Chapter 7

"A university staff was found dead in the parking lot with unexplained bruises, scratches and bites, allegedly killed by a monstrous predator" The news headline circulated throughout almost all platforms. Facebook, TVnews, newspapers.

"So rare, this case isn't just extraordinary. It's mysterious and threatening to humans. " The news reporter was broadcasting details of the incident while Alundra was intently watching the TV holding a cup of coffee at the couch, she was with Zandra. They both settled themselves in each of a wide couch in the living room where an 83 inch LG C2 OLED EVO tv screen suited almost all center space of the room.

"Zander's coming home." Zandra's sudden interruption caught her attention. "He should be here tomorrow, I'm getting nervous with what's happening here." she kept on tapping her fingers on her side table, indicating her tensed, bothered mind.

"Yeah it is, but I don't wanna assume the possibility of a monstrous predator wandering around our place. I'm scared of that, what if I'm gonna be the next target?"

"Do you ever think about that? We'll make sure that you are safe okay? We can hire bodyguards for you. Would you like that?"Zandra was trying to ease her uneasiness.

"Nope" I don't want a bodyguard or bodyguards, she emphasized the 's' which pertains to having two and more bodyguards.

"What do you want then?"Zandra intently looked at her.

"I want to learn how to defend myself!"Zandra looked at her with amusement.

"Oh really? This is it!" she almost jumped in cheer.

"Aren't you gonna scold me about it, my ever protective tita Zands? she half-smiled while looking at Zandra.

"There's nothing wrong about it, so why should I disagree? I think someone might be able to help you bring back, she paused and eyes widened, ah,ah, I mean became a fighter."she smiled with puppy eyes gesturing "peace" with her point and middle finger.

Alundra smiled at her, "Maybe I can do it every time I'm free like, she rolled her eyes a bit, weekends right? "Yes, you can, ahmmm, I'll arrange your schedule with your new instructor. Zandra smiled excitedly.

"Good morning princess!" She yawned while scratching her messy hair, already awake still closed her eyes like still adjusting to light that comes on through the window.

"Your trainer's here, so you must take your shower now and go downstairs to meet him .Oh, please don't make him wait long!" Zandra's face just got in through the door to wake her .

"What?" her eyes suddenly widened.

"I haven't arranged my schedules today , I mean, now? really? Isn't it so fast?" Her creased brows meet at the center.

"I was suppose, I’ll be the one to choose my mentor, tita Zands!" she looked at Zandra who's smiling like it's the funniest view she had seen.

"No, no! Xander and I have agreed and chosen him to be your mentor, and take note, he's one of the best!" Zandra giggled while convincing her .

"Okay, but tell him to give me at most 30 minutes to prepare."

"Sure princess!" Zandra ran fast downstairs to prepare their breakfast.

The three of them were seriously talking about something. They looked like planning or figuring out a plan on something as Alundra walked calmly from the bedroom . While she walked towards them, a strangely mesmerizing scent of pine soothed her nose, something that seemed to complete her mood. She was astonished with the surprising figure of a man who seemed familiar to him, she shrugged her shoulders, it's not possible that Raf will be here. He's in Canada. She thought.

"I'm sorry but we need to stick with the plan. Whenever she's ready." Alundra heard Xander's voice in the living room, he's facing a guy and Zandra's on his left.

"Okay then." said the guy.

"Hey! Finally, you're here now. " Zandra stood up and held Alundra's hand and sat beside her.

"Alundra smiled and greeted everyone,Good morning!"

From his look downward, he slowly gazed upward and stared at Alundra's hazel brown eyes, her long curly eyelashes matching her thin lips and cute pointed nose, "looks like she never noticed how perfectly gorgeous she is" his soft silent murmur.

"Princess, Raf's gonna be your trainer for self defense. He is one of the best I've known in the field. You know what he had been training since 12."Zandra looked at Raf and smiled. He stepped closer and offered his hand to Alundra for a shake. Astounded but remained composed, Alundra politely took Raf's hand, her heart skipped as his hands enveloped hers. She looked at Raf silently reading his face whether it reacts the same as she is,but none. His cold, snob face was still unchanged. Do I never matter to him? Does my beauty never affect him, ever? her eyes rolled of the thought .Grrrh!

"But the scent, I could not take away my senses on this beautiful lovely scent of forest pine from somewhere. Can't explain it though, where does it come from. I really love the feeling,the comfort " she's mind-blogging.

"I can't do it everyday. I have to attend classes on Mondays through Wednesdays. So, I think we could have the training on Thursdays to Saturdays." she told them.

"It's okay princess, you don't need to do it everyday since your body has to undergo changes, I mean ahmm, she rolled her eyes, I mean your body's gonna go through some fatigue. "

"That's cool" Alundra giggled in excitement. She smiled at Raf but quickly faded when she saw his poker face.

"Building A ,4th floor room 322 ,okay I'm coming Olivia." She turned off her phone and quickly drove her car to a parking lot . "Shucks! I'm late, so disgusting."she felt sickened by the thought of being late. She got out of her car immediately and ran as fast as she could to the elevator.

"I'm sorry ma'am" the elevator's not working. We still have to fix this, by now you have to take the stairs to the 4th floor said Mang Ruben, their utility worker.

"No choice but the stairs"she sighed of defeat, and stepped her way to the stairs.

"You're late" Olivia's eyes wondered why she came late.``This is the first time ever!"Alundra rose-up her hands shrugging her shoulders,"and this should be the last!".

"It's okay, it has not formally started yet, eventually the new administration will introduce the new president." Nate arrived from the secretariat bringing with him the snacks for the three of them.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Pthalo University,

"Good morning everyone, our new Institution's Owner-Administrator is one of the most eminent youngest internationally acclaimed zoologists, biologist, lawyer and physician.

An alumnus. He was once a student, now a prominent, proficient bachelor who had earned countless recognition in the field of medicine, law, business and news publications.

Pthalo University is the luckiest among other prestigious Universities in the Philippines for having him as its new president.

Pthalocians, teaching and non-teaching staff, let's give it up as a fireworks applause to Dr. Rafael Gabriel Fernandez."

The participants stood up with great surprise to welcome the new president, the crowd went overwhelmed when Raf finally showed up himself from the dark corner."Is it real? " Among other people participating in the conference, only Alundra could not agree with the crowd's response. She decided to chill herself and go to the restroom to breathe, but ended up losing her balance with her head full of shuffling emotions.Surprised.Confused.

"What the heck!" Olivia shouted in felicity."He's the hottest, cutest loveliest guy in the universe!"

Alundra looked down, "why do I feel strange about this?" Tita Zandra must have known this. She breathes hard to calm herself. Yeah, I'm quite nervous of seeing Raf again twice this day!" she cleared her throat just to erase the thought. "Whatever!" And rolled her eyes as if Raf's nothing...A nobody.

"Thanks for the warm welcome. His gaze landed on Alundra and smirked like he was teasing her. “I know it's too sudden. I mean, the shift from the previous administration to the new one. I heard about some mysterious cases happening in Pthalo,so I think I could help you guys get through it.”

“ I am fully aware of your confusion about why I decided to take the responsibility, let's just say that circumstances have brought me here, it's my home. It is beyond beautiful to spend years with you guys.

"I'm looking forward to building a culture of a family where everyone is valued, trusted, respected and loved by each other." He smiled and nodded.

"He smiled. Alundra silently told herself. “This is the first time I saw him smile, his blue eyes really are something that brings comfort, and oh, the scent I always smell whenever he's near is here again. I'm sure it's him,'oh' I mean his perfume's so alluring." her mind spoke to herself.

"I really admire him since that day I saw him with Tito Xander." her thoughts kept on dwelling to the reverie without noticing the applauding crowd, praising him, admiring him.

"Wow," everybody stood up to salute him. "Hoy!" Olivia's hand on her brought her back to reality.

"Enough fantasizing Mr. President princess" she smiled and giggled while her joke hit Alundra hard enough to realize, Does she really admire him?

She quickly shrugged her shoulders and stood though late but whatever others could say,at least she stood up and rolled her eyes!

"I can't believe this! " Alundra threw her bag to the couch when she arrived for the welcome party. "It's okay pretty, Raf's just that legally overqualified with the job. He's been into sort of businesses in Canada and Italy but decided to be back for good."Xander smiled at her trying to convince her out of annoyance.

"Does it really matter to you? He can be your university president and at the same time a trainer for a self-defense course."Zandra sat beside her while eating her newly baked home-made lasagna. You know what, I really feel that you two can be good friends. Raf's been such a good guy and I never heard troubles involving him.

"Whatever!" Alundra rolled her eyes and asked Zandra to let her go upstairs to freshen up. "Buona sera" someone knocked on the door. It's him, she whispered immediately to herself while taking the stair to her room. How could she not notice that fresh forest pine scent again soothed her nose every time he's around. Without looking back, she continued walking. Before entering her room, she glanced at the new comer once more only to find out that he was staring at her intently with his dashing crystal blue eyes which added folds of queers beneath her body. She quickly turned the knob and entered her room.

Zandra and Xander went out of town due to their sort-of work-related activities. Alundra was alone for two days and nights, which made her a little frightened. It was Thursday afternoon and nobody's home when she arrived from her spa session. In order not to get bored of lonesomeness, she cooked her favorite escabeche, a local dish she knew which was made from fried fish, cooked through catsup, sugar and cane vinegar. She also baked moist chocolate cake in a heart shaped baking pan; and her specialty, a home made mango graham shake.

Herself-date at home went quite well,eating more at night didn't worry her much with her active lifestyle and metabolism, fats burnt days after, keeping her waist narrowly thin, perfectly shaped physique.