Kabanata 9
Entertainment

Celestia Rogue

"May mga sumalakay ditong mga guardians, hinahanap ka nila. Tinatanong kung dito ka daw ba nakatira. Nagawa naman namin silang paniwalain na hindi ka namin kilala, kaso lang ay pinag initan nila si Allen bago sila umalis."

Paliwanag ni Ryan habang ginagamot ko ang mga natamong galos ni Allen. Mariin akong napapikit habang pinakakalma ang sarili.

"Mabuti nalang at hindi ganun kalala ang mga natamo niya."

Napabuntong hiningang sabi ni Sylvia.

"Sino ba iyong mga iyon Celestia? bakit ka nila hinahanap?"

Alalang tanong saakin ni Chief. Should I tell them?

"Matagal na ho kasi chief, alam niyo naman po ang mga guardians. Napag initan po ako nung 2nd rank guardian, eh kaso po ay iniligtas ako nung first rank kaya ngayon ay pinahahanap ako ni Ayesha para gumanti, wala naman akong ginagawa sakaniya."

Napakamot ulong paliwanag ko saka tinignan ang walang malay na si Allen. Naikuyom ko ang mga kamao roon.

Damn it

"Nako ay hindi maganda iyan, dapat siguro ay huwag ka na munang magtungo sa kapital?"

Alalang sabi ni chief.

"Ayos lang ho, may pinag iipunan pa po kasi ako saka nag iingat naman po at mukang napaniwala niyo naman silang hindi ako nakatira dito. Wag niyo nalang po sanang sabihin kay mama, para hindi na po siya mag alala."

Napabuntong hiningang sabi ko.

"Sigurado ka ba? paano kung mahanap ka nung Ayesha?"

Kunot noong tanong niya.

"Ayos lang po ako, nagdodoble ingat naman po at isa pa ay malilimutan niya din naman po ang nangyari kapag nagtagal."

Sabi ko.

Ipinagpatuloy ko ang panggagamot sa mga sugat ni Allen, mabuti nalang at pumayag silang huwag banggitin kay mama, na ako ang hinahanap ng mga guardians.

Hanggang ngayon ay galit na galit pa din ako sa nangyari. Kung mas malala pa ang ginawa nila ay hindi ko alam kung mapapatawad ko pa sila o ang sarili ko. Tulog na ang ang lahat at ako naman ay inaalagaan ang nilalagnat na si Allen, dahil narin siguro sa mgabugbog na natamo.

Naikuyom ko ang mga kamao at lumabas upang makalanghap ng sariwang hangin. Nag desisyon akong maglakad lakad patungo sa kagubatan.

Pinipilit kong huwag magalit, pero habang inaalala ko ang lahat ay lalo lang napupuno ng puot ang puso ko.

Madami na silang walang awang pinatay sa village, mga walang kalaban labang kinitil nila kahit anong pagmamakawa ng mga ito. Mula pagkabata ay wala akong ibang magawa kundi magtago lamang upang hindi madamay.

At kung minalas man ay baka pati si Allen ay mawala na din saamin.

Mariin akong napapikit at malakas na sinuntok ang puno saaking tabi, bumaon pa ang kamao ko roon at nagdurugo, ngunit wala akong pakielam. Wala ang sakit sa pisikal, sa nararamdaman kong sakit at galit ngayon.

"Gusto ko silang saktan, gustong gusto ko silang magbayad sa lahat ng ginawa nila saamin."

Galit na sambit ko.

Halo halong emosyon ang nararamadaman, sinaktan nila ngayon si Allen, paano kung bukas ay si Seah naman? si Chief? si mama?

Nakakagalit, nakakainis kasi wala akong magawa.

"Ayesha, those guardians, that high priest, all of them are the same."

Muli kong saad kasabay ng napakalakas na hanging bumabalot sa paligid.

"I wish I could do something, I wish I could ruin them, more than what they did to all their poor victim."

Napupuno ng galit na patuloy ko.

Lalo pang lumakas ang hangin sa bawat salitang iminumutawi ng labi ko.

"Celestia."

An unknown voice said.

Mabilis akong gumalaw ngunit paglingon ko ay wala namang tao.

"Calm down, Celestia."

The voice again said.

Kasabay nito ay ang paglitaw ng isang matangkad na lalaking hindi ko maaninag ang muka. Hindi ko siya kilala pero para bang nakita ko na siya.

"Sino ka?"

Seryosong tanong ko.

"You'll know someday."

He smiled.

"Being angry is okay, having resentment is okay. Just like how happiness makes you feel complete, how fear protects you, how sadness comforts you. Anger knows your pain more than anyone else, and just like your any other emotions, your anger loves you."

He said then caressed my face and for some reason, I couldn't speak no matter how hard I try.

"But anger also wouldn't do anything good if you let it take over. It's not yet the right time Celestia, you don't need to do anything yet. You just have to wait and let the Gods give them the judgement they deserve, they will reap what they sow."

He whispered as he leaned closer and kissed my forehead. Unti unti ay tumigil ang malakas na hangin, hindi ako makagalaw o makapag salita, at pagmulat ko ng mga mata ay nasa kwarto na ako ni Allen kung saan ako nagbabantay.

"A dream?"

I asked myself.

Marahas akong napabuntong hininga at nailing. I feel like I had a strange dream, but I couldn't remember anything, but I feel a lot calmer than earlier.

"Ate Celestia?"

Nanghihinang sabi ni Allen, tipid akong ngumiti sakaniya at inalalayan siya paupo.

"Kumain ka na para makainom ka na ng gamot."

Ngiti ko.

"May mga naghahanap sainyo kanina, pero sinigurado naming hindi na sila babalik."

Seryosong sabi niya.

"Salamat Allen."

Ngumiti ako sakaniya saka hinaplos ang noo niya upang malaman kung mainit padin ba siya.

"Pero huwag mo na munang isipin iyan at magpagaling ka na."

Sambit kong mahinang nagpatango kay Allen.

"I had a strange dream."

He said then looked at me.

"Nasa isang gera daw ako, pinanonood ko lang daw sila dahil hindi daw ako pwedeng makielam."

Sambit niya habang inihahanda ko ang kakainin niya.

"Baka kasi isa kang hari doon."

Biro ko.

"Eh mukang hindi naman eh, ang alam ko lang natutuwa daw ako sa panaginip na iyon, eh wala namang dapat ikatuwa."

Kamot ulong sabi niya.

"Alam mo kung anong mas magandang gawin?"

Tanong ko na nagpailing sakaniya.

"Kumain ka na at uminom ka ng gamot pagkatapos."

Irap ko saka sinubuan siya ng lugaw, napanguso siya doon saka isinubo lang din iyon.

KINABUKASAN, nang mag umpisa ang lunch break sa trabaho ko sa merchant hall ay agad akong nagtungo sa library para ibalik ang librong hiniram ko noong nakaraan at para humiram na din ng panibago.

Kailangan kong bumalik ng maaga para gumawa pa ng gamot para sa mabilis na pag galing ni Allen.

Hindi kasi ako gaanong nakagawa kagabi dahil sa pagod kaya gagawa ako mamaya matapos kong kumuha ng mga halamang gamot.

Uuwi nalang ako ng maaga mamaya, bibilisan ko ang mga kailangang gawin at magpapaalam kay Mrs Leonhart.

I'm still upset about what happened, ilang beses ko ng pinatay ang Ayeshang iyon sa isipan ko mula pa kagabi. Pero ano bang magagawa ko? all I can do is loath her to death, cause if I would do something, my mother might be the next one she'll hurt and I wouldn't be able to take that.

"You reap what you sow huh?"

I feel like I heard that somewhere.

But all I know is a day will come and everything she's done will come back to her, thousand times more painful that what she's caused.

How I wish I could witness that. Sana ay may dala akong pop corn kapag nangyari iyon. But the only one I know that could do that is that Ice burg and the royal family.

"Do you want me to?"

Nanlaki ang mata ko roon.

"Ay Drashit!"

Napalakas na sabi ko dahilan upang balingan ako nito ng masamang tingin. Nakasuot siya ng cloak at mukang papunta rin ng public library.

"It's Draco."

He hissed, inirapan ko siya.

"Can't you just show up in a normal way? where I can atleast see you?"

Iritang sabi ko.

"I can't do that."

He said on a bored tone while staring at me, he looks like a fool.

"At bakit?"

Pumamewang na tanong ko.

"I like seeing your reaction."

Kibit balikat niyang sagot na ikinabusangot ko.

"Then choke on those reactions."

I said on a mocking manner, while looking at the shitty Ice burg.

"I can hear your thoughts, you know?"

Ngiwi niya, inirapan ko lamang siya.

"Edi mabuti."

Masungit kong sabi saka nauna na papasok ng library. Why is he here in the first place? isn't the imperial library more suitable for him?

"Public libaries is more peaceful since most people who were suppose to use it is not that interested in reading."

He answered what's on my mind. Hindi ko siya pinansin at dumiretso kay Roma para ibalik ang libro.

"Eto yung hiniram ko noong nakaraan oh, hiram nalang ulit ng iba."

Sabi ko kay Roma.

Kadalasan ay hindi naman ito lumilingon saakin o kahit kanino dahil masyado itong abala sa pagbabasa. Ngunit ngayon ay seryoso niya kaming tinitigan.

Wala siyang sinasabi ngunit para bang may kung anong emosyon sakaniyang mga misteryosong mga matang hindi ko maintindihan.

"I already warned you, don't regret it when the time comes."

She whispered then took my library card, nangunot ang noo ko roon.

"Ha?"

Takang sabi ko ngunit nanatili lamang siyang nakatitig na nagpailing na lamang saakin at pumasok nalang sa loob.

I have no time for any mind games. Sasakit lang ang ulo ko, kaya maigi pang hanapin ko nalamang ang librong kailangan ko.

"Did Ayesha do something?"

Drashit asked after he talked to the librarian.

"Why do you care?"

Taas kilay kong tanong habang hinahanap ang libro.

"I don't care at all, I just want to know."

Kibit balikat niyang sagot. Aba't tsismoso rin pala ang gago.

"Why should I tell you?"

Tinaasan ko siya ng isang kilay.

"Why shouldn't you tell me?"

Balik niya.

I frowned and glared at him.

"She sent her men trying to find me in some villages and our village is one of it. Wala ako doon noong nangyari ang komosyon pero nagawa namin nila paniwalain ang mga sugo ng bruha na hindi nila ako kilala at hindi ako nakatira doon."

Pagkukwento ko na ikinasalubong ng kilay niya.

"Did someone get hurt?"

He asked, naikuyom ko ang kamao roon.

"So there is?"

Dagdag niyang ikinatango ko lamang.

"I can make her pay for what she did, if you want to, I can make her stop from bothering you.."

He said seriously.

"Kapag ginawa mo iyan ay baka lalo lang siyang magalit."

Taas kilay kong sabi.

"So what? I could just kill her."

He said like it's as easy as killing a mosquito.

"It's a tempting offer, but then her family will come after us since I will be the reason for her death. She's a Sullivan, one of the most influencial family in the kingdom."

Sagot ko.

"Then I would kill them all."

Diretsong sabi niya saka lumapit saakin, nanlaki ang mata ko roon.

"There's no way you'd do that for me, Draco."

I uttered making him smile.

"Draco.... so you do know my name?"

He chuckled sexily, nag init ang pisngi ko doon at napailing. Why the heck am I flustered? gutom lang ata.

"If you want them dead, then I can do it with just a snap of my fingers, just one word from you Celestia."

Seryosong sabi niya habang nakatingin ng diretso sa mga mata ko, na bahagyang nagpatigil saakin.

"Si Ayesha ang may kasalanan saakin, hindi ang pamilya niya. At satingin mo ba kapag pinatay mo sila ay matatapos iyon doon? Were commoners Drashit, hindi lamang si Ayesha ang maghahabol saamin. Even if you kill her and her whole clan, the cruelty of theians will never end, so stop joking, hindi bagay saiyo."

Seryosong sabi ko.

"Who says I'm joking?"

Nag taas ito ng isang kilay.

"They can be cruel and so am I, once they touch even a strand of your hair or those people you care about, I won't let them off. I will make them taste what they did in the most painful way they could never imagine. I can protect you and I will."

Sagot ni Drashit na nagpakunot ng noo ko. Doesn't he hates me? why is he saying these stuffs?

"I really don't get you."

Saad ko.

"You gaze at me coldly like how you'd look at everyone. Your mouth says, you don't like me at all, but you act like I am the most important person to you sometimes."

Iling iling na dagdag ko.

"Don't be delusional."

He hissed.

Ayan na naman siya, gago din eh ang gulo ng utak.

"I'm just bored, you're my entertainment, and I don't want anyone ruining my fun. That's my reason if you're gonna ask why am I doing this."

Tumingin siya ng diretso saakin, sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

"If you want an entertainment, then go hire some clown. I am not a plaything that you can toy with. I might be powerless but you don't have the right to own me and declare me as your personal fun. You asshole, desisyon ka?! I have no time to deal with all your shits so don't bother me anymore, you foolish Ice burg."

Iritang sabi ko saka iniwanan siya doong mag isa.

I don't understand that man at all, he's like a complicated math problem that I'm too lazy to solve.

And I won't bother solving, he could just drown somewhere because of his stupid boredom.

I don't care, I'm out of it.

He acts like he cares and then tells me that I am being delusional for assuming when he's the one making me feel like there's some reason behind his actions.

I don't care if he's just bored, I don't want to deal with him..

He's too dangerous around, who know what he might do to me? to us?

'I can protect you and I will.'

His words echoed in my mind making me frown.

Why would he do that for someone he just find as a mere entertainment?

He's one heck of a strange guy, I really don't like him.

But he does have a nice smile, I'll give him that.

AFTER THAT ENCOUNTER, thankfully I didn't see him for days again. So I had a peaceful life without an argument with that annoying Ice burg.

Magaling na rin naman si Allen at ang mga galos niya'y nagsisimula na ding maghilom.

"You look like you're in a good mood."

Ngiti ko nang makita ang maaliwalas na muka ng amo.

"Did you read the news?"

Mrs Leonhart asked with a wide grin on her face.

"Hmm..not yet, ano po bang meron?"

Takang tanong ko.

"Ayesha Storm Sullivan and her group were sigle handedly defeated by the Ice guardian, Draco. No one knows the reason why he was so angry with her that day in that encounter but I couldn't care less as long as I see Ayesha get beaten up like that, it will trully make my day."

Masayang balita niya saakin.

"Maybe he's just bored, Ayesha looks like a fun toy to play with, for him, like a voodoo doll."

I shrugged making her laugh heartily.

"She's the witch herself Celestia, I wish I saw  how they had the humiliating defeat."

She giggled, nailing nalamang ako at napangiti.

I do not know why Draco is so angry with her base on what I heard from Mrs. Leonhart. It's also unbelievable that it's because of me after our conversation last time. Since I'm never nice to him, talking shit about him whenever I had the opportunity and he only sees me as his entertainment.

Plus Ayesha certainly has a bad personality. She must've offended him as well so she ended up like that.

Ha! Good for her.

Maaga kong natapos ngayon ang trabaho ko sa merchant hall. Kaya naman ay nagdesisyon akong pumitas ng mga halamang gamot para sa mga villagers dahil uso ang sakit ngayon.

I decided to gather herbs on that place I don't usually go to. Malayo kasi iyon masyado, kaso lang ay naalala kong naroroon ang karamihan sa herbs na ginagamit ko sa mga panahong ganitong uso ang sakit saamin.

Mahaba pa ang nilakad ko hanggang marating ang lugar at nagsimulang mamitas ng mga halamang gamot na kailangan.

I was enjoying myself when I sensed two people approaching. Their steps are pretty normal, and this place is the usual spot for gathering herbs.

So I just continued what I am doing, thinking that they are only here gather herbs like I do.

And letting my guard down is a big mistake.

"W-What the----"

I mumbled when I couldn't move.

"Eto na ba siya?"

Sambit ng lalaking ikinamulagat ng mga mata ko. The man removed my mask ang grinned as he casted some spell on me.

Hindi ko alam ang mga sumunod pang nangyari dahil mukang may ginawa sila saakin dahilan upang tuluyan akong mawalan ng malay.