Written by the Moon

41~ UNKNOWN

He's always so old fashioned. Pwede naman siya magtext o sabihin sa akin ng person ito. Thanking me wouldn't take too much time.

Pero kumunot ang noo ko nang mapagtanto kung ano nga ba ang pinagpasalamat niya sa akin. I pouted as I saw the bird flew out of my room.

Humiga na ako sa aking kama at hinihimas ang aking braso. Talking to Forest was comfortable and nice. Kahit na hindi ko siya sinasagot ng diretso o maayos, our conversation fortunately didn't end up with screams.

At kahit gaano ko man kagusto ang pag-uusap namin, kailangan ko nang umiwas din. Talking to him will only tempt me more. I can't risk that. Bibigay nalang ata ng bigla ang puso ko. Ayoko ng gano'n.

As much as I don't want to harm Forest, I also don't want to hurt Zaf. She's pure and perfect for Forest kaya wala dapat akong pagdudahan sa pag-iwas sa kan'ya.

Palagi ko na lamang tandaan ang mga posibleng trahedya na mangyari kung ipapatuloy ko pa ang pagmahal sa kan'ya. He has took steps on moving one and I hope he'll never look back.

Masakit man pero 'yon ang tama.

I rolled up to my bed and fell asleep. Siguro narin sa pagod ko kanina at napabilis ang pagtiklop ng aking mata. Malalim ang tulog ko kaso nang marinig ang pagbukas ng aking pintuan, my body regained consciousness.

Nakapikit pa naman ang aking mata. Dinarama ko lamang ang aking paligid. There were light footsteps and I hear a normal breathing of a person. Hindi ko masabi na si Mark 'to o si Tiana. If they did come inside, sa punto na ito, nagsasalita na sana sila.

The presence of this person is just so void. Wala aong makuha sa kan'ya. Like it's masked and intended for me not to know this person. Nang maramdaman ko ang papalapit nitong hakbang sa akin, lahat nang balahibo sa aking katawan ay tumindig. I could feel my body shiver.

Right from that moment, I knew something is wrong. Kaso ang problema, hindi ko alam kung ano. I just remained on my bed, closing my eyes. Pretending to sleep just to buy time to figure out who this persin is.

But one thing is sure, I'm in danger. The slight clanging of a sword is evident in my ears.

I easily emitted light from my hand as I felt the person touch my shoulders. Nang maramdaman ko na ang paglapit ng mukha nito sa akin, I hit the person with just one strike of my light.

Kumikinang na ang aking kamay dulot ng ilaw galing sa aking kapangyarihan. I immediately casted a spell to protect the corners of this room. Para walang nakaramdamn kung ano ang nangyayari dito sa loob.

My eyes narrowed to one person. Hindi ko mawaru kung babae ba o lalaki. But it's in a black hood. Hindi ko makita ang mukha dahil nakamask naman ito ng itim.

"Anong kailangan mo?"

Tiningnan ko ang istilo ng katawan nito. Mas matangkad ako. Nanliit ang mata kong tiningnan ang mahaba nitong buhok. But I can't figure out how long.

Babae.

"Magsalita ka."

Gumalaw ito. Ang mata ay nakapocus sa akin. Nagmamasid sa bawat galaw ko. Tumingin ito sa kamay ko na lumiliwanag at bumalik ulit sa aking mukha.

"Ikaw ba si Eloise?"

"Bakit?"

Ang boses nito. Hindi ko rin mawari. Sa tingin ko, may ginawa siya para hindi ko mawari ng tama ang boses niya. It's masked too.

Hindi ito nagsalita at agad na sinugod ako. With it's sword ready to pierce me, I had to dodge. Using my light, I summoned my arrows.

Tiningnan niya ng mabuti ang bawat kilos ko. Napatigil ito sa kakatitig sa aking ginawa kaya nakakuha ako ng pagkakataon na matamaan siya gamit ang palaso ko. Only her hood was hit by it.

Sumugod na naman ito at katulad ng kanina, I just dodged. Hindi naman ito muling lumaban sa akin. It kept attacking me but still missed. Or is it because I always dodged?

Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit oarang naglalaro lang kami.

"You're not hurting me,"

"I can if I want to."

"Then do it," paghahamon ko.

I was ready. This time, when she attacks, I won't dodge anymore. At mukhang naramdaman niyo 'yon na makita akong handa na para sa kan'yang pag-atake.

This is a game. I don't want to be in a circle olaying with this woman. I waved my hand as I stroke an attack. If she dodges then she's not here to hurt me. But if she doesn't then I might know her intentions.

As I struke her, she dodged. Naintindihan ko agad na nandito siya sa ibang pakay. Ang tanong ngayon, ano 'yon? If she doesn't want ti hurt me, then what?

Tiningnan ko ng mabuti ang kan'yang kilos. And in a split second, she ran to the balcony door. Sa biglaan niyang kilos, hindi ko naman napansin ang malakas na pagbukas sa aking pintuan.

It revealed Tiana and Forest. Their eyes went to the mysterious woman that hopped out of the balcony. Nang hindi na matanaw ang babae, lumingon na sila sa akin.

Both had questioning eyes. Pero bakas sa mukha nito ang pag-alala. I sigged and sat weakly on a chair. Unang dumalo si Tiana sa akin. She looked at me with worry evident in her eyes.

"Who was that?"

Umiling ako, bigo. I don't know the person.

"Nasaktan ka ba?" Forest asked.

Umiling din ako. Narinig ko ang pagbuntong hininga nilang dalawa. But my mind was just too focused on the woman. What was her intention?

She didn't even put a scratch on me nor hurt me. She was just there, observing.

I went to the balcony without minding them. It's weird how she seemed like she just visited me. Walang balak na saktan ako pero nang-aatake.

"Nav, may sinabi ba siya sayo? Anything? Do you find something familiar with?"

"No,"

"A witch that masked her scent and voice. It's hard to change or manipulate a voice. She must be skilled."

"An elite," ani Forest.

Umiling ako. Kumunot ang noo ko kakaisip.

"A noble. Her sword had an embellishment with a logo."

As far as I know, only nobles have that. They will always put marks on every item they have. Might be a weapon, jewelry or even on their skin.

"I'll look for her," wika ni Forest.

"Huwag na. Wala naman siyang balak saktan ako."

"I'm not risking anything."

"Let me handle this," tiningnan ko siya ng mariin. Finality in my voice. Bumagsak ang balikat nito at tumango sa akin. Tiana looked at me still worried. I gave her a small smile as I remembered the eyes of the woman. She had navy blue eyes.

Iyon lang ata ang alam ko tungkol sa kan'ya. For now, I'll keep this information to myself.

Kami lamang ni Tiana at Forest ang nakaalam sa nangyari. Forest seemed calm but when you call for him, he looks like his mind is in a different world. Napailing na lamang ako.

Tiana did a ritual in her study to make the mansion gaurded. Hindi naman nahalata ni Sham, Michelle, at Jedi ang nga pangyayari. Nang sabay kaming bumalik ni Forest sa salas, agad na napansin ni Mark na may mali. I gave him a look. He nodded as he went to the kitchen.

Susunod na sana ako kaso hinatak pa ako ni Forest. I eyed him, questioning.

"Ano?"

"Saan ka pupunta?"

"I'll talk with Mark."

"Saan?"

"Bakit ba?"

Napadalas na ata ang pagtatanong ng isang 'to.

"You just experienced an attack earlier," he whispered.

"I'm safe with Mark."

Bumuntong hininga ito bago ako binitawan. I went straight to the kitchen matapos akong bitawan nito. I saw Mark pouring a drink.

Lumapit ako sa kan'ya. He handed me a glass of wine. Nakaupo ito sa high chair kaya tumabi na rin ako.

"Did something happen?" banayad nitong tanong.

"Yeah," nakatitig lang ako sa bintana.

"You're tensed. Okay ka lang?"

Tumango ako.

"Navy blue eyes."

Lumingon ako sa kan'ya. Kanina oa ito naghihintay na magsalita ako.

"Anong meron, Nav?"

"Do you know someone with navy blue eyes?"

"Wala naman, bakit?"

Tiningnan ko siya ng ilang segundo. I blinked a couple of times. I felt the confusion starting to pile up on me. Nang makita na hindi pa nagalaw ang wine ko, uminom ako sa wine glass.

I swirled it as I took a sip. I glanced at Mark at mariin itong nakatingin sa wine glass ko. Kumunot ang ulo ko.

Why does everything feels so weird?

"Nabili mo na ba ang damit na tinext ko sayo?"

There was a moment of pause before he answered. This is getting weirder.

"Nasa kuwarto mo na. Bakit?"

Agad kong binaba ang wine glass. This is not good.

"You're not Mark."

He smirked at me. Shivers went to my spine and spread throughout my body.

"Too late," bumaba ang mata nito sa wine glass ko.

I immediately felt the sudden dizziness after that. But this type of dizziness didn't even give me time to think for a while. Nang hindi ko napagtanto, bumagsak na ang katawan ko. My body is losing all the consciousness. Hinahabol ko ang aking hininga. I feltnlike I just ran a million miles to feel this way. The last thing I heard before shuting down was the curse of Forest.

"F*ck! D*mn it!"

To be continued...