[a/n: I'm back and so are the updates! My exam was actually suspended on March 11 but I had other appointments back then so I wasn't able to update immediately. The exam was suspended because of COVID-19. Stay safe everyone!]
--
'The Drift'
"Uno!" A girl, Six, came barging into the throne room.
"Zia is alive. I repeat, Zia is alive! How is that possible?!" Galit nitong tanong dahilan para tumingin agad ang mga kapatid niya sa kanya. The Golden Dozen was casually having a conversation on the living room when one of them heard about the news.
"I already know." Tipid na sagot ni Uno habang nakatingin sa mga monitors na noon ay pagmamay-ari ni Reed, lalo na ang trono na inuupuan niya ngayon.
"Kaya nga! How is that possible?! No one had survived my iron wall!" Galit niyang sambit kaya hinila na muna siya ng lalake niyang kapatid paupo at tsaka nila sabay na tiningnan si Uno.
"And no one have survived an arrow knives' poison, but her mother did. Are we even supposed to be surprised that she lived after your supposedly 'lethal' iron wall?" One of the siblings asked, also adding mockery to Six's iron wall.
"No! She was supposed to be dead! Nandun 'yun sa plano diba?!" Tanong niya habang palakas lang nang palakas ang tono ng boses niya. She was becoming more furious by the second.
"It's that kid." Sambit ni Uno dahilan para tumingin ulit ang lahat sa kanya. "That Terantias kid." Dagdag niya habang nakatingin lang sa monitor.
"What even is a Terantias? I've tried researching about them and nothing came out." Said the one who's supposed to be the 'brains' of their operation alongside Uno. He was Nine. "The Camazotz wiped them out." Sambit ni Uno na ngayo'y nakatingin lang sa kawalan.
Kumunot naman ang noo ng mga kapatid niya.
"Camazotz? Like the one who attacked the dark angels' village?" Kunot-noong tanong ng isa at tumango lang si Uno. Uno's lack of response and obvious lack of attention made them cautious about their next words.
"Okay.. that aside, your plan failed." A guy, second in line said. His name was Two. Uno just looked at him.
"What? You're saying Reed's plans are better than Uno's?" Agad na tanong ng isang lalake sa kanya. His name was Third. Two looked at him.
"Bakit? Hindi ba? Reed's plans about the dark era was a success. Reed's plan about the Witches of the North worked. Reed's plans about abducting the Terantias kid worked. Reed's plan about luring Zia into the castle also worked. So—"
"And yet he's with the enemy." Uno cut him off. They all went silent. He had a point.
"I agree. Mas magaling magplano si Reed. Mas matalino si Reed at inaamin ko ring mas malakas si Reed. But.." Uno trailed off and looked at the monitors, examining how Reed had a worried look on his face.
"..but, he had a heart." Dagdag niya. Everyone in the room raised their brows in confusion.
"He was perfect to rule. He could end this realm with just a flick of his fingers. But again, he had a heart. That vulnerable heart of him. That was the only mistake Xavier did. If he hadn't given Reed that wretched heart, we could've won." Galit na sabi ni Uno habang nakatingin parin siya sa monitor.
"So, his feelings for Zia was the reason?" Naguguluhang tanong ng isa sa kanila. Uno shook his head.
"No. My point is, Reed was given a soft and caring heart. Hindi ito bagay sa kung anong halimaw siya. They gave a heart to a monster." Uno said.
"And I'm pretty sure that Terantias kid was the reason behind Reed's heart started warming up to everyone. Abducting him was a mistake." Sabi ng isa sa kanila. He was Five. He noticed how Reed started smiling and laughing ever since Audin stepped foot into the castle.
It wasn't Reed's feelings for Zia that changed his character. It was Audin's kindness and cheekiness. It changed Reed's perspective about the world and made him curious about what other feelings he could develop as an entire creature.
Reed was only introduced to pain, hate and obsession. But ever since Audin came into the picture, Reed developed fondness, care, guilt and all sorts of warm feelings he never had before.
Zia's consideration also doubled the effect. With the help of his team, the once King of the Underworld started creating jokes on his own. Playing along in the name of youth and bond. The changes in Reed were big, but can only be noticed if you're watching him closely.
And to Uno, Reed was such a waste of power.
"Si Twelve?" Tanong ni Two sa mga kapatid niya.
"Nasa kwarto niya. Nagkukulong." Tipid na sagot ng isang lalake. His name was Seven. Uno just tapped his fingers on the throne's armrest. "Let him be. No matter how much I want to vanquish him, he's still our greatest weapon." Mahinang sambit ni Uno.
"So, what's next?" Third asked. Uno just smirked.
"The war continues."
ZIA
Audin was already brought to the guest room. Tito Matthew and Tito Duke already assisted him at pinaliwanag sa amin na pagod lang daw si Audin. He must've been exhausted after healing me overnight. Sinapo ko nalang ang noo ko at umupo sa sofa.
Tahimik kaming lahat maliban kay Tito Hoshi na tinatapos 'yung kinakain niya dun sa dining table.
"Paano naman 'yun gagamutin nina Duke? They don't know a Terantias' anatomy in the first place." Tito Vernon said. Tumingin naman kaming lahat sa kanya.
"Siguro kailangan lang ng pahinga ni DinDin. He's been healing Zia overnight." Pagpapaliwanag ni Shinshi at mahina namang tumango ang team. Tumayo nalang ako at tsaka pumunta sa kwarto na pinagdalhan nila kay Audin.
Pagdating ko dun ay nakita kong nakahiga na si Audin at may basang bimpo na nakalagay sa noo niya. Pumasok ako ng tuluyan dahilan para tumingin sina Tito Matthew sa akin.
Umupo ako sa gilid ng kama at tiningnan si Audin na parang natutulog na at normal naman ang paghinga niya. "Pupunta lang ako sa library namin. Baka may mabasa ako tungkol sa kanila." Sabi ni Tito Duke at tumango naman si Tito Matthew bilang sagot.
Umalis na siya at naiwan kaming dalawa ni Tito Matthew na tahimik lang na nakatingin kay Audin.
"Pasensiya na." Agad akong napatingin kay Tito Matthew dahil sa sinabi niya.
"Bakit po?" Tanong ko.
"Kasi wala kaming masyadong naiitutulong sa inyo ngayon. We're completely useless." Aniya habang nakatingin parin sa board na hawak niya. I sighed and turned towards him kaya tumingin narin siya sa akin. "Who said anything about being useless?" I asked.
"Hindi na kailangang sabihin para hindi namin malaman. Ever since we woke up, sarili nalang namin ang iniisip namin. Wala na kaming naitutulong sa inyo. We're supposed to be guiding you into this pero.. pero wala." I could see the frustration in Tito Matthew's face.
Magsasalita pa sana ako pero naunahan niya ako.
"We did nothing when we knew you were cursed by Trinity. We did nothing when Reed took you and Audin. We did nothing when Uno attacked that night at mas lalong wala kaming nagawa nung nag-aagaw buhay ka. Audin was even the one who saved you, not us." Sinapo na niya ang noo niya at umupo na muna habang nakatingin lang ako sa kanya.
"I can't imagine how frustrated everyone is. Losing our abilities and thinking that we could di—" Hinawakan ko na ang kamay ni Tito Matthew para hindi na niya matuloy ang sasabihin niya sana. Audin could hear what he's saying right now and that will blow their cover. Their secret.
Kasi sa tingin ko hanggang ngayon, ako lang sa team namin ang nakakaalam tungkol sa mga injection na kinakailangan ng katawan ng Team Alpha. I think they still haven't opened up to everyone yet with fear that the word will get out and spread.
In times like this, when a war is threatening the realm, we don't want to spread the word that Team Alpha is weakening because it'll only strengthen and feed the enemy's desires to take over this realm.
"At least let the enemy think that you're planning something big after all these failures." Agad kaming napatingin kay Audin nung bigla nalang siyang nagsalita. He already had his eyes open but it was obvious that he was still sleepy.
"DinDin.." Sambit ko at umusog ako palapit sa kanya at hinawakan ang kamay niya. Audin turned his head to look at Tito Matthew.
"Tama ka po. You all are useless right now." Aniya kaya napatingin narin ako kay Tito Matthew na siyang nakatingin lang rin kay Audin. Audin then gave him a frail smile.
"So, use that as a motivation na kailangan niyong bumawi. Ate Zia already took all the hit." Dagdag ni Audin at ramdam kong humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa kamay ko. His small hands were cold but he still had a firm grip on me.
"In every failure, there's always a comeback waiting to happen. So, don't put Ate Zia's suffering in vain and don't disappoint us, especially that dumb Wilder. He's looking up to you guys." Mahinang natawa si Tito Matthew dahil sa tinawag ni Audin kay Wilder.
"Kami na muna ngayon, sa susunod, tayong lahat na." I don't know what Audin really meant by his words but I ended up smiling to it.
Ngumiti narin si Tito Matthew at nagpaalam na para umalis. Pag-alis ni Tito ay inayos ko lang ang pagkakatakip ng kumot ni Audin at tsaka na tumabi sa kanya. Audin shifted closer and faced my direction kaya tinapik-tapik ko na ang likod niya.
It's how Mom sends me to sleep back then and I'm doing the same to Audin.
"Get well faster, okay?" Mahina kong sambit habang dinadamdam ang paghinga ni Audin.
"Hmm.. papagaling ako.. tapos.. tapos mag.. magd-date tayo. Hayaan mo na 'yung.. 'yung team. Mga.. mga pabebe at.. at torpe 'yun." Mahina akong natawa dahil sa sinabi niya pero nag-aalala rin ako dahil sa paghahabol niya ng hininga kaya hinahaplos ko na ang likod niya.
"Sure, it'll be an ice cream date then." Nakangiti kong sabi. I saw Audin's pale lips stretch into a grin as he slowly drifted back to sleep.
✥✥
Nagising ako nung maramdaman kong ang init ng kwarto. Nilibot ko ang tingin sa paligid at nakita kong naka-on naman ang aircon. It wasn't the room that was hot, but it was Audin. Pinagpapawisan na siya at mas lalo siyang namutla.
Agad akong tumayo tsaka tumakbo palabas.
Paglabas ko palang sa kwarto ay nabunggo ko si Lucas na may dala palang isang tray na may juice. Sa pagkabunggo ko sa kanya ay agad na tumilapon ang juice pero imbes na ito ay saluhin niya ay kamay ko ang hinawakan niya para hindi ako matumba.
"O-Okay ka lang?" Nauutal niyang tanong habang hawak-hawak ako.
"Tsk! Bakit ako ang sinalo mo? Dapat 'yung juice!" Wala sa sarili kong sigaw sa kanya kaya agad namang kumunot ang noo ni Lucas at tsaka tiningnan ako ng masama. "Wala man lang thank you?!" Inis niyang tanong at tsaka na yumuko para linisin 'yung mga nabasag na baso.
Napabuga nalang ako ng hangin at tinulungan narin siya.
"Bakit ka nga pala nagmamadali?" Tanong niya habang pinipigilan rin akong pumulot ng mga bubog dahil raw baka masugatan pa ako. I suddenly remembered Audin's state kaya agad akong tumayo at tsaka tumakbo na naman. Bakit ko nga ba biglang nakalimutan 'yun?
Nasalubong ko ulit si Wilder na nagtataka.
"May narinig kaming nabasag. Anong nangyari?" Tanong niya pero nilagpasan ko lang siya at tsaka ako dumiretso sa lab. Naabutan ko ang Team Alpha doon pero wala sina Mom at Dad. Tumingin naman silang lahat sa akin. "Yes, sweetie?" Tito Joshua asked.
"S-Si Audin.. ang taas po ng lagnat niya." Sagot ko kaya agad na tinigil nina Tito Matthew ang mga ginagawa nila at tsaka sumunod sa akin. Pagdating namin sa kwarto ni Audin ay agad siyang sinuri nina Tito.
Lumapit narin sino Kuya Xy sa pinto at tsaka tumingin kay Audin.
"Can't you heal him?" Tanong ko kay Reed na nasa gilid ko lang.
"Zia, I'm a killer, not a healer." Tipid niyang sagot habang nakatingin lang kay Audin.
"And you and Blu can't bite him because we don't even know if a bite works on a Terantias' body." Sambit ni Shinshi. Tumingin na sa gawi namin si Tito Duke at tsaka nilapitan kami. "Can you give us a minute? We'll promise to do what's best for him." Aniya at dahan-dahan nang sinara ang pinto habang humahakbang naman kami palayo.
Nung tuluyan nang sumara ang pinto ay naiwan parin kaming nakaharap dito.
"Para tayong mga baliw 'no? Kapag okay lang si Audin, gusto natin siyang patayin pero ngayong may sakit siya, gusto naman natin siyang gumaling." Sabi ni Wilder habang nakahalukipkip pa kaya tumingin naman agad ang team sa kanya.
"Gago, ikaw lang 'yun." Sambit ni Reed at umalis na.
Hinila narin ako ni Lucas palayo at dinala ako sa sala. The team followed us at umupo kaming lahat sa sofa at nagkatinginan lang. My mind was drifting away. I wonder where Mom and Dad are. Tahimik lang kaming lahat nang bigla nalang tumakbo papasok ang mga baby wolves na naglalaro kanina sa labas.
Atlas and Shinshi immediately greeted them.
One of the baby wolves stuck his nose up towards Shinshi. It was as if he was telling her something.
"There's a visitor?" Tanong ni Shinshi. The three baby wolves danced around and wagged their cute tails in agreement to Shinshi's words. Napangiti nalang ako habang nakatingin sa kanila. "Sino naman?" Tanong ni Wilder tsaka tumayo.
One of the baby wolves sniffed the air at tsaka ito lumapit kay Blu.
"Someone that has Blu's scent, probably." Sagot ni Atlas kaya tumaas naman ang kilay ni Blu. Archer went out for a while and flew up. And when he came down, he looked at Blu again.
"Si Kharis." Tipid na sambit ni Archer at umupo ulit sa sofa. Tumingin naman kaagad sa akin si Blu pero tumingin lang ako kay Kuya Xy. "Mom isn't here to give permission for strangers to enter." Walang emosyong sabi ni Kuya Xy.
Tiningnan ko naman si Blu na parang sang-ayon pa sa sinabi ni Kuya Xy. Tumango narin ang team pero napailing lang ako. I don't like what they're thinking.
And I don't like what I'm feeling today. It's like I'm drifting away from everyone's circle.
"Kharis didn't come all the way here just to be chased away because we can't give her a simple 'permission'." Sambit ko at tumayo na. Kunot-noo namang tumingin ang team sa akin.
"I thought you don't like her." Sambit ni Archer kaya tumingin naman ako sa kanya.
"I never said such a thing." Sagot ko at tsaka tumingin kay Blu. Umayos naman siya ng upo nung tumingin ako sa kanya.
"I don't know but I'm a bit disappointed in you, Van Saint." Sabi ko at lumabas na.
The sun was hot on my skin and I can't imagine the pain that Kharis had to go through because of this sun. Tumakbo na ako papunta sa direksiyon na sinasabi ng mga baby wolves.
Pagdating ko dun ay wala akong nakita pero narinig kong may kaluskos dun tabi ng mga puno. The shade of the tree was dark enough to hide whoever was in there pero nakita ko si Kharis na nakasunglasses at may makapal na tela na nakatakip sa katawan niya.
"You can come out—oh, wait. No, don't come out." I can see the confusion in Kharis' face when I said those words. Saglit akong umalis para kumuha pa ng makapal na tela at bumalik na sa pwesto ni Kharis.
"Mag-isa ka?" Mahinahon kong tanong sa kanya habang inilalahad ang tela. Kharis just rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Obvious ba? May nakikita ka bang kasama ko?" Tanong niya kaya tinakip ko agad sa mukha niya ang tela.
Inis itong tinanggal ni Kharis at tiningnan ako.
"Blu's inside." I said and gestured for her to follow me.
"I actually came here for you." Agad akong napahinto dahil sa sinabi niya at tsaka siya nilingon. Kumunot pa ang noo ko habang nakatingin ako kay Kharis. "Gusto kitang kausapin." Dagdag niya kaya napabuga nalang ako ng hangin at tsaka tumingin sa gawi ng Alpha mansion.
The team was looking at us from the glass doors.
"Can you run under the sun?" Tanong ko.
"Duh~ how do you think I arrived here?" Tanong niya kaya nagkibit-balikat nalang ako. "Okay, then follow me." Sambit ko at tsaka na tumakbo papunta sa bahay namin. I didn't bring her to the Alpha mansion dahil ako lang naman ang pakay niya.
Pagpasok namin sa bahay ay agad kong sinara ang pinto at tsaka ang mga bintana. Kharis took off the cloth at binigyan ko naman siya ng isang baso ng tubig.
Tinanggap niya naman ito at tsaka umupo sa sofa. "Anong pag-uusapan nati—"
"I want you to let go of Dimitri." Agad siyang sambit kahit hindi pa ako tapos magsalita. Saglit pa akong natigilan at tsaka tuluyang umupo sa sofa.
"Didn't he tell you? We already cut ties." Sagot ko at tumingin ng diretso sa kanya pero pinaningkitan niya lang ako. "Cut ties? You were obviously flirting with him at the party and you still call him 'my Van Saint'. So, tell me, Zia. Alin ang cut ties dun?" Tanong niya. Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga.
I did call him 'my Van Saint'. It's a habit I want to get rid off but I definitely didn't flirt with him at the party. I scoffed and grinned.
"You know, I almost died last night—which I know is none of your concern—but.. but when that happened, I wasn't actually thinking of Blu like I used to. To be fair, I wasn't thinking of anyone. Not even my family." Wala sa sarili kong sambit. Tinaasan lang ako ng kilay ni Kharis.
Mahina lang akong natawa.
"I'm sorry. My mind is still hazy. Audin is sick and we're all worried." Sambit ko.
"You're drifting away." Biglang sambit ni Kharis dahilan para kumunot ang noo ko.
"What?" Tanong ko. Binaba ni Kharis ang baso ng tubig na hawak niya at tsaka ako tiningnan ng maigi.
"You're not the same anymore." Dagdag niya dahilan para mas lalo akong maguluhan. Kharis stood up and sat next to me at naguluhan pa ako nung tumitig siya ng diretso sa mga mata ko. Kharis' eyes turned red and it lasted for about a minute.
Pagkatapos niyang gawin 'yun ay huminga siya ng malalim at nag-iwas ng tingin sa akin.
She was silent for a few seconds at napabuga pa siya ng hangin.
"Ahh, I can't believe I'm giving pity to you right now." Hindi makapaniwala niyang sambit kaya tinaasan ko lang siya ng kilay.
"I'm supposed to hate you pero bakit parang naaawa ako?" Natatawa niyang tanong sa sarili habang nakatingin lang ako sa kanya. "Bakit ba? Bakit ba ganyan ka? Dapat galit ako sayo!" Aniya at tumingin sa akin. I raised another brow at her.
What's going on? What did I do?
"You.. you no longer feel anything, huh?" Tanong niya.
"Feel what?" Tanong ko ulit.
"I don't know what's going on with you but can't you see it? Your emotions are fading away. You're.. you're really drifting away." Kumunot na naman ang noo ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Paulit-ulit na niya kasi itong sinasabi.
"I came here to take Blu away from you but instead, I got this. Now I'm feeling sorry for you, which is crappy." Aniya.
"Can you get to the point?" Tanong ko sa kanya.
"Drifting away usually happens to those who'll be facing their death soon." She said. I paused for a minute, thought about it and then smiled.
Ahh, finally. My unanswered question. Why my mind was always drifting away. Why I was confused all the time. Why I feel like something heavy is about to drop on me and why I feel so restless. Uno's attack was just a false alarm.
Tumingin ako kay Kharis. She cleared her throat and moved away from me.
"I-I.. I won't bother you and Blu for now." Aniya at tumayo na.
"And for the kid.." Kharis paused and looked at me kaya tumingin narin ako sa kanya.
"..take him to his village. It's the only way he can heal."
❅ Snow ❅