The Chronicles of the Raven Mage

Chapter 2: The Admission

Lauren's POV

"Wow, fiesta!" sigaw ni Brion pagpasok nila ni Anna sa bahay. Nagtatakbo silang dalawa papunta sa harap ng mesa kung nasaan ang mga pagkain na niluto ko mula sa premyo na napanalunan ni Daniel.

"See? I told you, it's worth the fight," ani Daniel kaya tiningnan ko siya nang masama. "What? Come on, Amelia. Wala namang masama sa ginawa ko kung iyon naman ang ikasasaya nilang dalawa, 'di ba?" 

"So, now you're using Anna and Brion to justify what you did?" sabi ko na ikinatawa niya lang.

"Making you three happy is the only goal that I have," aniya kaya palihim din akong napangiti. He doesn't have any idea that he never fails to make me, Brion, and Anna happy. Kahit noon pa naman, wala siyang ibang ginawa kung hindi pasiyahin kami sa paraang alam niya. 

We started eating and laughing with some silly jokes Daniel always comes up with. I looked at the three of them and all I could feel was the joy of having them with me.

Kahit kailan, hindi ko naramdaman na may kulang sa akin. It's because of Daniel. It's always him.

We were in the middle of eating when a knock on the door stopped us. Nagkatinginan kami ni Daniel at dali-dali siyang tumayo para pagbuksan ang kung sinumang nasa pinto.

I couldn't see who it was from where I was sitting. Daniel didn't open the door that much and I was about to ignore it and get back with eating, nang mapansin kong parang naging seryoso ang mukha ni Daniel.

"Kumain lang kayo," sabi ko sa dalawa at tumayo ako para lapitan si Daniel. The person outside is one of the armies from the palace. They took a glance at me then looked back to Daniel like I wasn't there.

"Pag-isipan mo nang maigi. Hinihintay ng kapatid mo ang iyong sagot," sabi nito at tuluyan nang umalis. Naiwan si Daniel hawak ang isang papel na tila ba gawa sa mamahaling materyal. He was staring at it seriously as if he has to make a decision that will alter everything.

"What is it?" curious kong tanong at tiningnan ang papel na hawak niya. The design of the paper made me realize that it was a letter from the palace, from the military to be precised. The embroidery on the top of the paper was so clear that I could read it from where I was standing. "Daven Ezrael Alexandrius," basa ko sa pangalan na nakaukit sa papel.

"It's from my brother. He's asking me to join the Bewitchery Block." It's a good news, I know it was. Mga bata palang kami, nakikita na namin ang panganay niyang kapatid na si Daven. At a very young age, he joined the Bewitchery Block for the sake of this city and we watched him outgrew everyone around him, even the higher ranks. Kaya hindi na nakapagtataka na siya na ngayon and head ng Bewitchery Block. Almost like their late father who was the right hand of the King.

"Aren't you glad? Pwede naman natin ipakiusap kay Merida na bantayan si Brion at Anna habang nagte-training tayo--" he cut me off.

"They only asked for me, Lauren." Roon ako natahimik. We wanted to join the Block at the same time but yet here we are. Siya lang ang nakatanggap ng invitation galing sa Kuya niya para makasali.

I smiled. "Aren't you glad? At least one of us was able to get to the Bewitchery Block." 

"But I wanted to join the Block with you," he said. I wanted to join the Block with him, too. Pero ayaw ko nang pigilan pa siya sa mga gusto niya dahil lang sa ganoong dahilan. Tama na 'yong ilang taon na iginugol niya para alagaan kaming tatlo. 

I looked down for a moment, trying to digest the situation. "Okay, let's put it this way..." I raised my hand and put my pinky finger out. "... I promised that I will follow you there as soon as you are admitted to the Bewitchery Block."