"You know I don't like hugs."
"Oh c'mon, sis! You're ruining the moment!"
I chuckled, "Fine. This is an exception."
Hindi ko na inantay pa ang pagyakap niya at kusa na akong yumakap sa kanya ng mahigpit. Sobrang mahigpit na naririnig ko na siyang magreklamo na hindi na daw siya makahinga.
"Hey Astro.."
"What?"
"Thank you. For everything."
"You sound weird when you say something like that."
Kinurot ko siya sa tagiliran.
"Ow ow ow! Joke lang syempre! Ikaw naman."
"But seriously, Meteor. Thank you for believing in me, even if you're so pasaway and masungit and brusko— wait, iisa-isahin ko pa ba? Baka abutin tayo ng isang araw."
Astro laughed habang naiiling na lang ako sa mga sinasabi niya. He never fails to cheer me up at times like this.
Narinig naming bumukas ang pinto ng study room. Bumitaw ako kay Astro para tignan kung sino ang bagong dating. And just as I expected.
"Meteor Flare Sirius!"
Napatayo kaming dalawa ni Astro. The moment I've been waiting for has arrived.
"Dad."
Astro's right. I am in serious trouble.
Dad is furious. I can see his jaw tighten. Lalong humigpit ang hawak niya sa kanyang tungkod. He took few steps forward papalapit sa'min. Nasa likod niya si Mom. She looked worried. I clenched my fists. There's no way I could back out now.
"Pack your things and leave this place immediately," halata ang pagtitimpi ng kanyang galit sa kanyang pagsasalita. "Mag-uusap tayo pagbalik ko."
Sunod-sunod na iling ang ginawa ko. "No Dad, we will talk. Right here, right now!"
"Don't start with me, young lady!" Itinuro niya ang pintuan. "Get out of my sight."
Hindi ako tuminag. I stood there, having an eye-to-eye contact to meet his intense gaze. I never thought this day would come when I have to blurt out the things which I have kept hidden for a long time. It's the only way to keep his attention.
"I am a Shadow, Dad. Your daughter is a member of the royalties' greatest enemy, the Underground, and I am not just a part of it," huminga muna ako ng malalim bago magpatuloy. "I am one of its rulers."
Royal 26
Start from the beginning
