"WHAT'S with the sudden change of mind?"

Hindi ako sumagot. Nagpatuloy ako sa pagkain at pinalampas lamang sa kabilang tainga ang mga sinasabi niya.

Carwell has been wasting the past two days of his life asking me the same question over and over again. I have made it clear na sasama ako to help him because I can't disclose the real reason. Boris knows about it too, maging ang ibang Arcane. Gusto pa nga sanang sumama ni Shaye pero hindi ko pinayagan.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit pumayag si Boris na sumama ako gayong wala naman talaga akong misyon do'n, and Carwell is clever enough to not get lost on a tiny island like Forthill. So, my presence is pointless.

"Do you have something to come back for in Forthill?" he asked for a hundredth time.

I let out an exasperated sigh, rolling my eyes on him.

"Gusto mong sumama ako 'di ba?"

"Not really. Naisip ko lang na makakatulong 'yun sa ating dalawa kahit hindi ko gusto ang presensya mo."

Mas lalong tumalim ang titig ko sa kaniya. "The feeling is mutual. Nakakaimberna ang mukha mo but unfortunately, I have to endure."

Bahagya siyang natawa. "You're really funny."

Binaba ko ang kutsara at tinidor. Hindi pa ako nakakalahati sa pagkain pero nawalan na ako ng gana.

Hinarap ko siya at pinanliitan ng mata.

"You know what, if you don't have anything to do with your time, huwag ako ang guluhin mo. I'm trying to eat here," reklamo ko.

"Halata nga," he paused and pointed to my face with his lips, "Ang dungis mo kumain."

Napaatras ako. I wiped my lips at tama nga siya. May sauce pa sa pisngi ko. Magsasalita ulit sana ako pero bigla siyang sumapaw.

"Mayro'n pa."

"Ano ako, tanga?" Tinutok ko ang tinidor sa kaniya. "Huwag mong ibahin ang usapan."

But he didn't seem to care. He just shrugged before his finger went to wipe my lower lip.

Natigilan ako. Did he just fucking touch my face?

I gritted my teeth. "The next time you touch my face, I will fucking kill you, Carwell."

My voice was colder than it normally is. Do I have to remind every person here that I hate being touched, especially my face? It may sound absurd to them but I have my reasons. At isa pa, Carwell's touch is driving me nuts. And I hate that.

Hindi siya natinag sa sinabi ko. Tumayo siya at niligpit ang pinagkainan niya.

"Are you done? I still have to pack my things for tomorrow," aniya na parang walang narinig mula sa 'kin.

When he noticed that I had no plans on responding, kusa na niyang niligpit pati ang pinagkainan ko. Pagkatapos ay nagtungo na siya sa kwarto niya.

Naiwan akong mag-isa sa hapag kainan. Kaya'y wala na akong choice kundi bumalik na rin sa kwarto ko. Marami pa akong kailangang ayusin para bukas.

"Ara!"

"Not now, Shaye," sambit ko at nilampasan si Shaye. But being the stubborn girl that she is, nagpumilit itong pumasok sa kwarto ko.

She threw herself on my bed and planked down, looking up at me. Habang ako naman ay dumiretso sa pagkuha ng mga damit na dadalhin ko bukas.

"You really don't want to take me with you? Makakatulong rin naman ako sa kung ano mang mission niyo."

"I don't even know what Carwell's mission is."

He didn't tell me about it. Ang alam ko lang ay may kailangan siya roon but the details, nuh uh, I have no idea. Hindi rin ako nagtangkang magtanong dahil malamang, babarahin lang ako no'n. It's his secret mission, after all.

"Kasama ka pero hindi mo alam kung anong gagawin? Hoy, baka magtatanan na pala ka—"

"Ayusin mo nga 'yang utak mo," sambit ko at tinapon ang bitbit kong leather jacket sa mukha niya.

"Aray!" reklamo niya. "You really have a habit of throwing things on people's faces, 'no?"

"Just shut it, okay? Babalitaan naman kita once makabalik ako."

"But I really wanna go with you!" Parang bata itong lumapit sa 'kin at ngumuso. "Sige na, please?"

"No."

"Bakit ba kasi hindi pwede?!" pagmamaktol niya.

Napairap na lang ako. I zipped my fully-loaded backpack before looking back at Shaye. "Bumalik ka na sa room mo. I have to rest."

I made sure to keep my voice cold. Sinadya ko pang pabigatin ang atmosphere ng paligid kaya wala siyang choice kung 'di sumimangot na lang. Padabog siyang lumabas sa kwarto ko, and even slammed the door.

Napabuntong hininga ako. I don't owe her an explanation at totoo namang wala talaga akong alam sa misyon ni Carwell.

Humilata na lamang ako sa kama. Pumikit ako hanggang sa unti-unti na akong kinakain ng antok. I wish I can find you sooner, Milka.

I woke up to several voices yelling from the living room. Inis akong tumagilid sabay takip ng unan sa tainga ko but they seemed to just get louder every second and on purpose. I frowned as I forced myself to get up. Bagsak ang balikat akong nagtungo sa banyo habang kinukusot ang mga mata.

I did what I had to do and finished my usual morning routine. At sa wakas ay natahimik na ang mga maiingay sa labas. I sighed in relief. Ano ba kasing trip ng mga 'to at ang agang nag-ingay?

Lumabas na ako sa kwarto. I took my backpack and carried my water bottle on my left hand as I fixed my black leather jacket. Sumalubong sa akin ang nakangising mukha nila Rhysan, Estelle, Shaye, at Third.

"Good morning, beauty!" they greeted me in unison.

I rolled my eyes on them. "Ano'ng trip niyo?"

"Ang tagal mo nagising," ani Estelle. Lumapit siya sa 'kin at hinila ako. She pushed me outside the door. "Nauna nang lumayas si Caelum sa 'yo. Tulog mantika ka, e."

Kinunutan ko siya ng noo. It's still 7 in the morning. Pinagloloko ako ng babaeng 'to.

"It's 7," sambit ko. Akmang papasok ulit pero muli nila akong tinulak. Hindi pa ako nakakain for fuck's sake.

"It's already 9 AM. Babush na." Estelled grinned and waved her hand on me as though shooing me off.

"Excuse me?"

"Babye! Ingat kayo ni insan, Ara! Use protection!"

Mas lalong nagusot ang mukha ko sa sinabi ni Shaye. Aba. Nanggagago 'ata mga 'to e.

"Hoy—" I was about to speak but they quickly shut the door on my face. Ang babastos.

Napairap na lang ako at bumaba na sa dorm. Hintayin lang nilang makabalik ako, kukutusan ko talaga ang mga 'yun.

Nilibot ko ang tingin sa dormitory ground nang tuluyan na akong makababa. Matingkad na nga ang sikat ng araw. There was no hint of cold in the air anymore. Siguro nga ay 9 AM na talaga.

There was no sign of Carwell anywhere, either.

I shrugged and made my way to Boris' office. I knocked, for the first time, and the door automatically creaked open. Bumungad sa 'kin ang gusot na mukha ni Carwell. Nagtagpo ang kilay niya nang makita ako at matalim akong sinulyapan.

"You're always late," aniya sa baritonong boses.

Boris chuckled between the two of us.

"Come on now. Huwag kayong mag-away rito."

Boris instructed us to stand next to each other and handed Carwell a seed gleaming in royal blue. The latter took it.

"Be safe, you two. Sana'y mahanap niyo agad siya," Boris added. Saka siya tipid na ngumiti sa akin.

Sinong siya?

Are we supposed to find someone in Forthill, maliban kay Milka?

"We will sure do, Headmaster," Carwell replied.

He faced me, positioning himself in front. Masama pa rin ang tingin niya sa 'kin pero hindi ako umalma.

Carwell tossed the blue seed on the floor. The impact made a whoosh in the air before it started emitting fogs and shimmered in blue and silver. Sa bawat pagkislap nito ay unti-unting bumubuo ng hugis bilog. I squinted my eyes at the light from it. Masakit sa mata.

"Go first," ani Carwell.

I glanced at him before I looked back at the portal. Mariin akong pumikit at humakbang papasok. Here goes this shit again.

My head started swirling and as if my internal organs were being squeezed and shaken up. I hate this. I repeat, I fucking hate this.

Hindi nagtagal ay niyakap na ako ng pamilyar na hangin. The familiar noise from the crowd resounded in my ears. The jubilant laughs of the kids I used to steal food from. The indistinct voices of gossips from some nosy creatures on the corner.

I opened my eyes as a fresh wave of memories of me stealing and running from people around this public market flashed in my mind.

I am back, indeed.

"Do you know any inn here where we can stay for a few weeks?" Carwell interrupted.

Bahagyang napakunot ang noo ko. "Weeks?"

I thought we're only staying for days. Hindi naman malaki ang Forthill. You can find anyone here in just a couple of days.

"Akala ko ba gusto mong takasan ang paparating mong kasal? That's two weeks from now."

Oh, right. Hindi niya nga pala alam kung ano ang totoong pakay ko rito.

I nodded at him. "Okay."

Nagsimula na akong maglakad. Hindi ko inalintana ang mga tao na panay ang titig sa aming dalawa at nakipagsiksikan lang. I felt Carwell's hand on the hem of my jacket, pulling me back.

"Why is this so crowded here? Huwag tayo rito dumaan," he whispered.

Tinulak ko ang isang ale na nakaharang sa harapan ko.

"May alam kang ibang daan? Lead the way!" medyo may kalakasan kong sabi dahil sa ingay ng paligid.

Natahimik siya. I scoffed. See, panay ang reklamo pero wala namang solusyon.

Hindi na siya nagsalita pa hanggang sa makalabas kami sa kumpulan na 'yun. I went straight to the nearest and most decent inn I remember and dragged him with me.

"We can stay here for a while," sambit ko.

Carwell examined the facade of the place. Kalaunan ay tumango rin. Yeah, right. As I've said the first time I went to his old and overly vintage kingdom, Forthill cares about maintaining its cleanliness. Hindi gaya ng Gloysh Inn na mukha nang haunted house kung titingnan sa labas.

"Anong ibabayad dito?"

"Ulo mo. Gusto mo?" I sarcastically uttered.

"Do they accept Dims?" muli niyang tanong.

Napatampal na lamang ako sa noo.

"First time mo ba talaga rito? To think that you don't even know the currency..." hindi makapaniwala kong sambit.

Goodness. Mages are truly stupid when it comes to Mortises, which just shows how much they neglect the value of powerless humans.

"I will know if you tell me," he mumbled, still examining the place. "I'm a fast learner, you know."

I frowned. Pumasok na ako sa loob. Agad din naman siyang sumunod sa 'kin. He kept on roaming his eyes on every corner as if looking for something to judge.

Umatras ako. I covered my face with my hair and hid on his back.

He shot me a perplexed look.

"My beauty is quite notorious here. It's best if you talk to them yourself," I whispered under my breath.

Hindi siya naniwala sa sinabi ko pero napilitan siyang humarap sa personnel.

"Good day, sir. How may I help you?"

"Two single rooms, please." Carwell glanced at me.

Bahagyang napayuko ang babae. The corner of her lips slightly raised to form a flirtatious smile.

"You're not staying together with your girlfriend, sir?"

I grunted. Part pa ba 'yan ng trabaho niya? Ang sarap sapakin ng babaeng 'to.

"Uh, no. She's not my girlfriend," sagot naman ng isa.

Napairap ako. If I know, bet niya lang talaga ang babaeng mukhang espasol na 'yan.

"Here are your keys po." The woman gave him a key but she did not hand him the other one. Sa halip ay inabot niya ito sa 'kin. "Here's yours, ma'am."

I pressed my lips together, cussing silently in annoyance. I stroked my hair to cover my face even more. Saka ko tinanggap ang susi.

Pero sa kasamaang palad ay tumama sa mukha ko ang hampas ng hangin na nanggaling sa isa sa malalaki nilang bentilador na nakasabit sa kisame. The woman withdrew the keys and stared intently at me.

"I know you..." nagtatakang pahayag nito.

Napapikit na lamang ako sa inis.

Carwell looked at me. He's as confused as the woman who's now starting to come back to her senses.

Kinuha ko ang susi na nasa kamay ni Carwell at ibinalik iyon sa babae. Saka ko mabilis na hinablot ang perang nasa table.

Nanlaki ang mata ng babae at tinuro ako. "You're that girl! Ang lakas ng loob mong bumalik! Guard! Guard!"

Oh, fuck.

"Come on." I quickly dragged Carwell out of the inn. May humarang sa amin na iilang mga lalaki pero kaagad ko itong pinatid. "Kasalanan niyo 'yan. Paharang-harang kayo."

"Stop that thief! Stop her! Ano ba?! Ba't ang lalampa niyo?!"

Napabuga ako ng hangin no'ng medyo nakalayo na kami sa kanila. Ibang klase. Naalala niya pa rin ang mukha ko kahit ang tagal ko nang ginawa 'yun. And besides, kaunting Dims lang naman ang laman ng vault nila no'ng araw na 'yun.

Ang arte. Akala mo kung sinong mayaman.

"What the heck was that all about?" hinihingal na tanong ng kaharap ko.

"I told you, my beauty is notorious here," I replied, catching my breath.

"Yeah. Notorious thief," aniya at sinamaan ako ng tingin. He sighed in disbelief. "Saan na tayo pupunta ngayon?"

Napatingin ako sa kawalan. Mukhang wala na akong choice. Huwag niya lang akong artehan kundi gagawin ko siyang pananghalian.

"I know somewhere," wika ko at nagsimula nang maglakad.

"Where?"

"My house."