision. Pinili niyang sinunod ang kaibigan na huwag lapitan ang dalaga. It's a suicide move on his part, but he doesn't want to be confused once he smells her again.

Ayaw niyang mabaliw ulit sa amoy ni Aldeheid. Alam niyang ang amoy na iyon ay hindi maaaring amoy ng pares niya. He once had a mate before, so he knows the difference between a mate and something he felt like he only owns, something no one seems to experience yet. Hindi niya mapangalanan ang damdaming iyon dahil bukod sa ngayon niya lang ito naramdaman ay wala na rin siyang narinig na kaso tungkol doon. Pero paanong malaman niya kung pati ang alpha nila ay hindi alam ang dahilan kung bakit siya nagkaganun?

Callum clearly remembers how confused both the alpha and his mate were when they were alone in the Alpha's office.

"Perhaps she's a hybrid that only becomes one that night when the moon was blooded?" ani Jarriet.

Mabilis na nag-iling ang asawa nito, "No. Aldeheid is not a hybrid. Alam natin tatlo 'yan. We sensed and smelled her personally. Kaya hindi maaaring maging kauri natin siya."

"Then, what would she be? A vampire or another creature?" litong-lito na si Jarriet.

"Vampires don't exist in our generation. And she can't be another creature, too. Dahil hindi ako mababaliw ng ganoon kung ibang hayop siya." Callum explained.

Natahimik silang tatlo habang nakatitig sa piraso ng bildo na nakuha ni Callum sa gabing iyon. It has Aldeheid's blood on it. Sa gabing nasaksihan niya ang pagkipot ng sugat nito ay agad niyang naisip na e-eksamen an dugo ng dalaga. He thought that maybe there's a possibility that she had small percent of a hybrid blood in her, ngunit nang matanggap nila ang resulta ay mas naguluhan lamang sila.

"What if you're a having a new mate, Callum?" nanlalaking mata na tanong ni Jarriet.

Pareho sila ni Harrison na napairap kaya napaingos ang asawa. "What if lang naman, eh! Hindi tayo sigurado! Wala pa rin namang nagsabing imposible 'yon."

"But I don't felt it like that. Sinabi ko na sa inyo kahapon na iba ang nararamdaman ko sa kaniya. She's not a mate but something else! Kaya litong-lito na ako ngayon sa sarili ko!"

Napailing si Harrison nang makita ang kaibigang problemado, "Dorothy is the only one that can answer us, Callum. Remember when she told us how her mom treasures her adoptive daughter? Baka iyon ang rason sa kalituhan mo."

But the day came when Dorothy was, for the second time, invited for a dinner in the mansion. Kabadong-kabado si Dorothy lalo na't alam niya na tungkol kay Aldeheid ang pakay nila.

When they asked Dorothy about it, hindi nila inasahang pati ang kapatid nito ay wala ring alam. Harrison knows she wasn't lying. Malakas ang pakiramdam niya dahil isa siyang alpha. And what she told them just added confusion in their minds.

"Kaya pala hindi na namin ito maaamoy kahit pa man nasa iisang bubong lang kami. We even noticed how her heart beat changed and her glow brightened. Nakakapangamba dahil bigla kong nakita ang dating sarili niya. It was the old Aldeheid that my mom has been keeping away from danger. Ngunit bukod doon ay wala na akong ibang alam pa sa pagkatao ni Aldeheid. But my mom was certain that Aldeheid was a pure human that's been abandoned outside her doorstep."

After that, realization struck Harrison. Him, the alpha, even Aldeheid's family whose known every inch of her couldn't smell her anymore. Tila ba ay nawalan ito ng amoy sa kanilang mga ilong. And all her scent went to their beta's nose.

Doon napagtanto ni Harrison ang isang bagay na posibleng mangyare sa kaibigan niya, "Callum, were you, by any chance, bewitched?"

Mabilis namang napabuhakhak ang asawa nito at may pang-aasar na tinuro si Callum, "Kinulam ka? Haha! Bobo nito!"

Callum groaned at them both, "You really think she's a witch or something related to them?"

"It's possible. Aldeheid's adopted and you're the only hybrid who can smell her. Witches are wicked, Callum. Kahit pa man na walang muwang si Aldeheid sa paligid niya ay baka kumakatay sa dugo niya ang abilidad ng mangkukulam." Harrison sighed and leaned on his chair, "Behind every innocent face is a hidden case, Callum."

Callum could only sigh every time he remembers what their alpha said. It might be true but they can't be sure. Kasi kung totoong kinulam siya nito ay bakit tila wala itong pake sa kaniya? Ni hindi nga siya nito tinitingnan sa tuwing pupunta siya sa bahay ng pamilyang Gleen.

Callum sighed for the last time before deciding to go back to his work, at the roof of his house. Ngunit bago paman siya makatayo ay bigla nalang niyang nasilayan ang isang matalim na bagay na hawak-hawak ng dalaga.

One drop of her blood would cause a havoc in their town. Kaya bago pa man niya maalala ang bilin sa kaniya ng alpha ay natagpuan nalang niya ang sariling nasa likuran ng dalaga, nakasandal sa pader at nakahalukipkip na tinitigan ang maliit na likod ni Aldeheid.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." aniya na nakapagpalingon ng dalaga sa kaniya.

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nyariina