Dedicated to: Criser Joy Atienza
Chapter 24: Joined
What's good about vampires? Night is really a convenience for them. Isa pa, hindi nila kailangan nang mahabang tulog sa gabi para manatiling malakas sa susunod na araw.
The night is literally their time. It's not necessary for Caleb and Tavion to sleep with us, they could possibly devise some plans for us to proceed for tomorrow, but what we were witnessing right now made our brows arch in annoyance.
Kapwa kami nakatitig ni Iris kina Caleb at Tavion na naghahanda na ng aming hihigaan na parang sila rin ay magpapahinga katabi namin.
"Aren't you going to plan for our movement tomorrow?"
Nanghaba ang nguso ni Caleb. "Of course, we need our sleep as well."
I huffed. "Seriously, Caleb? You're vampires. Hindi ninyo kailangan ng tulog sa gabi. You're even more active at night."
Sabay umiling ang dalawang Gazellian sa harapan namin. Ilang beses pa silang nakarinig sa amin ni Iris ng reklamo pero parang wala na silang naririnig hanggang sa maayos na nila ang higaan namin.
In the end, we found ourselves lying on the bed of straws. Iris and Tavion on the right side, Caleb and I were on the left side. Sa halip na apoy ang siyang gamit naming liwanag ay inilagay ko sa pagitan namin ang aking lampara.
The dim light of the lamp made us stare at the unnoticeable natural art of the cave. Iba't ibang hugis ng naglalakihang mga batong nakadungaw sa amin na may kakaibang mga kulay.
"Both art and treasure. . ." usal ni Iris.
"The Attero is all focused with the threat given by the old ruins, but they failed to see this— the hidden treasure," ani ko.
Bigla akong napaisip kung ang mapanganib na lugar na iyon ba talaga ang pinuprotektahan ng usok na humahabol sa amin o ang nakatagong mga diyamanteng ngayon ay nakadungaw sa amin.
"This is really a treasure worthy of an empire," kumento ni Tavion.
Biglang natawa si Caleb.
"Not really. It's not even a half of my empire. We have a tree in Parsua Sartorias, iyong kamay mo na lang ang mapapagod na pumitas ng mga mamahaling bato. We have that Tree of Prospertity that every empire wishes to have."
Napalingon ako kay Caleb. I'm used to hearing absurd things from him, but when I glanced at him while I didn't see any glint of his usual silliness, instead I saw how genuinely proud he was like he's talking about something else.
Hindi ko na napansin ang matagal kong pagtitig sa kanya habang pinagmamasdan ko ang ngiti niya sa tabi ng malamlam na liwanag ng lampara. I've seen Caleb in different situations, and I couldn't deny the fact his extreme attractiveness, but his smile shines brighter every time he speaks about his family.
Sa tuwing nakikita ko siyang ngumingiti nang ganoon, na walang halong pang-aasar o kaya'y pagsisinungaling, napapatanong na lang ako sa sarili ko kung bakit ganoon na lang kakisig ang isang bampirang katulad niya. I hate Caleb's silly smiles. Iyong mga ngisi niya na parang wala nang magandang tumatakbong maganda sa utak niya, but when he smiles like that, in a very rare circumstance, halos marinig ko na ang malakas na tibok ng puso ko.
Nanatili akong nakatitig sa kanya hanggang sa unti-unti siyang lumingon sa akin.
"It's my brother's tree of symbolism. Evan's tree is one of Nemetio Spiran's favorite treasures," he whispered with a smile.
And that's it, the tree he's talking about is connected with his brother. Hindi ko na napansin na nakangiti na rin ako sa harapan niya. We were both lying on the bed of straws as we stared at each other.
I had a bad impression for the royalties before, sila iyong mga nilalang na hindi ko makikita sa ganitong sitwasyon. Sa loob nang malamig at maduming kuweba, sa lugar na ang tanging liwanag ay isang lumang lampara. The royalties I knew before were creatures who don't value much about their family, quite different from the prince who was lying beside me.
He's rare— handsomely rare.
"Liar," tipid na sagot ko kahit alam kong nagsasabi naman siya ng totoo.
Bigla akong naalala iyong kasuotan niya na punung-puno ng mamahaling mga bato.
Saglit nanlaki ang mga mata niya. "Bakit ba hindi ka maniwala sa akin, Anna? Evan's mate even planned to make it a business in human world. Naha's planning to make a huge jewelry shop in human world. Evan and his mate were trying to smuggle the empire's treasure to human world, but King Dastan forbid them. Isinumbong kasi sila ni Casper," bigla siyang natawa sa sarili niyang ikinukuwento.
Mas tumagilid na ako sa kanya, ginawa kong unan ang isa kong braso habang pinagmamasdan si Caleb na nagkukuwento sa kanyang mga kapatid.
"You miss them, are you?"
"Of course!— Of course, not!" bawi niya.
Tumaas ang kilay ko. "I am just on vacation. I don't miss them."
"Don't worry. Ganoon din naman ang mga kapatid mo. King Dastan didn't even give any clear statement about your sudden absence. Hinayaan niya na ang buong emperyo ang gumawa ng iba't ibang kuwento tungkol sa pagkawala mo," pagsingit ni Iris.
Marahas na napabangon si Caleb at napalingon siya sa posisyon nina Iris at Tavion. I heard Tavion's laughter.
"The king is unbothered? My, how pitiful," tumagilid na rin si Tavion at itinukod niya ang isa niyang siko habang nakaharap sa direksyon namin ni Caleb.
"Y-You're lying. . . I'm sure Dastan's already gathered a huge battalion for my search—" pinutol siya ni Iris.
"No. The Nemetio Spiran is still peaceful," dagdag ni Iris. Lalong lumakas ang pagtawa ni Tavion.
Iritadong itinuro ni Caleb si Tavion. "Shut up, Gazellian! I'm sure Dastan is already desperate to find me. I saw his devastation when he found out that Finn was missing. Alam kong ganoon din siya sa akin. I am his favorite brother!" ilang beses pa niyang tinapik ang dibdib niya.
Hindi ko na rin napigilan ang pagtawa ko. When I first heard that he's a prince, pumasok na rin sa isip ko na hindi na siya pinahahanap ng kanyang hari.
"Anong ginawa mo, Caleb? What made him decide not to find you? Sakit ka ba talaga sa ulo sa iyong emperyo?"
He irritatingly looked down at me. "Anna! I am the most powerful in our empire! Without my great contribution during the Nemetio Spiran's recent war there's nothing," ilang beses siyang napamasahe sa kanyang noo.
"He sent you here, Iris. I know."
"Walang alam si Haring Dastan na narito ako," mas lalong lumaglag ang balikat ni Caleb.
"What really happened? Paano ka nakarating dito, Caleb? I can still remember what you've told me. You sacrificed yourself, right? Iniharang mo ang katawan mo nang may aatekehin ang kalaban at bigla ka na lang—"
"When was that? Nagkaroon pa ba ng malaking labanan pagkatapos ng digmaan ng mga diyosa?" biglang tanong ni Iris.
Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin ni Caleb sa akin at kay Iris.
I saw how Caleb quickly wiped the sweat on his forehead. "After the war, I spent most of my time inside the forests, iba ang oras sa mga kagubatan kaya masyado akong nahuli sa balita. Only Tavion gave me the news that Queen Leticia's already back and you're missing. Sa sobrang bilis ng pangyayari, hindi ko na lubos nakuha ang impormasyon tungkol sa pagkawala mo. Why really happened? Paano ka nga nakarating dito, Caleb?"
"Y-Yes. . . something happened. I used my body to save—" natigil muli si Caleb nang biglang tumawa si Tavion.
"But I heard a different version of the story, dear cousin."
"S-Stop calling me cousin!" gigil na sagot ni Caleb.
"I'm quite different from Iris. Since my initial target was you, I collected some information about your disappearance. As a prince who grew up in a castle, I'm all aware of how to quickly get some fresh news from the castle. I asked some maids when they were in the market."
"Shut up, Tavion! I swear! I will pull your fangs if you continue—"
"I think a silly princess named Divina who happened to have a witch's bloodline cast a spell on him and sent him here. The maids told me that he was playing with his nieces and they accidentally vanished him."
"Fuck," matigas na usal ni Caleb.
Muli na akong natawa at naiiling na napatitig sa kanya si Iris. "I can imagine. . . Divina, that little princess is too fond of Caleb. I've witnessed it during our journey. But you're spoiling her too much."
Hindi na nagsalita si Caleb at padabog na muling humiga sa tabi ko. Hindi siya lumingon sa akin at nanatili siyang nakatingin sa itaas habang may salubong na kilay.
"I will definitely introduce you to her, Tavion. There's no way you're going to get away from that brat."
"She's kind and cute," natatawang sabi ni Iris.
Suminghap si Caleb. "Kind!"
"So, you're fond of kids as well."
"Not really. . ." mahinang sagot niya sa akin.
Hinintay ko pang magsalita si Caleb pero ipinikit niya na ang mga mata niya. I moved closer to him, and I wrapped my arms around him.
"It's not all about how you landed here. It's about who welcomed you here. Our first encounter was not that good, right? But we ended up together."
"Are you trying to cheer me up with that embarrassment?"
"I don't think it is embarrassing. I just discovered another unexpected side of you— I think you're the most favorite uncle."
Iyong nanghahabang nguso ni Caleb ay unti-unti nang nawala at napalitan ng ngisi. "Of course. King Dastan even envied me because the kids love me more than him."
Tumagilid na rin siya at yumakap sa akin. "Maybe he's not looking for me because he's jealous," bulong niya sa akin.
Tumango na lang ako para hindi na humaba ang usapan. Ramdam ko ang magaang halik ni Caleb sa ibabaw ng ulo ko at ang mas mahigpit niyang yakap sa akin.
I promised myself that I'd send Caleb home. I heard his endless invitation for me to stay with him and permanently live there for good. Noong una ay hindi pa ganoong kalakas ang pagnanais ko sa imbitasyon niya, ngunit habang tumatagal na naririnig ko ang iba't ibang klase ng kuwento niya at ang mundong kinalakihan niya, hindi ko maiwasang makita ang sarili ko na naroon din sa lugar na iyon.
Caleb may be the most arrogant and unexpected creature I've met in this lifetime, but every time he talks about home, I can't help but feel fascinated with him and the creatures around him. He may be my biggest reason to accept his invitation, but the way he speaks about his empire and how great his surrounding made me feel so fascinated and curious. As an Attero who's in love with my own world, it is very unusual for me to take an interest to another world.
For me, Fevia Attero is the best world. Siguro nga ay may mga kakulangan pa ito at kailangan pang ayusin, ngunit masasabi kong higit na angat ang aming mundo kumpara sa iba. Isa pa, narito ang higit na malalakas na nilalang. There's no way I'd trade my beautiful world to live with another world— and that's my first perception before.
Ngunit iyon pa rin ba talaga ang isinisigaw ng isipan ko? Gayong alam ko sa sarili ko na tanging sakripisyo na lang ang tingin sa akin ng sariling kong angkan. My existence will do harm, not just to my family but to my whole bloodline.
As I buried myself between Caleb's chest I felt a single tear glided on my cheeks. And I silently thanked that silly princess who named Divina who sent me this handsome prince for me. Dahil kung hindi dahil sa kanya'y malamang ay tuluyan na talaga akong inalay sa aming panginoon.
Caleb came in this world to save me, and I'll do everything to help him as well. Kung anuman ang nais niyang malaman sa loob ng mapanganib na lugar na iyon ay hindi ako magdadalawang isip na ipagkaloob iyon lahat sa kanya.
I'll provide Caleb with everything that I have to acquire the information that he needs to solve his father's puzzles. After all, Thaddeus, no, King Thaddeus chose me to be one of his chess pieces.
Habang nakadaop ang talukap ng aking mga mata, tila mabilis akong hinila sa isang kakaibang panaginip. I suddenly found myself standing on a huge chess board with different creatures standing beside me, on different tiles with unusual relics on their palms.
Wala ni isa sa amin ang nakakita sa isa't isa. But we're all looking up at the huge creature staring down at us, with his familiar smile.
I took another glance at the creatures beside me.
I saw a man with a good physique, he's holding a small bottle with a preserved fruit inside it, a beautiful woman with a music box and a few strands of white hair, a woman with a glowing necklace with her arms crossed on her chest, a woman who looked like a goddess with her golden like hair, and another beautiful woman with a familiar presence of a witch.
I knew right at that moment, as my eyes scanned the items on their palms, the way they stood confidently and how their presence ignited together that they're King Thaddeus' precious chess pieces— the Gazellians' mates.
This may be a premonition, a vision, or a representation of the current situation, but as a woman who exposed herself to endless mysteries, puzzles, and questions in my own world, it's already easy to read this message.
I looked up at him and I accepted his gaze as confident as the first Gazellian mates.
This dream is a clear message from the most hailed king.
Finally, King Thaddeus officially joined me in his game, an Attero, and a full-blooded witch.