Chapter 7

August's POV

Nakarating na kami sa Batanes at may sumundo naman sa amin na isang 20 seaters Van. Medyo malaki ito kesa sa karaniwang Van na nakikita ko na bumabyahe. So we ride all together in one vehicle. Nagstopover lang kami sa isang restaurant doon para mag-agahan but at the same time we enjoyed our eyes with the view. Almost everything is green. The houses there are made of rocks and we can see people walking down the streets wearing like a wig that is made of hay. I don't know why they are wearing those stuff, pero palagay ko ay hindi ko yun kaya dahil makati yun.

Nakatayo kami ngayon sa harap ng Fundacion Pacita. Isa itong restaurant dito sa Basco, Batanes. Ngayon pa lang ay nag-iisip na ako ng oorderin. Si Reed na bahala sa bayarin ko hahaha. Ganun naman palagi eh. Basta pagkain abusada ako. Mahilig din kasi ito masyadong manlibre eh. Galit ata kasi ito pera.

"Let's get inside." Saad naman ng sumundo sa amin. His name is Polo. He is the person assigned to take care of us since we are all new to this city.

"God, it's so hot in here." Reklamo naman ni Scarlet. Nauna na itong maglakad and her usual queen like attitude. I don't know but I noticed that from her. Parang ang laki ng gap namin sa kanya. She is obviously putting barriers from us, like sinasabi nitong hindi kami magkalevel kaya back off.

"I don't like her." Bulong ni Misha sa akin na masama ang tingin nito kay Scarlet. To me, I don't know what to feel dahil wala naman siyang ginawa sa akin.

"Spare her Misha. She's not a filipino and she has different culture." Ganting bulong ko na lang sa kanya. It would be unfair to judge right away the person.

"Dapat naman sana makibagay siya. Sila yung dayo eh, tapos sila di ba pumili na dito sa Pilipinas? Anong ineexpect nila? Sinlamig ng America?" Sagot naman sa akin ni Misha.

Napapailing na lang ako. But I don't have anything against her. Not unless she will do something bad to me dahil magiging ibang usapan na yun. Biglang tumaas naman ang balahibo ng aking batok ng maramdaman kong may nakatingin sa akin kaya pasimple akong tumingin sa paligid and there I saw Draco, who is gazing at me. I stopped with my tracks, pati na rin si Misha at napatingin din ito sa tinitingnan ko. I don't know but my heart is beating like mad. Like I am facing the real him.

Medyo nataranta pa ako ng nakita kong humakbang ito palapit sa akin kasunod nito si Marcus. He stopped when he is a few inches away from me. Napatingala ako sa kanya dahil di birong mas matangkad ito sa akin. Somehow, he is a bit more taller than Cayden and the fact that Cayden is already really tall.

"How are you?" Tanong niya sa akin.

Napanganga naman ako. Why the heck would he ask me about like we acquainted before? And a memory flashes again. Don't tell me....... fuck but I really hope, he is not. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi ko siya mahaharap ng maayos to think this man saw me and even tasted me. Double shit.

"I think I'm fine." Sagot ko rito na hindi din ako sigurado sa sagot ko. I feel not fine at all. I feel disturbed and restless.

"Hhmm... that's great to hear, August right?" Tanong pa nito sa akin and he is smiling. Even their smile is identical! Pakiramdam ko ay pinaglalaruan na ako ng maligno at kung anu-ano na ang nakikita ko.

"Yeah..." mahinang sagot ko rito. My eyes were lock on his gaze and somehow, his eyes are like amused looking at me. I don't know why but that's what I see. It feels like, he knows something about me.

"Hi!" Biglang bati naman mula sa likuran nito. Si Marcus yun. He was smiling just like the Lucas I've known.

"Hello." Ganting bati ko rito and I even wave.

"Hiiii!" Bati naman ni Misha. "I am Misha Mijares by the way, her bestfriend." Pakilala naman ni Misha kay Marcus.

Ngumiti naman si Marcus and like a spark flashed in his eyes. "For how long have you been friends?" Tanong pa nito na mukhang interesado.

"Since, middle school. She's a badass that time, kicking with hooligans." Kuwento pa ni Misha.

"Misha...." I smiled at her with a warning. How dare her just to open my life to random people?

"Oops, forget what I said just now." Saad ni Misha na napatakip pa ito ng bibig. "I'm hungry, I'll go ahead." At biglang iniwan ako nito at mabilis pa sa alas cuatro itong pumasok sa Restaurant.

"Tss, that girl." Naisaad ko na lang habang habol ko ito ng tingin.

"Hahaha, I hope we can be friends August while we are here." Nakangiting saad ni Marcus. As usual he is very out going at madaling makagaanan ng loob. Feeling ko nga mas mabait pa ito kesa kay Lucas dahil naalala ko pa na sapilitan akong nun pinayuko na ikinainis ko talaga ng todo.

"Ahm, yeah sure. I hope you'll have fun while staying here in our country." Saad ko na lang na nakangiti. I am trying so hard to ignore the intense gaze of Draco. I don't know what is wrong with him. It makes me uncomfortable.

"I don't want to be friends with you." Malamig naman na saad nito na ikinagulat ko naman.

Okay. Siya yung unang lumapit, kinamusta ako pero ayaw niyang maging kaibigan?! The heck. Parang may issue din itong lalaking ito eh.

"Okay then." Saad ko at sumenyas na lang ako kay Marcus na mauuna na ako. Nagtatakang naglakad ako papasok sa restaurant. He is just too weird, hindi ko maintindihan yung mga ikinikilos niya.

Pumasok na ako sa loob at nadatnan ko na sila na may mga order na sila. Agad naman akong namataan ni Reed kaya kumaway ito sa akin. Lumapit naman ako rito.

"I already ordered for you." Saad ni Reed sa akin and he tapped down the empty chair beside him.

"Oh thanks." Saad ko na lang rito at umupo na ako sa tabi niya.

"You know what she likes?" Biglang tanong naman ng kilala kong boses. Hindi ko mapigilan ang mapalunok.

Naramdaman ko naman na napalingon si Reed rito. I know that he is also confused.

"Yeah, I know." Sagot ni Reed but his voice is stern. Napalingon ako kay Reed at nakita ko kung gaanong napakunot ang noo nito habang nakatingin kay Draco. While Draco is like eyeing a prey while his jaws are clenching.

"Good." Maikling sagot nito but that was bone chilling. Hindi ko alam pero naramdaman ko tila parang aurang kumawala at nagsintindigan ang mga balahibo ko and I saw how Reed flinched.

"I guess we have to order as well." Singit naman ni Marcus and he is eyeing the menu. "Do you have any food you like August?" Pasimpleng tanong pa nito sa akin.

Napakunot naman ang noo ko, mas lalo na si Reed at Misha! Scarlet raised her brow and shot me a ridiculing look while Jasper and Ryujin was eyeing Marcus with confusion. The other two from alpha team did not gave a damn. They are busy taking pictures.

"Ahm.. you don't have to Marcus. I'm set." Sagot ko rito. Damn with this two. They are gathering some attention at nadadamay ako. Nananahimik lang ako, jusko naman!

"Do you know him August?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Reed sa akin and even Misha.

Umiling ako. "I don't know him." Sagot ko.

Mas lalo akong napakunot ng may nakita akong disappointment sa mga mata ni Marcus like I said something that fails his expectation. Hindi na nagsalita si Marcus at naging tahimik ito bigla.

"Then Marcus, do you know her?" Biglang tanong naman ni Scarlet na nakataas pa ang kilay.

Tumingin naman si Marcus sa akin and Draco set a gaze on me. They did not shake their head nor they did not nod. They totally ignored the question at ibinalik ang tingin sa menu.

Nakita ko naman kung paanong nagtiim-bagang si Scarlet and she shot her dagger look towards me. Nagtatakang nilabanan ko ang tingin niya. I don't know if I am correct or wrong but I saw jealousy in her eyes. I broke the contact ng makita ko na parating na ang mga pagkain. Parang fiesta lang.

"There's lot of food, I don't think you have to order Draco." Saad ni Scarlet dito like she knows everything and she throw again a look over me.

"The food is not enough for us." Sagot naman ni Draco.

"Right! August here has a big appetite." Sagot naman ni Misha.

Gusto ko naman mapapikit sa hiya. Talagang ipinangalandakan talaga eh.

"Oh.....what a pig." Hindi ako sigurado sa sinabi nito dahil hindi ko masyadong narinig ang sinabi nito.

I saw how Draco gave a deadly look to Scarlet na ikinatigas naman ng huli. I don't know what is happening with the two but I tore my gaze from them and just eyed the food that was served. I am already salivating and I am too excited to eat the food. They look new to me. Not the typical american or Italian dish.

Nagsimula na kaming kumain at pati yung pagkain nina Marcus at Draco ay isinerve na rin. I call them snack size. Hindi ko alam kung paanong naging ganyan ka ganda ang mga katawan nila kung ganyan lang kaliit yung kinakin nila. Hindi na ako nahiyang kumain. Kain lang ako ng kain dahil gutom talaga ako. Nakita ko naman na napanganga si Scarlet at ang dalawang kano but the other two ay parang hindi naman nagulat ang mga ito na ganito ako kalakas kumain. Pang-ilang plato ko na ba ito?

"Gusto mo pa?" Tanong ni Reed sa akin.

Ngumiti ako rito. "Tama na ito. Tama lang yung inorder mo." Sagot ko naman rito. Who cares if we are talking in vernacular? Ano ngayon kung hindi nila kami maintindihan? Hindi naman sila yung kausap namin.

"Stop speaking with your language." Sita naman sa akin ni Scarlet.

Napatingin naman ako rito at napa-inom ng softdrink. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang problema ng babaeng ito pero kanina ko pa napapansin ang mga pasaring nito.

"What's wrong with our language? I don't think it's against the law speaking tagalog in my homeland." Sarkastikong sagot ko rito. I am trying to be nice since mga dayuhan sila pero sinusubukan ako ng babaeng ito. Lakas ng loob piliin ang Pilipinas eh hindi naman marunong magtagalog.

"Because we don't know what you are talking about. You might be badmouthing us already." Patutsada naman nito sa akin.

I almost raise my brows. Ano akala nito sa akin, back fighter? Prangka akong tao kaya wala yun sa bukabolaryo ko. "Don't worry if I say something bad about you, I'll make sure it's english so that you'll get it. Okay?" Nakangising sagot ko rito.

Don't mess with me girl. Di porke myembro ka ng Alpha Team eh matatakot na ako sayo. Hindi mo pa napagdaanan ang napagdaanan ko.

"Nappeun nyeon." Di makapaniwalang saad nito.

Tumaas naman ang kilay ko at biglang nagdabog naman si Reed. Agad ko na hinawakan ang kamay ni Reed. His eyes is raging with anger. Umiling ako. TIpinukol ko naman ang tingin ko kay Scarlet.

"Naleul maengsehagi wihae oegug-eoleul sayonghal pil-yoneun eobs-seubnida. babo." You don't need to use foreign language just to swear at me, idiot. I answered her. Does she think I don't know korean? I am not a native korean but at least I understand them well. "Necesitas algo más?" Do you need anything else? Pahabol ko pa but in Spanish.

Natawa naman si Reed at nagthumbs up pa sa akin. "I will stop if I were you Scarlet. You'll not win against her. She knows at least 10 language."

Natahimik naman si Scarlet pero masama ang tingin nito sa akin. Hindi ko talaga alam kung ano ang isyu nito. Wala naman akong ginawa rito.

"Of course, she's smart." Segunda naman ni Misha. Bestfriend ko talaga ito eh.

Don't try me Scarlet, dahil sisiguruhin kong uuwi kang luhaan. Malaki man ang ipinagbago ko, but old habits die hard ika nga.

"I think we need to go now." Sagot naman ng guide namin na si Polo.

"Alright." Agad naman na tumayo si Reed at pumunta sa counter pero naunahan na ito ni Draco at ito na nga ang nagbayad sa lahat ng kinain namin.

"Thanks man." Pasalamat na lang ni Reed at ibinalik nito ang pitaka sa bulsa nito but somehow, he is uncomfortable na nalibre ito. Halatang hindi sanay.

"Not a problem." Sagot naman ni Draco at umalis na nga kaming lahat para magpatuloy na sa biyahe patungong San Antonio. Nadoon kasi ang training ground ng CIA dito sa Batanes fronting the North Pacific Ocean just near Taiwan.

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Bitin ba?

Kinikilig ako sa mga nangyayari. August was so clueless and yung selos na nagsisimula ng lumabas haha.

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