Burning Flame Of Lying [Redvein Crescent Series #1]

Chapter 21

Redvein Crescent
______

ARAIA

"Kamahalan, nakahanda na po ang inyong kabayo."

I nodded in response to one of the knights of Redvein Crescent. Nakita ko ding nag-iimpake si Aldridge paglingon ko sa kaniyang kwarto.

"Give me few more minutes. Meet me in the Academia's main gate," sagot ko dito. I didn't waste any time and I closed the front door.

Inanunsyo ng punong-guro na maaari nang umuwi ang mga estudyante sa kani-kanilang tahanan ngunit babalik din sa susunod na buwan. It's my mom's idea. Sa bawat lugar niyang pinupuntahan kasi, lahat ng magulang doon ay kinukulit siyang ipabakasyon muna ang mga bata.

Mom likes the idea, of course, because we'll be together. Malapit na din ang kaarawan ko at magandang ganapin ito sa palasyo. Ngunit, hindi lahat ng estudyante ay uuwi sa kanilang tahanan. I want them to attend to my birthday celebration.

Some of them, their family or parents died. Wala na silang kasama sa bahay o pamilyang naghihintay sa kanila. Just like Vesper.

I remember last time the five of us we're together. I want to joined to their discussion but then Aldridge's words keep on repeating in my mind like a ringtone.

"Hindi ka talaga uuwi, Vesper? Pwede ka naman muna sa amin! My mother will be glad if she saw you," sabi ni Kyrith ngunit umiling si Vesper.

"Salamat ngunit nakakahiya, tsaka napamahal na din ako sa Golden Sierra," sagot ni Vesper.

"I'll stay here too, by the way," singit ni Rumi. "Mag-eensayo ako para sa vocals ko. I know my family will understand that."

"Ay, maiiwan nalang din pala ako," sabi ni Kyrith. Sabay kaming nagkatinginan ni Priam, it's not because of us but what's happening to those three. "Samahan ko nalang si Vesper."

"Baliw," sabi ni Vesper at tumawa. "Kailangan mong umuwi, mabuburyo ka lang dito. Tsaka sabi mo nung isang araw, gusto mo na makasama pamilya mo?"

"Eh paano ka? Rumi won't be around and you're anti social, hindi ka makikipag-usap ni makipagkaibigan kung hindi kami," sagot ni Kyrith. Well she's right, Vesper is like that before and then.

"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine," Vesper replied. "Saka, malapit na din kaarawan ni Araia."

All their eyes turn to me. "Uh... Yeah. I bet the royales created a plan for my birthday. And, I want all of you to be there. Ipapasundo ko kayo sa mga kawal."

"O pwede namang doon na kayo tumuloy sa palasyo," Priam suggested. "The queen isn't that strict as much as everyone thinks she is."

"Kahit na," nakangusong sabi ni Kyrith. "I'm not against the queen but her presence, I can feel chills down to my spine when she's looking at me. I bet kayo rin nakakaranas, 'diba?"

I laughed. "Mom is somehow like that. If she's here and she heard this, tatawanan ka niya. Well, she loves it when everyone is scared of her."

"I agree with Ky," Rumi commented. "Alam mo, Araia, kung hindi ka lang namin kaibigan, baka pati sa'yo takot din kami. Well, you're quite outgoing person, like the king."

"Well..." Saad ko. I smiled and shrugged my shoulders.

Napabalik lang ako sa katinuan nang may maramdamang balahibong dumidikit sa binti ko. I look down and it's Indigo.

"Fuck!" I cursed. "Aldridge! Get this thing off!"

"Meow."

"Shit."