Athyeia's PoV
"Oh God." Was the words I said when I realized who the man in front of me was.
Levi Azturias.
The deadliest, most-cunning prince of his time.
No one dared to defy him.
Iyong mga bayang kaniyang balak sakupin ay kusang nagsisipagluhuran sa kaniyang paanan.
He was feared by everyone. But at the same time, loved him as well.
Kahit nakakatakot siya, tinitingala padin siya dahil sa kaniyang pamamalakad sa bayan. How he handled business and politics was second to none.
Not even with his brother Nero.
But Levi Azturias never chose to be king. He chose to live a normal life with Athyeia Abarca.
His beloved that he will soon kill after their marriage.
But why did it end up to this? Ginawa ko naman ang lahat upang iwasan siya. I even dressed up as Laura! So why??
Because I am still Athyeia Abarca.
Realization hit me so hard that I was dumbfounded by my own conclusion.
No matter in what form, I am still Athyeia Abarca.
But no.
Hindi ba at ako si Alaina?? So why..
I froze when Levi tried reaching my head. Napalunok ako. And then, he suddenly stopped.
What was he supposed to do?
"I see." He whispered. "So you hated Levi Azturias that much." Saad niya at itinaas saakin ang tingin niyang kay dilim.
It was cold. He showed no expression of any sort. But I felt his hatred.
Unti-unting nanlamig ang aking mga palad.
"Never show yourself again Athyeia. Later will be the last." Malamig nitong sabi at tsaka tumalikod saakin.
Just like that, he walked away.
After that, I let my head fell on the tree trunk beside me.
I didn't know what to think.
"Paalam po at salamat sa mainit ninyong pagtanggap saamin." Sabi ko ng diretsyo habang nakatungo.
Napahinga ako ng maluwag ng masabi ko iyon ng hindi nagbubuhol ang aking mga dila.
Lalo na at nandidito siya.
Noong itinaas ko ang aking ulo ay saglit na nagtagpo ang titig ko at titig ni Levi. Nauna na akong umiwas dito.
I can't look at him.
After all those stuff that I told him? Telling him of how much of a monster is he??
My Mama and Papa bid their thank yous and goodbyes. Sumakay na ako sa karwahe na maghahatid saamin pauwi.
The trip will last for one or one and a half day.
For the whole trip, I was quiet. By that I mean, I only speak when Mama, Papa, or Li-Em asks me something.
Half a day already passed but here I am, still thinking about that one whole week.
I really thought that because I pretended to be Laura makakaiwas na ako kay Levi.
But I was wrong.
I am still Athyeia.
Even though I am Alaina, I am the current Athyeia.
This was bound to happen by fate.
So free will never really existed.
But he told me to never see him again. Hindi ba't patunay na ito na iniba ko ang kapalaran ni Athyeia?
She will live.
I should feel happy for her.
But why do I feel as if I should ask for forgiveness?
Mali ba ako for wanting to live?
For shutting the door of friendship?
I heaved out a sigh.
Si Levi Azturias? May tinuturing na kaibigan??
Funny.
He killed his wife.
The cold-blooded Levi Azturias killed his wife.
"S-Sorry." Agad akong napamulat.
"Binibini, narito na po tayo." Sambit ni Laura. I looked around and just found out that Mama, Papa, and Li-Em already exited the carriage.
Nakarating na kami saaming bahay.
"Kaya niyo po bang tumayo? Does your ankle hurt?" Pagaalalay saakin ni Laura. I looked at her.
"You knew?" Gulat na tanong ko dito.
I was trying so hard not to show how hurt my ankle was.
"I knew you since you were a kid po binibini." Nakangiti niyang sambit. "Kailangang niyo po ba ng tulong?"
"N-No. K-kaya ko na. Thanks." I answered. Nagsimula na akong bumaba mula sa karwahe.
Trying to erase that memory of V asking for forgiveness.
Why of all things must I remember that again and again??
Bakit hindi ko maisip iyong kagaguhang ginawa niya kay Athyeia?
At bakit hindi mawala sa isip ko iyong naging kabaitan niya saakin?
"Athy, come down immediately. Kakain muna tayo." Sigaw ni Mama habang paakyat ako ng hagdan patungo sa ikalawang palapag ng aking bahay kung nasaan ang aking kwarto.
"Mamaya na po ako kakain mama. Matutulog po muna ako." Aaminin ko ang pagod na iyon ay pinagsamang pagod sa byahe at pagiisip tungkol kay V.
"Okay. But be sure to join us for dinner."
"Opo." Sambit ko kay Mama at dumiretsyo na sa aking kwarto.
When I reached my room, doon ko lang natantong nandoon na iyong mga gamit na dinala namin sa stay sa manor.
Klaseng pinagpahuli talaga ni Laura ang tulog ko kanina.
Umupo ako sa harap ng lamesitang may salamin at tiningnan si Athyeia doon.
Athy... anong gagawin ko...
Nakasakit ako ng isang mabuting kaibigan.
Tawag ko kay Athyeia na tila humihiling habang nakaub-ob sa may lamesa.
When I looked by the floor, something glimmered by the shine of the sun which was coming from my open window.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko ng makita ang palutang-lutang na bagay sa hangin. The thing that was tied around my neck.
Napataas ako ng aking ulo.
I touched the golden pendant of V's lost locket. Due to my curiousity, I opened it.
The small thing created a clacking sound.
I peeked at its insides and saw a picture of a small child.
Black haired, red eyes.
Levi Azturias.
Sa kabila naman noon ay larawan ng isang napakagandang babae.
A lady with black hair and pearl blue eyes.
Halatang-halata ang hawig nito kay Levi.
My tears fell.
I told Levi about the story I, Athyeia heard. That he killed his mother and how close he is to being a monster.
But just looking at this locket proves me wrong.
He loved her so much.
May iba pa bang dahilan para itago at lagi niya itong suotin bukod doon??
He probably killed her because of a grave reason.
"Because they are happier dead."
Naalala ko iyong sinabi niya. Did his mother wished for her death?
And he killed her.
Levi thought of himself as a monster more than I did.
At alam niya iyon.
Kaya agad siyang lumayo.
But what about Athyeia??
What about her?
What lead him to kill Athyeia when she clearly never wished for him to do so??
Mula sa aking paanan ay may nasipa akong kahon.
The book.
Kinuha ko iyon at binuksan.
May dalawa doong librong walang kasulat-sulat.
And then I realized something.
Kailangan kong isulat lahat ng nabasa ko tungkol sa libro.
It would help me preserve my memory of it at kung ano ang mga hakbang na dapat ay sunod kong gawin upang mapigilan padin ang kamatayan ni Athyeia.
And in the second book, I'll right my experiences as Athyeia.
So that when I get back to my own world and Athyeia is back to this body, malalaman niya ang mga nangyari. And maybe, I'll even know what happened back here.
Nalulungkot ako sa isiping baka pagbalik ko sa tunay na mundo ay wala akong maalala tungkol sa panaginip na ito.
No, this is not a dream.
Iyong pagmamahal nina Mama, ni Papa, ni Li-Em. Iyong mga munting paguusap namin ni Laura, at iyong pagkakaibigan namin ni V.
Panigurado akong hindi lamang ito isang pragmento ng aking imahinasyon.
I looked at the hanging locket once again.
Kailangan ko itong maibalik.
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