SHAWDOWS OF THE MOON (Dwayne Grahams & Bryce Grahams)

🐾XXXV. I'm sorry 🐾

Claudette Fritz

Lutang ako buong byahe papunta sa kung saan. I just know that the guy's name is Thindrel and he's here to help me.

And hindi ko maintindihan ay kung bakit nandito si Dwayne. Did he look for me? Isn't he must rejoicing that I'm gone?

Pagdating namin si Moldovia ay kaagad kaming sinalubong ng maraming katulong. Which I know they used to call them chupacabra.

"Lets go", Thindrel escorted me towards the huge house.

Nilingon ko ang naglalakihang tatlong nagmumukhang palasyo sa laki. Kung titingnan sa ibabaw ay naka triangular ang pagkalagay ng tatlong palasyo. The center is on the north and the other one is in Southeast and the other one is in southwest.

Sa gitna ng mga palasyong iyon ay may mansion naman at doon ang tungo namin.

The chupacabra come with us. Hinatid ako ni Thindrel sa ikatlong palapag at may isang pinto na binuksan.

"This will be your room for now. I hope you can rest here well", aniya sa akin.

"Thank you", sabi ko at nilingon siya. Sa gilid ng mga mata ko ay kita kong nakatitig si Dwayne sa akin. I didn't look at him.

"I'll leave you for now. You can use that telephone to call me when you need something", sabay turo niya sa telepono na nasa gilid lamang ng kama.

Tumango ako sa kanya. He then turn to Dwayne kaya hindi ko mapigilang mapatingin din sa kanya. Ngunit ng maabutang nakatingin siya sa akin ay kaagad akong umiwas.

"Cousin, lets go. Father has a lot to say to you", anyaya ni Thindrel sa kanyang pinsan ngunit nagmamatigas naman ito.

"I'll take the room beside hers so I can watch over", aniya pero binaliwala ko na iyon at binuksan ang pinto para makapunta sa balcony.

"You've gone mad. You're always welcome in our house, Dwayne!", sabay tawa ni Thindrel.

Hindi ko na narinig ang kanilang usapan dahil sumara na ang pinto.

I guess the room is sound proof. It can't be heard outside I can't also hear what's outside.

Naupo ako sa kama at bumaba ang tingin sa aking balikat. Malalim ang aking sugat ngunit unti-unti naman iyong naghilom. The wounds and scratches I have from different parts of my body are already healed.

I push myself up and go to the bathroom to wash myself. Pagkalabas ko ay nakatapis lamang ako ng tuwalya at naghanap ng pwedeng maisuot doon.

Pagbukas ko sa closet ay puro damit pambabae iyon. And it was all a freakin' dress. Naghahanap pa ako kung may shorts ba doon at T-shirt ngunit wala.

I don't have a choice but to wear the dress. Bumalik ako sa banyo para makapagbihis.

Saktong paglabas ko sa banyo ay siya namang pagbukas ng pinto. Iniluwa nito si Dwayne na may dalang isang tray ng pagkain at may bitbit din siyang first aid kit.

What's the need of first aid kit? Kumunot ang noo ko.

"Why are you here?", malamig na tanong ko sa kanya.

"I brought you our dinner. I also need to out some medicine to your wounds", aniya at bumaba ang tingin sa sugat ko sa aking braso.

It didn't heal immediately. Maybe they put some magic on it.

"Just leave it there. I can do it alone", sabi ko at tinalikuran siya.

"Why do it alone when I'm here offering help?", he askes as if he's in pain.

Nilingon ko siya. "Stop bothering me, Dwayne. Please, will you!?", I fired at him.

Imbis na suklian ang galit na binigay ko sa kanya ay lumapit siya sa akin at hinawakan ang braso ko. He pull me close to him. I can even almost feel the warm of his body against my cold skin.

He made me sit on the bed while he kneels in front of me. Kumuha siya ng cotton sa loob ng box at nilagay niya iyon sa ibabaw ng sugat ko with dark brown liquid out from the bottle.

I hissed in pain. Napaangat siya ng tingin sa akin. I saw him suppressing a smile. Umirap ako.

He then put bandage right on my wound and tape it.

"The knife if dip in vervain liquid. That's why your wound didn't heal immediately", sabi niya sa akin. "You have other wounds like this?", he asked.

"Wala na. You can go now", I said in dismissal tone.

"Our dinner is here. I'll eat with you", sabi niya sa akin sabay turo sa pagkain na dala niya. But my eyes is lock on the blood bag.

Kaagad kong dinampot iyon at mabilis na inubos. I'm all aware that he's looking at me but I didn't mind. I need strength para mapabilis ang paghilom ng sugat ko.

Inayos niya naman ang mga pagkain namin sa mesa. Naupo siya doon. He looks at me like inviting me to sit with him. Wala akong ibang nagawa kundi ay ang umupo sa upuang kaharap niya.

Tahimik akong naupo at dahan-dahang kumain. His eyes remains on me pero hindi ako nagtangkang tumingin sa kanya pabalik.

"I know what happened in Sighisoara", panimula niya kaya napabaling ako sa kanya. His eyes are now dark. "I know you murdered you parents".

"They're not my parents", mabilis na sabi ko.

He sigh and nodded. "I know. I'm the one who called Thindrel to find you. I know you're heading here to find them", sabi niya.

Kinabahan ako doon. How much he know.

"You shouldn't have done it", umiwas ako ng tingin.

"If I haven't done it. You're probably dead by now", mariin na sabi niya.

"I'll be fine. What's the purpose of living when all I love is now dead", mariin ko siyang binalingan.

His eyes grows more darker and bloodshot. Imbis na magalit siya sa akin ay nakita ko kung paano lumambot ang kanyang mga mata.

Tumayo siya galing sa pagkaupo at lumapit sa akin. He kneel in front of me again. He captured both of my hands and pull it close to his lips.

He look at me with so much pain and sincerity in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Claudette. I'm so sorry fr everything".