Everything was just a mistake, from the day I met him to the day I fell in love with him. I shouldn't have let him into my heart, stupid Miracle! Another shed of tears fell from my eyes. One of the winter fairies wiped the tears for me. They are all worried and sad. I know they are worried about me, but what can I do? I'm hurt because of love, kung hindi ko lang sana hinayaan ang puso ko na mahulog sa Tober na yan, hindi sana ako masasaktan ng ganito.
Pinagmasdan ko ang paligid, napakalakas ng hangin at sobrang lakas ng pagbuhos ng nyebe mula sa langit, alam kong ako ang may gawa nito dahil sa nararamdaman ko pero hinayaan ko lang ito, siguro ay dahil sa ganitong paraan ko lang mailalabas ang lahat ng sakit na nararamdaman ko.
"Meridel, you're here." biglang nanginig ang katawan ko nang makita ko si Tross sa harapan ko, hindi ko alam kung pano siya nakapunta dito pero bigla na lang siyang lumitaw sa harapan ko. Nagtago ang lahat ng winter fairies sa likod ko dahil sa takot, hindi ko rin naman sila masisisi dahil nakakatakot talaga ang presensya ni Tross, mararamdaman mo talaga na makapangyarihan siya.
"Stay away from me." matapang na sabi ko kahit deep inside ay nanginginig na ako sa takot.
"Why would I do that? This is my only chance to meet you_ wait, are you crying? What's the matter, who made you cry?" nag aalalang tanong niya sa akin at lumapit.
"I told you I'm not Meridel, please go away!" pagtataboy ko sa kanya.
"I won't leave you Meridel_"
"How many times do I have to tell you that I am not Meridel! My name is Miracle not Meridel!" sigaw ko sa kanya, at last nagkaroon na rin ako ng lakas ng loob na sigawan siya. Pero imbis na magalit siya dahil sinigawan ko siya ay ngumiti pa ito na ipinagtaka ko. "Why are you smiling?"
"Well, it's because you finally said your name." nakangiting sabi nito, hindi ko maipagkakaila na napakagwapo niya lalo pa ngayong nakangiti siya. Ano ba Josephine, umayos ka nga! Kalaban yan!
"W-well, then leave me alone!" nauutal na sabi ko dahil sa nadidistract ako sa ngiti niya. Kung titignan mo ay parang kasing edad niya lang si Tober pero hindi, dahil pinatulog siya ng ilang daang taon ng unang reyna na si Queen Meridel.
"No, I will never leave you alone." I can see from your eyes that you are not okay and you need someone to be your shoulder to cry on. " lumapit siya sa akin at umupo sa tabi ko, dahan dahan niyang hinila ang ulo ko papunta sa balikat niya. Pinat niya ang ulo ko na para bang pinapakalma ako, dahil dito ay nagsimula nanamang pumatak ang mga luha ko. Hindi ko alam pero gumaan ang pakiramdam ko dahil sa ginawa niya. Siguro nga kailangan ko talaga ng taong masasandalan ngayon.
"Are you sure you want to leave?" naiiyak na tanong sa akin ni Mandy.
"Yes, it's for the best. I want to clear my mind and when I'm done I will go back."
Pagkatapos ng nangyari kanina sa gubat ay naisipan ko munang umalis ng Winterhold at umuwi sa palasyo upang makapag isip isip. Lahat sila ay narito maliban kay Tober, inilagay ni Mardy at Richard ang mga gamit ko sa karwahe, sumunod namang sumakay ang dalawang alaga ko, gusto ko sana silang iwan ngunit ayaw nila at wala ring magbabantay sa kanila.
"Then this is a goodbye for now." matamlay na sabi ko sa kanila.
"You will come back right?" tanong ni Mandy habang umiiyak.
"Of course I will, there are still a lot of things that I want to learn." sagot ko sa kanya at niyakap siya ng mahigpit kaya lalo siyang napaiyak.
Kumalas ako sa yakap niya at tinignan ang iba pa naming mga kaibigan. "We will wait for you." pinat ni Layne ang ulo ko at nginitian ako.
"I will miss you Josephine, wala na yung babaeng laging nakasimangot. Hay, maninibago kami nito." sabi ni Mardy habang kunwaring umiiyak kaya hinampas ko siya sa braso na agad naman niyang itinawa pero maya-maya lang ay bigla ulit siyang sumeryoso "But seriously Josephine, we will miss you. Please come back at once okay?" He said and hugged me tightly
Lumapit sa akin si Richard at hinawakan ako sa magkabilaang balikat. "If you come back here and if you're ready, I will court you and make you happy. I won't hurt you like what that Tober did, I promise. I will wait for you." sabi nito at niyakap ako, nginitian ko na lang siya bilang sagot.
"So this is it, goodbye now. See you soon." pagpapaalam ko sa kanila at sumakay na ng karwahe.
Paalis na sana ang karwahe nang marinig ko ang boses ni Tober na tinatawag ang pangalan ko.
"Miracle! Miracle!" sumilip ako sa bintana at kitang kita ko na umiiyak ito habang tumatakbo papunta sa sinasakyan ko. "Miracle.......please.......don't leave" hingal na hingal na sabi nito, may mga luha pang tumutulo sa,mga mata nito.
Pinunasan ko ang mga luha sa mata niya gamit ang hinlalaki ko, hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at idinikit sa pisngi niya. "I'm sorry, Tober, but I give up. I want to clear my mind and stay away from you so that this pain that I'm feeling right now will fade away." sabi ko sa kanya habang tinitignan siya sa kanyang mga mata then I pushed him away, gumawa agad ako ng barrier na gawa sa ice upang mapaghiwalay kaming dalawa. Sinenyasan ko ang driver ng karwahe na umalis na, tinignan ko si Tober sa huling sandali habang papalayo ako ng papalayo sa kanya. Kitang kita ko ang kagustuhan niyang masira ang barrier, ginamitan na niya ng kidlat at apoy pero hindi parin niya ito masira, sumigaw ito ng napakalakas dahil sa inis at pighati, dahil doon ay biglang tumulo ang mga luha sa mga mata ko. Tinignan ako nang may pag aalala ng dalawa kong alaga, binigyan ko na lang sila ng isang ngiti upang makita nila na okay lang ako.
Pagkatapos ng tatlong oras ng paglalakbay ay nakarating narin kami sa palasyo. Bumaba ako sa karwahe at sinalubong ako ng hari at reyna, pati na rin ang mga alalay namin sa palasyo. Agad na lumipad ang alaga kong si Dephlyn sa balikat ng reyna at ikiniskis naman ni Tophin ang ulo nito sa hita ng hari.
"Easy there little fella, your horns might injured me." natatawang sabi ng hari dahil sa mga sungay ni Tophin na tumatama sa braso nito. "So how come you're here my child, is it already the end of your class?" tanong ng hari sa akin.
"No dad, I just want to take a leave for a while and have some bonding with the two of you. I miss you both. " sagot ko sa kanya at niyakap silang dalawa ng mahigpit.
"Awww, we miss you too princess." malambing na sabi ng reyna sa akin. "Oohh! I nearly forgot, your aunt and your cousin are here." she said with a big smile on her face and after that nagpakita ang auntie at cousin ko. Si Auntie Cohn ay ang panganay na kapatid ni daddy at si Katie ang anak nito na cousin ko.
Si Katie ang lagi kong nakakalaro noon mula pagkabata, pero lumipat sila sa Margu dahil doon nakatira ang asawa ni Auntie Cohn.
Dahil sa ngayon lang kami nagkita ay mabilis na tumakbo papunta sa direksyon ko si Katie at agad akong niyakap, ganun rin ang ginawa ko sa kanya.
"Aww, isn't it sweet? They miss each other so much." Auntie Cohn giggled.
"I agree." The King, my father concurred.
"Oh I remember that your birthday is near, you are turning 18 already." Aunti Cohn said.
"You're right Cohn, it's been so long and now she's turning into a lady." the Queen, my mother said.
"So what are your plans?" she asked.
"We were going to celebrate it with a ball." the Queen responded.
"That's nice, then let me help you with the preparation." she said excitedly.
The three of them talked about it while me and my cousin were just sitting and listening to them.
This is a good day, my aunt and my cousin are here so that means I can relax and enjoy myself.
---
"How's everything going?" Aunt Cohn asked mom while looking at her reflection in the mirror. Both of them are here in my room.
"Well everything's going according to plan." mom answered
Aunt Cohn looked at me and smiled. "Who are the guests that you have invited?"
"I didn't invite any." I whispered while holding back my tears, remembering again the painful past.
"Don't you have any friends? I heard that you are attending a class in Winterhold." she asked. My cousin looked at me in a surprise.
"I thought you have a royal family professor." Katie asked surprisingly.
"Well, it's a long story, mom and dad wanted me to learn outside the castle." I answered and shrugged my shoulders.
"She's right, Katie, the teachings of our royal family professor are not enough, and we want her to explore everything outside the castle." My mother said answering Katie's question.
"Then you must have a lot of friends there, Winterhold is the most famous school here in Atlanta and there are a lot of amazing students there."
"Well, not really, aunt." I stood up from my bed. "Please excuse me." I walked through the door past them to escape from the topic. I really want to avoid that kind of topic because I can still feel the pain in my heart, the pain that was caused by Tober.
Weeks have passed and today is the first day of winter, my birthday and also my coronation day because I am turning 18, the legal age of being a Queen. Everything is set and according to plan. They want it to be perfect and secure because this is the day that they will pass the crown to me. But the question is, am I ready? Well, my answer is no, but for my family, I will do the best I can.
All of my servants are busy putting make-up on my face and fixing my hair. I looked at myself in the mirror and reminisced about the day wherein Madison was the one who was doing these things to me. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't miss her and the others.
The servant tapped my shoulder to let me know it was finished, and they all bowed and left. For the second time, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. The make-up covered the emptiness on my face, but I still feel that I'm alone without the people that make me happy.
With a knock on the door, I went back to reality and looked at the person who knocked and opened the door. It was my aunt. She looked at me with a big smile on her face, saying, "You look lovely my dear. Come let's go downstairs, they are all waiting for you." We went outside the room and she left me at the side before the stairs, where no-one downstairs could see me. Before she left, she instructed me that when I hear music, that is the only time that I will walk downstairs and face all the people.
I waited for a while, and I could feel that my hands were shaking because of the nervousness, and when I heard the music, I quickly fixed myself and slowly walked down the stairs. All of their eyes were looking at me, but the one that caught my attention was the group of four people at the corner with a big smile on their faces, and in that moment, the tears began to fall from my eyes.
It's them, Mandy, Mardy, Layne and Richard are here except for Tober. I can't help but feel dissapointed because he's not here but still I'm thankful that my friends came here.
Nang makarating ako sa ibaba ay sinalubong ako ng hari, I clung onto his arms and we faced all the guests. The Queen went beside me and hugged me. I can see that two of them are very happy and proud. They started the celebration with a speech, and after that, the dance started.
Alexander came to me and asked me to dance, and I accepted.
"Hey you look beautiful." he said and we started dancing at the middle of the dancefloor.
"Thanks for the compliment." I said and laughed.
"Why are you laughing?" nagtatakang tanong niya.
"Nothing, it's just that you're always telling me before that I'm ugly and now you're complementing me."
"You know it's the opposite." he chuckled but then he became serious. "Now that you're going to be the next Queen, are you ready for the big responsibility?" he asked.
"Honestly, I'm still not ready but for my family and my people, I will do my best." I said and smiled. We talked about it for a while until Richard came and asked to have a dance with me, I accepted and Alexander excused himself and left.
"I missed you." he said and held my hands tight. We started to dance. He was looking at my eyes with sincerety.
"I missed you too." I responded by giving him my warmest smile. He quickly grabbed me towards him and hugged me. "Are you OK now?" He asked while patting my head. I know he was worried about me, but the pain is still here and I can't do anything about it. I just nod as an answer.
I can see Mandy and Layne dancing not far away from us, but I can't see Mardy. "Where's Mardy?" I asked him.
"Mardy? He's at our table, alone." he chuckled.
"Oh what a surprise? it is the first time that he is not flirting with other girls."
"He is not in the mood for that." both of us laughed because of what he said and we stopped when Mandy and Layne came to us.
"May I borrow my besty?" she asked permission to Richard in a joking manner.
"Of course."
Mandy grabbed my hand and we went to their table, we saw Mardy sitting there all alone.
"Is he ok?" I asked.
"Mardy? He's ok, he's just thinking of something, don't mind him."
I shrugged in response and we sat down. Mandy was so excited that she hugged me and she can't help herself not to cry. I patted her at her back and calmed her down.
"I'm sorry for crying besty, I just can't help it." she said and wiped the tears off her face.
"It's alright Mandy, I know it's hard for all of you especially you and I'm very happy that you came all the way here just to attend my birthday. But wait, I'm just wondering, who invited you?"
"Oh that? Your handsome friend from Peculiar Academy invited us here. He told us that today is your special day. That is why we rushed and went here to attend your birthday. I thanked her and we chatted for a while. After a few more chats, I excused myself.
I went outside to get some fresh air and to feel the cold of the night until someone hugged me from the back and I already knew who it was from his scent. Tinanggal ko ang pagkakayakap niya sa akin at hinarap siya.
"Tober." ang pangalang lumabas sa bibig ko nang makita kong siya nga ang nasa harapan ko ngayon.
"I missed you Miracle." he whispered and kissed me on my lips na ikinagulat ko, pinipilit ko ang sarili ko na lumayo sa kanya ngunit mukhang may sariling pag iisip ito that made me responded to his kiss. Nang matauhan ako ay bigla ko siyang itinulak.
"You pervert!" sigaw ko sa kanya.
"But you love it and you responded. " he smirked, hindi na ako nakapagsagot dahil tama naman ang sinabi niya, akmang aalis na ako nang bigla niya kong hinila papalapit sa kanya. "I'm really sorry for what I've done Miracle, please come back, I miss you." niyakap niya ulit ako pero itinulak ko lang siya and at that moment I heard the King called me to come in front for the passing of the crown.
"I'm sorry Tober but I can't, I'm not the one you love and you have Thalia. I don't want to hurt her, she's a nice girl and I know she can take care of you more than I do." sabi ko sa kanya at iniwan siyang tulala sa labas.
The bishop handed over the crown, scepter, and orb to the king. The bishop chanted some rituals, and after that, the king gave me that scepter and orb, and then he put the crown on my head.
"I present to you, our new ruler, Queen Miracle!" the King shouted with authority.
"Hail Queen Miracle!" one of the audience shouted and they all shouted these words in unison and ended it with a bow.
I sat on the throne and looked at them with authority, but deep inside I was screaming because of nervousness.
Maya-maya lang ay nagserve na ng pagkain ang mga servants namin at nagsimula na rin silang kumain maliban sa akin, tatawagin ko sana ang hari at reyna ngunit hindi sila mahagilap ng aking mga mata kaya inexcuse ko muna ang sarili ko upang hanapin sila.
I went upstairs to find them but they were nowhere to find, mas pinili ko na lang na bumalik at baka sakaling naroon sila. Ngunit pagbalik ko ay wala parin sila, kaya naisipan ko na lang na umupo sa trono at wag mag isip ng hindi maganda.
Saktong pag upo ko ay namatay lahat ng ilaw at parang may basa at malansang likido na nailagay sa kamay ko. Sa muling pagbukas ng mga ilaw ay para akong nanlambot na halos mapaluhod ako sa nakita ko. Dalawang duguang katawan ng magulang ko ang nasa harapan ko ngayon.
Napaluhod ako sa harap nila, not minding the blood getting on my dress. My head felt heavy. My vision got dark, everything was suddenly a blur.
"Mom? Dad?" shinake ko ang balikat nilang dalawa upang gisingin sila. My head felt heavy. My vision got dark, everything was suddenly a blur.
"Wake up, stop this nonsense this is not funny anymore." tinapik ko ang balikat nila upang gisingin sila ngunit hindi parin sila gumigising, my vision is already blurry. Sunod sunod na nagsituluan ang mga luha sa mata ko. I couldn't hear anything anymore.
"No....." I whispered, holding my head, panting. "......no way!"
"Mom, dad please wake up! Please wake up!" pagpupumilit ko sa kanila, I tried to use my ability to revive them, paulit ulit ko silang nirerevive but it's no use. Maraming katanungan ang nasa isipan ko ngayon habang tinitignan ang bangkay ng mga magulang ko kung bakit hindi ko sila mabuhay, sobrang naguguluhan na ang isipan ko ngayon at puro sigawan pa ang naririnig ko sa apat na sulok ng hall.
I held my chest, pasikip ng pasikip ang dibdib ko habang tumatagal. I tried to stand but I just fell on the floor staring at their corpse.
I couldn't help but to breakdown. "My parents" I cried loudly, screaming, yelling until there is nothing left to say.
"Mom, Dad" I cried again, held their hands and squeezed it. "How will I live now?"
Their hands are cold, they're too cold.
"Who killed you?" Tanong ko kahit alam kong hindi na nila masasagot ang tanong ko.
"What did you do Miracle? You killed your own parents!" sigaw ng auntie ko at tumakbo papunta sa bangkay ng mga magulang ko.
"Dastan, my poor brother." tumingin siya sa akin at tinawag ang mga royal guards ng palasyo. "Guards! Seize this murderer!"
Bigla kong niyakap ang bangkay ng mga magulang ko upang hindi malayo sa kanila. "No, please don't! Auntie, please stop them. My parents........." pilit kong niyayakap ang katawang ng mga magulang ko. "..........I don't want to be far from them, auntie please!" pagmamakaawa ko habang umiiyak, hinawakan ng mga royal guards ang magkabilaang braso ko at sinubukang hilain ngunit niyakap ko ng sobrang higpit ang bangkay ng mga magulang ko upang hindi malayo sa kanila.
"I'm the Queen, I command you to stop!" sigaw ko sa kanila. Tinignan ng mga royal guards ang auntie ko at sinenyasan niya ang mga ito.
Binitawan nila ako at lumapit siya sa akin, inilapit niya ang mukha niya sa tenga ko at may ibinulong na ikinagulat ko. "You're not the Queen anymore my dear, do you want to know how I killed your parents?" Nanigas ako sa kinaroroonan ko dahil sa sinabi niya.
"W-what?" My mind was too clouded, everything was not sinking in.
"I. KILLED. YOUR. PARENTS." Pag uulit niya na may diin sa bawat salita. Binigyan niya ko ng isang ngiti na nagpapahiwatig na nanalo siya.
Tinignan ko siya ng masama, nakaramdam ako ng matinding galit sa puso ko. Wala ng ibang pumapasok sa isipan ko kundi ang patayin ang taksil na babae sa harapan ko.
"You monster!" Sigaw ko sa kanya. "You killed my parents your own brother and his wife!"
Ginamit ko ang ability ko para kontrolin ang dugo sa katawan niya, napasigaw siya sa sakit na halos magsilabasan ang mga ugat sa katawan niya. Her eyes begin to turn red.
"G-guards! S-stop her! Aaarrgh!" utos niya na nahihirapan pa. Lumapit ang mga royal guards sa akin upang pigilan ako ngunit sila ang napigilan ko, gumawa ako ng malaking barrier upang wala ng iba pang makapagtangkang lumapit.
THIRD PERSON'S POV:
Masayang nagkukwentuhan ang magkakaibigan na sina Mandy, Mardy, Richard at Layne habang tinitignan ang kaibigan nilang nakaupo sa trono, pero bigla silang nagtaka nang mapansing umalis ito, alam nilang may mali dahil sa kakaibang kinikilos ng kaibigan nila ngunit hinayaan na lamang nila ito dahil baka tungkol sa problema sa palasyo ang pinoproblema nito.
Pero mayamaya lang ay bumalik rin ito at paupo na sana nang biglang namatay ang ilaw, sa muling pag bukas ng ilaw ay dalawang katawan na duguan ang nakita nila sa harapan ng kaibigan, maski ito ay may mga dugo sa kamay na kung titignan ay parang siya ang may gawa ng pagpatay na ito, nagkaguluhan sa loob ng hall dahil sa nangyari, kitang kita ng magkakaibigan ang sakit
sa mga mata ng kanilang kaibigan na si Miracle, kitang kita rin nila ang paglapit ng isang babae sa kanya na sa pagkakaalam nila ay ang auntie nito. Mukhang may ibinulong ito sa kanya na siyang ikinagalit nito, dahil sa bilis ng pangyayari ay nakita na lamang nila na nakalutang at mukhang sobrang nahihirapan ang mga royal guards at ang auntie ng kanilang kaibigan, lalapit na sana ang magkakaibigan kay Miracle upang tulungan ito ngunit hindi magawang makalapit ng mga ito sa kinaroroonan niya dahil sa barrier na nagawa nito kanina habang pinipigilan ang mga royal guards na lumalapit sa kanya.
"This is not good." Richard said in a warning tone. "We must stop her before it's too late." he added. Pinilit nilang sirain ang barrier na gawa sa ice ngunit sobrang tigas at kapal nito.
No one expected that something like this will happen. Sobrang nag aalala ang magkakaibigan kay Miracle sapagkat hindi pa nawawala ang sakit na naramdaman nito kay Tober ay nadagdagan nanaman ito sa pagkamatay ng mga magulang nito.
Lingid sa kaalaman ng lahat na tuluyan ng nabalutan ng yelo ang puso ni Miracle at mahirap na itong tunawin.
***
Sorry for the super late update, I hope you will like this chapter, enjoy!
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KillerKnight