Written by the Moon

35~MYSTERY

Pagkapasok ko palang sa mansion, nakaabang na si Tiana. With her arms crossed and serious look. Tama nga ako. She would be looking for me early in the morning. Hindi man niya sinasabi pero alam kong alerto siya sa aking sitwasyon ngayon. Hindi ako tanga para hindi pagdudahan ang kan’yang pagbibisita sa akin tuwing umaga.

Kahit tulog pa nga ako, alam kong binabantayan niya ako. She’s looking out for me. She wants me to distance with Forest. Okay lang naman sa akin na sabihin niya na ang totoong motibo niya. I’m not mad. I actually appreciate it.

She looks out for me. She actually… cares. Buong buhay ko, si Mark lang ang nag-aalalaga sa akin. Ang sumunod naman si Forest. Hindi ko man napansin noon pero ngayon alam ko na. At ngayon, si Tiana naman.

I sighed as I looked at her eyes narrowing at me. Para bang nang-aakusa na. She must have seen Forest’s car. I shrugged my shoulders just to show her that nothing bad happened. Actually, meron pala. Ngayon ko lang naalala ang nangyari kagabi bago ako niligtas ni Forest.

Mayroong malakas na hangin na napakalamig. It even froze my arms. It felt like a snowstorm but there was no storm. All I saw was fog and wind making a typhoon. At sa pangyayari na iyon, nasagip ako ni Forest. Now, the question is, how did he save me from there?

Napabaling ako kay Tiana na nakataas na ang kilay. I rolled my eyes on her. I was about to walk past her when she grabbed my arm. I sighed then faced her. Alam ko naman na kukuwestyonin ako ni Tiana. She had that grim look on her face. Masasabi kong malaking disappointment ito sa kan’ya.

And that I should feel guilty but… why do I seem alright with what happened? Why am I not guilty at all?

“Where were you last night?”

“Do you need to ask when you already know the answer, Tiana?”

She sighed in so much despair. Her head lowered as she gripped my hand tighter. My face twitched as she breathed out and she released my arm. I had to massage my hand after that.

“Why? Of all places why?”

Napalunok ako.

“You… didn’t know what happened last night?”

Agad umalerto ang mata nito. Even her senses have heightened. Agad niyang sinuyod ang aking katawan at sa mukha palang mukhang alam ko na ano ang nasa isip nito. Iyon din naman ang una kong inisip nang makita na hubad si Forest sa aking tabi.

Agaran akong umuling.

“It’s not what you think,” I raised my hand briefly in defense and lazily sat on the sofa.

She never bought my excuse. Instead, she gave me a warning look that I only rolled my eyes at.

“Nothing happened, okay?” I tried to sound convincing. I mean, what I said is actually the truth. The problem is how to convince her.

“Forest scent is all over your body.”

I pouted and tried sniffing my body. Napatango ako nang mapagtanto na totoo nga. I do smell like him and I’m liking it. I was about to smile when I realize that Tiana is in front of me.

“Let me explain,”

“You liar,” she hissed at me.

Napabuntong hininga ako.

“We didn’t do anything, Tiana,” tumaas ng kaunti ang boses ko. Now, I sound defensive.

“Huwag kang magsinungaling sa akin, Nav. Maglilimang daan na ako dito sa mundo, ikaw hindi pa nakalahati.”

“Just let me explain, please?”

She shook her head.

“You know what? Mas mabuti pang maligo ka muna dahil baka…” hindi na niya natapos ang kan’yang sasabihin.

I nodded courtly at her. Wala naman talaga akong sinasaba na kasinungalingan. But maybe because of my serious complexion, she thought I’m lying. Nasa isip ko pa kasi ang nangyari kagabi. That mysterious storm. Hindi ko parin alam kung bakit iyon nangyari. ‘Di bale, kailangan ko ring maligo ngayon at baka magkamalisya pa dito sa mansyon.

Without a word, I left the living room, leaving the suspicious Tiana. I guess my scent is only masked back at the Alcazar’s mansion. As soon as I went to the bathroom, my mind has been stuck to the events last night. Hindi ko na nga inisip masyado ang nangyari sa amin ni Forest. In my mind, the storm was the only thing bothering me.

Could it be the Goddess? Was it a punishment? If it was, I more than ready to face it. Pero nang sinagip ako ni Forest, mukhang ma slalong magagalit ang Diyosa ng Buwan. I sighed thinking about last night. Kaya nang natapos akong maligo, nakatuon na ako sa aking iPad. I searched different key words just to find out about the happenings last night.

And there was none. Kahit ginugol ko na lahat lahat, wala parin. It was very frustrating. What happened last night was a life-and-death situation for me. And not knowing anything about it, scares me. What if it happens to Forest too? Who will be there to save him?

Hanggang sa paglabas ko sa aking kuwarto, wala parin akong maisip na posibilidad. It scares me more knowing Forest will be harmed. This is why we can't be together. No matter how much I want us to be, I just can't risk it.

Pero mabuti nalang at unti-unting napagtanto na iyon ni Forest. I breathed an amount of air as I sat at the dining table for breakfast. Mariing nakatingin sa akin si Tiana. She quietly breathed the air and sighed. Naligo na ako kaya wala ng bakas na amoy ni Forest.

The breakfast started. Tahimik lang ako, as usual. Gano'n naman talaga. Ang iba naman, puno ng usapan. Tiana is alos abnormally quiet. Kadalasan, sumasali siya sa mga usapan nina Sham at Michelle. Ngayon, wala itong kibo. Katulad ko lang.

"I thought I heard Forest's car earlier," Jedi said.

Tiana slowly moved her eyes on me. She gave me the look. I only sat comfortably. Wala akong plano para magsinungaling pero hindi pa ngayon ang tamang oras para malaman nila amg tungkol sa amin ni Forest. Just like Mark, I am also concerned with the others. I can't risk them. Sa mga pangyayari ngayon, it's harmful if I let them know about me and Forest.

It's just better to keep it a secret. I have always been cold and stern. I don't socialize that much and my wordl revolved only with the Goddess. I have only one companion and that's Mark. It's new to me that I actually care for Jedi, Michelle, and Sham. Even Tiana. Wala akong plano na sabihin sa kan'ya but at that time, I was already crying for help and I knew who can help me and it was only her that time.

There conversation went to so many places. Hanggang sa dumating kay Forest at Zafeya. My breakfast was cool already but now, I'm in a hot seat that they're asking me about Forest and his lovely mate.

"So, what's next with Forest's lovelife?" Si Sham.

Ngumiti ako. Parang hilaw, so I tried to smile more comfortably.

"Taking a break," ang hirap mag sinungaling.

Napansin agad ni Mark ang tamlay sa boses ko. His brows furrowed.

"Are you doing well?"

I nodded at them. Smiled and laughed a little.

"Yeah."

"Forest and Zafeya just fit so good together. I really praise you for bringing them together, Nav."

"It was the Goddess' decision. I only do the strengthening of the bond," why do I feel like I sound bitter.

"Their kiss was just magical!" Kinikilig na sambit ni Sham.

I lowered my head, looking at my food. Napansin ko rin na kanina pa nakatingin si Mark sa akin. Tiana looked uncomfortable with the conversation so she had to look away.

"Galing mo talaga, Nav," Jedi praised me.

I only nodded and gave a tight smile. Right, I am doing a good job. Breakfast was suffocating, I had to say. Mahirap pala. Akala ko nabawasan na ng onti ang sakit pero hindi pala. Mas lalo lamang sumasakit sa pagdaan ng mga araw.

Nang bumalik na ako sa aking silid, I can already feel Tiana's strong presence inside my room. I sighed as i opened the door

She's standing near the balcony, feeling the brush of the wind. I quietly sat on my bed and looked at my relic sitting on my bedside table.

"Did a storm happened last night?"

My head snapped back up to Tiana. Nakatalikod parin ito. So, she must have found out what happened last night.

"Yes."

"It was not the Goddess. Alam kong isipin mo na ang Diyosa ng Buwan ang may gawa no'n pero hindi."

My brows furrowed.

"Then who?"

I'm itching to know who.

"I... don't know," she said as her shoulders surrendered.

Napatayo na ako. If not the Goddess, then who? Bakit naman gano'n? Was it a normal thing that happens here? Pero kung gano'n dapat alam na ni Tiana 'yon. She's been living here in Athanatoss for decades. She must know something.

"But one thing ia for sure..." she trailed off.

"Ano?"

"Someone knows about you and Forest. May alam ka ba na pwedeng pagsabihin ni Forest tungkol sa inyong dalawa?" Lumingon na siya sa akin.

Umiling ako. I might knwo him but I don't know his close friends. Hindi ko alam kung sino ang pwede niyang pagsabihin ng tungkol sa amin. At sa tingin ko, hindi niya iyon gagawin. He'll only put us to danger. Kaya imposible.

"We're not that close, Tiana," I had to admit that.

She sighed her head as she sat on my bed. May nakaalam sa amin? Kung meron man, ang alam ko lang ay baka galit ito. What happened last night harmed me. So, if it was the deed of someone who knew about me and Forest then their intention might be to erase me from this world.

The problem is I don't know who. At kung may nakaalam nga, paano naman? This world is just full of mystery. Mysteries that are just waiting to be unfold.

And until now, loving him is still a mystery to me.

To be continued...