Her eyes twinkled as it remained looking to the moon while I was befuddled, drowning in her eyes. Within those pale brown eyes were wind-stirred waves, which I was brave enough to conquer just to see its depth.

And even though everything seems so unclear, this scorching passion pounding in my chest was beyond prevention.

“Alexis…”

“Hmm?”

This is my gamble that I’m willing to bet all I have. I gently held her cheeks as her lovely smile slowly diverted to mine, and when she held my hand—it was like Alexis was opening doors for me, that the long chase was finally over.

As I move closer to her, my eyes remained locked to hers. The gregarious thumping in my chest wasn’t suffocating. And instead, it was giving me bliss. Her other hand held my shoulder when I placed my forehead to hers and as I pursed my lips. Alexis gently closes her eyes.

The deafening silence, along with the gazing stars beneath us, was making our world a perfect piece of art. I must thank the universe for letting me meet this woman because I couldn’t ask for more. And as I gently closed my eyes, wanting to sync with her, our lips met. The ever-flame within me ignited as if the underworld’s flame was inside of me.

Peppermint. The taste of peppermint lured me to go deeper as she grasps tighter to my shoulder; we both sync to our hearts’ content. And when parted, we both gasped for air.

“The moon is really beautiful, huh?” I teased.

She sassily rolled her eyes, which made me laugh. She’s really acting so cute.

“Siraulo ka,”

Muli akong natawa dahil sa nahihiya n’yang tugon. Isa na rin siguro ito sa dahilan kung bakit ingat na ingat si Emerald sa kanya, oras na makilala mo kung sino ang tunay na Alexis ay mahirap nang iwanan ito. At kung maaari lamang ay talagang ipagdadamot ko s’ya.

“Alexis…”

“Ano na naman?”

I showed her my right hand while grinning, and then she gave me a puzzled look, “My right hand is a bit lonely, would you mind holding it?” I asked.

“Tanginang baduy.” Parehas kaming gulat na napalingon ni Alexis dahil sa boses ng isang bobo. Napangiwi akong lumingon kung saan nagmula ang boses ni Jackson, at do’n ay kasama niya sina Emerald at Alyssa na parehas pailing-iling habang dismayadong nakatingin sa akin.

Lumapit sa ‘kin si Alyssa saka tinapik-tapik ang aking balikat, s’ya na rin ang nagbaba ng kamay kong aabot sana sa malambot na kamay ni Alexis, “Dati akala ko mga bagay na may buhay lang ang namamatay, mga mga walang kwentang banat mo rin pala.”

Sinamaan ko siya nang tingin saka ko pabirong tinanggal ang kamay niya.

“Alexis,” Alyssa called, “When are you planning to build your school?”

“Ba’t mo alam ‘yon?” Tanong sa kanya ni Emerald na halata sa mata ang bakas nang pagkagulat. Nagkibit balikat na lamang si Alyssa at muling tumingin kay Alexis.

“She’s been following me since she got here,” Alexis mumbled.

“You knew?”

Alexis mockingly smiled at her and pointed her temple, “I have a brain,”

Hindi ko mapigilan ang matawa sa naging reaksyon ni Alyssa. Nang marinig niya ako ay mabilis niya akong sinamaan ng tingin dahilan upang bumaling ako kay Jackson dahil kanina pa siyang tahimik.

“Kaya hindi ka pinapansin nung centaur do’n e. Ang yabang mo kasi,” Alyssa mumbled.

Alexis face suddenly turned crumpled and brooded to nowhere, “He said that he already promise to someone who wanted to build his artificial city in that place,”

Artificial city? That seems familiar to me.

“Saan ka magtatayo ng school?” Tanong ni Jackson.

“In the middle of the sacred walls...” Alexis answered. My lips automatically curled; that is why it seems so familiar because they were talking about the artificial city that I was supposed to build in the middle of the woods.

And somehow, I felt guilty because of it. The name of the centaur they were talking about was Panther, and he was the guy I’ve saved in the hoard of monsters attacking his den. And because of that, he granted one of my wishes.

“I know him,” I said. They all looked at me and sheepishly scratched the back of my ear, “I was the guy he was talking about...”

“Alexis, sabihan mo si Garet ng ikaw lang sapat na may school ka—”

“Why would I do that? Stupid, Alyssa,” Alexis beamed.

I smiled at her, and she shyly rolled her eyes, “Once we finished saving Marina. I will talk to Panther about your school—”

“No, that place is you—”

“Ang pabebe mo,”

“You can call me names, but you can’t change my mind.” She suddenly left without making any fuss or even listening to what I am supposed to tell her.

“Basted ka na agad?” Pabirong tanong sa akin ni Emerald. Nginisian ko na lamang siya dahil ayokong i-bida na nakahalik na ako kanina kay Alexis at alam kong nag-iinarte lamang ang isang ‘yon.

Nagulat na lamang ako nang hawakan ni Jackson at Alyssa ang magkabilang balikat ko at tinaas ang kanilang mga natitira pang kamay, kung anu-anong mga katangahan ang kanilang binulong sa ere.

“Nawa’y ang wasak na puso ni Garet ay maghilom na,” Parang tangang sambit ni Jackson. Natatawa kaming pinanood ni Emerald habang pailing-iling pa.

“Para kayong mga tanga,” Untag ko.

Alyssa suddenly giggled and kissed my cheeks, “Love na love ka namin tapos sasabihan ko kami na parang tanga.”

“Trip niyo talaga akong halikan ‘no?”

“Anong niyo? Si Alyssa lang ang mahilig humalik,” natatawang sabi ni Emerald.

Napansin ko ang katahimikan ni Jackson dahilan upang lumingon ako sa direksyon niya ngunit nang makita kong nakanguso siya sa aking direksyon ay agad ko siyang sinapak.

“Tangina. Nakakadiri ka,” nasusulasok kong sambit sa kanya.

“Try lang naman e.” Jackson pouted. Alyssa and Emerald’s laugh echoed in the Greenwood Haven.

At bago pa makaisa sa akin si Jackson ay iniwan ko na silang tatlo at sinuyod ang lugar upang makita si Alexis. Tiyak kong pagnakasama na naming muli ang iba ay hindi ko na siya magagawang makausap nang matagal lalo na’t hinihintay lamang namin ang ikalawang grupo at ang paggaling ni Artemis.

Hindi ko napigilan ang pagkurba ng isang ngiti sa aking labi nang makita ko siya na inaayos ang kaniyang buhok habang pinalilibutan ng mga asul na hummingbird.

Tila isa siyang d’yosa dahil sa angkin ganda niya bukod do’n ay malakas din ang epekto n’ya lalo na sa tuwing tinitingnan ko ang mga mata niya.

“What do you want, Lockser?”

“Listen to me first, Lancaster,”

“How did— nevermind,” She mumbled. I pursed my lips when I saw her fierce expression brooding at me, “Naiinis ako ha, Lockser.”

I let out a soft laugh and walked towards her back. She suddenly stiffened when I placed my head on her shoulder and wrapped my arms around her waist.

“I want you to build your school in that place...” I whispered. She nervously brushed her fingers to mine, which made me grin.

“Sa’yo ‘yon,”

I squeeze her hand and place a light peck on her shoulder, “You can have it. All I wanted is your happiness,”

“Moron, why would you want my happiness?”

“Then steal it... Just like what you did to my heart,”

#