KABANATA 20

Umupo si Ethan sa sala pagkatapos niyang bigyan ng inumin ang kaniyang mga magulang.

“Sorry,” banggit nito.

Napatingin bigla ang dalawa sa kaniya.

“Wala ka namang dapat ipagpaumanhin,” sabi ni Alwina.

Tumayo siya at pinuntahan si Ethan, mukha pa siyang nag-aalinlangan na yakapin ito. Tumango si Ethan at agad naman siyang niyakap ng kaniyang nanay.

He felt so weird. He have been wanting to recover his memories and learned who were his biological parents. He didn't expect to see them and gain his memories at the same time. He's still pretty much taking it all in.

Ngumiti si Thiago at tumayo na din para makisama sa yakapan ng mag-ina. Pumikit si Ethan at huminga ng malalim. He remembered that they were living peacefully back then, he was the pride of his parents and the future alpha of the pack.

His brain is still refusing to remember everything that his grandfather did to him. It's really traumatizing.

Pagkatapos ng kaunting minuto na magkayakap silang tatlo, umupo sila ulit sa kanya-kanya nilang pwesto.

“So, sasama ka ba sa amin, Azrael?” tanong ni Thiago.

“Pa, Ethan na po. Sanay na po ako sa Ethan Keith,” sagot ni Ethan.

Natawa si Thiago. “Whatever you want, son. So?”

Ethan pursed his lips. “Sasama po ako. I'll be leading the pack soon, right?”

Ngumiti si Thiago at Alwina, they look satisfied with Ethan's decision.

“Pero dito muna po ako kay Alpas. I'll explain everything to him. Please understand, it'll surely take time,” sabi ni Ethan.

“We understand,” sabi ni Alwina habang nakangiti pa din.

“Walang problema, nak. Sakto pa lang lumilipat ang lahat sa bago nating tirahan,” sabi ni Thiago.

Tumango si Ethan bago uminom ng tubig. A lot happened to day and he's kind of exhausted.

“Una na kami. We'll wait for your arrival,” sabi ni Thiago habang tumatayo.

“Ingat po kayo,” sabi ni Ethan at hinatid sila sa labas.

Niyakap ulit siya ni Alwina bago sumakay sa kotse at tinapik naman no Thiago ang kaniyang balikat.

Matiyagang pinanood ni Ethan na maakaalis ang kotse bago niya kinandado ang pinto at dumiretso sa kwarto ni Alpas. Naisipan na lang din niyang matulog at sabayan na lamang kumain si Alpas pagkagising nito.

-

The next day, Ethan woke up early while Alpas is still sleeping. Pagkabangon ni Ethan ay agad siyang nagluto at dumiretso sa kwarto para pakainin si Alpas.

“Alpas,” bulong ni Ethan sa tenga ni Alpas.

Ginapang niya ang kaniyang kamay sa nakalantad niyang tiyan at hinaplos ito.

“Love, kailan mo pong kumain,” sambit ulit ni Ethan at hinalikan ang tenga ni Alpas.

Dahan-dahang iminulat ni Alpas ang kanyang mga mata at kumurap. Ngumiti si Ethan at pinaulanan ng halik ang mukha ni Alpas.

Natawa si Alpas at tinulak niya ng kaunti si Ethan. Tinulungan siyang umupo ni Ethan at pinakita agad ang niluto niyang almusal.

Akmang binuksan ni Alpas ang kaniyang bibig para magsalita nang pinigilan agad siya ni Ethan.

“Hindi pwedeng tumanggi.”

“Sino bang tatanggi? Magpapasalamat lang,” natatawang sinabi ni Alpas habang kinukurot ang pisngi ni Ethan.

Natuwa naman si Ethan at sinubuan ng pagkain si Alpas.

“Ako na,” sabi ni Alpas pagkatapos niyang nilunok ang pagkain sa kaniyang bibig.

“Kailangan mo pang matulog pagkatapos mong kumain, love?” tanong ni Ethan habang sinusubuan pa rin si Alpas.

Umiling si Alpas.

“Okay. May kailangan tayong pag-usapan mamaya,” sabi ni Ethan.

Napatigil sa pagnguya si Alpas at agad niyang tinignan sa mata si Ethan. Tinitigan lang siya pabalik ni Ethan.

Napalunok si Alpas. “M-may nagawa ba akong mali?”

Natawa si Ethan at binitawan ang hawak niyang kutsara para haplusin ang pisngi ni Alpas.

“Don’t worry, love. You didn't do anything wrong.”

“Pinapakaba mo ko eh,” naiinis na sabi ni Alpas at inagaw niya kay Ethan ang kaniyang pagkain.

Lalong natuwa si Ethan ng makita niyang naiinis na si Alpas. Hindi naman halatang pinapasaya siya ng todo ni Alpas.

Pagkatapos kumain ni Alpas, pumunta sila sa labas para maarawan silang dalawa.

Alpas stretched his body and he felt much energized after sleeping for almost 14 hours. Ethan smiled and he hugged his mate who's standing beside him.

“Ano ba yan,” naiinis na sabi ni Alpas pero niyakap niya pa rin pabalik si Ethan.

“How's your heat experience, love?” Ethan asked, his voice was laced with teasing.

Namula si Alpas at tinulak si Ethan pero hindi siya makawala sa mahigpit na yakap nito. Hinalikan ni Ethan ang marka sa kaniyang leeg at biglang nanlambot si Alpas.

“Haah...” Alpas let out a sound.

Biglang napatingin si Ethan sa kaniyang mukha. “Ano yun, love?”

Lalong namula si Alpas at tinulak ulit si Ethan. Natawa lang si Ethan at hindi pa rin siya pinapakawalan. Nainis si Alpas at mahinang tinuhod ang tiyan ni Ethan.

“Ah!” napakunot ang noo ni Ethan at humiwalay sa yakap.

“Mahina lang yun, Ethan,” naiinis na sabi ni Alpas.

Hindi nagsalita si Ethan at napaupo sa lupa habang hinahawakan niya ang kaniyang tiyan. Napatingin sa kaniya si Alpas, nagsisimula na siyang mag-alala at lumuhod siya sa harapan ni Ethan.

“M-masakit ba talaga?” Alpas asked anxiously while holding Ethan's hand.

Nakayukong natatawa si Ethan, niyakap niya ulit si Alpas at sabay silang napahiga sa lupain.

“Ethan, bwiset ka talaga!” sigaw ni Alpas.

“Sorry, love. Try mong tignan yung mukha mong naiinis. You're the cutest person I've ever seen,” natatawang sabi ni Ethan habang tinatago niya ang mukha ni Alpas sa kaniyang leeg.

“Isip bata, Ethan Keith,” sabi ni Alpas at hindi na nagpumiglas sa yakap ni Ethan.

“Can’t help it, Al. Teasing you is becoming my hobby,” Ethan whispered.

Naiinis na kinagat ni Alpas ang leeg ni Ethan. Hinaplos ni Ethan ang likod Alpas habang natatawa at hinalikan niya ang buhok nito.

“Kailan kayo pinababalik sa school?” tanong ni Ethan.

Umalis si Alpas sa taas ni Ethan at humiga sa tabi nito habang pinagmamasdan ang mga puno.

“Next week. Start na kase ang enrollment,” sagot ni Alpas.

Napataas ang kilay ni Ethan. “Ang ikli naman pala ng bakasyon niyo.”

“Tsk. Sinabi mo pa,” sambit ni Alpas.

“Alpas?” tanong ni Ethan pagkatapos ng ilang segundong katahimikan.

“Hmm?” Alpas hummed questioningly.

“Do you love your current job?” Ethan asked softly while facing Alpas.

Tinignan siya saglit ni Alpas bago tumingin sa kawalan.

Alpas thought before answering. “Hmm? Do I really love it? Hindi ko rin alam. I randomly chose this career but I think I'm slowly liking it? Bakit mo natanong?”

Ethan fell silent and he was reluctant to say his next words.

Alpas faced him and he whispered, “Don’t hesitate to tell me what's on your mind.”

“I have regained my memories and I found that I will be leading our pack soon but I don't want to leave you here,” sabi ni Ethan.

“Then, I'll go with you,” Alpas said with no hesitation.

Ethan was stunned, he didn't expect Alpas' direct answer. “Sigurado ka ba? You're willing to leave your life here?”

“Ayaw mo ba?” biro ni Alpas.

“I want to be with you all the time, really. But I don't want to force you into anything,” bulong ni Ethan.

“It's my decision, you didn't force me,” Alpas whispered back while leaning forward to kiss Ethan's lips.

Ethan felt the burst of warmth in his chest spreading to the each of his limbs, engulfing his body with comfortable warmth. He held Alpas’ nape and deepened the kiss.

Alpas eyes were staring into Ethan's dark orbs and he was amazed when they turned into golden. He thought to himself that he would never get tired watching those eyes.

Ethan pulled back and rested his head against Alpas’. “Thank you.”

Alpas smiled, he pecked Ethan's lips one more time before laying his head back down.

Ethan lay his head on Alpas’ chest and he listened to the beat of his heart.

Ngumiti si Alpas at hinaplos ang buhok ni Ethan. Nagkwento si Ethan patungkol sa mga naalala niya noong nakaraan kay Alpas habang nakikinig ito sa tibok ng kaniyang puso.

Days like this with Alpas were really becoming Ethan's most favorite thing.

“Alpas? Magtuturo ka pa this year dito sa C City?” tanong ni Ethan bigla.

“Hmm. Okay lang ba?” tanong ni Alpas.

“As long as you want to, love. Pagdating ko sa bagong tirahan, marami pang ituturo sa'kin si papa. You can stay here first and teach for a school year if you want,” iminungkahi ni Ethan.

“Okay. That sounds good,” Alpas said.

“I need to make sure not to leak our pack’s identity just in case those hidden organization who attacked us back then will be back,” sabi ni Ethan.

“Mag-ingat, Ethan,” banggit ni Alpas.

“Opo,” sagot ni Ethan at siniksik ang kaniyang ulo sa leeg ni Alpas.

He inhaled his mate’s scent, being addicted to it wasn't an exaggeration.

“Damn. I can't get enough with your scent,” Ethan whispered.

Namula si Alpas at tinakpan niya ang kaniyang mga mata gamit ang kaniyang braso.

“Magdate tayo sa labas, love?” Ethan asked.

Alpas chuckled. “What if makita tayo ng kaklasi mo?”

“Edi sa ibang City tayo magdate,” sabi ni Ethan.

“Kailan?” Alpas asked.

“Bago ka magwork,” sagot ni Ethan.

“Okay.”

“I’ll hadle everything, love. So you can enjoy before going to work,” Ethan said while rubbing his nose against Alpas’ neck.

Ngumiti si Alpas. “Sure.”

ㅡ to be continued.