Nostalgic Deception #1: Above The Waves

Kabanata 6

Hestia's POV

Hingal na hingal ako nang idilat ko ang mga mata ko, mabilis na umangat saking dibdib ang kamay ko upang pigilan ang pagkabog nito. The same dream appeared again, siguro ay dahil namamahay ako. Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako at bahagyang ibinaba ang aking kamay kasabay ng pagdapo ng mga mata ko sa isang babae saking harapan. She seems to be at her late 40's, she's wearing a dress that was identified in Renaissance period---probably a victorian uniform that reaches her ankle. My eyes went back to her face only to find out she's looking at me with a smile plastered on her face.

"The Captain's waiting for you," she stated, still smiling. "Do you prefer to take a dinner first or take a shower?"

"I'll choose the latter." Bahagya na lamang akong ngumiti sakaniya at tumango lang naman siya sakin. I stood up and went to the room she leads. Bumungad sa amin ang isang soup-bowl freestanding tub na sa tingin ko ay kasya ang dalawang tao doon. Against the wall is a glass shower room, kumpleto ang mga gamit doon. There's a marble-made toilet at the corner of the room. I was amazed with everything that I see, tila pamilyar bawat set-up at mga lugar dito. I heaved a sigh before I could even the lady speak.

"I am Lavinia," the lady spoke behind me. Agad akong napabaling sakaniya at naabutan ko siyang nakatitig sakin. It feels awkward, she seems as if wanting to tell me something. Inalis ko na lamang iyon saking isip at nginitian siya.

"Uh--," natigilan ako sa pagkautal, bahagya akong tumikhim at nagahad sakaniya ng kamay. "I'm Hestia."

Inabot niya ang kamay ko na agad kong ikinangiti ng malawak. She seems familiar. Everything's familiar. Muli akong napabuntong-hininga na lamang hanggang sa magsalita siya ulit.

"Your clothes are hanging there." She pointed at the corner of the shower room before letting go of my hand. Sinundan ng mga mata ko ang sulok na itinuturo niya.

I found a summer corset-dress that has a touch of mixed Medieval period and modern pattern which made it even more elegant. I almost drop my jaw, it's screaming luxury! I wear clothes that cost thousands in my hometown, but I've never seen any clothe like this before! I should ask Caspian where he bought this later, maybe I can go shopping before I leave.

"Thank you..." Tanging nasambit ko saking kasama. I heard her chuckling before turning her back from me.

"They belong to you." She whispered which I didn't hear clearly as my attention was still at the corset-dress hanging by the corner. I gasped.

I was in the middle of taking a shower when I remembered Artemis, she wasn't placed in my room. I don't plan to be attach to anything or anyone in this place, I should not forget that above this wide sea is someone who's waiting for me to win the hide-and-seek game of waves.

Abala ako sa p*******i ng corset mula sa aking likuran nang bumukas ang pinto ng silid. Bahagyang sumilip ang nagbukas nito at dahan-dahang humakbang papasok nang mapagtanto na tapos na akong magbihis.

"Captain Morgan wants you down right now, Lady Hestia." Lavinia stated. Mabilis na dumaloy ang hiya at pagkailang sa aking sistema sa paraan ng pagtawag niya sakin.

"Just Hestia," I demanded, an awkward smile appeared on my face. "Let's drop the honorifics, it's not as if I'm here in behalf of other pirate crew or as someone related to your Captain."

Wala pang ilang segundo ay naramdaman ko na ang pagsisisi na gumapang sa aking katawan. May mali ba sa nasabi ko? Damn, Hestia! That was too much.

"T-that's not what I mean, I apolo--," I was about to apologize for my mistake when she suddenly laughed.

"You really are Hestia." She stated in the middle of her laugh.

"And you must be really happy." I talked back, pointing about her sudden laugh. She just heaved a sigh to stop herself from laughing to much. Naiwan ang malawak na ngiti sa kaniyang mga labi na naging dahilan para mapangiti din ako. I'm starting to feel comfortable around her.

We began to walk out of the room towards to her lead. Napakunot ang noo ko nang umalingasaw ang amoy na tila hinahatak ako patungo sa pinanggagalingan nito. Halatang may nagluluto sa paligid, agad na kumalam ang sikmura ko kaya napahawak ako doon.

"Where is that coming from?" Halos pabulong kong tanong kay Lavinia. She just chuckled at me before she stopped from walking. Tumatawang itinuro niya sakin ang isang pinto na malawak. Kahit naguguluhan ay hindi ako nagdalawang-isip na itulak iyon.

Bumungad sakin ang malaking lamesang bilog na napapalibutan ng pader na puro paintings. Mula sa dulo ng lamesa ay nagtagpo ang mga mata namin ni Caspian. He was holding a glass of wine on his right hand, sa kabilang bahagi ng lamesa ay doon ko nakita ang kapatid ko na masayang itinuturo ang mga pagkain. She really came after me---food-lover.

"Would you mind sitting?" Pagtikhim ni Caspian. Wala sa sariling napangiti ako ng malawak at naupo sa harap niya. Biglang bumaling sakin si Artemis na hanggang ngayon ay nakaturo sa pagkain. I chuckled when she recognized me. Natigil ang pagdaldal niya kay Caspian dahil sa pag-agaw ko sakaniyang atensyon.

"Did you sleep well, Artemis?" I asked her as soon as I sat beside her.

"Very well, ate. I will watch the stars after we eat, do you want to come?" Tugon niya sakin habang nakangiti. Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko,. How will she watch the stars? Hindi kita dito ang mga bituin dahil masiyadong mataas ang mga puno na nakapalibot sa kastilyo.

"I asked Hulyano to show Artemis the stars." Sambit ni Caspian na tila narinig ang iniisip ko. "Do you want to come?" He asked.

"I'm fine. I'm sure Hulyano will take care of Artemis." Marahan kong tugon.

Tumahimik na kaming tatlo nang magsimula na kaming kumain. Halos lahat ng nasa lamesa ay seafoods pero sobrang nakakatakam ang mga luto sa bawat dish. Even the taste of these foods are familiar, it really feels like home. I heaved a sigh at ninamnam na lamang ang mga pagkain. Naramdaman ko ang isang pares ng mga mata na tila pinagmamasdan ako. I was supposed to feel uncomfortable but I suddenly feel at ease.

Pagtapos namin kumain ay mabilis na nawala sa hapag-kainan si Artemis nang dumating si Hulyano para sunduin siya. I even reminded Hulyano to not let Artemis out of his sight, my sister might be able to adapt easily to any environment but that doesn't change the fact that I worry about her. She's all I have now.

My feet began to wander around the castle, bawat hakbang ko ay unti-unting bumibigat kasabay nang paglalim ng mga matang hanggang ngayon ay wari ko'y nakamasid sakin. Sa kabila ng kaba ko ay nandoon pa rin ang kakaibang pakiramdam na hindi ko mawari kung ano. Tumigil lamang ako sa paglalakad ng mapagtanto kong dinala ako ng mga paa ko sa garden. I heaved a sigh and went inside the tree house. Everything inside the tree house are wooden that shines bright. I touched the wooden lamp beside the bed. I gasped when I felt someone's presence behind me.

"Everything belongs to you." Isang pamilyar na baritono ang bumasag sa katahimikan ng silid.

Maingat kong ibinaba ang ilaw at marahang humarap kay Caspian. Pilit na tawa ang pinakawalan ko habang pinagmamasdan ang mga nasa paligid. Funny to think that everything from here belongs to me in just one day. Is this even a joke? I prefer this one as a dream, then.

"I wouldn't be shock if one day the ships belong to me as well." I didn't mean to sound sarcastic but that's how it end up. I heaved a sigh. Wala akong balak humingi ng tawad sa nasabi ko, I was really about to tell him that but not in that way.

"It's been 2 years." He suddenly stated. Nagbikit-balikat na lamang ako, wala akong naiintindihan sa sinabi niya. What's with the 2 years?

"2 years ago I was lying down in a room full of whites." I softly whispered.

"Why?" He asked. Nabahidan iyon ng iba't ibang emosyon, wala sa sariling bumaling sakaniya ang mga mata ko. Since this morning, he was showing me mixed emotions which I wouldn't deny that actually ruin my mind.

"I don't know." I shrugged. Bahagya akong lumapit sa may bintana at sumandal doon. My eyes lift up to the sky, tanaw ko mula dito ang mga bituin. "Even if I know, I wouldn't dare to look back. It's all in the past, that doesn't matter to me." Mapait na ngiti ang sumibol sa mga labi ko. I woke up in pain, it's even more painful that I had no idea of why I was feeling that way from the time I came back to my senses that day.

"The skies will remain to remind us of everything from the past." He uttered. His voice was so soft but his usual baritone remains.

Tanging ang kalangitan lang ang nakakasaksi sa lahat ng nangyayari umaga 'man o gabi. Tila sinasabi nito na kahit ilang beses kong kalimutan ang mga nangyari sa nakaraan, mananatili itong ipapaalala ng kalangitan.

"I hate the skies, but it's the only one that stayed with me even at my darkest." I sighed. "I hate the stars, they leave when it's my time to rise."

"They stayed, it's just that--- you're shining so bright that they had to hide." His soft voice remained. My eyes met his gaze before I could even realize that he's smiling at me with longing. "You still shine as the brightest star even when it's too vivid to see."