'Tales of Archia'
XIN
Archia. The place which I only heard of. The place where he came from. The place, where he wanted me to stay. From what I've heard of, I thought it would be an old castle, messy dark and gothic as it may seem. But it was not. Archia was not just a castle. It was a whole Kingdom.
Kingdom of Archia. Kingdom of vampires. Jun's Kingdom.
"Welcome to my home." He said, presenting me the whole kingdom in front of me. Yes, there was a fascinating castle ahead. But what fascinated me most was the village below the castle. It was clean, it was dark but clean. The concretes were monochromatic. It was as if an aesthetically pleased architect made Archia bit by bit.
Everything was detailed. It was so classy, so elegant but at the same time, so simple. A real eye pleaser. It was far from what I imagined it to be. Tumingin kaagad ako kay Jun na nakatingin lang sa tanawin. He rules this kingdom? By himself? And still being part of the team? He's managing his schedule strictly. Napakagat nalang ako sa labi ko.
"Come on. I want to show you something." Mahina niyang sambit at iginiya na ako papasok sa village. Everyone immediately bowed to Jun when they saw him. Everyone looked at me and some of them recognized me by the girl who was the hindrance to Jun's rule and others recognized me as the hybrid who's guarding the realm.
Yumuko lang ako at hinawakan ang laylayan ng jacket ni Jun. Naramdaman ko lang na inakbayan niya ako at tsaka na kami nakarating sa harap ng palasyo niya. Well, it's a palace characterized to look like it's from the B.C.'s but it looks like it was stylized to look a bit modern, on the inside of course. Pumasok na kami at agad akong sinalubong ng yakap galing kay Jane.
"You finally came!" Nakangiti niyang sabi habang hawak-hawak ang kamay ko at tiningnan si Jun na nakatayo lang sa gilid ko.
"Hindi mo ba ako babatiin?" Angat-labing tanong ni Jun sa kanya. I was slightly taken aback by the sight of him smirking and raising an eyebrow. Huminga nalang ako ng malalim para kontrolin ang sarili ko at tiningnan nalang si Jane na naglakad papunta sa harap ni Jun. "Welcome back, King Wen JunJun." Napatakip nalang ako sa bibig ko dahil sa sinabi ni Jane. Wen JunJun? Why does that sound cute suddenly? Jun just mocked Jane with a smile. Lumapit lang si Jane sa akin at nag-cling sa braso ko.
"Now if you'll excuse us, my King. I'll take your gorgeous Queen to a tour." Tiningnan ko lang si Jane dahil sa sinabi niya at tsaka tiningnan si Jun na aangal pa sana pero hinila na ako ni Jane. Nilingon ko nalang si Jun na nakatingin sa akin. Ngumiti lang ako sa kanya.
"We'll see you at the dining room, King Wen JunJun." Pahabol ni Jane sa kanya dahilan para matawa ako at tiningnan si Jun na napasapo nalang sa noo niya. Jane dragged me into a hallway habang nakangiti lang siya at nakatingin sa unahan.
Then I just noticed Jane's features from up close. She had a pretty nose line, skin as white as milk, hands as cold as it could be. Her lips were curvy, and her hair was soft and lively. The difference she has from Jun is her eyes. She has dark enchanting eyes. Tiningnan ko nalang ang paligid ng hallway na dinadaanan namin at napahinto ako nung makita ko ang family portrait nila.
I saw Jun's parents for the first time. I only saw cloudy visions of his parents whenever I do the memory lane on him. Pero ngayon, kitang-kita ko na sila. Jun and Jane were standing at the back of the sofa that their parents were sitting on. Jane was smiling, like her Mother. While Jun had a straight face, like his Father. Tiningnan ko ang mga singsing na suot nila. The Archia's ring.
Napahawak kaagad ako sa kwintas ko at hinawakan ang singsing ni Jun na ginawa niyang pendant dito. Then, this must be a very important ring to him. I recognized the ring that Jane was wearing. It was the same ring that I have as a pendant.
"Wow, he's really so serious about you." Napatingin kaagad ako kay Jane dahil sa sinabi niya at dun ko nakitang nakatingin pala siya sa pendant ng kwintas ko habang nakangiti.
"Well, knowing that you're already dating him for years now, I know that he's serious about you. Pero hindi ko alam na sa ganitong punto na pala aabot ang pagiging seryoso niya. He even gave you Mom's ring." Nanigas kaagad ako sa kinatatayuan ko dahil sa sinabi ni Jane. This is not his ring? Napatingin kaagad ako sa kwintas ko at tiningnan ang pendant dito. There was no name on it. Pero palagi 'tong suot ni Jun.
Napatingin kaagad ako kay Jane nung naramdaman kong hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at tiningnan ang singsing na binigay sa akin ni Jun. The one that had Archia's symbol on it. Ngumiti lang siya at tiningnan ako.
"And the ring that signifies that you are part of the family. The Archia's royal ring." Nakangiti niyang sabi at tsaka pinakita sa akin ang singsing na kagaya ng suot ko. Napalunok nalang ako at hindi ko alam kung bakit pinagpapawisan ako. Firstly, this ring on my necklace is from the late Queen of Archia and now Jane is saying that I'm part of the Archia's royal line?
Tiningnan ko si Jane na nakasandal sa pader at nakangiting nakatingin sa akin.
"When's the wedding?" I chocked on my own spit because of what she said. Tinawanan niya lang ako at tinapik-tapik na ang balikat ko.
"Nagbibiro lang naman ako." Natatawa niyang sabi at tiningnan muli ang family portrait nila.|
"Mom would've loved you. Dad too." Sabi ni Jane at ramdam ko ang lungkot sa boses niya. Tiningnan ko lang ang larawan ng mga magulang nila. The Queen was beautiful, really beautiful. And the late King, well, now I know where Jun got his godly looks from. Huminga ako ng malalim at tinitigan ang portrait nila. Jun told me the story about them. How they lived, to how they died.
The King was an equal and rational King. The Queen was his advisor and consort. They were a perfect pair, until something happened. They died from an attack from an unknown vampire clan. Until now, Jun's still looking for answers.
"You know Xin, I have things that I want to thank you." Tumingin kaagad ako kay Jane habang naglalakad kami sa loob ng palasyo nila. She just looked at me and smiled tsaka kami umupo sa mga sofa sa sala at binigyan niya ako ng tea. This place is so classy. Tinikman ko ang tea habang nakatingin ako kay Jane na nakatingin sa akin.
"First, thank you for being born." Agad akong napaubo dahil sa sinabi niya. Tinawanan niya lang ako kaya hindi ko na mapigilang matawa narin at punasan ang labi ko. "Pero seriously, thank you for being born. Kasi kung hindi, the whole realm would've been dead by now. You know, from Storm's madness to the Blue Queen's attack. You were always a great help." Sabi niya kaya iwinasiwas ko kaagad ang kamay ko sa ere.
"It's not just me, Jane. The whole team did it. We did it together." I said, proving my point. Ngumiti lang si Jane at tumango nalang sa sinabi ko.
"Second, thank you for changing Jun." Naiangat ko kaagad ang tingin ko kay Jane dahil sa sinabi niya. Me? Changing Jun? Saglit akong napailing at inisip ang sinabi niya. Did I really do it? Did I really change him? Yes, he was quiet when we first met, and he looked like he was always ready to kill, but so was I. I also changed when I was with him and with the team.
The case could be that he and the team changed me. I don't think I have the ability to change someone when I can't even get hold of my own emotions sometimes.
"If you're thinking that you weren't the one who changed him, you're wrong. Only a girl named Xinny Muirgen Allison – ehem, slash Wen – can change my brother's dim personality." Natawa nalang ako dahil sa kakulitan ni Jane.
"Nung hindi ka pa sumali sa team, wala siyang balak na umako sa trono. I had to convince him for a whole decade just to make him sit on the throne pero ayaw niya parin. Not until, he met you." Saglit na kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa sinabi ni Jane. Until Jun met me? But what's that got to do with him stepping into the throne? Tiningnan lang ako ni Jane at parang alam niya ang iniisip ko.
"Xinny Muirgen Allison, the girl of danger. Danger finds you wherever you are. So, in order to protect you from danger, Jun stepped into the throne, acquiring the power and authority to protect his sweet little flower. Sweet, right?" Hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko dahil sa mga narinig ko. All this information was new to me. I don't know what to do with them. Tiningnan ko lang si Jane na nakatingin sa akin at nakangiti. Napakagat nalang ako sa labi ko.
Sweet little flower, huh? That's how he sees me? Just like before? Tinago ko nalang ang ngiti ko at tiningnan muli si Jane.
"Jane? Ano nang nangyari dun sa council? The one that punished you, the one that was against Jun?" Tanong ko sa kanya dahilan para mapanguso siya at itinigil ang paglalaro ng daliri niya sa bibig ng wine glass na hawak niya at ibinaba ito.
"They got replaced by the highland vampires. It's also incredible how Jun managed to tame the highlanders. Parang noon lang sila pa 'yung gustong pumatay kay Jun and now they're under his authority." Sagot niya dahilan para mapaisip ako. I do remember the Blue Night. Jun's army was there, and so was the highland vampires. Huminga nalang ako ng malalim at inubos na ang tea na binigay sa akin ni Jane. "Jane, I've been curious about this one for a long time. Are you and Jun really.. uhh—"
"Real siblings?" Tanong niya habang nakangiti, flashing me her fangs. Mahina akong tumango at nakita kong ngumiti siya at tsaka umiling dahilan para kumunot ang noo ko.
"I was turned into a vampire by the King. While Jun, almighty Jun.. was a born vampire." Kumunot kaagad ang noo ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Born vampire? Tumingin lang sa akin at Jane at gumawa ng circle sign sa kamay niya at tinuro ako. Nakuha ko kaagad ang ibig niyang sabihin kaya gumawa ako ng blue shield sa aming dalawa.
Maybe the walls are thin that she didn't want anyone hearing our conversation. Ngumiti lang siya at umusog palapit sa akin.
"He was a born vampire. One of the rarest vampires there is. Born vampires are those who are born, having the traits of a vampire. As they say, born vampires are so rare that they can only be counted using our fingers." I felt goose bumps when Jane was telling me this.
"Jun was a born vampire from the King and Queen. He was the original blood. He was born possessing the traits of a vampire. At dahil dito, he had to live a normal human life for at least until he reached puberty. Because born vampires are named as 'half-human'. So, when he reached the right age, a ritual was made for him to turn into a full vampire. After the ritual was done, Jun possessed the full traits of being a vampire. That is, giving him the ability to read minds, the strongest one in the kingdom and the fastest one there is. He was the golden boy of the family. Very fit to be the king." Jane spit those words like golden words. Nakangiti siya habang sinasabi niya 'yun at nakatingin sa akin. Born vampire, huh? That's why I never saw anything in him other than his vampire life, not his past life, because he never really had one.
"And since he's a born vampire, he needs sleep for at least once every month. You could cuddle with him though." Dagdag niya habang nakangiti kaya napayuko nalang ako at ngumiti narin.
"He's immortal, he's powerful, he's almighty and he's yours." Tiningnan ko lang si Jane dahil sa sinabi niya at nakita ko pa siyang parang kinikilig dun sa sofa.
"Ikaw lang yata 'yung nakakatapat sa kanya. The speed, the power. You're competing with him and he's liking it too much. Ahh, get married already." Natawa nalang ako dahil sa sinabi ni Jane at mahinang tinapik ang pisngi ko. Inalis ko na ang blue shield na pumapalibot sa amin at saktong naramdaman ko ang pamilyar na hawak na 'yun sa balikat ko.
Napalingon kaagad ako kay Jun na nasa likuran ko na pala at hawak-hawak ang magkabilang balikat ko habang dahan-dahan itong minamasahe.
"What were you two talking about?" Tanong ni Jun at umikot sa sofa tsaka umupo sa tabi ko. The palace maids immediately refilled my tea and they gave Jun a glass of wine. Ngumiti lang si Jane at tumingin sa akin tsaka tinaas-baba ang kilay niya. Dahil dito ay tiningnan lang ako ni Jun at tsaka nilagok ang wine na hawak niya.
"You." Agad kong sagot at tiningnan siya. Jun almost chocked on his wine because of it but he managed it like a pro and brushed it off.
Tiningnan ko lang si Jane nung agad siyang tumayo at kumindat pa sa akin tsaka tiningnan si Jun. "I think I have a council meeting to attend. I bid you farewell, King Wen JunJun." Tiningnan ko nalang si Jane na paalis na at tsaka si Jun na walang ibang nagawa kundi ang huminga ng malalim at tsaka ako tiningnan.
"Don't even think about calling me that." Pagbabanta niya sa akin pero ngumiti lang ako at sumandal sa arm rest ng sofa, having a good look at him who was just staring at me with confusion. Can't read my mind? Ngumiti lang ako sa kanya.
"Why? It's cute. Right, Wen JunJun?" Jun just groaned out of frustration and just bopped my nose to shut me up. Ngumiti lang ako sa kanya at naramdaman kong hinila niya ang mga paa kong nakaapak sa sahig at pinatong ito sa binti niya.
Tiningnan ko lang siya na nakatingin sa akin habang minamasahe ang binti ko. Just what I need. Hindi naman kami tumakbo papunta dito sa Archia pero nangangalay parin ang paa ko. Maybe I've been having too many duties with the realms that I forgot to take care of myself.
"You never told me that this was your Mom's." Sabi ko sa kanya dahilan para tumingin siya sa kwintas ko at sa singsing na nakasabit dito. Ngumiti lang siya sa akin. Hay, with that smile, I can't even question him anymore. I know he's not going to give me any answers. Tinanggal ko ang kwintas ko at inalis ang singsing doon tsaka kinuha ang kamay ni Jun at inilagay ang singsing doon.
Tiningnan niya lang ako habang sinasara ko ang kamay niya.
"I am not worthy of this." Sinabi ko ang mga salitang 'yun habang nakatingin sa mga mata niya. Jun's eyes flashed while he was looking at me. The corner of his lips rose up at naramdaman kong kinuha niya muli ang kwintas ko at binalik dun ang singsing tsaka niya sinuot sa akin ang kwintas ko.
Tiningnan ko nalang siya na nakatingin sa kwintas at tsaka tumingin sa akin.
"The only one I'd give this ring to, is you. No matter what happens, this is yours. The only one I'd entrust this ring is you, Xin. Only you." Napayuko nalang ako dahil sa sinabi niya. And here I am, not giving him anything in return. But then I remembered what he once said. Love isn't about giving something and expecting something in return. It's about the happiness your love one gets, and that happiness satisfies you more than anything could.
Tumango nalang ako sa sinabi niya at sumandal ulit sa arm rest. We talked for a little while until he decided to show me his room. Umakyat kami sa west wing ng palasyo nila habang nakatingin lang ako sa paligid at huminto na kami sa isang pinto. Binuksan niya kaagad ito at dun ko nakita ang laman ng kwarto niya. There was a huge bed, a book shelf, a TV and a walk-in closet.
Tumingin-tingin ako sa paligid ng kwarto niya at lumapit sa drawer. Dun ko lang nakita ang mga picture frame na nandun. It was the whole team with Xy in it. Napangiti lang ako nung makita ko ito pero napahinto ang tingin ko sa dalawang picture frame na nasa gilid ng kama niya. The first picture was a picture of him and me. Being silly and all. Then the second picture was me, just me.
Tiningnan ko kaagad si Jun na nakatingin lang sa akin habang nakasandal siya dun sa pinto. Nag-iwas nalang ako ng tingin at pinasadahan ng kamay ang bed sheet ng kama niya pero may bigla akong naalala dahilan para tingnan ko kaagad si Jun.
"Nung dinala mo dito si Miu, did she sleep here?" Tanong ko sa kanya at tinuro ang kama niya dahilan para kumunot kaagad ang noo niya.
"Why would I do that? Of course, she slept at the guest room." Sagot niya kaagad pero tiningnan ko lang siya. I don't know but my thoughts are acting up again. "You don't even sleep. You may have lent her your bed and guard her while she was sleep because you seem to be so protective of her at that time." I said those words with the intent to hit him directly. Jun just narrowed his eyes at me and moved closer.
"Where did Luce kiss you again?" Nanigas kaagad ako sa kinauupuan ko dahil sa tanong niya. He back fired at me like a bazooka. I wasn't expecting that hit. Now, that was a direct hit. Diretso lang ang tingin ni Jun sa akin. I was avoiding eye contact with him until he lifted my chin using his cold fingers and made me lock eye contact with him.
Napalunok nalang ako habang nakatingin ako sa kanya.
"Answer my question, Xinny." Napapikit nalang ako dahil sa tinawag niya sa akin. Is it just me or whenever he calls me Xinny, something comes up to my system. Magsasalita na sana ako pero napatigil ako nung nakita ko ang tingin na binibigay niya sa akin. "Use your actions." My whole body shivered because his dominant side is coming out again. Use my actions? Umangat nalang ang gilid ng labi ko nung makuha ko ang ibig niyang sabihin.
Tumayo ako sa kama kaya tiningnan niya ako na naglalakad lang papunta sa kabilang parte ng kwarto. Jun traced me with his stares.
"Seth won't approve." Tinaasan lang ako ng kilay ni Jun dahil sa sinabi ko.
"Seth's not here." Mariin niyang sambit. Now he's being a bad boy just because we're in his territory. Napakagat nalang ako sa labi ko at bahagyang nag-inat.
"I'm tired. I want to sleep." Mahinahon kong sabi sa kanya. Tiningnan lang ako ni Jun at nagpakawala nalang siya ng hininga at tsaka na ako pinalapit sa kanya. Ahh, I escaped temptation. Lumapit kaagad ako sa kanya at humiga na sa kama niya habang nakaupo lang siya at ini-on na ang TV na nasa harap namin.
Niyakap ko nalang ang beywang niya at pinikit na ang mga mata ko habang tinatapik na niya ang pisngi ko. And just like what he does recently, he asks a question before I fall asleep. One cute but authoritative question.
"Whose winter strawberries, are you?" Napangiti nalang ako dahil sa tanong niya.
"Yours."
❅ Snow ❅