Elizabeth Ann

Days flew by fast and my suspicions about her identity seemed to grow.

She is caring and gentle. Her motherly instincts came naturally.

My heart tells me that she is genuine but my mind tells me otherwise.

I remembered Dad's letter and I know I shouldn't be so trusting.

But, a part of me says that if her intentions aren't good, I would have been dead the first time she stepped foot inside our house.

I shook my head to erase the thoughts that have been invading my mind since yesterday as I pedaled my bicycle on my way home.

Class has ended and I eagerly ran out to study the book of incantation and enhance my powers leaving my besties behind.

Oh, if you are wondering who these besties whom I am pertaining to. They are Alodia and Fleur. They have been my buddies since school started.

Oh and Fleur is the one who first noticed how I struggled in class when I saw the queer figure underneath the oak tree across our classroom.

I hummed as I pedalled my way home and saw my friendly fairies guiding me again.

"Be careful always, Elspeth!" Dahlia said in her tiniest voice ever as she circled over my right shoulder.

"I smell danger! Fear! Be wary, Elspeth!" Her twin sister, Safhi, added which made my eyebrows furrow.

"W-what? Danger?" I gasped in whisper. I slowed down with her words.

"Hindi ko pwedeng sabihin!" Safhi exclaimed and flew over my left  shoulder before leaving me and Dahlia behind.

"Dahli! Ano yung sinasabi niya? Am I in danger?" I asked and she just shook her head.

"Just please be careful. Bye, Elspeth!" Dahlia said and fled.

Their little fairy dusts disappeared as I neared my house. I parked my bike on the front porch and went inside, their warnings still inside my head.

I threw my backpack on my bed and waved my hand in the air to shut my door. Lazily, I twirled around and in  a span of five seconds, I had changed into my indoor clothes of pajamas and a sleeveless top.

I sat on my bed and stared at the bookshelf on my left. When my eyes rested on the book of incantations, I nodded at it and it landed right on my bed.

I flipped through the pages and began reading about my family's history and about the warlocks who might be hovering around my house.

Our old family picture fell from the pages of the book and what struck me most was the images of two little kids staring out of the window.

I frowned and narrowed my eyes as I tried to make something out of the photo.

The two girls look exactly the same.

Like Dahlia and Safhira.

Identical twins.

Who could they be?

Are they even part of our family?

And if so, bakit hindi sila kasama sa photo?

Are they my parents' cousins or simply visitors?

At the background, I can see a tall burly man with an awkwardly animated expression on his face. He was smiling while the man who looks like Dad, has his pokerfaced on for a formal picture.

Even Mom has that stoic expression on her face. It was a sunny afternoon and there were a few people in the background that doesn't fit in.

It's a mystery how these people are connected with our family. If ever they are.

I sighed and shut down the book.

---

Morning came and I made my routine.

If you are wondering where Tita Tammy is, she is somewhere with the Magistrate members and I have nothing more to say with it.

It's better to be alone here than be with her.

She creeps me out in a way no one does.

I'm just glad she's out.

Am I that mean to wish her bad?

I just don't feel comfortable with her like she used to.

And out of nowhere, a gust of wind blew towards my face unannounced and my bicycle went awry.

"Aaaaa—" I shrieked in surprise and expected my face to kiss the ground on my way to the campus when I felt strong arms catching me in time.

"Okay ka lang?" An unfamiliar guy with brown almond eyes asked me and I blinked in response.

His jaw hardened when our eyes met and I felt a jolt of electricity ran through my veins.

I got up and when we are standing upright, I lifted my chin to meet his eyes and said, "salamat. Thank you for catching me just in time."

"Walang anuman. Ingat ka." He nodded and returned his hands inside his board shorts' pockets. "Mauna na ako."

I watched him walked away and I straightened my jeans and shirt with my damp palms.

I stared at my hand and frowned.

Never ako naging pasmado ng ganito.

This is the first time I had my palms damp and shaking.

Then I remembered the fairies' warnings.

Siya ba ang tinutukoy nilang danger?