The Cursed One (Tagalog/Filipino)

Chapter Nineteen

Hendrick

Kasama ang limang delta na pinagkatiwalaan ni Eigen, binagtas namin ang tahimik na daan patungong Arrison. I don't know why he knew that Freya's on Arrison. And I kind of know Desfor. Mahigpit na kalaban ng pamilya ni tita ang mga witch na 'yan.

"Go straight, then left," alpha said coldly na sinunod naman ng driver namin, si Larken.

Parang nanghihina ata ngayon si alpha. Pansin ko kanina na palagi itong nakahawak sa dibdib niya at nakapikit pa ang mga mata. May iniinda ba siyang sakit?

I didn't bother to ask him if what was wrong with him. I want to, pero ayaw ko namang manghimasok. Maybe it's private or something.

After Larken turned left, alpha asked him to stop right just in the middle of a dark road. Wala ni isa sa 'min ang umimik. The cars who’s tailing us stopped abruptly.

"Alpha, dito na?"

Alpha closed his eyes like he's been thinking deeply. Hinintay namin na magsalita siya.

"I know we're outnumbered, guys. But I'll try to settle this thing in an old way," anito at lumabas sa kotse. Lahat naman kami, sumunod sa kan'ya. He was facing the dark forest just beside our cars.

"I.... asked mom about Desfor before, and she told me that I could find them in the middle of the Oakswood Forest."

Tama nga siya. Napag-aralan namin 'yan noong highschool, but never mentioned about the cult of Desfor. At, hindi na ako magtataka kung bakit alam nito. Tita Jai is, ater all, the princess of Vhein, lugar ng mga half bloods.

"Signal me when you're in trouble. Be quite as possible. Larken and Yeugih will be coming with me." Turo niya sa 'ming dalawa ni Larken na kanina pa rin walang imik. "You five, monitor the left side of the forest. The other five, the right side. Go."

Nagsimulang mag-iba ng anyo ang iba at mahinang pumasok sa gubat. We, three, did that too.

"I'm coming for you, Freya. Wait for me, please," he uttered as he breathe hard. Napangiti ako doon at naunang pumasok sa gubat.

He really loved that woman. Well, she was a keeper, to be honest. It may not show, but she’s really caring to the things that she treasures. It may sometimes get obsessive, but I understand why.

She never had anyone she can call her own.

Minutes have passed, but no one dared to make a conversation. Pag kami kasi apat nagsasama, di talaga kami ganito katahimik. Maybe it's because Yeugih isn't here with us.

"Stop."

Napatingin ako kay Larken. He motioned us to be quiet. Nauna siyang naglakad sa 'min, at mukhang may pinakikinggan ito.

"Damn, I knew it!" Larken cussed.

"Ano? Bakit?"

Iniba niya ang kan'yang anyo, kaya naman iniba din namin ni Eigen ang aming anyo.

"They already knew we're after them. Signal the deltas to change their forms at sabihing magtawag sila ng ibang deltas. Tell them to wait at the outside," anito na ikinakunot ng noo namin.

"How did you know?"

"I overheard someone. You two must be thinking deeply kaya ‘di niyo nadinig. Come on. Maghiwalay tayo. You, in the right," turo niya sa 'kin. "I’m on the middle. And alpha's on the left side. I'm pretty sure they hid Yeugih and Freya in the left side since it’s the side where there’s no much way to penetrate in. Now, go."

"How come did you know?" I said with a gasp.

Imposibleng malaman niya ang lahat ng iyon. Larken is a type of lycan that don't want to memorize nor learn something. He’s lazy in learning and is only exceptional in slacking.

He winked. "Sources," ani nito at umalis na, leaving alpha and I dumbfounded.

Anong sources?

Nagkibit balikat na lang ako at nagpaalam kay alpha. Hindi niya ako inimik at tumango nalang.

Binagtas ko ang kanang bahagi ng gubat while praying silently.

God, please end this.

Eigen

Kanina pa ako walang imik. It's not that I'm mad at them. Nakikiramdam lang ako sa paligid.

Binalaan ako ni Damion sa plano ko. He knows we're outnumbered, and he also told me na ang titigas ng ulo ng taga Desfor. But I didn't listen. I know to myself that I can solve this in a nice and not in a bloody way.

But I also know to myself that I can kill them all if ever they hurt my mate. My love.

Pagkatapos akong iwan ni Larken at Hendrick, binagtas ko ang daan patungong kaliwa kung saan naroroon daw si Freya at Yeugih. I can feel it, too. Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad, naging mas maingat sa bawat tapak. I can smell drops of blood, and hardly smell Yeugih. No.... Please, don't tell me it's Yeugih....

I kept on denying it. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko kapag mawawala si Yeugih. He's special for me too. I don't want to lose him.

Sinundan ko ang amoy na iyon, and it led me to a tent. Isang brown tent na nakatayo sa kakahuyan, hindi kalayuan sa sentro ng gubat. Mabilis pa sa alas kwatro ko iyong tinakbo at nag-iba ng anyo. Marahas kong winakli ang pintuan nitong gawa lang sa kumot, pero wala akong nakita roon. Medyo may kalakihan ang tent at maraming mga bagay-bagay kaya kailangan ko pang magmadali para mahanap ko si Yeugih. I used my sense of smell again, and I'm never really wrong.

After I went to the left side of the tent, under the table full of God knows what things, there's Yeugih, lying silently on the bottom. He was covered in his own blood, but I can still feel his heartbeat. Nag-iba ulit ako ng anyo and squatted in front of him. I can even hardly see his white face. Punong-puno talaga nang dugo ang mukha niya. Maraming pasa at cuts ang natamo nito. My blood suddenly boiled.

Fuck. Pag hindi talaga ito mareresolba sa pamamagitan ng pag-uusap, di ako magdadalawang isip na ubusin ang angkan nila.

"Yeugih! Yeugih! Stop sleeping, wake up!"

I tried to wake him up, but he only answered me with a groan. At least he answered. He’s still alive. Napahinga ako ng malalim. Pinatayo ko siya at inalalayan. Halos hindi na nga talaga ito makatayo at lupaypay na ang katawan. Nabago ulit ako ng anyo bago ko siya isinakay sa likod ko at tumakbo palabas ng tent.

I gave Hendrick and Larken a messege that I found Yeugih and I'm going to bring him outside. They agreed and promised me to keep an eye to the witches. Nakita ko naman ang pinasukan namin kanina. Marami nang delta na nakapalibot doon. Agad nila akong nakita. I gave them Yeugih's body and told them to bring him to the castle and find Akia. Sumunod ang deltas na sinabihan ko.

Bumalik ako sa loob and braced myself.

Kung ganoon ang nangyari kay Yeugih na hindi naman talaga nila pakay, pa'no na lang kay Freya?

Pa'no na lang sa mahal ko?

Bigla akong nakaramdam ng matinding galit. Mas nauumapaw na galit na hindi ko pa nararamdaman dati. Hindi ko ito naramdaman no'ng pinatay ang mate ko sa mismong harapan ko. Ngayon lang. Ngayon lang talaga.

I stopped abruptly.

Before continuing to run, I let out a angry, apoplectic howl.

Not to mention, I was hungry for some bloodbath now. It's been a while since I've killed someone.

Maybe this is the time.

I smirked. You've messed with the wrong alpha.