KABANATA 2

The gentle rain stopped. It's like the clouds were crying with Ethan and the rain suddenly went away— taking his pain with it.

Ethan- no, the big wolf stood up on all fours and Alpas is laying down in between its legs.

“T-the fuck?” As a teacher, he never said these kind of words. But with his current situation, he couldn't help but blurt it out loudly.

Sino nga ba namang hindi mapapamura kapag bigla na lang nagpalit ng anyo ang tao na nasa kaniyang harapan.

Alpas was definitely terrified and thrilled at the same time. His body was covered with goosebumps.

Ethan- the wolf, stretched and looked at Alpas curiously. Sensing Alpas' terror, he whined and bowed to sniff his scent.

Alpas raised his hands to push the wolf but his strength wasn't enough. He laid helplessly with both of his hands pushing the chest of the wolf and he closed his eyes, praying silently.

Alpas was genuinely scared, naiiyak na siya at gulong-gulo paano nag-ibang anyo si Ethan.

The wolf successfully bent down and licked Alpas' neck, as if he is comforting him.

He is really Ethan. Even him can't believe that he turned into a wolf. The pain went away quickly and his body felt much different. He can see even if it's dark— a night vision, his sense of smell and hearing is sharpened as well.

His body felt so foreign right now but nevertheless, he is glad that the pain is gone. The only thing that he is scared of is— how scary he look right now.

Judging from Alpas' trembling body, he felt that his look is indeed scary. He wanted to comfort the man under him but he can't really speak right now. He can only lick his tears away.

“Please, huwag kang matakot.” Ethan thought to himself.

Lumipas ang ilang minuto nang kumalma si Alpas. Naka-ipon siya ng lakas at tinignan niya sa mata si Ethan. When he is sure that there is no real danger, he sat up slowly without breaking the eye contact.

Sumandal siya sa puno. Tapos bigla siyang tumawa. He doesn't know what to feel anymore. He even think that everything is just a dream and he will wake up later still in school.

The wolf titled his head in curiosity and he sat in front of Alpas.

“Ikaw ba talaga yan, Ethan?” tanong ni Alpas.

Ethan let out a sound, agreeing to Alpas.

Alpas pretended to come back to his calm and composed self. Everything he experienced for the past few minutes were all a lot to take in for him and he is taking his time to digest everything. Anyone will surely be overwhelmed.

“You can't go to the dormitory like this. Hindi ko rin alam paano kita i-uuwi.” sabi ni Alpas.

Ethan whimpered in reply.

Naglalakad lang si Alpas pauwi dahil malapit lang ang nirerentahan niyang bahay sa school.

“Can you try shifting back to your human form?” tanong ni Alpas.

Ethan stood on all fours and he looked like he is focusing on something.

Hindi mapigilan ni Alpas na tumawa ulit. Kahit na malaki ang nasa harapan niya, mukha naman itong harmless at the same time, clueless.

The big wolf shook his head and sat back down, he's disappointed because he can't shift back to his human form yet.

Hindi mapigilan ni Alpas na maawa kay Ethan. Hindi niya rin alam sa sarili niya kung bakit gustong gusto niyang tulungan si Ethan.

He raised his hand but he's hesitating. Ethan saw that and he bowed his head. Alpas finally landed his palm against the soft black fur. Natuwa naman siya agad ng maramdaman niyang ang sarap haplusin nito.

Ethan’s tail was wagging, he's enjoying Alpas’ touch.

Pagkalipas ng ilang minuto, pinulot ni Alpas ang kaniyang nahulog na cellphone at tumawag ng makakatulong sa kanila.

--

There was a silence in the car. Alpas is sitting on the shotgun seat of the car and his brother, Yahree, was the one who's driving. As for the big wolf... He has the back seat for himself.

Yahree didn't question his brother why he brought a wolf with him and he just focused on driving. Alam kasi niya na since bata si Alpas, lagi siyang nagdadala sa bahay ng injured animals kahit na binabawalan siya ng kanilang ama. Samantala’y ngayon may sariling bahay na nirerentahan si Alpas, magagawa niya lahat ng kaniyang gusto.

“Sorry, na-istorbo ba kita?” tanong ni Alpas.

Tinignan ni Yahree nang saglit ang kaniyang kuya at binalik sa daan ang kanyang antensyon. “Not at all. Wala na man din akong ginagawa sa bahay. Kailan ka uuwi?”

“My work is draining me. Text na lang kita kapag uuwi ako. Tapos na rin ang klase and I'll make time to visit you guys.” sambit ni Alpas.

Tumigil ang sasakyan sa tapat ng bahay ni Alpas at tinignan siya ni Yahree.

“Thank you, Yahree.” sabi ni Alpas at ginulo niya ang buhok nito.

Yahree smiled. “Mn.”

Lumabas na sa sasakyan si Alpas at pagkatapos ay pinagbuksan niya ng pinto si Ethan.

Nang umalis na si Yahree, binuksan ni Alpas ang kaniyang bahay at pumasok silang dalawa ni Ethan.

“Diretso sa banyo.” utos ni Alpas dahil parehas silang may putik sa katawan.

Naglakad si Alpas papunta sa banyo at nakasunod lang sa kaniya si Ethan.

Medyo malaki ang banyo ni Alpas pero malaki rin si Ethan. A big wolf and a human almost filled the whole bathroom.

Completely unaware of what to do, Alpas directed the wolf to sit down.

Binuksan niya ang gripo at tinapat ang balde. Habang hinihintay niya ito, kinuha niya ang showerhead at binuksan ito.

Ethan let out a sound when the water from the showerhead hit his fur.

“Mauubos yata 'tong  shower gel ko sayo.” sabi ni Alpas habang tumatawa.

Ethan closed his eyes and imagined himself shifting back into his human form.

Alpas poured the shower gel on the wolf's fur, he was enjoying how soft it felt while combing it through his fingers.

He was happily doing it when the wolf shifted back to human.

Nabitawan ni Alpas ang shower gel habang ang kaniyang kabilang kamay ay nasa buhok ni Ethan. “E-Eh?!”

“S-Sir!” Ethan greeted cheerfully.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Alpas ng makita niyang walang saplot si Ethan. Dali-dali siyang tumalikod.

“M-maligo ka lang diyan. Ipangkukuha kita ng d-damit.” na-uutal na sinabi ni Alpas.

Pinihit niya ang doorknob ngunit hindi pa niya nabubuksan ang pinto ng biglang hinawakan ni Ethan ang kanyang balikat.

Ethan's movement were so fast and he pinned Alpas against the door. Alpas looked up while gulping.

“B-bakit bigla kang tumangkad?” tanong ni Alpas.

Ethan didn't answer him— his attention was purely focused on Alpas' scent. The scent from the earlier didn't fade. Instead, it's stronger right now. It's obvious that it's not the smell of the shower gel.

“Alpas.” He said with his low voice and he caressed Alpas’ left cheek.

Alpas was stunned and heat rushed through his body. Not only did Ethan grew taller a few centimeters in a little bit of time, his voice was also deeper.

Ethan's heated gaze was burning Alpas and on top of that, his body is reacting in a way he can't imagine. He felt so wrong, not because Ethan is a male, but because he is his graduating student.

Ever since Alpas could remember, he is always attracted with the same sex as him but he was never attracted with his students. He knows his limits.

“Why do you smell so good?”

Alpas snapped out of his trance when Ethan spoke. He was confused though, why would Ethan asked that when they were almost covered with mud and dirt?

“B-baka yung shower gel yung na-aamoy mo.” sabi ni Alpas.

Tinignan ni Ethan si Alpas sa mata. “Nanggagaling sa'yo.”

Alpas didn't know but he suddenly felt shy from Ethan's staring. He bit his lower lip and looked down. But maybe looking down is the wrong decision he made because Ethan's fully erect member came into his view.

Alpas looked back up abruptly, his eyes were wide in shock and his cheeks flushed red.

Ethan chuckled at the other's reaction. With that, Alpas felt so defeated. He was the one who saw Ethan naked and he is also the one who is embarrassed. On top of that, Ethan looks like he was enjoying each of his reactions.

“Y-you shower first! Paghahanap kita ng masusuot.” sabi ni Alpas habang tinutulak niya si Ethan para mabuksan niya ang pinto.

Nang makalabas na si Alpas, napasandal siya sa pader malapit sa banyo. Hindi niya alam bakit bigla siyang nanlambot sa nakita niya. Sinampal niya ng bahagya ang kaniyang mga pisngi at lalong namula ang mga ito.

He still hasn't recovered from what he saw earlier when he heard a low groan emitted from the bathroom.

He covered his ears and run towards his cabinet to find clothes for Ethan. He rummaged his it quickly. He grabbed some of his oversized clothing and new underwear. Seeing the underwear, an image flashed in his mind.

Umiling siya sa kaniyang sarili at inilapag ang mga damit sa kaniyang kama.

He reluctantly went near the bathroom to remind Ethan that his clothes were on the bed. But then, he heard another groan coming from the bathroom. His blushed deepened.

It was an exaggeration but at this point it time, he run out of his own room for the sake of his sanity.

He strode to the kitchen with a fast and loud beating heart and he poured himself a glass of cold water to calm the heat in his body.

A couple of minutes later, Ethan finally came out of his room looking fresh.

Alpas didn't even bother to look at him and he bolted straight to his room, as if hiding from Ethan.

Ethan chuckled softly and he went to the kitchen. He grabbed the recently used cup by the counter and he poured water for himself. He drank two cups in succession and he felt more refreshed after that.

He then checked the content of the refrigerator to see what he can cook for the both of them.

ㅡ to be continued.