The Alluring Scent

XIX

Nakarinig sila ng tikhim.

Luna blushed. For a moment she forgot that they weren't alone. Isaac makes her do that.

"I hope you didn't forget about me," the woman said teasingly.

Luna saw Isaac smirk at her blushing face.

The woman stood up from the sofa and walked straight to them. Medyo nagulat si Luna nang bigla siya nitong yakapin na para bang sabik na sabik itong makita siya.

"It is so nice to see you again, my dear. Every time we meet ay wala kang malay," the woman gave her a warm smile.

"Uh," she glanced at Isaac not sure of what to react. "It's nice to meet you also. Pero, pasensya na, hindi ko kasi maalala kung kailan tayo nag-kakilala...?"

"Oh! My bad. Of course you wouldn't remember. But you feel like you've seen me before, yes?"

Luna nodded.

"Well since I'm familiar to you-- kasi syempre naman sino ba naman ang makaklimutan ang isang magandang nilalang na katulad ko--"

"She's the guardian of this land her name is Diana," sabat ni Isaac.

He kissed her ones again on her forehead at bumalik sa pwesto niya kanina. Diana clicked her tongue and mumbled something under her breath, but smiled nonetheless when Luna faced her with recognition on her face.

Luna gasped then held Diana's hand. "Ikaw yung nagligtas sa akin sa gubat?! Yung nagbalik ng buhay ko?"

Sa unang tingin ay aakalain mong ordinaryong tao lang si Diana pero kapag naka-harap mo itong ng malapitan ay makikita mo ang totoo. Unang mapapansin sa kanya ay ang kanyang mga mata na palipat-lipat ang kulay, naglalaban ang asul, berde, at kahel.

"See Isaac I'm her savior." Diana smugly said to Isaac, which made the man scoff, then looked at Luna. "Yes, my dear."

"Thank you! Kung hindi dahil sa'yo ay baka hindi na kami nabigyan ulit ni Ice na pagkakataon na magkasama ng mas matagal."

Luna feels so happy to see the person who made it possible. She owed it to her.

Diana's eyes softened.  "No worries. Sayang naman itong ipinagkaloob sa aking kapangyarihan ko di ko naman magagamit," she raised her hand and moved her fingers where silver dusts appeared for a second.

Luna chuckled. For a moment pakiramdam niya ay para siyang bata dahil sa pinakita nitong mahika sa kanya.

While Anna just came back from the comfort room at papasok na sa library kung saan niya iniwan si Alex para magbasa since siya ang nag-volunteer na turuan ang bata.

She was about to open the door when she heard someone inside.

"--humans that brought us alive are coming." A raspy voice said.

"Let them be. We owe them our revival--." A deep voice said.

Biglang tumigil sa pagsasalita ang mga boses, para bang naramdaman nilang may nakikinig sa kanila. Naghintay saglit si Anna bago binuksan ang pinto, pero wala siyang nakitang tao sa loob.

She was confused. She was sure she heard voices from the inside. But now there was nothing, but a room full of books.

"Mommy Anna?" A little voice said behind her.

"Alex! You surprised me." Napahawak sa dibdib ang ginang dahil sa biglang pagsulpot ng bata. "Saan ka nanggaling?"

"Uhm, kumuha po ako ng cookies sa baba kaso naubos ko po papunta dito. May problema po ba?" Inosenteng tanong nito.

Anna chuckled at the child's cuteness. "Nako, wala. Let's continue?"

Alex eagerly nodded at naunang pumunta sa inupuan niya kanina.

Anna shook her head, maybe she was just imagining things.

Dinner came and everyone was at the table, except Jace because he needs to go home for the night. Inimbitahan ni Luna si Diana na sumama mag-hapunan sa kanila, na pina-unlakan naman ng huli.

Upon entering the dining area Luna called Alexander's attention.

"Alex! Dali may ipakikilala ako sa'yo," tawag niya sa bata na naka-upo na sa harap ng hapag.

Dali-dali namang lumapit ang bata.

"Bakit po, mama?"

Diana raised an eyebrow. Isaac did mention this to her awhile ago kaya nga nasa mansyon siya ngayon, pero hindi lang naman yun ang dahilan.

"I want you to meet Diana, she helped me alot a long time ago."

Diana caught a glint in Alex's eyes. "It's nice meeting you po," the child brightly said.

Diana crouched down to give him a peck on the cheek. As their skin touched Diana felt something strange. Umayos siya ng tayo.

"And you too, Alex."