Nightfall to Daybreak

Prologue "I, Grand King Zenovia Exellencia Nightingale, bless you, Princess Zendaya Zandeyi Nightingale, to be the next holder of the Grand Throne, to be entitled as King Zendaya Zandeyi, by virtue of the power vested in me, let this will be done." Binuksan ko ang aking mga mata. I must have dreamed of my father again. I was in the same bedroom again of the Kingdom Palace—my chamber. The same walls that watched me grow up were there. Nothing has changed. Except that I felt the heavy feeling in my chest, the feeling of loss, of losing the ones you love. Bumukas ang pinto at bumungad si Genesis. She let herself into the room, "mula sa kaniyang likod ay nakita ko si Vandersnatch. It has been a week already since the last war over Nephyria Kingdom and I have successfully taken it back again. "Good morning, Zendaya." Genesis smiled. I simply nodded. Bumangon ako mula sa kama at bahagya kong inayos ang aking magulong buhok. "Is it time already for the preparation?" Right. Today is my coronation again as the King and Queen of Nephyria Kingdom, however, I will announce that I am already the Empress of the Nightingale Empire, so I will just make Nephyria Kingdom as one of the kingdoms under my empire as I will conquer more kingdoms in the future. This is just my first victory, there are more to come. With careful considerations, I decided to make Doctor Helen as the Queen of Nephyria Kingdom. She has proven herself because of her loyalty already. But of course, no one knows of this and my other announcements. It is time for a change in the kingdom. I really love surprises... And I am sure this would surprise everyone. I know Doctor Helen would do great—with her years of experience and her openness. She is also a woman. Though she may be old, but she is wise and great. Sa kaniya rin galing ang katotohanan na hindi ako tinraydor ni Scholar Jung. He secretly helped me. I felt my heart ache because of the truth. I was so blinded with my anger towards him... How can I ever repay him back now that he is gone? "Actually, we're here for something else." Ngumiti si Genesis, "it's time for you to know of the other truth that I kept in secret." "Hmm?" Nagulat ako nang biglang humarap si Vandersnatch sa akin, "it's about Enzo..." Kumunot ang noo ko. Ramdam ko ang biglang pagragasa muli ng kalungkutan sa aking puso. The thought of Enzo gone has pained me so much, and to be reminded about it first in the morning—I feel like my day is ruined. "What about him?" Matigas na sagot ko. "I am Enzo." Vandersnatch declared and my eyes widened. He started explaining everything and they all seemed to fit in the gap of the stories that were on my mind. "Are you really Enzo?" I felt my tears forming in my eyes. "Yes... I'm sorry I had to hide it from you, Zendaya." Ngumiti si Vandersnatch sa akin, "but I had to do it because it was my only way of ensuring that God doesn't know. I was not meant to interfere, however, I grew fond of you when you were still a child. That's why I had to what I had to do." "No... That cannot be... I saw Enzo die... With my own eyes. If this is a joke, this isn't a good one." "I am not." Tumingin ako kay Vandersnatch, his eyes were golden and they were looking at me with truthful intensity. "It's me, Zendaya..." Matapos ang ilang sandali ay tumulo na ang aking mga luha na kanina pang nagbabanta. Niyakap ako ni Vandersnatch—I felt the same warmth that I felt whenever Enzo comforted me when he was still here. "If you're really Enzo, prove it." I sobbed. Tinago ko ang aking mukha sa kaniyang dibdib. Wala akong pake kung mabasa man ang kaniyang damit dahil sa aking mga luha. I just wanted to know if it was really him. "You asked me before who is the girl I love... And I told you that it is you, Zendaya. It has always been you." I remember it clearly. I closed my eyes and recalled the very memory of the day where Enzo confessed his love for me, of the day I realized of the truth that I've never acknowledged. "W-What are you doing?" "You asked who is the girl I love..." Nilapit niya ang kaniyang mukha sa akin at naramdaman ko ang paghampas ng mainit niyang hininga sa aking mukha. Napalunok ako dahil doon. Lagi kong nararamdaman ito sa tuwing magkasama kami ni Enzo, ngunit hindi ko masyadong pinapansin. But now that we're here, I know it's clear already. I felt the same thing when I was with Shinigami before... But what I felt towards Enzo was different. I guess the thing I had towards Shinigami was platonic love—and Enzo was... I didn't want to acknowledge it. But it was romantic love. "It's you, Zendaya." He whispered, "I've always loved you and I'll always love you." "How can it possibly be?" I didn't want to hope, because if he was lying, I would just be disappointed. "It's one of my magic, Zendaya. From a far, I've been with you through Enzo... And now that he is gone, I am finally here. The real one who has always protected you from harm, from a far. I know this is hard to accept, but I am not lying... And I will gain nothing from lying. I know you are mad and you feel manipulated, but I hope you understand why I had to do this." "I'm not mad..." Humikbi lang ako. "I'm not mad..." Pag-ulit ko. I looked up to see his face and meet his gaze, and he was looking at me with worry, "I'm happy... It's really you. I believe you." I cried and hugged him, "welcome back, Enzo... Err, Vandersnatch." "I love you." He whispered. "I'm sorry for just telling you now. I was mustering the courage to tell you the truth for the past few days... I thought you'd be mad." I shook my head, "I'm glad that you're alive." I smiled as he wiped my tears away. "Me too. I am glad that I am alive." He claimed my lips after and I felt the same sensation that I had with Enzo. I knew already—it was really him. The guy I love. "Even if it means defying God, I will never leave your side." "I love you, Vandersnatch." "Ehem." Biglang tumikhim si Genesis dahilan upang mapatingin kami sa kaniya. Right. We almost forgot that we were in her company, "should I leave the room?" We all chuckled.