CHAPTER 6 – Secret  

I

Grazziena has been frozen. She felt herself quivered as the governor’s scent filled her lungs. Something within her gallops and jumped as if triggered by such a smell. She was drawn into his eyes and his inviting lips made her quivered more.

“Sister Teresa, I repeat stopped looking at me like that or else, I will devour your lips right here, right now.” Governor Draeko whispered once more, his hand reached for Grazziena’s hand.

As if awakened from her deep sleep, Grazziena back off. She made two steps backward away from the seducing gaze of the young Governor.  “I am not Sister Teresa.” All she could murmur.

Governor Draeko made a chuckle. “The reincarnation of Sister Teresa then,” he said teasing the newly crowned beauty Queen.

Grazziena made a little laugh to ease the confusing feeling that she is into at the moment.

The two runners-up of Grazziena who were on the far end side of the float seem to sense something between their young Governor and their newly crowned Ms. Albaya. They looked at each other and smiled meaningfully.

The parade has been finished with Grazziena not feeling relax all throughout the time. The young Governor’s appealing stares at her most of the time made her heart leaped repeatedly.

“What is wrong with me?” Grazziena thought confused.

An inner voice answered her question. “We found our mate … we found our mate.” The said voice echoed over and over again.

Grazziena closed her eyes and shook her head as if trying to remove whatever confusion she is into. She is appalled. She could not fell-in love too early. She is still young and has many dreams to look forward to. Getting into a relationship might be her downfall and she never wanted that to happen.

“Ms. Albaya, are you okay? I have been noticing that you are not feeling comfortable. What’s the matter?” Governor Draeko asked with the furrowed forehead.

“I just remembered something unfinished at home. That’s all.” Grazziena made such a white lie to stop the governor from asking further.

“I see, but I do not believe you. You are not a good liar,” he retorted while shaking his head. His eyes seem to be scanning the whole soul of Grazziena.

She could not look straight into his eyes. She doesn’t want to. She does not want him to read whatever is in her thoughts.

II

The next thing Grazziena did was to search online for any sorcerer, faith healer, or even a psychic who could be able to help her solve her rare condition. How on earth did she become a shifting human to a wolf? Is there any family history that her parents are not telling her? She needs to ask them; she needs to know.

During dinner, Grazziena started to ask some questions making both of her parents became uneasy.

“Papang, do you have any relative with supernatural power?” she asked. Her father furrowed not able to fully understand her query at first.

“Like someone who can do magic, shift into animals, vampires etc.” Grazziena explained but her father just laughed.

“None.  I cannot remember that I have a relative like that.” Her Papang replied as if trying to reminisce something in the past. Thereafter, he shook his end. “There is really none Ga.”

“How about you Mamang?” She looked at her mother this time.

“Ahh ahh, none that I could think of Ga.” Her mother smiled shaking her head.

“I see.” Suddenly, Grazziena became frustrated. She did not find any worthy information from her parents that might link or be a hint as to why she is different.

Her father observed her sudden change of mood. “Why are you asking by the way?” Curious, he asked.

“Nothing Papang, just curious,” she replied but deep in her heart, she is now questioning where on earth she came from. Why is she different? Her features are even different from her parents. All of a sudden, she shot her parents with a wondering look.

“What? You look like in full confusion.” It was Gazziena’s mother who suddenly asked as she noticed her daughter’s expression.

Grazziena decided to be frank. “I am just wondering why my features are too different from yours.”

Grazziena’s parents looked at each other. “Did you not remember what I told you before Ga? When I was still in my pregnancy days with you, I was too drawn-up looking at the Barbie Doll of our neighbor. That is why you came out so pretty.” Her mother is trying to tease her to divert her attention.

Grazziena just nodded. Deep inside her, she could feel that her parents are hiding something from her, which she ought to know. She needs to unravel her parents’ secret to solve the mystery that is clothing her whole being now.