A Kiss From A Rose

CHAPTER 17: Secret Base

THE SUN was as its peak as I continued to follow him. Hindi na niya ako kinausap ngunit alam kong pinapasunod niya ako sa kanya. He took a path that lead us outside the academy. Kahit naguguluhan ako kung bakit kailangan pa naming lumabas ay pinili ko nalang manahimik.

Ilang minuto ang lumipas ay nakarating kami sa mapusok na parte ng gubat ng Actaeon. Pinapalibutan na kami ng malalaking kahoy at halaman. He then stopped in his tracks.

Napasilip ako sa unahan.

In front of us was a rich thick jungle green vines and climbing plants in between two humongous trees. Hinawi ni Seth ang gitna nito at bumungad sa amin ang isang lagusan. Nilingon niya ako and gestured to follow him inside. Nang tumango ako ay nauna siyang pumasok.

Sandali akong napatigil at nilingon ang tinahak naming daan. We were in the middle of the forest and there was no path. Was it right to follow him here? I questioned. Napailing lang ako at huminga ng malalim bago hinarap muli ang lagusan.
I'm here to find out the truth.

I was greeted by darkness when I entered. The curtain of hanging vines behind me closed making it pitch black inside. My eyes took a few seconds to adjust before the path became vivid.

It was a long and dark path ahead.

Hinihintay ako ni Seth sa unahan. Biglang umihip ang malamig na hangin na sa sobrang lamig ay kinilabutan ako. I just realized now that I have followed him into the deepest part of the forest with only the two of us. I am not scared. Just uncomfortable. Ngayong nasa matinong pag-iisip siya ay hindi ko mahulaan kung ano ang nasa isip niya.

Halfway through the passageway, I felt a familiar presence at the other end. Nang malapit na kami sa dulo ay may nakaramdam ako ng isa pang presensya, medyo faint ito ngunit pamilyar din. Napakunot ang noo ko nang makilala kung kanino ito.

"Oh good, you're here. Hi, Thalia," matinis na boses ni Pat ang bumungad sa amin nang marating ang dulo ng lagusan.

May isang pintuan sa harapan namin and Pat was behind it. Nang binuksan niya ang pinto ay napapikit ako dahil sa matinding liwanag. I stopped myself from gasping when my eyes finally adjusted and surprised me with how the place looked.

It was a huge underground cave; oval in shape and surrounded by tall cabinets filled with books and bottles of different shapes and colors. May dalawang pinto sa magkabilang dulo at may mga maliit na sofa at mesa sa gilid ng lagusan. It has a wooden floor, shining from the rays of the sun coming from a huge glass window covered with vines located on the upper-left side of the cave.

"Liking what you see, I hope," nilapitan ako ni Pat.

"What is this place?" Hindi parin ako makapaniwalang may ganitong lugar sa gitna ng kagubatan ng Acteon.

"Welcome to my secret hideout, Thalia." Nakangiting sagot ni Pat.

I now understand why we can't find her sa tuwing nawawala siya sa academy. Nilibot ko ulit ng tingin ang buong lugar. None of us would have thought that this place could've existed.

Nilingon ko si Seth nang umupo siya sa isa sa mga malilit na sofa. Isinandal niya ang kanyang ulo sa headrest at pumikit. I was about to ask him a why he brought me here nang bigla akong hinila ni Pat at iniharap sa isang cabinet na puno ng mga lumang libro.