Night of the Eclipse Moon

Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19 - LETTER

In the reality of life, we will not 'get over' the loss of a loved one, we will just learn to live with it. We will heal and rebuild ourselves around the loss we have suffered. We will be whole again but we will never be the same.

And it seems it is the reason that triggered me to get revenge, I can't get over with what happened to Papa. But I guess acceptance is the key to everything because we cannot change anything unless we accept it.

"You're right. Thanks for everything, love. Salamat dahil naliliwanagan na ako." I smiled.

I hope it is not yet too late to make it right.

He pinched my nose. "Totoo na yan, ah."

Tumango ako. "Pero alam mo since best friend ko naman ang may spiritual ability, if given the chance I will ask her to turn you into Moroi again."

"Nah! Don't bother, love. I am happy with what I am right now." He both held my hands. "Hmm.. Hypothetical lang, love. What if your father is alive but he became a Strigoi, would you still turn me into Moroi again?"

Mahina ko siyang hinampas sa braso, pero napa-isip naman ako sa sinabi niya. Paano nga kaya?

Ayoko naman isipin na kaya hindi namin natagpuan ang katawan ni Papa ay dahil na convert na siya into Strigoi.

Marco snapped his fingers in front of me. "Hello? Earth to Althea?"

"What kind of question is that? Ang hirap."

He chuckled. "Ang seryoso mo naman, hypothetical nga, eh. Alam ko mahirap dahil mahal mo kami pareho. Pero para sa akin, gusto ko na yung papa mo ang pipiliin mo. May pagkakataon ka na para makasama ulit siya, tatanggihan mo pa ba yon?"

Umiling ako.

"Just what I have said earlier, masaya na ako na ganito. Nakakasama naman kita kahit Strigoi ako, di ba? So you don't have to think too much about me turning back to being a Moroi. The most important thing now is to save your best friend." He kissed me on my forehead.

At kung mangyari man ang sinabi niya tungkol kay papa, gagawin ko rin ang lahat para masalba siya.

"Thank you." Hinalikan ko rin siya sa labi.

Tumayo na siya at naglahad ng kamay. "Tara na sa loob? Baka hinahanap ka na."

I grabbed his hand and we both went inside.

**

Nagsi-alisan na ang mga kasamahan ni Tito Claudio na mga Dhampir din. Tanging kami na lang ang nagpa iwan sa silid kung saan kami nagpulong.

Tumila na rin ang ulan.

"Dranreb, hijo. Maraming salamat sa pagsalba mo sa akin kanina. Utang ko ang buhay ko sayo." I heard Tito Claudio say that to Dranreb when he approached.

Tumayo naman siya at nginitian si Tito.

"Naku po, wala 'yon. Muntik ko na nga kayo makagat. Paumanhin po."

They both laugh.

"I can't imagine that this day will happen. Two Strigois are taking our sides to fight against their kind." mahinahong sabi ni Tito. He looked amazed.

Nilapitan naman sila ni Marco. "Rest assured Tito Claudio, we will definitely win this fight."

"Thanks, hijo." Tito patted Marco's shoulder.

"Are we really gonna win? The King's plan to revive his daughter is during the eclipse. Alam niyo ang mangyayari kapag sumapit yon!" Nakisali si Ginang Rosa sa usapan.

What does she mean? I have trained and studied to be a guardian but I have no idea about that eclipse thing.

"Worst case scenario ay mapapaslang lang tayong lahat." Dugtong pa ni Ginang Rosa at bumaling siya kay Marco at Dranreb. "Silang dalawa lang ang natatanging makakalaban ng grupo ni Arminda. Knowing that woman, she is powerful!"

"What will happen when the eclipse occurs?" Nagsalita na ako.

Lahat sila ay lumingon sa akin. Naging uncomfortable ako, lalo pa at hindi ko pa nakaka-usap ulit si Mama at si Tito Claudio tungkol sa naging approached ko sa kanila nung isang araw.

"The worst weakness. When that time comes, dhampirs and witches lose their powers in 3 days." Ani ni Emily.

"Pero imposible naman na hindi tayo makakahanap ng paraan para hindi mawala ang kapangyarihan natin, di ba?"

"May paraan naman. The only thing to restore our powers is to grab the correct Golden Apple." sagot sa akin ni Emily.

May paraan naman pala, bakit parang bakas pa rin sa mga mukha nila ang pag-aalala?

"Then if there's a way, we can grab that golden apple before fighting our enemy." I said.

Walang kumibo sa sinabi ko, hindi ata sila nakumbinse.

"What? Okay, alam kong kasalanan ko kung bakit nadampot si Janella. I'm doing my best to make it up to her and I'm sorry for what I did to you Tito and sayo Ma. I'm sorry for all my mistakes." nangingilid na ang luha ko.

Lumuhod ako sa harapan nila.

"Thea, what are you doing?" sabi ni Marco.

Tuluyan na akong naiyak. "Patawad sa lahat, Ma. Sorry, Tito. I know it is late to apologize since it happened already. But —"

"Sshhh.. you don't have to do this anak." mahigpit akong niyakap ni mama sanhi para mas lalo akong umiyak. "Stop crying."

We stood up and I saw Marco smile, nilapitan naman kami ni Tito.

Marahan niya akong hinaplos sa pisngi at pinalis ang luha ko. "Althea.. you have grown such a great lady. I'm proud of who you have become, it takes guts to admit mistakes. Admitting you're wrong is courage, not weakness and it is a sign of maturity."

Niyakap ko si Tito ng mahigpit. It feels like I'm hugging papa as well. Umiiyak na naman ako, I miss papa so much.

"For sure, if Danilo is still alive he will be so proud of you too."

"Thank you, tito." Humiwalay ako sa kanya. "So sang-ayon po ba kayo na kukuha muna tayo ng golden apple bago atakihin ang mga Strigoi?"

"It is dangerous, Thea." sabi ni mama. "It is not easy to grab it. Nasa masukal na lugar 'yon, at kung tatangkain natin kunin yon hindi tayo sigurado kung tama ang pinipitas natin."

"I guess the other option is to sneak into the King's Kingdom before the eclipse. Sa pagkakataong yon ay masasagip natin si Janella." suhestiyon ni Dranreb.

"Your suggestion is good, but still risky. Ni hindi nga natin alam kung saan kinulong si Janella. Kailangan natin ng isang magandang plano."

Ginang Rosa, has a point. We need a better plan for this.

"Siguro ang dapat natin gawin muna ngayon ay magpahinga." Mom suggested.

We all agreed and nodded. Nauna ng lumabas ng silid si Tito Claudio at sinundan siya ni Ginang Rosa.

"Marco, sa bahay ka na magpahinga."

I was stunned when Mom said that to Marco, nagkatinginan kami.

Nag-aalinlangan pang sumagot si Marco. "H-hindi na po, tita. May pupuntahan pa kami ni Dranreb."

Tumango si mama at ngumiti. "Sige, mag-ingat kayo."

I hugged Marco and he kissed me on my forehead. "I'll see you tomorrow. I love you."

"I love you too."

I waved at him at tinapik niya si Dranreb sa braso at lumabas na sila.

"Mauna na rin po ako, tita." Emily said and faced me. "I forgot to give it to you earlier."

Inabot niya ang isang sulat. I stared at the letter for a minute. "K-kanino galing 'to?"

"It is from Janella, she gave it to me the night before she was caught by the Strigois. Sabi niya ibigay ko raw sayo." Tipid siyang ngumiti. "I'll go ahead."

"Let's go home anak." I nodded at inilagay ang sulat sa bulsa ko.

To be continued…