Humans are said innately pleasure-seekers. The joy or 'pleasure' can be triggered by tasting foods or anything that provide this reaction. And ever since I was young, I am sure that foods can provide me joy. Kahit na ano'ng klaseng pagkain, at least meron, ayos na sa akin 'yon.

And I am pretty sure, I am now smiling absentmindedly while chewing the last hotdog I brought. When I finally done eating, ininom ko ang fresh pineapple juice ni Hecate na binigay sa akin kanina. Nauna na silang dalawa ni Lupus matapos kumain kaysa sa akin.

"You seem enjoying foods, Kai." Napatingin ako kay Hecate nang marinig ko siyang magsalita. "I was looking at you smiling while chewing the last hotdog you brought," she added.

"Yeah," matipid kong sagot.

Iniligpit ko ang aking dala-dalang steel lunch box at ipinasok ito sa bag ko. Nang maisarado ko ang zipper ay siyang napatingin kami pareho ni Hecate nang biglang tumayo si Lupus sa kaniyang kinauupuan. We both look at him puzzled.

"Punta lang ako ng toilet, naiihi na ako." Natatawa niyang paalam sa amin. He even covered the thing between his legs at the surface of the slacks he was wearing using his both hands. "Gotta go, bye!" Huli niyang sabi bago natatarantang tumakbo papuntang toilet dito sa cafeteria.

Hecate even laughed at him. Habang ako naman ay napapailing dahil sa inasta ni Lupus. Nang mawala na sa paningin ko si Lupus ay namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan naming dalawa ni Hecate.

Kinuha ko na lamang ang aking cell phone sa bulsa. At nanonood na lamang ng mga videos sa social media para aliwin ang sarili ko. To my surprise, ganoon na rin ang ginawa ni Hecate. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Rory stood from where he was sitting seconds after Lupus excused himself to go to the toilet.

Hindi ako nagpahalatang napansin ko siya. Perhaps, ayoko na namang makasalubong ang pamilyar na titig niya. I don't know. I am just avoiding myself to once again experience the weird feeling I am getting from his gaze.

My attention drifted to soda can when it fell upon the ground. Ito 'yong soda na in-order ni Lupus para sa kaniyang sarili. I bend my body over to reach for the can. Nang madampot ko ito ay ibinalik ko ito sa lamesa.

"Oy, ganda ng necklace mo, ah." Napatingin ako sa suot-suot kong necklace nang marinig ko ang sinabi ni Hecate. "Bakit hindi mo pinapakita 'yan? Looks expensive," she added.

I bit my lower lip when I heard her asking why I didn't show my necklace. "It's personal. I don't want people seeing this one," I coldly answered.

Tinatago ko lang ang kwentas na 'to sa ilalim ng suot-suot kong damit. I gritted my teeth when I remembered my late parents again. Binigay nila ito sa akin noong sixteenth birthday ko. It was a necklace with two of the seven phases of the moon as a pendant. Full moon in the middle and two waxing crescent moons in both sides.

Mukhang napansin naman ni Hecate ang timbre ng boses ko kaya hindi ko na narinig pa siyang magsalita. Me, on the other hand, chose to stay silent. Ibinaling ko muli sa screen ng cellphone ko ang aking buong atensyon.

Seconds later, I excused myself. Naiihi na rin kasi ako. Marahil ay dahil ito sa ininom kong fresh pineapple juice. I turn my cellphone off and put it right directly at my left pocket. Pagkatapos ay naglakad na ako papunta sa toilet.

And while walking, kumunot ang aking noo sa pagtataka nang mapagtanto kong medyo matagal nakabalik si Lupus galing sa toilet. Maging si Rory din. Iniling ko na lamang ang aking ulo dahil sa naisip.

I was about to turn the doorknob to open the door when I heard two people arguing. My eyes grew wider when I recognized those voices. Galing ito kina Lupus at Rory.

"What the hell are you doing here in Luna Roja, Del Grosso?" I could trace a little bit annoyed of Lupus' tone.

I heard someone sarcastically scoff. "Are you seriously asking me that right now, Sanchez?" Tila parang nadidismayang tanong pabalik ni Rory. "First and foremost, me and my family were born here in Luna Roja. Did you forget that? You are not the only one who originated in this place."

Sunod ko namang narinig ang tawa ni Lupus.

"We both know the answer to my question, Del Grosso," madiing wika ni Lupus. "And befriending him? You and your kind always get into my nerves." This time, I could trace the anger in his voice.

My forehead instantaneously furrowed. Rory's kind? What the hell does that mean? I don't know if this is still right. I am aware that eavesdropping on people's conversations is rude and can be dangerous. But my instincts tell me that I have the right to hear all of them.

"Oh please, do not start, Sanchez." May pagbabanta sa boses ni Rory. These two really had a terrible issue with each other, I must say. "You are just fulfilling your duty as a Gamma. But I promised in front of your Alpha to protect him from those who desired to harm him."

Biglang natahimik ang loob ng toilet. Muli na namang sumilay ang pagtataka sa mukha ko. Gamma? Alpha? Ano ba pinag-uusapan nila? But my mind drifted away when I suddenly felt like my bladder was about to burst.

Even I badly wanted to hear their conversation, I surrendered. Ihing-ihi na talaga ako. Besides, it is none of my business. And lastly, I am not nosy.

Sa halip na pumasok sa toilet ay hindi ko na lamang tinuloy. Baka kasi kapag pumasok ako ay malalaman nila na narinig ko ang pinag-uusapan nila. Hindi ko naman gusto mangyari 'yon. I don't want to let them feel weird or awkward.

Therefore, I retreated and used another toilet outside the cafeteria.

✢

Habang naglalakad kami papunta sa designated room namin para sa subject sa Reading in Luna Roja's History, kanina ko pa napansin na tahimik si Lupus. I am pretty sure that Lupus knew already that I was there outside the cafeteria's toilet door.

Nakita kasi ako ni Hecate na nagmamadaling lumabas sa cafeteria. She even mouthed why I retreated and use an alternative toilet room outside the cafeteria when we both knew that there is one inside. Nagtanong siguro si Lupus sa kaniya kaya nalaman.

Hindi ko na lamang binigyan ng pansin si Lupus. Dahil ayoko namang dagdagan pa ang pagiging tahimik niya. Nang makarating kami sa room ay napagtanto kong malapit lang pala ito sa college of arts and sciences department.

Pina-una ko ng pinapasok sina Hecate and Lupus. Nang makapasok sila ay siyang paghakbang ko rin papasok ng pintuan. Subalit nahinto lamang ako nang may kasabay ako. We both even stopped at the door to let one of us entered first.

"You can go first."

Napatingin ako sa taong nagsalita. It was Rory. Hindi ko kaagad siya napansin dahil naka-diretso lang ang mata ko sa sahig. When I met his eyes once again, sumilay ang matamis niyang ngiti sa labi. When I saw that, I quickly felt dizzy. My heart beat insanely rapid. And my knees were freaking shivering for no apparent reason.

"Why the hell am I shivering?" bulong ko sa aking sarili.

Biglang uminit ang aking pisngi nang marinig ko siyang tumawa. Narinig niya ba ang binulong ko? Before I could further humiliate myself in front of him, I entered the room.

Nakita ko namang sumenyas si Hecate sa akin na umupo sa upuang nasa tabi niya. Nginitian ko siya't sinunod siya. We were seated second to the last row. Pinagitnaan namin ni Lupus si Hecate. Naramdaman ko ang pag-upo ni Rory sa upuang nasa likuran ko.

Saktong pagkaupo ni Rory sa upuang nasa aking likuran ay siyang pagpasok naman ng aming professor. Kapansin-pansin ang kaputian niya. Pero kung ikukumpara ko siya kay Rory, mas maputi pa rin ang mokong.

"Good afternoon, Section 1-A. I am your professor in Readings in Luna Roja's History. I am Mrs. Amore Dela Rosa," she introduced herself. After that, inilapag niya ang kaniyang dala-dalang libro. And faced us once again. "Before we proceed to our first lesson, I would like to invite all of you to introduced yourselves in front of the class."

Honestly, I was expecting that our first day would be like introducing ourselves. Hindi ko aakalaing di-diretso kaagad kami sa lecture. Lalo na kanina sa Multimedia at Programming 1 namin. Talagang nahilo ako nang bongga-bongga sa coding.

When we finally introduced ourselves, Mrs. Dela Rosa took her book and scanned the pages. She then looked at us with a smile on her face.

"Luna Roja is a place where everything is possible." She opened it with the city's tagline. "Communities before lived near bodies of water. Houses were lined along the coasts seas, bays, rivers and lakes. Bakit kaya?"

Itinaas ko ang aking kamay dahilan para mapabaling sa akin ang atensyon ni Mrs. Dela Rosa.

"Yes?" She smiled at me.

Kaagad akong tumayo para sagutin ang tanong niya. "I think because it's easy to access food from water resources. Their means of transportation and not easily attacked by the enemy," confident kong sagot.

Nang tignan ko ang professor ay ngumiti siya sa akin. Umupo ako pabalik sa aking upuan. But out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Rory shaking his head, accompanied by a sweet smile plastered upon his lips. Sa hindi malamang dahilan, kaagad kong naramdaman ang mga paru-parong nagsiliparan sa aking tiyan. I bit my lower lip in secret to resist myself.

"Correct," humahangang saad ng professor. Tumingin siya sa klase. "Anyone can give me early shelters of early Rojans?"

Napatingin ang lahat sa taong nasa aking likuran. Maging ako ay napalingon din. Nakatayo na siya sa harapan ng kaniyang upuan. "Early shelters of early Rojans are caves, nipa huts, tree houses, and houses on stilts." Sa aking tabi namang si Hecate ay bahagyang nakabukas ang bibig dahil sa paghanga.

Muling sumilay na naman ang ngiti sa labi ni Mrs. Dela Rosa. "There are four means of livelihood in early Luna Roja. First, agriculture. Sa agrikultura naman ay may dalawang paraan. Una, ito ay ang kaingin. They will prepare the area for farming by cutting and burning the dead plants or grasses. But before cutting or burning, they performed rituals."

Huminto sa pagsasalita si Mrs. Dela Rosa at nagsimula na naman siyang mag-ikot-ikot sa loob ng classroom. Bawat isa sa amin ay tinitigan niya sa mata. Ang iilan naman ay kaniyang binabatukan kapag nakakatulog sa klase.

"The second one is wet method. Which means, rice were planted in areas where dikes were built to collect water. Ang pangalawang paraan ng kanilang kabuhayan ay ang pangangaso. The men used bow and arrows to hunt for deer. They were also accompanied by dogs to chase the deer. After the catch, they divided the deer among themselves." Muli siyang huminto sa pagsasalita't bumalik sa front table. Kinuha niya ang class list at tumingin rito. "Ano ang ikatlo at panghuling paraan ng kanilang kabuhayan, Maria May Maciling?"

Napakamot sa ulo si Maria May nang marinig niyang tinawag ang kaniyang pangalan. But a couple of seconds after, nag-sorry siya sa aming professor dahil hindi raw niya alam ang sagot. Mrs. Dela Rosa shook her head in disappointment.

"Anyone who knows the answer?" tanong ni Mrs. Dela Rosa sa klase.

Muli kaming napatingin sa kinaroroonan ni Rory. This time ay nakatayo na siya dahilan para makita ko na naman ang maskulado niyang mga braso. Maging ang kaniyang broad na shoulder.

"The third one is boat-making. They made boats out of wood. There are actually two types of boats: Birey, a boat made for fifty to one hundred people, and Biroco, a boat made for more than one hundred people. The fourth one is trading. Rojans traded with other Rojans. The standard of exchange is gold," kampante pa rin niyang sagot.

The way he answered, it's as if he knows everything about history. And I am impressed that he's interested in learning about the past. I mean, I get why we should remember or at least learn history. It is because it helps us understand our own culture, society, and our own identities.

History builds citizenship, and gives insight into present-day problems.

✢

"That's all for today," I concluded.

We simultaneously all sigh in relief when finally we are half-done brainstorming for our project. O, 'di ba. May project na agad kami sa unang araw namin sa klase. Kidding aside. Ibinigay sa amin ito ng maaga para mas makapaghanda kami.

Project namin ito sa subject namin sa The Entrepreneurial Mind. We are asked to prepare a business proposal. And this project is good for midterm. Of course, brainstorming pa lang ang nagawa namin dahil hindi pa na i-leksyon ng aming professor ang kabuuan ng lessons.

Hindi kami parehong grupo nina Lupus, Hecate at Rory dahil magkaiba kami ng group number. After I put my things in my bag, lumabas na ako ng room para umuwi. But when I got outside, darkness and deafening dominated.

May mga estudyante pa naman sa loob ng campus kahit papaano. Pero mabibilang ko lang. Binilisan ko ang paglalakad upang makauwi kaagad dahil si Lola lang nag-iisa sa bahay. Tumingin ako sa aking wristwatch para tignan kung ano'ng oras na.

It's already past six in the evening.

Nagsibagsakan ang aking mga balikat nang makalabas ako sa gate nang walang jeep na nakaparada. I had no choice but to wait. May dormitories naman sa university, kaso hindi ko puwedeng iwan ang Lola ko.

Umupo ako sa waiting shed na kaharap lang ng mini-forest. Paglabas kasi nang paglabas sa gate ng university ay bubungad kaagad ito. Pinagitnaan naman ito ng dalawang gusaling may limang palapag.

So, I waited. Subalit dumiretso kaagad ang mata ko sa mini-forest nang makaramdam na naman ako ng dalawang pares ng mata na nakatitig sa akin. It is not the same feeling I've felt the first night I experienced it. It is something. It is different.

And I know it's near. Fear impetuously took over my system when I saw yellow pair of eyes staring right directly at me. Hindi ko siya naaninag. I only saw his glowing yellow eyes. Napaatras ako sa takot nang marinig ko ang angil nito.

I wanted to go back inside the campus, but it seemed like I was crucified from where I was standing. My knees and my lips were insanely trembling. My mind went blank. To the point that it didn't recognize the things that my eyes were seeing, but only fear.

My forehead and hands were profusely sweating. The eyes of the beast were glowing. Eyes who have the intent to kill. The fear doubled when I heard his growl once again.

"Kai, are you okay?" Lahat ng takot ko sa katawan ay bigla na lamang naglaho. Napalingon ako sa taong nagsalita sa likuran ko. There I saw Lupus. "Kanina pa kita tinatawag, hindi mo 'ko napapansin. Tila parang ang lalim ng iniisip mo. At saka nakatingin ka ng diretso sa mini-forest," he added.

Walang lakas akong napabagsak sa lupa. Dahilan para magulat siya sa kinahihinatnan ko. Dinamayan niya kaagad ako. He even inspect me if I am really okay. Habang ako naman ay napatulala nang ilang segundo.

"I . . . I . . . just―" utal-utal kong sabi. "I just saw the eyes of a beast!"