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Zero O'Clock

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AS SOON as Royce had stormed out of the room, Amber whirls around with an eyebrow raised specifically at me habang pinupunas ko ang mga luhang tila hindi pa rin tumitigil.

This woman seriously has an attitude.

"What are you all slacking about?" Mataray niyang sabi. "KEEP TRAINING!" She ordered before leaving the room as well to reason with Royce.

Napailing naman si Rome na nakikinig lang sa gilid. Mahina itong tumatawa with his arm folded. "Ahh, emotions." He chuckled before walking towards the door of the chamber.

"Don't listen to her." Sabi niya sa amin before walking away. "You can all get some rest today. Deserve niyo 'yan."

At tuluyan na rin itong lumabas ng training room.

"Oh thank Luna for Mentor Royce. Let's get you to our room now," Haisley told me at tinulungan nila akong makatayo, my chest heaving heavily na para bang hirap akong makahinga.

I nodded, my knees trembling as we all slowly exited the chamber as well; the eyes of goddess Luna's statue seemed to be following our move as we stepped out of the room.

It is what it is.

Sometimes in a person's life, one tends to experience the dark crevices on certain days more than the brightest moments. Ito yung mga araw na tila ba nakakapagod ang lahat — our bodies similar to melting candles that slowly burns out.

We are still mortals. Kahit na biniyayaan ang mga Ethearians ng mahika ay hindi maipagkakailang tao pa rin kami na napapagod at nasasaktan. Today was one of those low days.

The sands beneath my feet curled into my toes as I walked amidst the edge of the shore. Hours had already passed since the rage of Mentor Royce, at heto ako ngayon sa may dalampasigan para makapag-isip-isip.

Madison specifically instructed me not to leave the room but as soon as she and Haisley dozed off for a nap, agad akong lumabas ng kwarto para magpahangin.

Being close to the sea felt more personal to me then being enclosed within the walls of the castle, kung saan hindi naman ako nararapat.

Masarap ang kumpas ng hangin sa aking balat habang naglalakad, my hair flowing against the wind.

Hindi ako sigurado kung bakit lagi kong hinahanap-hanap ang karagatan. Malayo naman ang dagat mula sa Drift Town, at ngayon lang talaga ako nakalapit sa tubig.

Agad akong napalapit sa basang bahagi ng buhangin, where the ocean meets the land. "Maybe it has something to do with my past." I told myself, at saka inilabas mula sa ilalim ng aking damit ang kwintas ko.

Madalas hindi ko ito nilalabas because I felt as if it was something that should be only kept to me.

A tear slipped from my cheek at naramdaman ko ang malamig na agos ng tubig sa paanan ko. Bigla ko nanamang naalala ang sinabi ni Royce.

"I never realized he saw me as that." Bulong ko sa sarili habang tinititigan ang pendant mula sa kwintas ko. The moon glinted as the rays from the sunset fell down on it.

Malapit nanamang mag-gabi.

Agad akong umupo sa basang buhangin at hinayaan ko nanaman ang sarili ko na umiyak. Kailangan ko lang ilabas lahat ng sama ng loob hanggang sa maramdaman kong kaya ko na ulit lumaban.

Tahimik ang paligid habang umiiyak ako. Nothing but my own cries and the crashing of waves could be heard. Not until—

"That's a pretty necklace you got there." Isang matinis na boses ang biglang kumanta.

Pansamantalang tumigil ang pagtulo ng mga luha ko as I whirled around, trying to find where the voice was coming from.

I quickly wiped away the tears with the back of my hand.

"You seem to be very down, young girl. Why is that?" Salita nanaman nung boses at agad akong napatingin sa tubig.

Very few meters away was a rock amidst the ocean, at isang napakagandang sirena ang nakaupo rito.

Her long hair was as dark and curly as the black ocean of waves during the night. Her tail was a brilliant shade of emerald green na para bang brilyantes na kumikinang. At ang kaniyang kutis — her skin was very bright and fair. Para lang siyang isang dalagang walang saplot ngunit may buntot.

"Why are you sad, deary?" She purred once more, in the same sing-song tone as if she was singing me a lullaby.

Ngayon lang ako nakakita ng isang buhay na sirena. Lahat kasi ng sirenang nakita ko sa drift town ay patay na, kulang nalang eh linisan, i-chop at ibenta.

But this was one felt surreal, seeing the live creature right before my eyes.

"I'm just—" I started to speak in stuttered words.

She craned her head, gazing at me with piercing green eyes. "The Mage Weavers aren't treating you well?"

I shook my head furiously. "I just have problems." Matigas kong sabi.

"Oh, but you won't have problems when you're in the ocean." She cooed once more, extending a hand to reach for me.

"You'rrre verrry prrreettyyy..." Sabi pa niya, drawling over her words. "You may as well pass for a mermaid. And once you do become one, you won't have any problems."

"W-What makes you say so?" I managed to say as my she sang, slowly feeling myself get up and take a few steps near.

Everything suddenly became so hazy, as if I was in a trance.

"Because we mermaids feel no emotions." She continued purring, her green eyes glinting habang papalapit ako sa kaniya.

Mas lumalalim na ang tubig sa kada hakbang na binibitaw ko.

"Just give me your necklace and I'll make you a mermaid as well," the words sung out melodiously, the tone soft and spell-binding everytime she opened her mouth. "The sea would love to have you."

I was already about a few inches close to her. Hihilain ko na sana ang aking kwintas mula sa pagkakatali nito sa aking leeg nang may biglang sumigaw.

"SKYLAR!" The spell suddenly broke.

Agad akong napabalik ng tingin and just in time, Gabryle, Haisley and Madison were running across the sands towards me.

"Bitch." Madison mutters out before extending her hand and using her fear-inducing abilities on the creature.

The mermaid's eyes went dark at that moment before yelling out the most high-pitched scream and diving back into the ocean.

I was stunned. My eyes blinked in confusion before looking down at my necklace in relief and placing back inside the cloth of my dress.

"We told you not to leave the room!" Pagalit agad na sabi ni Madison as soon as they reached me.

"I'm sorry," I choked, tears springing out from my eyes. "The ocean was calling me."

Napabuntong-hininga naman si Gabryle at agad akong hinila ni Haisley sa kamay.

"Come on, let's get back to the room." She said and I willingly followed my friends back into the castillo, occasionally glancing back every now and then to the sea.

Why did the mermaid want my necklace?

---

"To Luna with you, Sky!" Madison vents out in exasperation by the time they had escorted me back to the room.

Ang bumungad samin sa kwarto was no other than Damien and Hugo na lumalamon nang kung ano-anong uri ng pagkain na nakakalat sa sahig.

"Bakit ba kasi ang kulit-kulit mo??" Dagdag din ni Gabryle who pinched my cheeks as we stepped further inside the room. Agad akong sumimangot.

"Pwede kayong pumasok dito sa kwarto namin?" I asked with a frown.

"I'm the prince," he says with a shrug. "Bakit, ayaw mo na nandito kami?"

I shook my head before lying down on the mattress and covering my face. Napasigaw ako sa inis.

"I'm so so so sorry guys," frustrated kong sabi. "I'm frustrated with myself too."

Nararamdaman ko nanaman ang paglabas ng luha ko as I slowy sat up, facing them.

"Anong nangyari?" Hugo whispered to Haisley who nudged him to keep quiet.

Tinignan ko sila isa-isa. "Sobrang swerte niyo," I tell them, my voice trembling habang pilit na ngumingiti.

"Kasi kayo, alam niyo kung sino kayo."

Agad na pumulupot nanaman ang mukha ni Madison and I sat up straight at saka pinunas ang luhang tumulo. "You," I breathe, gesturing my arms. "All have this picture perfect idea of who you are and what you want to be."

Agad kong tinuro si Gabryle. "You tell me your abilities are useless and therefore makes you unworthy, but we both know that someday you'll be the ruler of Therron despite these insecurities of yours."

"And you Madison," I continue, gesturing this time at her. "You know exactly what you want to be: a warrior who will represent the Luna Mage Weavers in the Ethearia Crown Match and bring back honor to Therron."

I feel her gaze soften.

"I'm sure the three of you shares the same dream as well." I tell them, moving my gaze from Haisley to Hugo then to Damien. "Kaya kayo nandito, dahil gusto niyong ibalik ang nararapat na karapatan ng Therron, and of course, to give pride and honor to your families as well."

Napailing ako, wiping again the tears on my cheeks. "Ako? Hindi ko kilala ang sarili ko. I don't know who I am and what I want to be. Basta ang gusto ko lang sa ngayon ay mabuhay."

"Do you remember the person I mentioned during the dinner where we met King Horrand and Queen Minerva?" Tanong ko and they nodded quietly.

"That person was Lola Rosalina. She died on the Day of Blessing when I was sixteen years old. Kaya ako galit na galit kay Claude Lampshire because I begged him that night to heal her, but he rejected me violently." I then hung my head down.

"But the truth is, Lola Rosalina and I are not related. I just called her lola, but she really isn't my grandmother. I wished she was my real one though." This time, iniangat ko naman ang aking ulo to prevent my tears from further falling.

"Lola Rosalina worked as a janitress in Therron's train station. She found me unconscious on the train tracks connecting Therron and Castell." I finally say and the looks on their faces are a mix of confusion and disbelief.

I then went on and continued.

"Dinala niya agad ako sa isang apprentice healer to heal me for free. She did heal me, at nagising rin ako that day. The only thing was, I couldn't remember a single thing. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nadisgrasya, kung sino ako, saan ako galing, everything. The only information that was given to us by the healer was that I was eight years of age. Walong taong gulang na iniwan sa gitna nang train tracks para mamatay."

"Maybe..." I say, my voice drifting. "...that's why I'm such a wreck, always on the move to find things out. Sabi niyo nga I keep snooping around other people's business. Maybe because it's a defense mechanism of mine."

"I keep yearning to find the pieces of my own identity."

And the tears overflow once more. I rock my body back and forth as I cry, wrapping my hands around my legs. "S-So I'm sorry I'm like this..." I bawl out. "I'm sorry I keep messing up."

Agad na pinulupot ni Gabryle ang kamay niya sa katawan ko, with Madison and Haisley rushing to hug me as well.

"Stupid!" Madison cries out. "Did you honestly think we wouldn't understand??"

"Oo nga, nandito lang kami Sky." Damien says, at saka ginulo-gulo ang buhok ko.

"Naalala mo ba ang sinabi ni Mentor Royce sa'yo kaninang umaga?" Sabi naman ni Hugo nang may ngiti sa labi.

Haisley nods in agreement. "You may be a little lost, but you're everything that Mentor Royce said you are. Sky, that's your identity."

---

note: another kinda heavy chapter to further help the character development of our main gal. Inspired with the message of BTS' song: Zero O'Clock. Please listen to the english version in this chapter's media!

If ever you're feeling down today like Skylar, always remember that at the end of the day when the hands of the clock finally meets, you have another chance to begin again. 💜