Born To Be Soulmates

CHAPTER 4

HINDI alam ni Zacheuss kung ano ang gagawin niya nang makita niya si Logan at Jeremy sa labas ng gate ng mansyon nila. Nakasandal pa ang dalawa sa itim na kotse.

"What the hell are you doing here again?" Tanong niya.

"Sinusundo ka." Nakangiting sagot ni Jeremy. "Hop in."

Zacheuss just sighed. Makakarating naman siya sa university kahit wala siyang sasakyan. What's the use of his unhuman speed? Pero dahil kailangan niyang makibagay at para na rin magmukha siyang normal na tao sa mata ng lahat. He need a front and this one, tumingin siya sa kotse na nasa kaniyang harapan, is counted.

Pumasok si Zacheuss sa backseat ng kotse at umupo doon. Si Logan naman sa driver seat at si Jeremy sa passenger seat. Tahimik lang si Zacheuss habang patungo sila sa university. Nag-uusap naman si Logan at Jeremy gamit ang ibang lengguwahe. Napailing si Zacheuss. Ang alam siguro ng dalawa ay hindi niya naiintindihan ang lengguwahe na ginagamit ng mga ito.

"Te-a contactat unchiul Zachary?" Did Uncle Zachary contacted you? Logan asked Jeremy.

Umiling si Jeremy, "Nu. Dar tatål meu îmi trimite un mesaj. He said that Second Prince is not in the palace?" No. But my father send me a message.

"What? Saan naman nagpunta ang batang 'yon?" Tanong ni Logan na biglang naging problemado.

"Don't worry. Second prince can protect himself."

"Even so." Sabi ni Logan.

Nagtataka naman si Zacheuss sa nariring na pinag-uusapan ng dalawa. Second prince? Zacheuss shrugged and ignored it. Hindi niya na dapat pang pakialaman ang mga bagay na walang kinalaman sa kaniya.

"Logan, where did you came from?" Tanong biglang ni Zacheuss.

"Ah?"

"Ang sabi ko, saan ka nanggaling? Kayong dalawa? I never saw you before, pero nararamdaman kong pamilyar kayong dalawa sa akin. I think that I've seen you somewhere but I don't remember where." Zacheuss said.

Nagkatinginan si Jeremy at Logan.

"Wala ka bang maalala kung saan ka talaga nagmula?" Tanong ni Jeremy.

Kumunot ang nuo ni Zacheuss. "Don't sound like I have an amnesia."

"We came from Romania." Logan said.

"Romania?"

"Yes. Romania." Ulit ni Jeremy. "Doon naninirahan ang mga kagaya natin. Vampires, werewolves, witches at marami pa."

"Jeremy." Logan warned. Tinignan niya ang kaibigan at binigyan ito ng babalang tingin.

Napailing lang si Jeremy.

"And here I thought kami lang ang nasa mundong 'to. I didn't expect na marami pala ang mga kagaya natin. My parents didn't tell me about this and they don't want to tell me." Sabi ni Zacheuss then he tsked. "Why I am talking to the two of you?" He mumbled and closed his eyes.

Nagkatinginan si Logan at Jeremy.

Mom was right. Zacheuss doesn't know about a thing or two in Romania. Wala siyang maalala. Sabi ni Logan sa mindlink nilang dalawa ni Jeremy.

My father casted a spell on him. Of course wala siyang maalala hangga't hindi nawawala ang spell na 'yon sa kaniya maliban na lang kung may magsabi o magpaalala sa kaniya. Ani Jeremy.

Maganda na rin na wala siyang maalala. Ang alam ng lahat patay na siya. He's living peacefully here. Sabi ni Logan at nilingon si Zacheuss.

Peacefully? I'm not sure it won't last long. The black vampires was still finding some methods until now to revive their dark lord. Napailing si Jeremy. Asher fled away from the palace. Sana lang hindi niya makita ng mga black vampires.

Natawa si Logan. They're brothers but they have different personality. The one is cold-hearted while the other one is troublesome. Napailing siya.

Natawa na rin si Jeremy.

Nang makarating sila sa university. Logan parked the car at the parking lot. Sabay-sabay silang bumaba ng kotse at naglakad patungo sa room nila.

But then Zacheuss felt something. Naramdaman niyang parang may nakatingin sa kaniya. Pasimple siyang tumingin sa paligid, halos lahat naman pala ay nakatingin sa kanilang tatlo.

Napatingin si Zacheuss sa itaas ng school building. There he saw a boy maybe he's sixteen or seventeen years old. Wala masyadong nakakapansin sa kinaroroonan nito. Naramdaman niyang hindi ito tao. Naamoy niyang katulad niya rin ito. Half-vampire, half-werewolf.

Who the hell is he?

Habang si Logan at Jeremy naman, naramdaman nila ang presensiya ni Asher. Nagpaalam sila kay Zacheuss na may pupuntahan lang sila.

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Zacheuss. Kung hindi niya lang nakita ang binatilyong 'yon, hindi pa niya malalaman kung ano ang gagawin ni Logan at Jeremy.

Itinago niya ang presensiya at tumingin sa binatilyo pero wala na ito sa itaas ng school building. Mabilis niya itong hinanap at nang mahanapan niya ang presensiya nito, mabilis niya itong pinuntahan.

Nakita niya itong nagtatago sa likod ng school building. Hinawakan niya ito sa balikat. Mabilis naman nitong hinawakan ang braso niya. Gamit ang isang palad, itinulak ni Zacheuss ang binatilyo.

"Who are you?" Zacheuss asked in dangerous voice. Naging kulay pula ang pilak niyang mata.

Nanlaki ang mata ng binatilyo. "Y-you're eyes..."

"Asher!"

Sabay na napatingin si Zacheuss at ang binatilyo sa dalawang nilalang na papalapit sa kanila. Natigilan si Logan at Jeremy nang makita ang mata ni Zacheuss saka sila tumingin kay Asher.

"Asher? Nandito ka sa Pilipinas?" Ani Logan.

Tumango si Asher.

"You brat!" Babatukan sana ni Jeremy si Asher pero kusang umangat ang kamay ni Zacheuss at pinigilan ang kamay ni Jeremy.

"He's just a kid." Ani Zacheuss. "Huwag mong saktan."

Nagtago si Asher sa likuran ni Zacheuss. And he stick out his tongue to Jeremy and Logan. Napailing naman ang dalawa.

"Over protective ngayon pa lang. Paano pa kaya kapag nalaman na?" Naiiling na sabi ni Logan.

"Nakahanap ng panangga ang isa." Sabi naman ni Jeremy at tumingin kay Asher. "Go now to you class, little brat. Kakausapin ka na lang namin mamaya."

"Okay." Sabi ni Asher at tumingin kah Zacheuss. "Thank you, Kuya."

Natigilan si Zacheuss sa itinawag sa kaniya ni Asher, "what did you call just now?"

"Kuya." Sagot ni Asher at ngumiti. "See you later, Kuya."

Nakatingin lang si Zacheuss kay Asher na naglalakad palayo.

Kuya?

No one call him thay before. And it feels nice to hear someone call you that.

Nice? And since when did I say it's nice?

Napabuga ng hangin si Zacheuss at naglakad paalis sa likod ng school building.

Namulsa si Logan habang nakatingin kay Zacheuss na naglalakad paalis. "Did he felt it?" He asked.

Kumunot ang nuo ni Jeremy. "Felt what?"

"The bond."

Ngumiti si Jeremy. "Maybe. That's why he protected Asher earlier."

"Too bad. Zacheuss doesn't remember anything." Logan sighed and followed Zacheuss.

HINDI pa man nakakapasok si Zacheuss sa kusina, rinig na niya ang tawanan at usapan ng mga taong naroon.

"Hi, Kuya Zacheuss."  Bati sa kaniya ni Asher nang makapasok siya sa kusina.

"Morning, Zach." Bati sa kaniya ni Logan.

"Morning, Bro." Bati naman ni Jeremy.

"Zacheuss, umupo ka na at kumain." Sabi ng kaniyang ina.

Umupo si Zacheuss. Kinunotan niya ang nuo ang tatlo. "Dito talaga kayo kumain ng agahan, ah."

"Auntie Alliah invited us." Sabi ni Jeremy na maganang kumakain.

"Bayad na rin 'to ng pagsundo namin sa'yo." Dagdag ni Logan.

Zacheuss rolled his eyes. His eyes fixed on Asher. "We just met yesterday. Feeling close?"

"He's my cousin." Sabi ni Logan.

"Okay. Wala na akong sinabi." Ani Zacheuss at nagkibit ng balikat.

"Tama na nga 'yan. Kumain na lang kayo." Sabi ni Vladimir.

Zacheuss started to dig in his food. His mom is talking to Asher.

"How's your parents, Asher?"

Asher smiled. "They are both okay, Grand—Tita." he cleared his throat.

Napatango si Alliah at tumingin kay Vladimir.

See? Azleia and Zachary are fine. Stop worrying about them. Ani Vladimir sa mindlink nilang mag-asawa.

Alliah nodded and smiled. She looked at Asher, "do you want to stay here? It's not convinient for you to stay in your condo. Baka mapahamak ka pa."

Asher suddenly got excited. "Really, Tita? I can stay here?"

"Of course." Alliah said. "Right, Hon?" She asked her husband.

"Sure. Asher can stay here. Tutal apo—" Vladimir cleared his throat. "Kaibigan naman natin ang mga magulang niya."

Yumuko si Logan at Jeremy. Pilit nilang pinipigilan ang tawa nilang dalawa dahil sa mga inimbentong kwento ni Vladimir.

"Anak, okay lang ba sa'yo?" Tanong ni Alliah kay Zacheuss.

Zacheuss nodded and shrugged his shoulders.

Napangiti naman si Alliah. "Thank you."

Nagpatuloy sila sa pagkain. At tahimik lang si Zacheuss habang ang mga kasama niya sa hapagkainan ay nag-uusap.

Ano bang sasabihin niya kung sakali? Wala naman. So he just shut up.

"Zacheuss, you should get along with Asher." Alliah said.

"Yes, Mom."

"Good."

Tumingin si Zacheuss kay Asher. Why is he feeling this? Hindi siya basta-basta nagtitiwala sa isang tao. Why does he feel that he already trust Asher? Not only Asher but also Logan and Jeremy.

"May I ask something?"

Nag-angat ng tingin si Logan at Jeremy.

"Who's second prince?" He suddenly asked.

Vladimir coughed. Muntik namang maibuga ni Asher ang iniinom nitong tubig. Ganun din si Jeremy at Logan.

"Did my question hit something?" Zacheuss asked. "And make you acted like this."

Nagkatinginan ang mga kasama niya.

"What second prince?" Jeremy laughed. "We didn't mention anything, right?" He looked at Logan.

"Right. Right." Logan looks nervous.

Kumunot ang nuo ni Zacheuss. Nervous for what? He tsked. "Forget it. I'm just asking."

Habang si Asher naman ay napayuko at napatitig sa pinggan. The second prince he's asking about...is me. He sighed and looked at Vladimir. Umiling lang ito.

Asher's shoulder fell. Mukhang matagal pa bago malaman ni Zacheuss na magkapatid silang dalawa. But he's calling him 'Kuya' now. And it means a lot to him. He's happy for that.

ZACHEUSS was at the rooftop and admiring the moon. Nakahiga siya sa rooftop at ginawa niyang unan ang braso niya.

Why everytime he looked at the moon? He felt like the moon is smiling to him?

"Kuya."

"What?" Zacheuss asked.

Humiga si Asher sa tabi ni Zacheuss. "Adimiring the moon?"

"Yes." Zacheuss said.

"Kuya, may tanong ako."

"What?"

"Have you really not know that there are many supernaturals lurking around the world?" Asher asked.

Umiling si Zacheuss. "I don't know. I grew up here. And my parents didn't tell me anything about it. All I know is that were living here peacefully. Not until you, Jeremy and Logan showed up. It's not peaceful anymore."

"We like messing around, especially when it's you." Sabi ni Asher.

Kuya, you're right. You're living peacefully here. You're safe in this place. At mas maganda kung wala ka na ngang maalala tungkol sa tunay mong pagkatao. In this case, black vampires won't trace that you are still alive and when they found out that you are still alive, you're in danger again. This is better.  And were sorry for making up a lie and keeping the truth for your sake.

Asher smiled and looked at the moon. When he visited vampire coven. Dalawang buwan ang mayroon sa mundo nila.

"Asher."

"Kuya?"

"Your a half-breed, right?"

Tumango si Asher.

"Then who are your parents?" Zachary tsked. "Huwag mo ng sagutin ang tanong ko. Kahit naman sagutin mo hindi ko rin lang sila kilala."

"No. You know them." Asher mumbled.

"Ah?"

"Ah, wala. Wala, Kuya." Sabi ni Asher.

Biglang tumunog ang cellphone ni Asher. Nanlaki ang mata ni Asher nang makita kung sino ang tumatawag.

Tumingin si Asher kay Zacheuss. Hindi naman siguro masama hindi ba? Lalo na at mula noong umalis si Zacheuss sa palasyo ay hindi na ito nakita ng kanilang mga magulang.

Huminga ng malalim si Asher bago pinindot ang 'answer icon' sa screen ng cellphone niya. Then he tap the video call 'icon.'

"Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad." He greeted his parents when they appeared on the screen.

"Asher, how are you?" Tanong ng kaniyang ama. "You made me and your mom worried. Hindi ka man lang nagpaalam na pupunta ka diyan."

Napangiwi si Asher. "Sorry, Mom, Dad."

Napailing ang kaniyang magulang. "Forget it. So how's your stay in the Philippines?"

Asher smiled. "Good. I'm with Auntie Alliah and Uncle Vladimir."

Nanlaki ang mata ni Zachary at Azleia.

"You're with them?"

Tumango si Asher.

"That's good." Sabi ng kaniyang ina kapagkuwa kumunot ang nuo nito. "Who's the man beside you?"

"Kuya Zacheuss." Sabi ni Asher.

"Zachuess..." A tear fell from Azleia's eyes.