More flashbacks ahead haha. Enjoy reading!
Ngayon ko lang nakitang hindi ko pa pala na-publish 'to kaninang madaling araw, sorry hahaha.
Play the multimedia above while reading :)
**
"Happy birthday to you..."
Amara opened her eyes, nagising ang bata dahil sa pagkanta ng kanyang mama at papa.
"Happy birthday to you..."
She giggled as the lights of her room turned on. Nakita niya ang kanyang mga magulang na may hawak hawak na cake na punong puno ng paborito ng prutas, ang ubas.
"Happy 7th birthday, Isla Amara."
"Thank you, papa!" Hinalikan niya ang pisngi ni Ophiluous.
"Thank you, mama!" Niyakap niya ng mahigpit ang ina at madiing hinalikan ang pisngi nito.
"Where's papa's hug? Am I not your favorite anymore?" May tampong saad ni Ophiluous sa anak na bumungisngis at tinalunan siya para mayakap.
Tumawa naman si Ophiluous at bahagya pang umikot habang yakap yakap ang anak. Ginaya niya ito malapit sa ina kung saan hawak pa rin nito ang kanyang cake.
"Blow your candles, honey."
Amara closed her eyes as she wished for their family to stay strong and complete no matter what. Pagdilat ay agad niyang hinipan ang kandila.
"Yehey! Thank you, mama Isla and papa Luous!" Masayang pasasalamat ni Amara at nagtatalon pa sa kanyang kama.
Paupo nitong binagsak ang katawan para tabihan ang kanyang mama at papa na inaagawan na siya sa kanyang mga ubas.
"Say ah, mama."
"Ah." Pagsunod ng kanyang mama at agad niya itong sinubuan ng ubas.
"How about me?" Nguso ni Ophiluous kaya muli siyang kumuha ng ubas at akmang isusubo na 'yon sa ama nang i-diretso niya 'yon sa kanyang bibig.
Ophiluous groaned as he started tickling her.
"You little wicked princess! You already took your mama's second name. You should at least choose papa as your favorite." Pagd-drama ng kanyang papa na ikinatawa nilang mag-ina.
"Alright, I'll give you some bear hugs papa!"
Tumayo si Amara sa kama at binagsak ang katawan kay Ophiluous na nakaupo sa gilid ng kanyang kama.
"I love you, my child." Masuyo niyang sabi sa anak.
"I love you more, papa!" Napangiti siya nang bigyan siya nito ng halik sa noo.
"And I love you the most mama!" Ganon din ang ginawa nito sa ina.
"Fine, I yield." Walang choice na sabi ni Ophiluous kaya mas nagtawanan ang dalawa.
"Girl power?" Ngisi ni Isla sa anak.
"Girl power forever, mama!"
Masaya nilang sinalubong ang birthday ng anak. Nagtawanan sila sa pagtatampo ni Ophiluous, nagpunasan din sila ng cake ni Amara at panay naman ang pangbu-bully ni Isla sa asawa.
They were sleeping peacefully that night when Ophiluous woke up due to some disturbing noises na naririnig niya.
"Mahal?" He motioned Isla, who also woke up, to stay quiet.
Nagtataka man ay kusang gumalaw ang mga kamay nito para yakapin at buhatin ang natutulog na anak.
"Stay in here. Walang kahit sino ang makakalapit sa inyo." Mariin niyang sabi sa asawa.
He gave his wife and daughter a kiss on their temples as he stormed out of Amara's room. Sumalubong sa kanya ang kapatid na mukhang galing sa isang bakbakan.
He tossed his sword na agad niyang nasalo.
"It's grandfather."
Nagtiim ang bagang ni Ophiluous at mahigpit na hinawakan ang kanyang espada.
"Guard Amara's room." 'Yon lang ang kanyang sinabi at mabilis na tumakbo papunta sa direksyon ng kanilang bisita.
"What a surprise, grandfather. You always come uninvited." Ngisi niya at winasiwas ang espada.
"Hello there, my favorite grandson." Ngisi nito at marahas na tinutok sa kanya ang Akita nito.
"I see that the curse hasn't been lifted yet." Malungkot niyang ani na ikinaseryoso ng mukha ni Armour.
Itinaas nito ang kamay kaya natigil sa pag-atake ang mga kasama nito.
"Give me Amara and all will be settled." Simple nitong sabi na ikinataas ng kilay niya.
He's right. Bumalik na naman ito para kunin ang kanyang unica ija.
"Who are you kidding, grandfather?" He mocked him as he started giving him attacks.
Alam niyang hindi tatantanan ni Armour ang kanyang anak hangga't hindi nito nakukuha ang gusto and he knew very well what's his reason behind his desperation.
"Luous! Amara's room!" Napatingin siya kay Beau who's arm is now dripping blood.
Marahas siyang napatingin sa mga kalaban at malakas na napamura dahil wala roon si Armour!
Damn! He's been tricked!
Mabilis siyang nakarating sa kwarto ni Amara. Isla stood in front of his grandfather while carrying Amara who's now crying.
He immediately blocked Isla's view using his body while Armour's like a monster ready to hunt them.
"No one can touch my family. No one." Matigas niyang utas habang gumagawa ng sraya para protektahan sila.
But he knew that it won't be enough kaya tahimik siyang gumawa ng portal na nilagay niya sa kama ng anak.
Bahagya siyang napalunok at nanalangin na sana hindi umabot sa puntong kailangan niyang gawin ang natitirang paraan para mailigtas si Amara.
"Ah... those eyes." Ngisi ni Armour habang tinititigan si Isla na nanatiling walang reaksyon ang mukha.
"I'm sorry, my favorite grandson. I have to take the kid..." Nawala ang ngisi nito.
"At all cost."
Bago pa nito maihagis ang Akita sa kanilang direksyon ay kinuha niya si Amara mula kay Isla at walang pasabing hinagis sa portal.
He almost trembled. I'm sorry, anak.
"No!"
Walang inaksayang oras si Ophiluous at mabilis na ginalaw ang kamay to create an attack. Hinalo niya ang apoy sa kadiliman bago 'yon hinagis kay Armour na nagbalak sundan si Amara.
Napasigaw si Armour sa sakit na naramdaman. Ginamit ni Beau ang pagkakataon na 'yon para ihagis ang kanyang espada.
"You fucker." Halos mangiyak-ngiyak niyang sabi bago pinasabugan ang katawan nito.
Tuluyang naging abo ang katawan ni Armour but Ophiluous knew na babalik at babalik ang matandang 'yon.
Nakatadhana na itong mabuhay habang buhay dahil sa ginawa nito sa mga witches mula sa Werhonlia. If he shouldn't have been that desperate, hindi sana siya aabot sa puntong 'to.
"Se--"
Ophiluous stilled.
Naluluha niyang pinanood na unti-unting mawala ang asawa sa kanyang harapan. Bahagya itong natawa sa kabila nang lumuluhang mata.
"Don't cry, my love. Amara will soon be back to find me. For now, be strong." Nakangiti nitong sabi bago tuluyang naglaho na parang bula.
Unti unting napaluhod si Ophiluous sa sahig kasabay nang pagbagsak ng kanyang espada.
Tinitigan niya ang kamang ginawa niyang portal para mailigtas ang anak.
Ang masasayang alaala nila roon ay nauwi sa sakit at pighati.
"Amara... Papa misses you so much." Tulalang saad ni Ophiluous sa kalangitan.
"Your Majesty."
He nodded to Millie, her child's primary protector. Their clan is destined to protect their family until the last member of their lineage.
While performing his duties as King, he was also waiting for Millie's news, who is trying to locate his daughter in the mortal realms. When she did, Ophiluous almost flew to where his daughter is.
Nagpatuloy ang pag-report ni Millie sa kanya kaya kahit mahirap ay nagpabalik-balik ito sa palasyo at sa mortal realm.
"How is she?" Excited niyang tanong nang dumating na si Millie na kanina pa niya hinihintay.
"Amara... someone tried to kill her again."
Naging blanko ang kanyang reaksyon nang magsimulang mag-kwento si Millie sa kanya. Muntik nang masagasaan ang kanyang anak ngunit nandito pa rin siya, walang magawa.
He was so devasted. Lalo na nang mag-desisyon siyang patigilin na si Millie. Alam niyang mas magiging ligtas ang kanyang anak kapag mas malayo ito sa kanila.
Sa paraang 'yon ay hindi na siya masusundan pa ng mga gustong dumakip sa kanya.
Ilang taon ang lumipas, nasasaktan man sa nangyari sa kanyang pamilya'y pinili niyang nagpatuloy.
The kingdom needs him, the people of Renvela need him.
Kaya hindi siya pwedeng sumuko dahil maraming tao ang naka-depende sa kanya.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." Tinignan niya ang nag-iisang anak ni Sejo, ang matalik niyang kaibigan.
"It's been a while, Sefarina." Taas noo siya nitong nginitian ngunit agad din iyong naglaho.
"The war... It's happening."
Maliit siyang napangiti. It must be near then-- his daughter's soon be coming home.
"Are we late?" Ngiti niya sa dalagang nakita niyang matapang na nakikipaglaban.
Gamit ang kanyang kamay, hinagis niya ang dapat sana'y aatake sa dalaga.
"King Ophiluous!" Nginisian niya ang iilang mga nakapansin sa pagdating nila.
"K-king?"
Pinigilan niyang matawa sa reaksyon ng dalaga at masayang kinawayan si Laidre na nage-enjoy sa taas. Mukhang hindi lang si Luna ang nagulat kung hindi halos lahat sila.
"Go get the child!" Sigaw niya kay Beau nang makitang nasaksak ng isang demon si Luna mula sa likod.
Something in his heart throbbed when he saw how she tried to stand still even though her body was giving up.
She should've laid down to stop the bleeding from her wound, but she chose to be selfless.
"I'm cornered, Luous!"
Mahina siyang napamura at walang pasabing hinagis ang espada sa ere. Tila naging isang palaso ito na nagkalat at tumama sa lahat ng mga kalabang malapit sa kanya at sa dalawang Jeden.
Mabilis siyang kumilos at agad na sinalo si Luna'ng tuluyang nawalan ng malay.
"Watch over Pream!" Utos niya kay Lucas na agad namang tumalima.
Maingat niyang pinangko ang dalaga at minuwestra ang kamay para tignan ang lagay ng katawan nito.
"Breathe, child. Breathe."
Mahina niyang bulong dito na pinipilit ang sariling 'wag mag-panic habang sinusubukang pabilisin ang tibok ng puso ng dalaga.
Napahinga siya ng malalim at napatitig sa payapang mukha ni Luna.
The young lady's facial features reminded him of someone he'd seen before. A faint smile escaped his lips; would it be harmful for him to hope that it isn't a coincidence, even if it is?
"Amara..."
Luna opened her eyes suddenly, desperately gasping for air. "What's happening?"
He could feel his knees trembling as a strange emotion lingered in his heart. He was relieved to see her alive, but he knew there was more.
"You should rest, Grandeur will handle Damien."
Hindi nakinig ang dalaga. Sa halip ay matapang itong sumugod para tulungan at protektahan ang kanyang mga kaibigan.
He smiled.
Her bravery, her heart to protect her family. Something he knew his daughter undoubtedly have.
"You Majesty, the consiglio's on their way. Luna, one of the Pharaohs, has been attacked by your grandfather."
Marahas siyang napaharap kay Lucas. Anong koneksyon nito kay Armour?
"You should prepare for the worst."
He made the lass stay in his daughter's room because he knew he could quickly move from his to hers if anything went wrong. Another reason is that he couldn't stop thinking that Luna... is his missing daughter.
He was confident that he would be successful in removing Armour's dirt from within her body. He was left alone to study Luna's condition at all hours of the day and night, without sleeping or eating.
And when he saw Luna's ability to rise after her body exploded, he was the first to move and assess her condition.
"I never had the chance to love myself."
She's stunning, even more so than the goddesses he's known, but that's just a bonus. The purification of her heart, which she was unaware of, is what made her lovable.
"They're here, Your Majesty." Salubong sa kanya ni Lucas paglabas niya sa kanyang kwarto.
Napangiti naman siya at wala sa sariling napatingin sa kwartong katabi ng kanya.
Papa misses you so much, Amara.
Huminga siya ng malalim kasabay nang pag-alala sa kanyang asawa na hindi niya rin alam kung ano na ang balita.
"Our Pharaohs here are looking so entrancing." Mangha niyang bati sa mga panauhin habang isa isang tinignan ang mga ito.
Dumako ang tingin niya sa dalagang pinakahihintay niya ngayong hapon.
"Hello there, divine." Bati niya kay Luna na sinilip siya at parang batang kumaway sa kanya.
Natawa naman siya, naalala niya si Amara sa kilos ng dalaga.
"Amara..." Tumalim ang tingin niya kay Millie.
"Millienne!" Mabilis niyang suway rito na hindi natinag.
He watched as Millie pleaded for Luna's forgiveness and attention. He wasn't stupid; his fatherly instinct was already telling him the truth, but he was the one denying it.
Reality has finally caught up with him.
The lady he mistakenly thought was his daughter the first time he saw her was, in fact, his daughter.
"Your Majesty..."
His jaw was clenching when Millie kneeled in front of him. She was crying and trying to speak for herself despite being unable to breathe.
"I'm sorry, hindi ko po agad sinabi."
Ophiluous massaged his temples while closing his eyes. After he decided to stop Millie from looking after his daughter, she immediately went back to her hometown.
He didn't have time to find out where she was or if she was still doing her job as their family's protector because he was too busy mourning for his daughter, who is fighting for her life alone in the mortal realms.
"The day she stepped in this realm... It was the day I came back." Napatanga siya sa sinabi nito.
That prompted him to slam the table. It shattered and the debris nearly wounded him, but he couldn't care less.
How will he be able to forgive himself for being such a worthless father that he is oblivious to the fact that his daughter is right in front of him?
That's his daughter, whom he sees as his lifeline to keep going even when she's not present or there's no guarantee she's still alive.
His daughter, whom he longs to embrace.
"That's my daughter, Millienne! You even dare to lie in front of my face?!" Madiin niyang sabi habang pinipigilan ang sariling magalit.
"I'm terribly sorry, Your Majesty..."
Mahigpit siyang napakapit sa gilid ng kanyang mesa habang pinipigilan ang mga emosyong kanyang nararamdaman na gustong sumabog.
"The heiress to the throne. King Ophiluous' only offspring, Isla Amara Amstel."
His tears fell.
After 15 long years.
"Welcome home, my child."
**
Hmm.