Darkest Light

DL 16: The Conscience

Zion POV

"Hey Zion! What happened here? I saw Vile crying and he's running away from us!" Sandra said.

I sigh...

"I confronted him. I told him that I don't like him. I don't like a gay lover. It's creeping the hell out of me! All this time akala ko mabait lang siya pero may hidden agenda pala siya."

All of them are just looking at me. They all look furious and annoyed.

"But you hurt him. You shouldn't act like that. Hindi naman naging masama sa'yo si Vile diba?" Wanda asked.

"Kahit na! He kept a secret from me. He's horrible! Nandidiri ako simula noong nalaman ko na totoong may gusto siya sa akin! Gusto 'kong lumayo siya! Naiilang ako sa kanya!"

Sandra looked at me furiously. She looks mad because of what I've said.

"Zion, you told him some painful things like that?" She asked.

"Of course! Walang lugar ang kabaklaan niya dito sa guild!" I said.

She closed her eyes. She looks mad at me...

"I didn't know that you're that idiot, Zion. You're too cruel!"

"No! I'm not!" I said loudly.

"Yes, you are!" Sabay-sabay nilang sigaw.

I heard Sandra sigh...

"Zion, love knows no race, no age, NO GENDER and etc."

She held my hand and she sigh again...

"You know what? You're so lucky because Vile loves you so much," she said.

"And why?" I asked with full of doubt.

"You know what? Sometimes, I am transforming into a granny to use my power as a seer near the church. Marami na akong nasaksihan na wagas na pagmamahalan ng same s*x. I know naman na naiilang ka kasi straight ka but please, don't judge Vile. It's true that he's kind," she said sincerely.

"If he's truly kind, then why did he keep that secret from me?" I asked.

"It's because it's not yet the right time for him to tell you. Diba noong una mo siyang nakita ay nawirduhan ka sa kanya? Paano pa kaya kung sinabi niya agad na mahal ka niya? Think of it Zion. Wala naman siyang masamang intensyon sa'yo."

"Yeah... Ang swerte mo nga at binigyan ka niya ng moon necklace. Kung ako 'yun, matutuwa ako. He's kind and he's not asking for anything. He is just loving you," Rex said.

"Zion, the first time that I met him, he's a shattered person but he has a determination to live that's why I did not hesitate to train him as a healer. Noong unang tinanong ko siya kung bakit gusto niyang maging healer, ang sagot niya ay para daw sa taong nagligtas sa kanya. He wants to become a healer because of you. He trained so hard for you. He is dedicating everything for you. Mabuting tao si Vile. Hindi naman siya umaasa na mahalin mo rin siya, ang gusto niya lang ay mapabuti ka," Lola Veron said.

"It's true, Zion. I talked to him. Masaya siya noong nalaman niya na nililigawan mo ako. Masaya siya para sa ating dalawa. Gusto niya lang na maging masaya ka. He will stay for you as a friend. Hindi naman siya umaasa na maramdaman mo ang nararamdaman niya para sa'yo. Please Zion, understand him. It's not easy for him to love a guy like you," Sandra said.

Yumuko na lang ako... Nagsi-sink in sa isip ko ang lahat ng mga sinasabi nila.

I felt a hand on my shoulder...

"They're right Zion. You're lucky to have Vile as a friend. Aaminin ko na medyo nag-judge din ako but we were all wrong. Mabuti siyang tao. We should apologize to him," Rex said.

"Yeah, we should. I heard everything that you said against him. It's too cruel; too painful. Sana ay maayos mo pa 'yung nagawa mo sa kanya," Jester said.

Sandra moved closer to me...

"If you don't believe us, let me do this..."

She held again my hand and after a second, her eyes shines in sky blue light.

I was so shocked because I can see some sort of memories around me. It's Sandra's power.

I can see her and Vile who are standing in a beach. I can hear their conversation loud and clear...

"What's the matter Sandra? Why do you look nervous and sad?" Vile asked.

"Vile... I know that Zion already told you that he likes me and he is courting me. You know it right?"

He nodded...

"I thought you're mad at me because I'm the first one who knew that you love him."

"You're a seer right? You should know that I'm happy for both of you," He said while smiling.

Sandra looks shocked because of what he said...

"I'm a seer. I can predict what will happen but I'm not capable of predicting someone's feelings. Why are you happy for us? Why are you not mad at me? You treat me as your bestfriend and I like the person that you love. I understand if you are so mad at me," she said nervously.

Vile smiled at her...

"No, I'm not mad at you. I love him right? That's it! I just love him. I just want to ensure his safety and happiness. Of course I felt sad when I knew that he is courting you but I'm happy for him. I just want to make him smile, ok? I'm not expecting that he will also love me the same way that I feel for him. I'm not asking for anything in return. Alam ko kung hanggang saan lang dapat ako. Ganun naman dapat ang totoong pagmamahal diba? Hindi selfish; hindi nagtatanim ng galit. I just want him to be happy and I am also happy for him," He said.

Sandra is just looking at him with her shocked face...

"Oh God... You're that kind? A pope should beatify you!"

Vile laughed because of what she said...

"I envy you. Zion is so lucky to have a person like you. Mahal na mahal mo talaga siya."

"Hmmm... In fact, I gave him a moon necklace," He said.

Nagulat si Vile... Kinurot kasi bigla ni Sandra ang giliran niya.

"Hey! Ang sakit nun!" Sabi niya.

"Hey ka rin! Why did you give a moon necklace to him? I know that it will make him a lot stronger but I also know that if he die, you will die too!"

"I know that... Mabubuhay naman siya kung sakali na ako ang mamamatay pero masisira 'yung necklace na 'yun," he said sincerely.

"You're madly in love with him..."

"Yeah... Sandra, please take care of Zion if both of you will end up together. I'm happy for both of you. Noong nakita ko siya na nakangiti nang dahil sa'yo, masayang-masaya rin ako para sa kanya. Just let me keep my promise with him. I promised that I will do everything to protect him. Whatever happens, I will always keep that promise."

Sandra hugged him tightly...

"We're so lucky to have you Vile. You're too kind. Salamat kasi nakilala ka namin. Salamat kasi ikaw pa rin ang bestfriend ko. Hmmm... No! You're my brother now!" She said.

I walked fast away from them...

"Hey! Where are you going?" They asked.

I sigh...

"I'll find him!" I said loudly.

They all clapped their hands. Nagulat tuloy ako. May mga sayad talaga eh...

Naglakad na ako ng mabilis. I need to find him. I realized that everything that I told him is too cruel. I know that my words are breaking him piece by piece...

Sana ay maabutan ko siya ngayong gabi. I don't want to apologize tomorrow. I need to solve this conflict now. I'm too stupid. Masyado kasi akong skeptical kaya mahirap akong i-convince.

"I don't want to see you again! Stay away from me! You're disgusting! You're gross!"

"Bagay na bagay sa'yo ang pangalan mo! You're Vile! You're horrible!"

Uuugggrrhhh! Bakit naaalala ko 'yung mga sinabi ko sa kanya? It's so cruel! Nakakainis, mukhang ngayon pa lang ay nakokonsensya na ako.

Nakarating na ako sa forest dito sa Kreterra. It's dangerous here. I know that Vile is running away from us so basically, dumaan siya dito.

I saw something that shines brightly in grasses. I move closely...

It's the moon necklace from Vile; dito ko pala naibato...

"Hey ka rin! Why did you give a moon necklace to him? I know that it will make him a lot stronger but I also know that if he die, you will die too!"

He won't hesitate to offer his life just to make me stronger? Ganun niya pala ako kamahal. Lalo tuloy akong nakokonsensya.

I'm so lucky because I found this necklace...

He made this for me. It's useless if I don't wear this. Sinuot ko na siya sa leeg ko. I felt an extreme magic power. It doubled my energy.

Sana mahanap ko na kaagad siya. Alam ko na sobra ko siyang nasaktan.

Nakakainis! Hindi ko naman masisi ang sarili ko kasi hindi naman ako sanay na may lalakeng nagkakagusto sa akin.

Kahit sino naman siguro na straight ay maiilang or mandidiri diba?

After a second, the necklace turned into blood red and it's kinda hot...

"Hey, what's happening?" I asked myself.

Medyo mainit ang moon necklace. It's kind of weird because it turned into blood red. It's not the usual color of the moon necklace.

Nice to meet you, where you been?

I could show you incredible things

Magic, madness, heaven, sin

Saw you there and I thought

Oh my God, look at that face

You look like my next mistake

Love's a game, want to play?

I looked at them. It's Ivy and June. I clenched my fists...

"Hmmm... June, I think your siren spell is not working at him," Ivy said.

June stopped singing and she looked at me furiously. She looked shocked because she saw my necklace...

"He's wearing a moon necklace that's why he is protected from my siren! Where did you get that?" June asked.

I smirked...

This necklace is really helpful. Vile is truly ensuring my safety...

"Healers are the only type of sorcerer who can wield a moon necklace right?" I asked her.

"Don't tell me that Vile gave that to you? He loves you?" She asked curiously.

"Yes, more than you did because you never give this kind of necklace to me," I said.

Gusto ko siyang maasar sa akin. I hate this girl. I hate to remember that she's my ex.

"Yuck! Homo!" Ivy said in disgust.

"Come on, fight me," I said fiercely.

She walked slowly away from me...

"Ivy, that necklace doubled his power. We can't win over him," she said nervously.

I pointed my hand on their direction as I release a silver magic circle...

"Holy beam!" I shouted.

I silver jet light flashed into their direction. June transformed into a crow and Ivy was vanished completely. Hindi tuloy sila natamaan ng kapangyarihan ko.

A massive part of the forest is burning because of my spell. It's true that I'm a lot stronger now because of this necklace.

Medyo nag-uumaga na... I have to get back to our guild. Baka mamaya ay may nakakita na kay Vile. I'm also tired of finding him.

Wala rin naman akong gana na makipaglaban ngayon kila June.

Nakaramdam ako ng sobrang bigat sa dibdib ko. I looked into my moon necklace.

Nagulat ako at nagbabago na naman ang kulay nito. It's turning into black. I don't have an idea about what is happening to this necklace.

Alam ko na nasaktan ko ng sobra si Vile pero hindi ko ugali 'yung maghabol. I'm just gonna apologize when I see him.

I released my angel wings and I flew quickly back to the guild.

All of the people looked terrified...

What's happening to them? Pumunta na lang ako kila Ms. Elena at mukha rin silang nagkakagulo.

"Hey, what happened here?" I asked.

"Deus Ve Roca was stolen from us!" Ms. Elena said.

I was so shocked... Some sorcerers are afraid...

"But how?" I asked curiously.

"Someone stole it!" Wanda said furiously.

"Guys, don't get me wrong but I'm suspecting Vile," Dexter said.

Nabigla tuloy ako... Maybe he's right; but maybe not.

"Hey! Don't judge quickly!" Sandra said.

"Hey! Guys!"

We looked back... Rex is running quickly into us...

He looks exhausted... He is catching his breathe. He can't talk. Hingal na hingal talaga siya.

"G-Guys, follow me..." He said.

He started running so we followed him. He is running too quickly and he looks bothered.

"Saan ba tayo papunta?" Tanong ni Sandra.

Rex did not talk. He's too silent while running. Tumakbo na naman kami pabalik sa gubat. Pasikat na rin ang araw.

After a moment, he stopped in front of a crowd.

Pinapalibutan ng mga sorcerers dito sa Kreterra ang isang malaking puno. I can't see what they are looking so we entered the crowd.

Kinilabutan ako bigla at ramdam ko na kumabog ng malakas ang dibdib ko dahil sa gulat.

"Oh my God!" Sandra shouted.

"Vile!" Wanda shouted.

I'm in shock because of what I saw. I feel warm tears dripping from my eyes.

I feel that my chest is tightening. Sobra akong nagulat. I can't believe this.

Sandra and Wanda are crying so hard because of what they see...

I feel like my body is shaking in both conscience and rage...

Vile's body is hanging in a huge tree like he was crucified. His arms were tied in a huge tree using vines. His clothes were ripped off. His body is full of bruises and wounds.

His blood is dripping down into the trunk of the tree from his wounds...

He looks lifeless...

Parang wala na siyang buhay. Wala man lang siyang kalaban-laban. Hindi ako makapaniwala.

I covered my mouth using my hand...

Hindi ko na mapigilan ang pagbuhos ng mga luha ko.

There is a symbol of a dragon that was drawn on his stomach using blood. It's a symbol of Ruvekha.

I clenched my fists...

I moved closely into him. I hit the vines of the trees using my magic. Vile fell into the ground...

Wanda and Sandra is checking him...

"He's still alive! I can feel his pulse!" Sandra shouted.

Binuhat siya bigla nila Rex pabalik doon sa guild.

Nakatayo lang ako dito. Nakatulala na ako...

Nakokonsensya ako... Ang bigat ng pakiramdam ko. Kasalanan ko kung bakit nangyari 'yun sa kanya. I don't know if he can still forgive me.

I'm too cruel! I'm too stupid! Ang sakit para sa akin na makita siyang ganun pagkatapos ng nagawa ko sa kanya.

I felt warm tears falling from my eyes...

It's breaking me... I can't accept that I am the main reason behind this.

It's my fault. If I didn't say cruel things  into him, then he won't run into this forest, it won't happen to him.

Hindi ko alam kung mabubuhay pa siya; hindi ko alam kung makakahingi pa ako ng tawad. Ang sakit...

Kasalanan ko ito... Hindi ko alam kung mapapatawad ko ang sarili ko kapag hindi na siya nakaligtas.

I'm so sorry Vile...