A Shadow of an Illusion

Chapter 8

I did not know how many hours did I sleep or if I ever sleep at all, pero nang magmulat ako ng mata ko ay umaga na. I can feel that my head is throbing. Umupo ako sa kama ko at hinilot ang sentido ko. I tried to focus my gaze but I feel like my world is spinning.

Hindi naman marami ang nainom ko pero bakit parang ang sakit-sakit ng ulo ko? Ah. Right. I did have a good night sleep because of him. Maybe I should really distance myself from him as much as I can so that it will not happen again.

If I could, and if he will let me that is. Because it looks like he enjoys annoying the h*ll out of me, at ako naman itong hindi maintindihan ang sarili kung bakit pumapayag pa akong kausapin siya kahit na alam kong mag-aaway lang kami sa huli. Just like what happened the night before.

I let out a snort because I am still annoyed by him and by myself. Inis kong ginulo ang buhok ko para mawala ang inis sa loob ko, pero makalipas ng ilan pang mga minuto, I gave up because my head is still throbing. At ang ginagawa ko ay mas nagpapalala lang ng sakit ng ulo ko.

I sighed and stood up when I felt like I could pero hanggang ngayon, parang umiikot ang mundo ko pero mas okay na ako kaysa kanina. I let out a long sigh again and starts to prepare for the day.

As much as I want to stay in bed, I can’t. I cannot waste a day lazing around just because I am not feeling so well. After all, it felt like I will do something today that I cannot really point out, but I have a feeling that it was so big that I needed to prepare myself for this day even if I don’t want to.

I did my morning routines and when I look at myself in the mirror to check if I am ready to go, I heard a knock on my door. Agad akong pumunta roon para tignan kung sino ang kumatok.

A smile immediately formed on my lips when I saw Hemera on the other side of the door holding a tray full of food. Babatiin ko na sana siya ng good morning pero naalala ko na hindi nga pala dapat namin ipahalata na magkakilala kami. Kaya naman pinanatili ko na lang ang ngiti ko sa kaniya.

Hemera just smilled in return with a mysterious glint in her eyes. A silent greeting so that no one will know the true meaning behind it.

It is funny to think that we just met yesterday but I could already understand how her mind works. Maybe because I am comfortable with the three of them, and it’s a plus that she is the person that Celeste had chosen.

“Good morning, milady. Starting today, I will be the one who will deliver your meals. The Emperor also allowed you to eat in the dining area if you want to,” sabi niya at ipinakita niya ang hawak-hawak niyang tray na puno ng pagkain sa akin. “So kung gusto niyong kumain sa dining area, I will bring your food there. If you don’t want to, you can stay in your room and I will prepare your breakfast in the table. Your choice, milady?”

Umiling ako at ngumiti sa kaniya. I really do not like to go out right now. Not until Erebus is out of the castle. I know, it is a lame attempt to avoid him but I still try even if I know it will fail. At least, magkakaroon ako ng oras na para sa akin lang at wala siya na parang wala nang ginawa kung hindi ang inisin ako. At kahit hindi niya sabihin, alam ko na alam niyang naiinis ako sa kaniya. Who wouldn’t be, really?

“No. I am good. Dito na lang ako kakain sa loob ng kuwarto ko. Maybe next time I will eat in the dining area,” sabi ko sa kaniya.

Tumango naman siya sa akin at sinabing, “Then if you will excuse me.”

Tuluyan na siyang pumasok sa loob ng kwarto ko, while I looked outside of my room for the last time and decided to close the door. I still kept my mouth shut so that no one will be suspicious of us. Kahit na nakasarado ang pinto ko at walang sinuman ang nasa loob ng kuwarto ko maliban sa amin ni Hemera, mas mabuti na ang nag-iingat kaysa naman mahuli kami at malaman nila ang totoo.

Siguradong madadamay pa si Hemera sa gulo na pinasok ko. Though she is already involved, I don’t want her to suffer the consequences if someone will find out that we know each other and we are planning something.

Pumunta ako sa mesa na nasa loob ng kwarto ko nang masiguro kong maayos ang lahat. It is like a receiving area but for now, it looks like Hemera decided to serve my breakfast there. Umupo ako sa upuan na naroroon at hinintay na matapos si Hemera sa paghahain. After a minute or two, natapos na siya sa pag-aayos.

“Enjoy your breakfast, milady,” sabi niya habang nakatungo.

I just nodded my head at her and took a bite in my breakfast.

Masyadong tahimik ang paligid at parang hindi ako sanay sa gan‘on. Hindi naman kami nag-uusap ng dating katulong na nagdadala at naghahain sa akin ng pagkain rito. But to her, I feel like I want to talk to her. Maybe because I know her? Or baka magaan lang talaga ang loob ko sa kaniya.

Nag-isip ako ng topic para naman hindi masyadong tahimik ang paligid at para na rin makausap ko siya. “Anong nangyari sa maid na naghahatid ng pagkain sa akin nitong mga nakaraang araw?” tanong ko sa kaniya.

I know, she got the true meaning of that question. “What a coincidence, mukhang siya nga mismo ang maglalapit sating lahat.” that is the true meaning of that question. We really undesrstand each othe now and I am glad because of that.

Fate really is in our favor right now. I did not know that we can start our plan so early because of Erebus.

An emotion flickered in her eyes but it was gone immediately. “She is assigned in a different task for a week or two. Napagalitan ata siya ng Emperor kaya sa ibang task siya inilagay,” sabi niya.

She has this relieved expression on her face. Maybe because she did not expect that we can already make a move now that Erebus made her close to me.

Kung hindi na ulit makakabalik sa task na ‘to ang maid na iyon, we can really make our move. But we need to be cautious of our every step because Erebus may find out about our plan and it will be our end. We have to consider all the possibilities because the man we are fighting right now is intelligent. Hindi lamang basta-basta ang taong kinakabangga namin.

I nodded my head at her and continued to eat.

Hindi na kami nag-usap pa pagkatapos noon. Para na rin hindi na makahalata pa ang nagmamanman sa akin. It was a silent agreement between us. I am just eating silently while she checks my room and sometimes wiping the furnitures even if it is really clean.

Pagkatapos kong kumain, niligpit na niya ang mga pinagkainan ko at binigyan niya ako ng makahulugang tingin. I don’t know how but we could really understand each other. Kahit na kakikilala ko pa lang sa kaniya, parang alam ko na ang meaning ng tingin na iyon. Like telepathy. Maybe because she is connected to one of the goddesses.

I smiled at her. ‘We can now create our next plans.’

“Then, I must go now, milady.” sabi niya at umalis na. She bowed to me one last time and then she closed the door in my room.

Ako naman ay pumunta sa balcony ng kwarto ko para magpahangin. I really don’t want to leave my room yet and I thought I could enjoy the scenery in the balcony of my room. Nasa third floor ito ng palasyo kaya naman kitang-kita ko ang mga nangyayari sa baba. Tinitignan ko ang mga tauhan ni Erebus na halos sabay-sabay na kumikilos. Pati ang paglalakad nila ay sabay rin.

“Were they really trained that well?” I thought. I will not be shock if I found out that they talk in the same tone. Natawa ako sa sarili kong naiisip. Napailing na lang ako at aalis na sana para naman maglakad-lakad sa loob naman ng palasyo nang may makita akong puting ibon.

Lalapitan ko na sana iyon nang biglang humangin ng malakas. Napapikit ako at pagmulat ko ng mga mata ko, nawala na ang ibon na iyon. It was replaced by a man that I least expected to see. He is sitting in the edge of the balcony and looking cooly at me. I blink once, twice, thrice, until I really made sure that the person in front of me is real.

A feather fell on his shoulder. Agad naman niya iyong kinuha at pinaikot-ikot sa mga daliri niya. He smiled at me and it is still the same smile that I remembered. Though I just left our palace days ago, it feels like forever to me.

“Helix?” gulat kong tanong sa kaniya. Helix smiled softly at me. It was really him. Another feather fell in front of him and into the ground and that was when I realized, “Ikaw ‘yong ibon?” tanong ko sa kaniya.

Natawa siya sa sinabi ko. “Bakit parang hindi ka makapaniwala?” tanong niya sa akin habang nakangiti. “Don’t you miss me, Menrui?” he said with his sweet voice that made me almost cringe.

He even spread his arm as if asking for a hug. I almost cringe again but stopped myself from doing so because it might offend him.

Hindi ko siya niyakap dahil hindi ako komportable at feeling ko rin ay hindi ‘yon tama. I just looked at him from head to toe as if I still could not believe that he is real. I looked cautiously on his face and he still has that smile on his face.

“Bakit ka nga pala nandito?” pagbabago ko sa usapan namin. I looked around and observed if the people below noticed his presence. “Hindi ba‘t kailangan mong magtago? They might notice you,” sabi ko habang tinitignan pa rin kung may nakakapansin ba sa kaniya.

He jumped from the parapet of the balcony and stood by my side. Hinawakan niya ako sa balikat at pinaharap sa kaniya. Napatingin ako dahil sa ginawa niya at doon ko lang nakita kung gaano siya kalapit sa akin. I looked away at him but he held my chin so that I could focus my gaze at him.

“You are really underestimating me, Menrui,” sabi niya sa akin habang umiiling-iling pa. Tumingin ako sa kaniya and he still has this smile on his face that made me annoyed. “I casted a spell before I came here. If that will settle your uneasy heart,” sabi niya sa akin.

I unconciously pushed him away because I am getting awkward with our close proximity. Mukhang na-gets naman niya kung bakit ko ginawa ‘yon kaya lumayo siya sa akin. Though para sa akin, malapit pa rin iyon pero hindi ko na siya sinita pa.

I just nodded my head at him confirming that I understood what he just said. “Bakit ka nga pala nandito?” pag-uulit ko sa tanong ko kanina. “Did Elysium send you here?” tanong ko pa ulit sa kaniya.

But that is odd. Elysium said that she will not send anyone other than me for this mission. Sinabi din niya na hahanap siya ng paraan para magkausap kami na kaming dalawa lang. I tilted my head thinking of why he is here but I cannot seem to find the answer in my own question.

Helix just ruffled my hair and smiled at me again. “I have another mission here.”

Tumaas ang isang kilay ko. “Another mission?”

Did someone gave him a mission? Or is this his own decision? I am not buying what he said so I frowned at him. Pero magbibigay ba sila ng iba pang misyon kung sinabi ni Elysium na kailangan na ring maghanda ng iba para sa darating na laban. His excuse is not really believable for me.

He nodded his head at me. “Yes another one, so I decided to visit you. Hindi ko naman alam na ganito pala kadali makapasok dito,” sabi niya sa akin at nakikita ko ang kayabangan sa tingin niya. I almost rolled my eyes but again, I stopped myself. “But speaking of missions, how is your mission going?”

Nagdadalawang isip ako kung sasabihin ko ba sa kaniya ang mga nalaman ko na o hindi pero sa huli, nag-decided akong sabihin ko rin sa kaniya ang ilan sa mga impormasyon na nakalap ko rito pero hindi ko sinabi sa kaniya ang tungkol kila Hemera, sa mga nalaman ko sa kanila, at ang iba pang mga impormasyon na wala pang masyadong proof.

“As you can see, wala pa ako masyadong nakakalap,” I said then I signed. “But I am trying my best to find more. I needed more time. I hope that he will not make a move until I get all the information that will be useful to us,” sabi ko pa sa kaniya.

He patted my shoulder and gave me a reasurring smile. “Kaya mo ‘yan. Ikaw pa ba? The Menrui that I know will not give up easilly.” Pagpapalakas niya sa loob ko.

It is funny that he is so against when Elysium first suggested that I will be the one who will do this mission but now, he tries to make me feel better.

Hindi ko na sinabi sa kaniya iyon at tumango na lang ako sa kaniya. I softly smiled at him and he let out a sigh as if he is relieved that I smiled.

“What about your mission?” tanong ko sa kaniya.

I am really curious about his so-called mission here. Wala pa kasi talaga akong balita sa mundo namin simula nang umalis ako roon.

Helix stopped ruffling my hair and his smile faded. Parang nagdadalawang isip pa siya kung sasabihin niya ba sa akin o hindi. I wave my hand in front of him. He has this cold look on his face. Kung ako ang tatanungin, parang katulad ito ng expression na laging nasa mukha ni Erebus. I got chills because of what I thought and tried to wave it off.

“Helix? Are you okay?” tanong ko sa kaniya habang patuloy na kumakaway sa harapan niya.

Helix looks like he snap out of his thought and smiled at me. That same carefree smile that he wore. I let out a relieved sigh because of that.

“Yes. Yes I am okay.” sabi niya. He took a step back and waved his hand.

Tumango ako at tatanungin na sana ulit siya tungkol sa mission niya nang may marinig akong kumatok sa pinto. Parehas kaming napabaling doon.

“It looks like someone is here. Maybe you should hide somewhere. For safety purposes,” sabi ko sa kaniya.

I did not look on his side anymore and I just approach the door. Binuksan ko iyon pero nagtaka ako nang makita ko na wala namang tao doon. I frowned and closed it again.

“That is odd. Wala namang tao,” I mumbled to myself then I frowned even more. Maybe I am imagining things? But I heard that knock clearly though.

Lumingon ako sa veranda pero mas nagtaka ako nang makita ko na wala na si Helix don. I look around my room to check if he is hiding somewhere but there is no trace of him.

“Helix?” I tried to call his name but no one answered me.

I frowned. I sat on my bed and look outside my room. A cold breeze entered my room and my mind drifted to Helix. “Ano talagang gingaawa mo rito, Helix?”