CLAUSS
Thursday night. I sighed. I'm here at the rooftop with a telescope on one of my hands. I'm checking the surroundings. I know, I'm not enough for this task. This was actually a pain. We're communicating through Claudette's power. I could all hear their voices inside my head.
Nakauwi na ang mga estudyante. Less trouble for us. May kanya-kanya kaming lugar na binabantayan. We're not leaving our post. Hindi namin alam kung kailan susugod ang mga kalaban. Nagbabantay si Akira sa harapan ng academy habang nasa isang puno. Si Selene naman ay nagbabantay sa stadium ng field. Sina Cyril, Frances at Xander naman ay nakakalat lang kung saan-saan. Magkasama naman sina Bryan at Claudette.
Pinauwi namin si Felicity dahil mapapahamak lang siya. Her magic power was sealed. She can't probably use it. And she doesn't know anything about it. Si Troy naman, nagmamatyag sa entrance ng kagubatan. Masyadong tahimik ang gabi. Tanging ang banayad na simoy ng hangin at ingay ng mga kuliglig ang naririnig namin. It will be bad if we don't get enough rest. Bukas na ang araw na hinihintay namin. May mga kahina-hinalang pangyayari kaninang umaga kaya hindi namin magawang magpahinga.
Inilibot ko ang paningin sa buong paligid gamit ang telescope na hawak ko. Naalerto ako sa isang presensiya na biglang sumulpot mula sa likod ko. Hinarap ko siya. Kumunot ang noo ko nang makilala na si Cyrus ang taong 'yon. Still, his motives were not clear to me. And I'm really curious how he got here that fast. What was his power?
"What do you want?" seryosong tanong ko sa kanya. Hindi ko alam kung kaaway ba siya o kakampi pero magaan ang loob ko sa kanya. May pagkakahawig pa kami. May ideya na pumapasok sa utak ko pero hindi ko pa natatanong at nakukumpirma sa kanya. I don't have the courage to ask him. I'm afraid of my hunch but at the same time it overwhelms my heart with happiness. But I don't want to jump into conclusion. Cyrus sit on the railings.
"You look tired. I will lend you a hand. I will guard the place for all of you. You can all sleep. Tiyak na hindi pa susugod ngayong gabi si Jeanne. She's probably sound asleep right now. She will not waste her energy tonight. She's saving the real fight for tomorrow," he answered smiling. Wala akong nakikitang bahid ng pagkabahala sa mukha niya. May alam siya sa nangyayari kahit hindi siya nakikialam sa 'min.
But I can't trust someone so easily. I looked at him doubtfully. I must be cautious.
"How can I be sure that you're not an enemy? I'm not sure if I can trust even you. I don't know who you really are," kunot-noong sabi ko sa kanya.
He smiled widely. "Of course, you know who I am. You already have an idea but you're just afraid to accept it. You're not dumb as Mom, Dad," he frowned suddenly. Napaawang ang labi ko. My heart was pounding so fast. I can't get a hold of my emotions. "Marami na akong naibigay na clues sa kanya pero hindi pa rin niya nakukuha kung sino ako. She's really slow. Now, I'm really wondering why you fell for her. But I love her the way she is, like you always do," he added.
Nanghihinang umupo ako sa sahig. Napasandal ako sa railings. Katapat ko lang siya. Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya. I knew he's sincere with what he had said. Hindi ko malaman ang sasabihin ko. Siguro hindi ko na kailangang magtaka na nakikita ko siya ngayon. We're not ordinary, anyway.
"You're really my son? Paano ka nakarating sa panahon namin? Why did you come here?" sunud-sunod na tanong ko sa kanya. Halo-halong emosyon ang nararamdaman ko ngayon. Masaya ako dahil nakilala ko siya agad. Hindi rin ako makapaniwala sa nangyayari. Pero natatakot din ako at kinakabahan pa rin para sa mga mangyayari bukas. I know this wasn't the time to celebrate and be happy. I'll save the celebration for later. I have to focus on the coming fight.
"Some genius freak made me a defective time machine! Mabuti na lang bago sumabog 'yon, nakarating ako rito," naiiling na sabi niya. Sumabog? Bigla kong naalala ang pagsabog noong nakita namin ang red moon. Siguro 'yon ang tinutukoy niya. It was the same time when Jeanne challenged me. "Si Jeanne ang pakay ko. I have to bring her back with me in the future. I also need to stop her but I have limited power to do that in this time. That's why I'm counting on you. If you failed then there will be no future ahead for you and Mom," he seriously said.
Kinabahan ako sa sinabi niya. I sighed. He's probably right. I don't want to ask anymore questions. I need to rest. Ihinagis ko sa kanya ang telescope. Sinalo naman niya 'yon gamit ang isang kamay. I contacted everyone through Claudette's telepathy. Sinabi ko sa kanilang magpahinga na sila para bukas. Sinabi ko na lang na may magbabantay para sa kanila at wala pang balak sumugod si Jeanne ngayong gabi. Sinunod naman nila ang sinabi ko.
"Will you be fine?" I asked Cyrus. He nodded. Actually, hindi ko alam kung paano ang tamang pagtrato sa kanya.
Bigla kong naalala ang nangyari kaninang umaga. "I saw black smokes surrounding the academy this morning," I said worriedly.
Umiling siya. "Pinaglalaruan lang kayo ni Jeanne. She wanted to make you all restless. Tiyak na mas madali kayong talunin kung wala na kayong sapat na lakas para lumaban," he answered.
I see. She's a clever girl to do that. I nodded. Isinandal ko ang ulo ko sa railings. I closed my eyes. For now, I will believe in him. Hindi ko na siya magawang tanungin pa. Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman ko. I don't know how to express my feelings. I couldn't believe, I could see my son in this time.
****
Friday. Maaga akong nagising. Cyrus was still widely awake and alert. I stood up.
"How's everything going?" seryosong tanong ko sa kanya. Umiling siya na ikinakunot ng noo ko.
"She's not yet moving. It's suspicious. Maybe she's still waiting for something. The new moon," he answered. "Now that you're awake. I will now leave and sleep."
"Wait. I have a question. You're from the future. Did you know that something like this will happen in our time? May alam ka ba sa maaaring mangyari ngayong gabi?" umaasang tanong ko sa kanya. Mas maganda sana kung may alam siya sa mangyayari. Makakatulong iyon upang makapaghanda kami kahit kaunting oras na lang ang natitira.
"Hindi makakatulong ang nalalaman ko. The past has been changed. It was very different. In the book written by Frances, you're the one who had been controlled by the darkness. But now, it was Mom. I don't have any idea. I'm also waiting for tonight's outcome," he said. Napansin ko ang kaseryosohan sa boses niya. Sa tingin ko, malalim ang iniisip niya. Pero nagulat ako sa sinabi niya.
"Bakit hindi na sa 'kin napalipat ang kapangyarihan?" nagtatakang tanong ko sa kanya.
He looked at me. "Natatandaan mo ba? Biglang dumating si Elysha. Actually, ikaw talaga ang balak niyang pasahan ng kapangyarihang 'yon. She's actually desperate to die and be free from darkness. And then Jeanne interfere. She controlled Elysha. Elysha attacked Mom and accidentally transfered her ability. Kung wala si Jeanne sa panahong ito, darating pa rin si Elysha na magiging dahilan ng kaguluhan," he explained. "I can't explain everything. We don't have enough time. Ipapaliwanag ko na lang ang iba sa 'yo kapag nakakuha ako ng pagkakataon. Bye," he said. Bigla siyang naglahong parang bula sa paningin ko. Hindi ko na nagawang magtanong pa.
I sighed. Dahil sa sinabi niya na hindi pa gumagalaw si Jeanne, nagpasya akong pumunta sa underground basement para makita si Xyra. I'm really worried about her. Nagdala ako ng pagkain para sa kanila ni Xavier. Tiyak na takot na takot na siya sa maaaring mangyari sa kanya.
Pagpasok ko sa loob ng room, napansin ko na gising na ang dalawa. Xyra seems restless. Mukhang hindi siya nakatulog nang maayos. She gave me a faint smile when she saw me. She looked pale. I know she's not feeling well.
"Are you alright?" nag-aalalang tanong ko sa kanya.
"I'm fine. Nanaginip lang ako nang masama," she answered.
Kumunot ang noo ko. "About?" tanong ko sa kanya. Umiling siya. "Nothing. Just some random dream. Masyado lang naii-stress ang utak ko kaya kung anu-ano ang napapanaginipan ko. Ano'ng nangyayari sa labas? Is everything going smoothly?" she asked.
Ibinigay ko kay Xavier ang pagkain niya. Lumapit ako kay Xyra. "Everything's fine. You don't have to worry about us," I answered. "Huwag mo nang isipin 'yon. Just eat for now," I added. She looked at me doubtfully. Halatang hindi siya naniniwala sa sinasabi ko. But she didn't complain. Tahimik na sinunod niya ang sinabi ko. I'm glad she's being obedient.
I was looking at her the whole time. I don't want to miss every bits of her. Natigilan siya sa pagkain at nagtatakang tumingin sa 'kin. I smiled. She frowned.
"You're acting strange," she said. Well, I don't think anyone can act naturally or care-free in this kind of situation. I laughed weakly and ignored what she said. Marahan kong hinaplos ang buhok niya. Kaunting oras na lang ang nalalabi sa 'min. I must do my best for her. For our future.
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TO BE CONTINUED...
Author's Note:
Hello readers! LOL. Ang tagal kong mag-update 'no? haha.. Sorry for making you wait. Thanks for reading this story <3 Take care always and God bless.
P.S. Nahihirapan akong mag-decide para kina Clauss at Xyra. :3