Hello! Kahapon din dapat 'to kaso hindi ko natapos hahaha. Happy reading! :)
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Enfys sighed as she rolled over in her bed. Even though it's just 4 a.m., her entire body is awake. She yawned and stood up when she realized there was no use in sleeping any longer.
She wore her sweatshirt because the wind outside was bitterly cold before rushing down to sip some milk. When she got to the first floor, she noticed the four guys preparing their own backpacks and throwing in some clothes and... weapons.
Veton has even stolen practically everything from their refrigerator. Arrow is busy tying his shoes. Pream is sleeping just on sofa bed, while Damien's eyes are closed and his legs are crossed.
What are they doing here so early?
"Good morning." Agad niyang tanong.
"Magandang umaga, binibini."
Pream was the first to respond to her greeting. The guy raised his head and waved his hand, then placed his forefinger above his protruding lips.
"Bawal maingay," he says.
Her brow furrowed as she moved closer to the countertop to steal some bread. Pinanood niya ang apat na nanatiling tahimik.
They wouldn't be silent if they didn't have anything to hide.
"A secret mission, I see." She nodded while biting into her bread.
Dame rose up and walked towards the exit near the glass panes, his bulky knapsack on his back. He was dressed in his usual tee and slacks, but he was wearing a cap to cover his face.
"Be careful." Paalam niya sa apat.
Pream grinned as Veton tossed her a flying kiss and Arrow simply nodded at her.
She chewed her bread and waited for them to leave. When Dame turned to face her, she restrained a grin.
He should be aware that, above all others, she will be prioritizing his woman the most.
"Keep an eye on her," he said as he walked away.
I don't need to be reminded, half-blood. I always have, and I will continue to do so.
"Enfys! Wake up!"
Marahas niyang inagaw ang unan sa kung sino man ang gumigising sa kanya at pinatong 'yon sa likod ng kanyang ulo.
"En, gabi na!"
Hindi siya sumagot at nagpanggap na naghihilik pero naagaw pa rin nila ang kumot na nakatalukbong sa kanya. Wala tuloy siyang choice kung hindi ang bumangon at samaan ng tingin ang tatlong babae.
"Please, let me sleep." Nagmamakaawa niyang sabi.
She tried to sleep right after the guys left, and after eating her bread, she tossed herself back into bed, only to close her eyes with her senses awake.
Everything is starting to frighten her.
It was terrifying to see how the future would be, but it was even scarier to watch how it actually transpired for it to finish like that.
"We're not to blame." Iraia smiled as she drew every pillow around her.
Luna seconded the motion. The lass's eyelids opened for a split second before closing again. She was standing on the edge of her bed, dressed in white sleepwear and with her ash hair in a tangle.
There isn't a single person in this room who doesn't acknowledge her beauty.
But seeing her up close with her bed head and just woke up look, she appears to be far more gorgeous than they imagine.
"Bumangon ka na. Anong oras na!" Tumalon sa likuran niya si Sefarina at pilit siyang inangat patayo.
Enfys sighed and let her friend drag her away from her bed. That's when she discovered the three were wearing the same clothing.
They only differ in color. Iraia's was pink, Sef's was red, and Luna's was white.
"Can you tell I'm awake?" Takwil niya sa tatlo pagkatayo niya mula sa kanyang kama.
"Bakit mas malambot yung kama mo?" Kunot noong tanong ni Luna nang subukan nitong tumalon sa kama.
Agad namang napatingin ang dalawa kay Luna. "Your bed is literally the softest here in Teadra." Hindi makapaniwalang sabi ni Iraia.
She watched them with her jaw dropped seconds before the disaster. The girls banged her pillows against each other, causing them to burst.
"Get out." Aniya sa pinakakalmadong boses.
"Ouch! You!" Matinis na tili ni Iraia at hinatak ang buhok ni Sefarina.
"-- animal!" Hahatakin sana nito ang buhok ni Luna'ng mabilis namang umupo sa kama at gumulong para makaiwas.
Enfys tried to remain cool as she made her way stealthily to the bathroom. She already knew why the three were bothering her sleep.
It was the same as the other week, when Iraia brought up the subject of the Soaree happening tonight. It took them months to attend again because Luna's initial visit was not nice.
Thanks to Aureus and his ego. That Beta.
"Wear the silk sleepwear I bought, En!" Rinig niyang bungisngis ni Iraia habang naliligo siya.
Napabuga siya ng hangin at walang choice na sinuot ang pantulog. 'Yon lang kasi ang tanging nakasabit sa rack niya katabi ng kanyang tuwalya.
"Omg. Let's go!"
Hindi man lang siya nabigyan ng pagkakataon na makapagsuot ng sapatos dahil mabilis na siyang hinatak ng tatlo papalabas. Good thing she's wearing her slippers.
Her face grimaced as they approached the location gradually. When she arrived, the sounds of people chatting and shouting, as well as the loud tune of the music, flooded her ears.
Napangiwi pa ito sa matapang at mapait na amoy ng alak na makikita kahit saan.
"Parang hindi ko yata kaya." Napatingin siya kay Luna na nangingisay na sa kaba.
She turned to face Luna, who had been wary since they arrived. Her eyes squinted as she noticed their two friends at the drinks table.
Enfys shook her head and drew Luna to a nearby table. She shifted her gaze to the outskirts of the woodland and nodded at a familiar shadow before returning her gaze to Luna.
"Do you need some menta to calm you down?" Pasigaw niyang tanong dito dahil sa lakas ng tugtog.
"Menta? Ano na naman 'yan?! Baka mamatay na ako d'yan Enfys ha!" Natatakot na lumayo sa kanya si Luna na agad niyang hinatak pabalik.
She pulled the candy from her pocket and quickly slipped it into Luna's open mouth.
"That calms you down." Paliwanag niya rito para matigil na ito sa pagpa-panic.
Mabilis naman iyong nilunok ni Luna at malakas na hinampas ang mesa na nasa harap nila.
"Meron naman palang ganyan dito, bakit hindi niyo binibigay sakin kapag sumasakay tayo sa Griffins?!" Windang nitong singhal at napapadyak pa.
Wala sa oras naman siyang napangisi. "Dame calmed you down, didn't he?"
Nabitin sa ere ang mga susunod na irereklamo ni Luna at nag-iwas ng tingin. Mang-aasar pa sana siya nang bumalik na ang dalawa na pasayaw pang nagtungo sa table nila.
"Saya niyo ah?" Sarkastikong bati niya sa dalawa.
"Who wouldn't be?! Girl, this is a party! We should be happy!" Eskandalosang sigaw ni Sefarina at sumayaw.
Lumayo naman sa kanya si Iraia na tila ikinakahiya siya lalo na nang isa isang tumingin ang mga tao sa kanila.
"Are you guys with her? Please collect your friend, she's making a scene." Iling ni Iraia sa mga dumadaang kakilala nito sa table nila.
"Friends that stick together, stay together." Tangang sabi ni Luna at sinabayan mag-eskandalo si Sefarina.
"Is she still in her right mind?" Nag-aalalang bulong sa kanya ni Iraia habang pinapanood nila parehas si Luna.
"I guess." Ngisi ni Enfys at pinagtama ang kanilang kopita.
"Kami rin!" Singit ng dalawa at sabay sabay nilang tinungga ang kani-kanilang mga inumin.
Nanlalaking mata silang nagkatinginang apat habang mabilis na tumatango. "Wow, ang sarap?" Ani Sefarina bago tinungga ang laman ng kopita.
"Of course! I heard they mixed some liquors fresh from Olympus kaya no doubt, it taste good."
Nabuga niya ang laman ng bibig kaya nandidiring lumayo sa kanya ang tatlo. "Ew, so disgusting."
"Bakit ngayon mo lang sinabi?" Stress niyang tanong na ipinagkibit balikat lang ni Iraia.
"Loosen up, my friend. Wala naman tayong pasok bukas." Bulong ng demonyo niyang katabi at pinalitan ang kanyang hawak.
Enfys was about to argue about their training tomorrow under Master Laidre pero wala na siyang nagawa nang hatakin siya ng tatlo sa gitna.
Para tuloy silang mga tangang bumangon sa kama para lang mag-party.
"This is actually fun!" Manghang sabi ni Luna na tinanguan niya.
It is, much to her surprise.
This isn't her first time attending Soaree, but this is the first time she attended with her friends. Well, she's an ambivert kaya nakakaya naman niyang pumunta sa mga ganito kahit papaano.
"Bottoms up, gaga!" Pinanood niya kung paano lasingin ni Sefarina si Luna na tinatanggap naman ang lahat ng alak.
"Should I stop them?" Bulong ni Enfys sa sarili.
Si Iraia kasi ay nawala sa table nila. Mukhang nangapitbahay ng table para makipagdaldalan.
Nakahinga siya ng maluwag nang hindi matuloy ang paglagok ni Luna at nanliliit ang matang tinignan si Sefarina. "Hoy, Sefarina ha. Napapansin ko na, nilalasing mo ba ako?"
Masaya namang tumango si Sefarina na ikinailing niya. Hindi man lang sinubukang tumanggi.
"Dapat ikaw rin."
Napahinga siya ng malalim at nilagok ang inuming hawak. Mukhang walang balak magpapigil ang mga kaibigan niya.
Sa kadahilanang wala na sa katinuan ang tatlo ay maaga silang nakabalik sa Teadra. Sa likod na nga lang ng dorm nila ginaganap ang Soaree pero parang mas lalo pa siyang nahirapan iuwi ang tatlo.
She had to throw them on the sofa just to move them away from her. Buti nga ay may konsensya pa siya kaya hindi niya sila iniwan sa lapag.
"Just how much did you drunk girls drink?"
Halos tumirik na ang mata niya sa kakairap. Uminom din naman siya, siya pa nga ata ang pinakanakarami pero bakit itong tatlo pa ang bagsak?
Naglakad siya papunta sa kusina para kumuha ng maiinom bago nasapo ang noo saka hinilot ang sintindo.
"Bakit ba ako uminom?" Wala sa sarili niyang tanong as she scolded herself mentally.
Napaangat naman ang tingin niya nang biglang bumangon si Luna para gumapang.
"En, help me. It hurts." Iyak nito habang marahang pinupukpok ang ulo sa glass panel.
"Iinom inom ka tapos magrereklamo kang masakit 'yang ulo mo? Damahin mo." Irap niya at uminom ng tubig.
"Shh! Natutulog ako!" Reklamo ni Sefarina at nilagay ang middle finger sa ibabaw ng nakanguso niyang labi.
She rolled her eyes at pinigilan ang sariling buhusan ng tubig ang kaibigan.
Hindi niya akalaing ganito lang magsisimula at magtatapos ang araw niya.
--
"Again, wala na naman tayong napala." Iling ni Pream habang hinuhubad ang sapatos nitong puro putik.
Hindi pa dapat sila uuwi ngayon kung hindi lang nila naalala na may training sila kinabukasan. Since this is an exclusive mission, maaari lang nila itong gawin kapag wala silang pasok.
"Pare bro, dapat ina-- tangina sino 'yan?!" Veton gasped dramatically as he pointed at the woman lying on the floor!
Arrow's eyes squinted as he marched towards her. "The fuck? Iraia?"
Bahagya siyang umupo para tignan kung humihinga pa ba 'to pero agad siyang napailing nang may mapansin.
"She smells the reek of ouzo."
Ouzo is a liquor from Olympus. How come nakainom si Iraia ng ganon?
Naglakad papalapit sa kanila si Veton na manghang pinagmasdan ang dalaga. "Wow. The Princess of Hanada is casually sleeping on the floor."
"Not just her."
Napatingin sila kay Dame na nakatingin sa ibang direksyon. Doon nila nakita si Luna at Sefarina na nakahiga sa damuhan ng Nallum habang si Enfys ay nakaupong nakasandal sa nakabukas na glass panel.
"Wow..."
Napatango sila at hindi malaman ang gagawin sa mga dalaga.
"They're not dead, are they?" Tulalang tanong ni Veton at kinalabit pa si Iraia na hindi gumalaw.
Damien tsked as he walked to get the princess sleeping in the middle of the field.
"Ano bang nangyari sa apat na 'to?" Iling ni Pream at marahang pinangko si Enfys.
"You slept while sitting. You're really something." Hindi niya makapaniwalang bulong dito habang natatawa.
"Wake them up before the sun rises." Utos ni Dame na naunang umakyat habang pangko pangko si Luna.
Tulad ng utos ng kaibigan, si Veton na ang gumising sa apat na babae. Inuna niya si Enfys na pinakamadaling magising sa lahat.
"How did I ended up here? I remember playing tag with Luna and Sef." Bangag nitong tanong na hindi na niya sinagot.
Kinawayan lang niya ito at lumipat na ng kwarto.
"Ugh. Go away." Inambahan niya ng sakal si Iraia na sinipa siya papalayo.
"Gumising ka ng maldita ka!" Inis niyang singhal dito at inalis ang lahat ng unang nakatakip dito kasama na ang kanyang kumot.
"Fine! I'm awake!"
"Sefarina, si Arrow!" Malakas niyang sigaw sa tenga ni Sefarina na napabalikwas ng bangon.
"Nasaan?" Palinga-linga pa ito habang nakatayo sa gitna ng kanyang kwarto.
Panay naman ang tawa ni Veton na tinapik ang pisngi ng dalaga bago lumayas doon.
Nang si Luna na ang kanyang gigisingin, walang ingay siyang pumasok sa loob ng kwarto nito at nag-tip toe pa papalapit sa dalaga.
"Luna..." He whispered as he tried to tap her cheek.
Hindi naman ito gumalaw kaya inulit niya 'yon ng inulit hanggang sa tuluyan nang dumilat si Luna.
His eyes widened as he watch her yawn like a bear. When did the shade of her eyes became lighter?
Halos hindi na niya makilala ang dalaga dahil parang araw araw atang nagbabago ang itsura nito.
"Lumayas ka sa paningin kong animal ka." Napakurap si Veton at binigyan ng malaking ngiti si Luna.
"Good morning, Luna bear! You better wake up or your favorite Master will beat the shit out of you!" Masaya niyang sabi kaya mabilis na bumangon si Luna at kumaripas ng takbo sa banyo.
Naiwan naman siyang tumatawa sa kabila nang malalim na pag-iisip.
Inasar pa niyang muli si Luna bago nagtungo sa kwarto ng kanyang kaibigan na mukhang inaasahan na siya.
"Dude, gago. Totoo ba 'yon?" Gulat niyang tanong kay Dame na walang pantaas habang nagpapapawis.
"Is she..."
"Yes."
Umawang ang kanyang labi habang inaalala ang matagal nang pinapahanap sa kanila ng hari.
If the King already found his daughter, then the one they've been seeking is the King's wife-- Luna's mother.
**