Wag niyo akong aawayin after reading this chapter ha? :>
Dedicated to shinjangnim!! Maraming salamat sa pagmamahal at suporta!
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Nang marinig ang pagsarado ng pinto ay parang mga chismosang nagsipagtakbo ang Pharaohs para idikit ang kani-kanilang mga tenga roon.
"Sino ba yung pumasok?" Takang tanong ni Pream habang nakakunot ang noo.
"Si pareng bro?" Patanong na sagot ni Veton kaya napingot siya ni Iraia.
"You do know that Dame's been locking himself inside his room, right?" Pabulong nitong singhal na sinangayunan ng mga chismosa.
"Paano na si Luna lang?" Kabadong ani Sefarina sa sarili sa takot na maiwang mag-isa ang best friend niya.
"Why am I even here?" Bagot na tanong ni Enfys na nakasalampak sa lapag habang nasa ibabaw niya ang apat niyang kaibigan.
Humikab naman si Arrow na nakasandal sa tabi ng pinto at sinegundahan ang hinanaing ni Enfys.
"Do we have a choice?"
Parang tangang nagsipagbungisngisan ang apat at napapalakpak pa na parang tuwang tuwa na nahatak nila ang dalawa sa pinakamatitino nilang kaibigan.
"Shh." Pagpapatahimik ni Iraia sa kanila nang makarinig ng mga boses sa loob ng kwarto ni Luna.
It has been a day magmula nang matuluyan nila si Armour pero hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nagpapakita si Luna after they went straight to the academy. Pansamantala muna kasing aayusin ang palasyo kaya kahit ang hari at ang mga nakatira sa Renvela ay nandito.
"Your Majesty, let's give her time to process things." Rinig nilang suhestiyon ni Lady Doreena na siyang nagbabantay kay Luna.
"How's her co—"
"Aray ko, putangina naman. Bakit nananakit?" Malutong na mura ni Veton nang makaramdam ng sakit mula sa kanyang balikat.
"Bro, 'wag kang maingay." Pigil ni Pream sa kaibigan na ngayon ay halos nakasakay na sa likod ng binata.
Nakangiwi namang nagmura si Veton pero wala ring nagawa dahil baka marinig sila sa loob, mayari pa silang lahat.
"Should we ju—"
Lahat sila'y napatigil sa kani-kanilang ginagawa ng tuluyan na ngang bumukas ang pintuan at hindi sinasadyang makipagtitigan sa hari na natigilan din nang makita sila sa ganoong posisyon.
Without thinking twice, nagkanya-kanya silang takbo papaalis doon at hindi na inalala pa ang mga kaibigang naiwan.
"I'm terribly sorry for their attitudes, King Luous." Pigil tawang paumahin ni Doreena sa hari na napangisi sa tinuran ng mga ito.
"It's alright. I know that they're just concerned for their friend." Malungkot na ngumiti si Luous bago muling sinulyapan ang natutulog na anak at nilisan na ang Teadra.
Unti-unti namang sumilip ang mga Pharaohs mula sa pintuan ng kanilang mga kwarto at nang makitang nakaalis na ang hari at ang kanilang Lady ay nagsipagbalik sila sa kanilang pwesto.
"Papasok tayo?" Gulat na tanong ni Enfys nang akmang pipihitin ni Sefarina ang doorknob.
They immediately looked at her na para bang isa siyang malaking joke after asking something so obvious.
"Don't."
Kanya-kanyang ngiwi ang lima at inis na tinignan ang binatang pinigilan sila sa gusto nilang gawin.
"Hindi naman na—" Hindi na natapos pa ni Veton ang sasabihin at parang napapasong bumitaw sa doorknob nang makasalubong ng tingin si Damien na tahimik silang pinapanood.
"Ah, bro. Sila nakaisip nito, damay lang ako." Paglilinis ni Veton sa kamay at tumatawa pang tinapik ang balikat ni Arrow na nandidiri siyang tinulak.
"The audacity of this fucker." Nanggigigil na ani Sefarina na agad pinigilan ni Arrow bago pa masaktan si Veton.
"Hush. No fighting."
Sumama lalo ang tingin ni Sefarina kay Veton na bumelat lang at dahan dahang nagtago sa likod ni Iraia na bubuksan na sana ang pintuan ng muling magsalita si Damien.
"I'll go in."
Mabilis pa sa alas kwatro silang nagsitabi at nagbigay daan para sa kaibigan. They were so anxious that even Dame wasn't visiting Luna kaya napagkasunduan nilang patagong pasukin ang kwarto ng kaibigan. But now that he seems to be in the right state, makakahinga na sila ng maluwag.
"Sige, ingat ka ha." Nakangiting kaway ni Pream sa binata.
"Bye." Kaway ni Enfys kahit na si Pream naman ang nagwawagayway sa kamay niya.
Si Sefarina na ang naglakas loob magbukas ng pinto at sinenyasan si Damien na pumasok na. Napatingin naman sa kanila ang kaibigan bago pumasok sa loob. Mabilis na sinara ni Sefarina ang pinto at humarang doon.
Nanliliit ang mga mata niyang dinuro isa isa ang mga chismosa niyang kaibigan at pinagtulakan ito papalayo.
"Bakit nandito pa kayo? Bawal chismoso!" Bintang niya sa mga ito na hindi siya makapaniwalang tinignan.
"Bakit nandito ka pa? Ikaw ang umalis." Duro sa kanya ni Veton na inirapan lang niya.
"Lahat aalis, maiwan mamamatay." Sumpa ni Arrow kaya walang pagdadalawang isip nagsialisan ang mga 'to.
"Hey, wizard." Kaswal na bati ni Damien pagkaupo sa gilid ng kama ng dalaga.
Luna shifted her weight and opened her eyes to face him. She was hugging her pillow, her hair was a mess, her eyes were puffy, and her lips were obviously dry.
She probably doesn't look very appealing right now.
"Hey, vampire." Mahinang sagot ni Luna at maliit na nginitian ang binata.
He just smiled and said nothing. He was staring at her, as if she were the center of his attention. His hair, like his sweater, was a mess.
He seems to have recently woken up, and the first thing he did was come to her.
"Kailan pa?" She whispered.
"The day you knew your identity as the heiress of Renvela." Malumanay nitong sagot.
Muling napangiti ng maliit si Luna at napatango. Kung ganoon ay matagal na pala nitong alam. Siguro, kung wala siya sa katinuan ngayon ay malamang nagalit na siya. Bakit ba ang hilig magtago ng mga taong nasa paligid niya?
Naiintindihan naman niya na kailangan nilang gawin 'yon para sa kanya, pero hindi ba mas maayos ang kalalabasan ng lahat kung sinasabi nila ito agad sa kanya?
"I'm sorry."
He looked frail, as if another word from her would break him. So she smiled to tell him that none of it was his fault.
He was simply protecting her, as he always does. He just does not want her to be hurt, which is why he took it all on himself, embracing the pain in exchange for her happiness.
"I'm okay." Sagot niya na tila kinukumbinsi ang sarili.
"You don't have to. Take your time." Malambot na sagot ni Damien at inabot ang uluhan ni Luna para haplusin iyon.
See? She knows he's in pain, she's not numb, and she knows how he looks at her. She realizes it wasn't just because he was looking out for her or caring about her.
It was deeper than that.
"Will you stay with me?" Mahina niyang tanong na ikinataas ng sulok ng labi ng binata.
He reached for her hand and caressed it before planting a soft and long kiss on the back of her palm. He looked at her with the same intensity he always did, and nodded automatically.
"Even if you don't, I will."
Nakatulalang nakatayo si Enfys sa balcony habang pinagmamasdan ang paligid.
The trees that always dance gracefully along with the soft gush of the wind, the lights coming from the tall towers which can be seen from where she's standing.
She'll definitely miss this view.
"Pst." Sitsit ng lalaking kilalang kilala niya ang boses.
"Pream." Iling niyang tawa lalo na nang nakakunot noong lumabas sa pinagtataguan ang binata.
"How did you know it was me?"
She shrugged. "I just know."
"Okay na ba 'yang balikat mo? Gusto mo bang magpahinga muna?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Pream, mukhang naalalang sariwa pa ang pagkakasaksak sa balikat niya noong isang araw.
"Mamaya magpapahinga na ako, Pream." Ngiti niya sa binata na muling kumunot ang noo.
"Final answer?" Nakangiti siyang tumango tango bago sinandal ang magkabilang braso sa railings.
She inhaled the scent of the nature and enjoyed the silence with the presence of the person she would most certainly yearn for.
The universe has always been cruel to her. Until now, it had denied her the opportunity to live for herself, or even to enjoy the life she had begun to value. She had only recently begun to feel the love of her family, which she had never felt before.
It's ironic that she has control over time but can't use it to her advantage.
Nakangiti niyang dinilat ang mga mata at nilingon ang katabing nakapalungbaba lang siyang tinititigan. Ang pula nitong mga mata'y nagliliwanag, halatang nasisiyahan sa pinapanood.
"Can you help me cook tonight's dinner?"
Veton's eyes widened as he smelled something delicious upon going down from his room. Nagtatakbo siya papunta sa kusina at nadatnan doon si Enfys na nagluluto habang lunod na lunod na pinapanood ni Pream ang dalaga.
"Tanginang 'to." Batok niya sa kaibigan. "'Wag mo namang ipahalatang baliw na baliw ka sa tao." Dagdag niya at mapanghusgang tinignan si Pream.
"Tabi." Tulak nito sa mukha ni Veton palayo sa harap niya.
"Go call the others, kakain na tayo." Utos ni Enfys sa dalawa na nagmadaling tumayo para sigawan ang mga kaibigang may kanya kanyang ginagawa.
"Mga bobo, kakain na!"
Napahawak naman si Iraia sa kanyang dibdib nang marinig ang tinawag sa kanila ng dalawang mas bobo nilang kaibigan.
"Nandito naman na pala kayo, bakit niyo pa tinatawag sarili niyo?!" Pasigaw na tanong ni Sefarina.
"Your voice is so much louder at night." Reklamo ni Arrow kaya lahat sila'y marahas na napatingin sa kanya.
"Tama ba yung rinig ko?" Chismosong tanong ni Veton na hinatak ni Iraia pabalik sa lamesa.
"Anong ginagawa niyo pag gabi?" Inosenteng tanong ni Enfys habang nilalagay ang mga putaheng kanyang niluto sa lamesa.
Sunod sunod namang nasamid sa kanilang laway ang mga tangang may ibang iniisip. Their dirty thoughts were interrupted after hearing the footsteps walking down the stairs.
"Hi. I need food." Bati sa kanila ni Luna na suot ang mahabang bistida at nakalagay pa sa noo ang blindfold na suot niya sa pagtulog.
"Luna lang..."
"Luna bear, na-miss kita!"
Hindi sila nabigyan ng pagkakataong mayakap ang kaibigan dahil agad humarang si Damien para dalhin si Luna sa dining area at pinaupo sa upuan para makakain na.
"Yayakapin lang, masama ba 'yon?!" Pagmamaktol ni Sefarina at padabog na umupo sa kabilang tabi ni Luna.
Malambing niyang niyakap ang braso nito at nakangusong hinarap ang kaibigan na tinawanan lang siya.
"Ang baho mo."
They all laughed except Sefarina who rolled her eyes and sat straight. Bumubulong bulong pa ito bago natigil nang umupo si Enfys matapos malagay sa mesa ang huling putaheng hinanda niya.
"Let's celebrate?" All of them shouted and immediately dig in.
They were all delighted because they made it again. They survived. They are all alive.
However, one of them has run out of time.
"Bakit kayo nakahiga? Kakakain lang." Takang tanong ni Pream sa mga kaibigan at pinagsisipa ang mga ito patayo.
Katatapos lang niyang maghugas dahil hindi naman siya tumulong sa pagluluto at pagbalik niya sa Nallum kung nasaan ang mga Pharaohs ay nadatnan niyang mga nakahiga ito sa damuhan.
"Sa tagal mong naghugas, nagutom na ako ulit." Reklamo ni Veton na nakadapa sa tabi ni Iraia.
Nahagip ng kanyang mata ang pagtango ni Luna sa sulok. Nanliliit ang mga mata niyang siniksik ang sarili sa gitna ni Arrow at Damien na irita siyang tinignan.
"Look! A shooting star!" Iraia happily exclaimed kaya napunta roon ang atensyon nilang lahat.
Each one of them closed their eyes na para bang pinagusapan nilang gawin 'yon. Si Arrow ang unang nagmulat ng mata at tinignan ang mga kaibigan niyang mga seryosong humihiling.
He chuckled but eventually faded when he saw one of his closest friends.
"En..."
Mahina niyang bulong na narinig ng kanyang katabi kaya napamulat na rin si Sefarina at napalingon sa tinitignan ni Arrow.
"Enfys!" Gulat na sigaw ni Sefarina kaya lahat sila'y napadilat na rin.
"No..." Nabasag ang boses ni Pream nang makita ang unti-unting paglaho ng katawan ng dalaga.
Mahinang natawa si Enfys at binuka ang mga braso na tila hinihintay ang kanilang yakap pero ni isa sa kanila'y walang gumalaw.
"Tangina, Enfys. Hindi magandang biro 'yan." Hirap na bigkas ni Veton at kunwari pang tumawa.
"Babalik ako. Babalik ako para sa inyo." Tuluyang nanghina ang tuhod ni Luna at lumuluhang pinanood ang kaibigan niyang natawa sa kanyang tinuran.
"Amara, it was my decision." Marahan niyang bulong sa dalaga na nakatitig lang sa kanya.
She smiled softly as she roamed her eyes to look at her friends one last time. Ang pamilyang hindi niya akalaing tatanggapin siya ng buo, masakit man ay iiwan na niya ngayon.
"You never saw me perfect but rather a person full of insecurities and flaws." She smiled, remembering the moments she'd give her life to revisit.
"You guys made me feel like a gemstone everyone's so afraid of breaking and I wanna thank you for that." Mahina ngunit punong puno ng emosyong saad ni Enfys.
Because her parents never made her feel that way. She was their daughter, whom they were supposed to treat with the utmost care and love indefinitely. Yet, she felt nothing but the worst.
"Stop, En." Matigas na utos ni Iraia.
Hindi nawala ang ngiti sa labi ni Enfys bago nilahad ang kamay sa binatang tahimik na nakayuko sa hindi kalayuan.
"Love."
Enfys smiled as Pream took a step closer before reaching for her hand and tightly gripping it.
She locked her gaze on him one last time. She was known for memorizing things the moment she saw them, but would she be able to remember him even after death?
It was tragic that before their love story could begin, time intervened.
"You have taught me how to feel love and how to love. You have taught me how to feel freedom and be free," she said, a tear falling from her eye.
"You have taught me so much that I'm going to spend my last moments thanking you."
Hirap na huminga ng malalim si Pream at umiling ng paulit-ulit.
"What did you call me?" Paglilinaw ni Pream na hindi sinagot ng dalaga.
"Don't do this to me, Enfys. I-I have so much more to tell you... could you please give me more time to do so, hmm?" Pream pleaded, his hands trembling.
"I have repeatedly violated the commandments of the god of time, Pream. If only I had the chance..."
"But don't worry, even if I'm not here, I'll listen."
Pream drew himself closer, shaking his head in disapproval.
"No, may iba pang paraan. Naririnig mo ba ako? Y-you can't just leave me like this!" He painfully uttered.
Hindi nawala ang ngiti ni Enfys bago dahan dahang nilapit ang mukha sa binata. She pressed her lips on his as if it's the first and last time she'll be doing it.
Pream, like her, couldn't even close his eyes. Their lips are pressed together, and their eyes are both crying; clearly, Enfys had no idea that her first kiss with Pream would also be her... last.
When she moved away, Pream quickly embraced her in his arms. He had her shoulders and waist tightly gripped, clearly preventing her from moving away from him.
She returned his hug one last time. She was ready to do anything she wanted, but time couldn't even give her that chance after seeing how her hands hugging Pream's waist began to fade.
"Kapag hindi ako nakabalik agad, I don't want you to find me. Please, don't lose yourself trying to look for me." Nakangiting bulong niya.
Umiling-iling naman si Pream at hinigpitan ang yakap sa kanya.
"Laria Enfys, you're good enough to get anything you want in life. So, stop telling me what to do." He pleaded and refused to let her push him away from her.
"No. Listen to me."
Enfys sighed, still inside Pream's arms, as she searched her eyes for the one she'd been looking for. And she felt relieved when she finally met the woman's eyes, who was now sobbing uncontrollably.
"Amara's bound to die but even though we saved her, no one knows what will happen next. After this, she'll find her mother and I..." She gasped for air and pushed Pream away as hard as she could.
"... will disappear."
She witnessed Pream's eyes widening as she moved away from him. She raised her hand and threw a barrier in their direction, preventing them from approaching her.
Enfys' heart shattered even more when Pream began shouting hysterically, pleading to hold her in his arms and to be with him.
"The time is ruined and so do I." Anunsyo ni Enfys sa mga kaibigan na panay ang iling habang lumuluha.
"Remember what I'm about to say." Tawag niya sa mga atensyon nito.
"What feels like an end is just the beginning. You will rise above the storm and dominate the entire realms. So, do not stop for your journey is never ending."
She waved her hands weakly to bid farewell to her friends who are desperately trying to reach her but are unable to do so anymore.
"Let's meet again soon, Pharaohs."
When she vanished, the time stopped.
**
Tick tock. 1 chapter left + epilogue :)