Tears Of Asteria (TAGALOG)

Chapter Six | Who?

“Who are you?” his hoarse voice echoed throughout the cave-like underground place. His deep voice seemed so threatening, that I had goosebumps all over my body.

Nanatili akong tahimik dahil sa kaba. The blade of his sword shone so brightly; I could see the reflection of his face. I knew it. It’s him.

He’s standing in front of me with his brows furrowed in confusion as if he’s trying to get his vision clearer. Did he just wake up from his sleep? Was he sleeping while being soaked in the pond?

Despite only remembering the vivid memory of his silver hair a few months ago, I’m sure he’s the one who saved me.

“Speak.” matalas niyang sabi at mas diniin sa leeg ko ang espada niyang kanina pang nakatutok sakin. I took a step back, but the stone wall was the only foundation I could ever hold on to.

Nang maramdaman ko ang matalas niyang espada sa eeg ko, nanlamig ang katawan ko at parang sariling balhibo ko na ang tumakbo sa kaba at takot. A small voice came out from my mouth out of fright.

I could feel my warm blood dripping on my neck from the sharpness of his sword.

He’s tall. Mataas ako pero hanggang balikat lang yung ulo ko sa kanya. I needed to look up if I wanted to see him.

When I looked up, it seemed like his eyes became clearer.

I had this hunch na kusang bumangon ang katawan niya out of instinct kahit tulog pa siya.

Napatingin ako sa mata niyang kasing pula ng mga mata ko at medyo nangilabot. I thought I was the only one with those eyes. The thought of being the only one with such cursed traits haunted me. Being alone in a world so full was something I despised.

“Silver hair?” narinig kong sabi niya at nagtagpo ang mga mata namin. His eyes were sharp when he looked down at me while I seemed like a rabbit to him, a prey.

“It’s you,” sabi niya. He recognized me? I opened my mouth in attempt to talk pero parang konting galaw lang ng leeg ko, mas lalong madidiin ang espada.

Nakatutok lang kami sa isa’t isa pero parang wala pa rin siyang planong ibaba ang espada niya.

“Bakit ka nandito?” tanong niya sa ‘kin. Nakakunot pa rin ang noo niya at nahahalata ang paghihinala sa mga mata niya.

“M-may…,” nahihirapan kong imik dahil sa espadang nakatapat sa ‘kin pero nagpatuloy pa rin sa pagsasalita. For sure he’s willing to kill me if I’m suspicious or maybe t*****e me.

Will he?

“May hagdanan akong dinaanan mula sa hardin,” I answered as clear as I could even though I’m still trembling.

“Hagdanan?” nalilito niyang sabi.

“May hagdanan akong natagpuan--,” bahagya akong napaubo at nagpatuloy, “dahil may hinila ako sa puno,” sabi ko at tinuro ang espada niya.

“Can you point it away? I swear, wala akong balak,” depensa ko.

“Nawawala lang ako,” sabi ko at tinaas ang dalawa kong kamay bilang sinyales ng pagsuko.

Tumaas ang kilay niya at kinakabahan akong napatingin sa mga mata niya. Nakipagtutokan ako sa kaniya hoping that my eyes could somehow convince him.

His eyes were still sharp as it was. Hindi ako makahinga sa bawat segundo na lumilipas. I wouldn’t want to be in the same room as him ever again. In the loud silence between us that was full of threatening tension, he sighed and slowly put it down away from my neck.

Doon lang ako nakahinga ng maayos nang maramdaman kong wala na ang matalas na pakiramdam sa leeg ko at agad agad na napahawak kung saan dumudugo.

When I looked at him again, it was then that I realized that he was half-n***d. He was only wearing a towel and his long hair was dripping wet all over. His silver hair gleamed beneath the lights of the crystals surrounding the place. Aside from his hair, his dominant ruby red glowing eyes were captivating. Along with his nose, to his lips, to his broad shoulders, to his chest until I saw his abs.

Agad-agad akong napaiwas ng tingin at narinig ko siyang nagsalita.

“How the hell did a staircase that led here just randomly appear in some tree in the garden?” aniya na nakataas ang kilay at naghihinalang nakatingin sa ‘kin. His sword may be away from my neck, but it was still in his hands. I’m sure if I made any suspicious moves, I’ll be f*cked.

“I was playing with the hanging vines on the tree. I saw one weird vine and decided to pull it,” sabi ko. If I had known that I’ll be in a situation like this, then I’d never pulled that vine.

Pang-ilang buntong hininga niya ang narinig ko.

“So it was like that. I told them to get rid of those…,” mahina niyang sabi pero narinig ko pa rin dahil kaming dalawa lang ang nandito.

“Normally, I would’ve killed you right then and there for someone to appear unannounced during my bath,” aniya.

He looked so serious; it was intimidating. I’m f*cked.

“I’m sorry!” agad kong sabi sa kaniya. “I know it was rude pero hindi ko naman alam na patungo ang hagdanan dito. Plus, hindi ka ba makukulong dahil pumatay ka?”

Napatawa siya sa sinabi ko at napaturo sa sarili niya.

“Ako? Makukulong?” natatawa niyang sabi at tumingin sa ‘kin as if nakikipag-usap siya sa isang bobo.

“Oo,” confident kong sagot sa kaniya at mas lalo siyag napatawa sa sinabi ko.

Nakakunot noo akong napatingin sa kaniya.

“Anong nakakatawa?” tanong ko sa kaniya.

“Hindi mo alam?” tanong niya.

“Ang ano?” tanong ko.

“Huh. Wala.” Sabi niya at patuloy na tumatawang mag-isa habang umiiling.

Nalilito akong nakatingin sa kaniya at ilang sandali ang lumipas bago siya huminto sa kakatawa. Nakahawak ulit ako sa dumudugong sugat sa leeg ko at napatingin siya doon.

“Let’s get you healed up,” aniya. “Follow me.”

Tahimik akong sumunod sa kaniya at napansing dala-dala niya pa rin ang espada niya. Pumasok kami sa isang mala-kwebang hagdanan kagaya ng dinaanan ko kanina. The staircase was lit my glowing crystals. It was pretty.

Ilang minuto kaming naglakad. Nasa unahan siya habang nakabuntot lang ako sa likod. After a few moments, a huge double door was in front of us.

Binuksan niya ito at bumungad sa ‘kin ang isang engrandeng kwarto. It was luxurious. And aside from the room’s ambiance and decor, multiple maids and a butler was waiting. And aside from that, I saw Aefos as one of the people waiting for the guy in front of me.

Napatingin sa ‘kin ang lahat. I couldn’t describe their expressions but it seemed like they were all mixed emotions.

“Your Roya—” sabi ni Aefos na lumilipat ang tingin sa ming dalawa. Naputol ang sinasabi ni Aefos ng pigilan niya ito.

“She doesn’t know.” Sabi niya kay Aefos.

By she, does he mean me?

Do I know “what”, exactly?