A Happily Ever After

Chapter Three

What the actual heck?

A gentle wind blows from the widely opened window on the side of the room. It touches my bare-shoulders and I shiver from the cold. Far away from the outside, a crescent moon shines brightly with the twinkling stars across the night sky. Oh my God, it's freaking night time.

Night time. Ilang oras na ba ang lumipas? Hapon lang nung magkakasama na kami ng mga kagrupo ko—

A strong migraine stabs at the sides of my skull. The long high-pitch sound rings in my ears. I closed my eyes to cut off the sudden headache, yet instead, a familiar scene only played in my mind. The Blood of the Dragon. The golden light. All of my group mates are floating and disappearing. Myself floating as well and disappearing. A force throwing me into the golden light.

I gasped then opened my eyes. Chills went down my spines. Oh my God. Oh my God. Iyon nalang ang huli kong natatandaan. Does the golden light bring us to somewhere far? Is that freaking possible? And does that mean that the rest of my group mates are here as well?

Bigla akong napatayo, pero halos matumba naman ako dahil tsaka ko lang naramdaman na nakasuot naman ako ng heels. Ano naman ba kasi itong suot ko?

Nilibot ko ang paningin ko, baka sakaling makakita ako ng ilang tanda na kasama ko sila dito sa magarbong kwarto na ito. Yet I cannot see everything. Everything seems to be left untouched, everything glistens splendidly, everything remains motionless. Despite the gentle breeze coming from the outside, I can clearly notice the impassive atmosphere hanging around this room. I am alone. Wala akong kasama sa loob ng kwarto na ito.

My heart raced faster. My lungs feel so cramped inside my ribs that I almost forgot how to breathe properly. I am all alone. Alone. Wearing a gown, inside of a fancy room full of dragon designs. Just what in the actual world is happening? At nasaan na ba ako?

Am I kidnapped? No.. For some reason, I don't feel like I am kidnapped. Walang suspcious akong nakikita dito, bukod sa mag-isa lang ako at nakasuot ako ng gown na akala mo ay may pupuntahan akong Grand Ball o JS Prom. Walang tali ang nakatali sa mga paa at kamay ko, masyadong maliwanag ang paligid ko at bukas na bukas ang malaking bintana dito. Bintanang kayang kaya kong gamitin para makatakas dito.

"Where the heck am I?" I finally said out loud.

Bigla akong napahawak sa leeg ko at pinakiramdaman ang lalamunan ko. Oh my God. I sounded different!

"What? Oh my God?" Muli kong sabi para pakinggan ang sarili kong boses. Iba talaga ang boses ko. I know how small and whiny I sounded when talking. But this time, I sound sweeter and gentler, something I cannot achieve to do with my own voice.

I licked my own lips and gulped down, then felt how smooth my throat feels in my neck. I am sure na medyo gasgas ito dahil hindi naman ako pala-inom ng tubig, ngayong hell week sa school. And.. oh, is that the vague taste of chocolate came from my own lips? Hindi ako kumakain ng kahit anong chocolate ngayon!

"Ano bang nangyayari," bulong ko sa sarili, my own voice sounding so foreign in my ears.

Inangat ko ang nanginginig kong mga kamay hinaplos haplos ito, pinakiramdaman ko ang init nito at kumuha nang malalim na hininga. Pero muli akong napatigil. Even my hands feel so different. I stretch my own fingers to study it. It is indeed different. It's slimmer, longer, softer and smoother.. As if I used tons of lotions. Which is something I am sure I never did.

I suddenly became aware of my own body. Bakit ba ngayon ko lang napansin kung gaanong kakaiba itong pakiramdam ko? My whole body feels lighter. I feel greatly energized tonight, as if I had a great long sleep, which is something I am sure I haven't had for months already. There's also a slight tingling sensation occurring on the veins of my arms, it's very faint and it wasn't very distracting but I could definitely sense it.