Heartbound

Epilogue

"I am heartbound to you."

AVERY

It's been four years since I married Zirrius. And I'm now five months pregnant but my tummy's growing abnormally big, bigger than the usual size of a five-month baby inside a womb. Wala sa sariling hinaplos ko ang tiyan ko. Pakiramdam ko tila nagmamadali ito sa paglaki.

"May problema ba?" takang tanong ni Zirrius. Napansin niya siguro ang pagkunot ng mga noo ko habang hinahaplos ang aking tiyan.

Matipid akong ngumiti sa kanya at umiling. "Hindi ka pa aalis?" takang tanong ko. Lumapit siya sa 'kin at niyakap ako mula sa likod. He carefully touches and caresses my tummy.

"Paalis na pero mukhang may gumugulo sa isipan mo. Masama ba ang pakiramdam mo?" nag-aalalang tanong niya.

Napangiti ako at muling umiling. "Wala. Sige na. Umalis ka na para makabalik ka nang maaga," sabi ko.

"I will just attend some business in Asteria. They're also interested to know where we will raise our child. Pero kailangan kong linawin na sa Elfania siya mananatili. And the child will follow your clan's surname. I'm having a headache when they're pushing me to get a concubine. Because you know it's hard to get an elf pregnant and they are worried for Asteria," sabi ni Zirrius. Masamang tingin ang ipinukol ko sa kanya.

"You want a concubine? Subukan mo lang, Zirrius," babala ko sa kanya sa mariing tinig. "Pumayag ka sa gusto nila kung gusto mong mawalan ng asawa."

Malutong na tumawa si Zirrius. "Of course I won't take another wife," naiiling na sabi ni Zirrius. "It's not like I'm dying anytime soon. Masyado lang silang nag-aalala. We still have forever to live." He kisses my left cheek. "You're enough and I have lots of energy to make babies." Pang-aasar niya sa 'kin. Naiinis na siniko ko siya dahil sa sinabi niya. Mahinang tumawa lang siya dahil sa reaksiyon ko.

"Sige na. Umalis ka na nga. Pupuntahan ko pa sina Damon at Shin. They're having their lessons in the library," saad ko. But I'm really happy that he won't take another wife.

"Alright. I'll see you later then, Baby" sabi ni Zirrius at siniil ako ng malalim na halik. Bago pa ako makagalaw, nawala na siya sa harap ko na tila hangin. Tumingin ako sa labas ng bintana at natanaw ko na lang ang papalayong anyo niya sakay sa kabayong si Aris.

I casted a spell in the wind and send him a message. "Ingat, Baby." Zirrius looks back and waves his hand. He speeds up and disappears from sight.

Dumiretso na ako sa library. Damon and Shin are training under my guidance since they are still children and they need to learn how to manage a kingdom.

Minsan nagrereklamo na sila sa 'kin dahil sa striktong pagtuturo ng ibang guro nila. Shin acts as a big brother to Damon. Damon is just 4 years old while Shin is 17 years old. Alam na rin niya ang sitwasyon ni Damon pero katulad ko, hindi rin niya maaaring ihayag ang katotohanan kay Damon.

Hindi nila napansin ang pagpasok ko dahil sa mga sinasagutan nilang libro habang kaharap ang kanilang guro. I don't want to disturb them so I went to the bookshelves and check the books there. They are learning from the wisest elder and teacher in Elfania, Rohan.

My fingers trace the titles of each books on the shelves, looking for some interesting topics to read but there's a sudden knock when I touch a blue book entitled "Star-crossed". The book falls open on the floor. And I saw a strange letter inside the book.

Kakaiba ang naramdaman ko sa libro. Naramdaman ko ang mahikang bumabalot dito. Pinulot ko ang sulat at napakunot-noo ako nang mapansin na nakasulat ang pangalan ko sa envelope nito. So this letter is specifically for me. Whoever wants to send this letter to me casted magic on the book so that it will only react in my touch and presence.

I opened the letter and saw a blank sheet of white paper inside. There's nothing written on it. Pero natigilan ako nang unti-unting lumabas ang mga letra.

"I'll be under your care, Avery."

-Sin

Napaawang ang mga labi ko. There's a sudden kick from the baby on my tummy. I gasped for air. The kick hurts so much that I can feel the bleeding in between my legs. Sapo ang aking tiyan pinilit kong maglakad patungo kina Shin habang pinagpapawisan ng malamig. Napansin naman ako ni Elder Rohan at agad niya akong inalalayan. Natigilan siya nang makita ang dugo sa binti ko na tumulo sa sahig.

"Call the midwife. I'm about to give birth," nahihirapang sabi ko. Nang maintindihan ni Shin ang sinabi ko agad siyang tumakbo sa labas at inutusan ang mga kawal. Napangiwi ako dahil nararamdaman ko na gusto na talagang lumabas ng bata sa sinapupunan ko. Tila nagmamadali siya.

Agad akong dinala sa isang silid. Dahil hindi nila inaasahan ang panganganak ko ng ganito kaaga, medyo nagtagal sa pagdating ang midwife. Puno na ng dugo ang suot ko nang dumating ang midwife. Si Damon naman ay nag-aalalang tumingin sa 'kin. Sumenyas ako kay Elder Rohan na ilabas na sila sa silid.

Agad na sinimulan ng midwife ang pagpapaanak sa 'kin. Hindi ko alam kung nasa tamang katinuan pa ako habang sumisigaw. All I can hear was my own voice, my own scream. And the pain is just too much.

Muli kong naalala ang sulat na natanggap ko at ang sulat na ibinigay sa 'kin ni Aivee noon. Both letters have the same handwriting. Maybe Aivee already remembered her past that's why she called herself Sin. Maybe this baby is her, trying to reclaim her throne. I can see and understand the connection.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang binabalak niya. Maybe she's planning to bring destruction to this world. Or maybe she's going to set everything right. I don't know.

She's been reincarnated as my daughter and from the most powerful elf bloodline. From Zirrius' and my blood. I'm not really sure if she's seeking for revenge this time but I can only welcome my daughter to this world and support her, right?

I suddenly heard a loud cry while almost losing my breath. The midwife is cleaning the baby and wrapping it in white cotton cloth. When the baby's all set she turned to me.

"A girl," she announced.

I smiled with exhaustion. Inalalayan niya ako sa pag-upo ng maayos sa kabila ng sakit na iniinda ko. Kinalong ko ang aking anak at pinagmasdan siya. She's so beautiful even when she's crying. She's white as snow and her thin pink lips are just so cute. Lumabas sandali ang midwife upang ihanda ang ibang kailangan ko. Pumasok sina Shin at Damon.

"Is it done? What's the gender?" tanong ni Shin habang nakatingin sa batang hawak ko. Damon is next to him and he's so confused with what's happening.

"She's a girl. Come here both of you," tawag ko sa kanila. "Meet my daughter. Treat her as your younger sister, alright?"

Tumango silang dalawa. Hinawakan naman ni Shin ang kamay ng anak ko dahilan upang tumahan ito at tumingin kay Shin. She looks at Shin with innocent, questioning eyes. Si Damon naman ay marahang tinusok ng daliri ang pisngi ng anak ko na ikinatawa ko. He's so curious with the little thing in my arms.

Shin smiles down at my daughter. "She's so beautiful. What's her name?"

Natigilan ako sa tanong ni Shin. I look at these little guys in front of me. I'm not sure but I have a feeling that everything will change for them from now on. But I already decided to give the name that is rightfully for my daughter.

"Her name is Sin."

And I'm leaving fate in her hands.

**END**