WOUNDED EGO SIDE STORY: An Alpha's Dilemma

AKI

"SENSEI, may summer vacation ka po ba?" nahihiyang tanong ni Chihiro sa akin habang kumakain kami ng tanghalian.

"Why?" I asked, a little bit confused by his sudden approach.

"Um..." Parang uod naman itong gumalaw-galaw sa kanyang upuan bago nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita, "balak ko po sana umuwi sa amin sa summer vacation leave ko."

"Huh?" I raised an eyebrow and gave him an intimidating look. "Who said that you're getting a vacation?"

"Eh?!" mabilis namang angal ni Chihiro kaya hindi ko napigilang mapabuhakhak ng tawa.

"I was joking! Naniwala ka naman agad! Ha ha!" I laughed out loud as his face turned so red like that of a very riped tomato.

"Sensei naman, eh!" Chihiro exclaimed while pouting his lips.

[Until now, I still can't believe that this giant ogre is only huge on the outside but he has the soul of a defenseless young puppy. It makes me wanna bully him sometimes,] I thought to myself while watching Chihiro lose his cool. "Go ahead. I was planning to take a break, too," I said and Chihiro fidgeted like an idiot.

Nilaro nito ang kanyang mga daliri bago sinabing, "Kung hindi ka busy, Sensei, gusto mo bang sumama sa akin?"

"Huh?" I dropped my jaw in shock. Hindi ko na maalala kung ano ang mga kasunod na sinabi ni Chihiro sa akin pero sa huli ay napapayag niya akong sumama.

Nasa train station na kami ngayon at hinihintay ang tren na bibiyahe sa hometown ni Chihiro. I didn't know where he lived and he wouldn't tell me either so I didn't argue with it anymore. I only packed the things that I needed for a five-day trip and vacation.

While we were with the waiting crowd, nalaman ko kung gaano kapansinin ang height ni Chihiro. Bukod sa natural tanned skin nito at malaking pangangatawan, he almost looked like an exotic foreigner - more like that of a guy from a tribe with beautiful people.

[Fuck! Did I just say beautiful?!] Biglang mura ko sa aking isipan nang ma-realize kong titig na titig ako kay Chihiro habang iniisip ang mga ito. Thank goodness he was an airhead kaya hindi man lang nito napuna ang mga titig ko at maging ng mga taong nasa paligid namin.

"Sensei...?" nagtatakang ani ni Chihiro nang makita nitong panay ang linga ko sa likod.

[I was trying to hide my embarassment. Shit! Why look this way now?!] Pagwawala ko sa 'king sarili.

"Hmm? What?" kunwaring takang baling ko sa kanya at napangiti naman itong parang bata.

"Ang ganda mo ngayon," he said without blinking nor any sign of sick joke. He was just flashing his usual innocent, idiotic smile.

It gave me the goosebumps and I almost exploded in total disbelief matapos iyong marinig. Hindi na bago sa akin ang tinatawag at pinupuring maganda because this was one of the reasons why most guys only approached me because I almost resembled a woman. It irritated me most of the time, knowing that they were not seeing the real me but the way Chihiro addresses me as beautiful is far from plain compliment.

He makes my heart race every time he does that!

"Sensei...?" mahinang tawag nito sa 'kin nang mapuna niyang hindi ako nakibo.

"Yes?!" I jolted and forced myself to look his way. I bet my face was flushed but Chihiro didn't seem to bother.

"Nandiyan na po ang tren. Tayo na," pag-iiba nito ng usapan at mabilis na nawala ang excitement ko at napalitan ng pagkadismaya.

[What was I expecting? He's an idiot,] I thought to myself before sighing in disappointment.

We had a few chat while riding the train; most of them were work related. Chihiro seemed to be more relaxed and somehow excited to show me his hometown. He told me that his parents were excited when he told them na may makakasama siya sa pag-uwi. Well... I'm a little bit nervous because this will be my first time staying over at a friend's house. I have stayed over a lot of places and houses that I was not familiar with but that was just because I wanted to escape from my boring life.

•

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"*Ma-chan, *Tou-chan... [cute way of addressing his mother and father] *Tadaima [I'm home/I'm back]!" Puno ng saya ang boses ni Chihiro nang makarating na kami sa tapat ng kanilang bahay. It was an average household with an old fashion look and ambiance.

I heard loud thuds and noises from the inside bago bumukas ang pinto at bumungad sa amin ang dalawang higanteng mga lalaki.

[A family of giants!] I screamed in my mind then I suddenly felt inferior about my height.

"*Okaeri [Welcome home/Welcome back], *Hirocchi [another cute way of calling someone's name]!" Bati ng isa sa kanila sabay yakap kay Chihiro ng mahigpit. He had the same skin color and body build as Chihiro. I was pretty sure that he was his Omega mother. Then the other guy who had lighter skin and just the right build came closer and gave Chihiro a hug too. That must be his Alpha father.

"Okaeri, Hirocchi." Nakangiting saad ng maputing lalaki sa anak bago ako tiningnan. "Tuloy ka." Napalunok naman ako sa gentleness ng boses nito maging ang paraan ng pagtanggap nila sa akin. It was a feeling that I have never experienced in my entire life.

"Pasok ka, Sensei! Nagluto si Tou-chan ng marami dahil hindi niya alam kung ano ang gusto mong kainin," excited na giya ni Chihiro sa akin sabay kinuha ang mga dala ko at itinabi ang mga ito.

"T-thank you," medyo alangan kong pakli at nagsimula akong makaramdam ng hiya.

We went straight to their kitchen and I was so surprised when it felt so cozy, even cozier than our own house when I was still living there.

"Puro traditional Japanese foods ang niluto ni Hiromi dahil hindi namin alam kung anong klase ng pagkain ang gusto ng bisita ni Hirocchi," ani ng lalaki na halos kamukha ni Chihiro, hindi lang sa mukha kundi maging sa gestures niya. "Ako nga pala ang mama ni Hirocchi, Hanamichi Chidori desu."

"Chidori?" bigla kong pakli. "A girl's name...?" medyo alinlangan kong patuloy sabay tingin sa kanyang mga magulang na nakangiti lang.

"Yes. But Chidori can be a boy's name, too," paglilinaw naman ng isa sa kanila bago ito nagpakilala. "I'm Hanamichi Hiromi."

"Kaya pala 'Chihiro' ang pangalan ng anak niyo. I first thought that he was a female, too," I concluded after finally knowing the reason behind Chihiro's girly name. I was really bothered by it at first pero hindi ko na tinanong.

"Ha ha! Nasorpresa nga ako noong sabihin sa amin ni Hirocchi na may kasama siya sa pag-uwi," ani ng ama nito.

"Tou-chan!" nahihiyang saway ni Chihiro dito.

"Oo nga. Akala kasi ng mga tao ay nakakatakot siya at pati kami dahil malalaki kaming tao. Dahil dito ay walang mga kaibigan si Hirocchi noong nag-aaral pa siya. Kaya masaya kami na nagkaroon na siya ng isa ngayon," nakangiti namang sang-ayon ng ina nito.

•

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"Ma-chan!" nahihiya rin niyang saway sa ina.

Napatingin naman ako kay Chihiro. He was fidgeting like a child at lalong nailang dahil nandito ako ngayon. I didn't expect that he went through such harsh experiences. He was so expressive and had a positive outlook in his life despite being stupid most of the time. [I have misunderstood him, as well.]

"Your son is a hardworker. Hindi ako nagsisi na kinuha ko siya," I proudly said and suddenly smiled without knowing the reason why.

My words made Chihiro blush to the extreme that I could almost see smokes coming out from his ears. Even I felt my cheeks get hot the moment I realized that I said something that I wouldn't normally say. [What the fucking hell was that all about?!]

"Uh..." Pinilit kong itago ang hiyang nararamdaman ko sa pamamagitan ng pagtikhim pero tila nagalak naman ang mga magulang ni Chihiro sa nalaman.

"Ang bait niyang Alpha, Hiromi," kinikilig na ani ng ina niya.

"So..." His father, on the other hand, crossed his arms then what he asked us (Chihiro and me) next was unexpected. "Have you done it yet?"

I literally spilled out the water that I was about to swallow sa tinanong niyang iyon samantalang si Chihiro ay parang baliw na napatingin lang sa kanyang ama na halatang natuwa sa naging reaksiyon ko. "Ano'ng pinagsasabi mo, Hiromi?" Lutang ding tanong ng kanyang Omega partner.

"Oh, where are my manners? Ha ha! Kumain na lang muna tayo at kalimutan mo na iyong itinanong ko, Izumi-sensei," pag-iiba ng usapan ni Hiromi-san at pagkatapos ay kalmadong nagsimulang kumain. [Fuck! Did he just ask me if Chihiro and I already had sex?! What the fuck?! Mababaliw ako sa pamilyang 'to!]

.

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Matapos naming kumain ay niyaya ako ni Chihiro na maglakad-lakad sa tabing-dagat. His house was near the sea kaya advantage dahil summer vacation naman talaga ang sadya namin dito. Inalok niya akong maligo pero mas pinili ko na lang na mamasyal muna at kung maaari ay saksihan ang paglubog ng araw.

"Haah~ Na-miss ko ito," said Chihiro as he inhaled the sea breeze.

He wore a simple sando top and loose shorts and slippers. It was the first time that I saw most of his exposed skin at doon ko mas nalaman kung gaano kaganda ang hubog ng kanyang katawan. His body features were totally my type. Those fine and strong muscles of his arms would definitely feel good around me. And his broad shoulders are perfect to cling on, and down there, well... he looks kinda...

"FUCK!" Isang mariin at napakalakas na mura ang bigla kong naibulalas upon realizing how lewd my thoughts were.

"Sensei? May problema ba?" nagtataka at nag-aalalang tanong sa 'kin ni Chihiro.

"H-huh? No, I'm fine. I didn't mean to curse like that," mabilis ko namang depensa.

Nagsimula namang mamuo ang gabutil na mga luha sa tagiliran ng mga mata ni Chihiro bago ito suminghot. "Sabi ko na nga ba napilitan ka lang na sumama sa 'kin, Sensei. Patawad!" At pagkatapos ay tuluyan itong umiyak. "Hey! That's not true!" taranta ko namang pagpapatahan sa kanya at tinangka pang punasan ang kanyang mga luha pero kaagad akong napaatras nang mapagtantong baka bigyan niya ng ibang kahulugan ang gagawin ko.

"Pero napakasaya ko, Sensei. Akala ko hanggang panaginip ko na lang mararanasan ang makasama ka ng ganito na naglalakad sa tabi ng dagat," saad ni Chihiro habang pinupunasan ang mga luha nito. "Hindi ganoon kapareho sa panaginip ko kung saan naghubad ka raw sa harap ko habang pinapanood natin ang paglubog ng araw at nang sumapit ang gabi ay may nangyaring milagro. Binigyan mo raw ako ng blow-❞

"Chihiro!" malakas na sambit ko sa kanyang pangalan at awtomatiko siyang nahinto sa pagsasalita. "Enough. Please..." nagmamakaawa kong pakiusap.

[Bakit ba napaka-honest ng batang ito?! He's making me insane!] Napabulalas na lang ako sa aking isipan.

"May mali ba sa sinabi ko, Sensei?" Tila wala siyang kaalam-alam kung gaano ka-maselan ang kanyang mga pantasya patungkol sa akin. It almost sounded like I was a goddamn fucking whore in his fantasies! "No, it's just that..." I bit lower lip as I tried to find the right words to say, "...never mind. Let's go back."

"Sige," sang-ayon na lamang niya kahit halatang gusto pa nitong manatili pa kami ng mas matagal.

We just walked and didn't say anything to each other on our way back. Marahil ay na-realize din ni Chihiro na awkward ang mga sinabi niya sa akin kanina.

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"Izumi-sensei, ayos lang ba sa 'yo kung sa kuwarto ka ni Hirocchi matutulog?" nakangiti at magalang na tanong sa akin ng ama ni Chihiro. We were getting ready to sleep.

"Huh?" I literally dropped my jaw. I would be staying here for five days. Did he seriously think letting me sleep on his son's room was a good idea?! What's wrong with this family?!

"Pasensiya ka na, Sensei. Maliit lang ang bahay namin at ang tanging kuwarto lang ay ang sa amin at kay Hirocchi," sabat naman ng ina nito na medyo nag-alala na baka magalit ako sa kanila. "Sensei, kung hindi ka komportable na makasama ako sa iisang kuwarto, sa sala na lang po ako matutulog," Chihiro offered while grinning like a stupid monkey.

"No. That would be rude of me. It's your room and-" tanggi ko sana pero hindi ko naituloy ang nais kong sabihin.

"Pero mas nakakahiya naman kung ikaw ang nasa sala," giit ng kanyang ina at binigyan nito ng nagmamakaawang tingin ang anak.

"No. Sharing a room would be fine," I said in a low voice at nagliwanag naman ang mukha ni Chihiro.

"Thank you, Sensei! Tayo na sa loob!" tuwang-tuwang saad ni Chihiro at kinaladkad ako papasok ng kanyang kuwarto habang bitbit nito ang mga kumot at unan na ipapagamit nila sa akin. "Have a good night!" said Chihiro's father.

"Goodnight, anak. Goodnight, Izumi-sensei," saad naman ng ina niya at pasimple pang nag-wave sa amin ni Chihiro.

"*Oyasumi [Goodnight], Ma-chan, Tou-chan!" ngiting abot hanggang taingang tugon ni Chihiro.

Chihiro was so excited to fix his bed kaya ako na lang ang nagpasyang magsara ng pinto. But before I could close it, nahuli ko pa ang kanyang mga magulang na naghalikan bago ito pumasok sa kanilang sariling kuwarto. I even saw his father grab his wife's ass at awtomatiko namang namula ang buong mukha ng kalandi nito bago sila tuluyang nawala sa paningin ko. I was left dumbfounded and speechless. It was normal because they were mates - married even - but why did I felt so envious?

Nang silipin ko si Chihiro ay abala pa rin ito sa kakaayos ng kanyang kama. Maayos naman na ito pero marahil ay gusto niyang magpamalas ng good impression. Lihim naman akong napangiti at nakaramdam ng saya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako masaya pero ito ang unang pagkakataong mayroong taong sobrang nagpakita ng kabaitan sa akin. Now I know why Chihiro was such a good person. He had a wonderful family, no wonder he was such an innocent guy. And here I was... spoiling his innocence, seeing him as another object of my sexual fantasies.