Chapter 36: Signs

I was silent the whole time Callahan was driving beside me. Sa kanya ako nakiusap na magpahatid sa apothecary even though Zackary was in front of me earlier.

"Is this how you are when you say words you didn't mean?" Lumingon ako kay Callahan na nanatili ang tingin sa daan. "You really didn't want him to leave, did you?"

Hindi ako nakasagot. Nanatili akong tahimik na nakaupo sa passenger seat, hands in my lap, fidgeting. Earlier in Callahan's mansion, Zackary insisted he wanted the two of us to talk, but I asked him not to. I  couldn't face him for now... I was afraid of what I might feel. I might cross a line. He's still the alpha of this town and I'm still a staff of the apothecary.

After thirty minutes of silence, we reached the apothecary. Callahan leaned to my direction to open the door beside me. Despite the situation, I discovered Callahan didn't seem to be as bad as my first impression of him. At least for today.

I mumbled a thank you before stepping out of the car. The window remained rolled down so Callahan could see me as I walked to the main building. Hindi umalis ang sasakyan niya sa driveway hanggang hindi ako tuluyang nakakapasok sa building.

When the car speed off the driveway, huminga ako nang malalim at pilit inalis ang lungkot sa mukha ko. I pulled up a smile and dried my tears before walking inside. Ilang staff ang nasalubong ko sa hallway. I managed to smile back at their greeting, but the moment I closed the door of my room, tuluyan akong nanghina.

Sumandal ako sa pintuan at pilit kinalma ang sarili ko. I blinked back tears. This isn't right. I shouldn't feel this way. I've became too comfortable and forgot my place here. I shouldn't be doing things that could affect Zackary.

Napaupo ako sa kama. Pero kahit ilang beses kong ipaalala sa aking sarili... patuloy akong nasasaktan. Tila mas dumoble ang sakit noong makita ko si Zackary kanina.

What am I hurting like this? How could I make this stop?

--

Third Person's POV

Anabeth was back in the apothecary. Agad siyang dumeretso sa kanyang kwarto para ilapag ang mga gamit at makapagbihis bago puntahan si Eleanor. It's been days since the two saw each other at naipon na ang mga gustong ikwento ni Anabeth dito.

Eleanor's room was only across the hallway from Anabeth's. Paglabas niya sa kwarto, nadatnan niya si Senior Violeta na may hawak na mga report papers habang patungo sa kwarto ni Eleanor. Agad sinalubong ni Anabeth ang senior staff.

"Anabeth, nakabalik ka na pala."

"Kababalik ko lang po. Mga ten minutes ago." Dumako ang tingin ni Anabeth sa mga hawak na papel ni Senior Violeta. "May problema po ba?"

"Nabasa ko ang report ni Eleanor tungkol sa program na isinagawa ng mga elites sa isang village," sabi ng senior staff nang makarating sa tapat ng kwarto ni Eleanor. "May gusto lang akong kompirmahin."

"Elites?" Kumunot agad ang noo ni Anabeth sa narinig. She heard someone filled in for the activity she's supposed to be part of. She honestly didn't want to be part of it in the first place. Naisulat lang ang pangalan niya... but she wasn't aware that Eleanor was the one who took the program in her place.

"It says in the report that she treated seven children and five elderly with high fever and infection as requested by the village leader," tukoy ni Senior Violeta sa mga papel na hawak saka siya bumuntong hininga. "Kung tama ang report na ito, ang ginawa niya ay trabaho ng dalawa o tatlong tao."

Anabeth was the one who knocked on Eleanor's room. Nakailang katok na siya ay wala paring sumasagot. Nagaalala na pinihit ni Anabeth at knob para buksan ang pinto.

Pareho nilang nadatnan si Eleanor sa higaan. She was breathing heavy, sweats breaking all over her face. Anabeth immediately check her sleeping form. Napaatras siya, tila napaso ang palad nang hawakan si Eleanor.

Did she contracted the fever? Or is this about her skill taking a toll on  her body?

Hindi mapigilan na mangamba ni Anabeth, specially when Senior  Violeta had to check Eleanor's condition. Nanatili siyang nakatayo sa sulok ng kwarto, hindi gustong makasagabal.

Ito ang madalas niyang ipaalala kay Eleanor... that asking for help is also part of the option... that she didn't have to do things alone just like  before. But Eleanor often forgets dahil nasanay siya na mag-isang hinaharap ang lahat.

Hindi nagbago ang kondisyon ni Eleanor buong umaga. The situation reminded Anabeth of the day Eleanor treated Zanra. Pero may isang bagay siyang pinagtataka. Eleanor could treat several people at once for minor injuries or fever. Ilang beses itong nasaksihan ni Anabeth. Pero bakit nanghihina si Eleanor nang ganito?

Eleanor was barely conscious the entire day. The senior staff had her sleep deeply to recover. Bandang hapon, habang naglalakad si Anabeth patungo sa greenhouse, she saw the alpha approaching the main building. She immediately stopped to greet their leader.

"Is Eleanor alright?"

Natigilan si Anabeth sa biglang tanong ng alpha. Did someone in the apothecary informed the alpha?

"Eleanor is currently sick." Napansin ni Anabeth ang pagtiklop ng mga kamao ng alpha. "I'll walk you to her room."

Sinamahan ni Anabeth ang alpha papasok sa main building. Sa mga pagkakataon na may hindi sila inaasahang bisita sa apothecary, the first thing to do was inform one of the senior staff. But there was no time for that.

Nang makarating sa palapag kung saan makikita ang kwarto ni Eleanor, binuksan ni Anabeth ang pintuan. The room was bathed in sunlight from the window. Eleanor remained on her bed, heaving deeply, hands clutched to her chest while sleeping, as though she was having a bad dream.

Nanatili si Anabeth sa tapat ng nakabukas na pintuan. The alpha remained standing by the bed, watching Eleanor as though hesitating to approach her.

It took a moment before Zackary approached her sleeping form. Umupo ito sa silya sa tabi ng higaan at inabot ang mukha ni Eleanor at marahan itong hinaplos. His hand reached for the strands of Eleanor's hair and calmly brushed them off her whimpering face.

Napansin agad ito ni Anabeth. Eleanor, who was in pain seconds ago, slowly calmed down. Naging maaliwalas ang mukha nito, maging ang paghinga.

Tahimik na lumabas si Anabeth ng kwarto, nagtataka. Eleanor was calmer now, almost close to sleeping. Was it because of the alpha?

After thirty minutes, napansin ni Anabeth na lumabas na ng kwarto ang alpha. Sandali siyang kinusap nito para magbilin. He didn't want  Eleanor to know he visited.

"She needs to rest," tanging sagot ng alpha bago tuluyang nagpaalam.

Matapos ang hapunan noong gabing 'yon, muling nagtungo si Anabeth  sa kwarto ni Eleanor to check if her condition had improved. Gising na  si Eleanor pagdating niya.

"Anabeth..." Pilit itong ngumiti kahit pa nanghihina.

"Are you feeling better? Do you need anything?" tanong ni Anabeth.

Umiling si Eleanor. "I'm okay..." Napansin ni Anabeth na nakatitig si Eleanor sa palad nito, the same hand the alpha had held earlier while watching her sleep. Did Eleanor felt it?

"Mas okay na ang pakiramdam ko," he heard Eleanor say. "Sorry kung nagalala kayo."

"Of course, we got worried!" Anabeth couldn't help but exclaim.  "We're a family here. Did the elites gave you a hard time? I swear if I  see them in town I'm gonna-"

"Anabeth..."

Natigilan si Anabeth sa nakitang reaksyon sa mukha ni Eleanor. It  almost heartbreaking to see her friend's face like this. For someone who should be enjoying their age, masyado nang madaming pahirap na napagdaanan si Eleanor.

Eleanor was fumbling with the sheets when she asked. "The alpha... he has a mate... right?"

Hindi agad nakasagot si Anabeth. Isa ito sa mga inaalala niya mula  noong naging malapit ang dalawa. She was afraid that Eleanor would  be pulled in between the mess.

But Anabeth had known the twins for a long time... and it was the first time she saw something like this from Zackary. That's why it was confusing to see... specially when everyone believed that Zackary already found his mate.

"Her name is Rebecca... right?"

Walang nagawa si Anabeth kundi ang kompirmahin ito. "She's... Rebecca Maven. Her family owns several successful businesses in Fabrice at matagal na silang residente ng Van Zanth."

Anabeth noticed how Eleanor's hand reached for her chest to calm. It must have been an unconscious gesture from Eleanor who had no idea what was happening to her, pero hindi ito mapigilang mapansin ni Anabeth.

"I've heard about her from the elites," Eleanor said.

"May sinabi ba sila o ginawang hindi maganda sa'yo?"

Anabeth was well aware of this kind of people in Van Zanth. Their traditional believes, their discrimination against strangers trying to settle in Van Zanth. They could be cruel to people like Eleanor, specially if they wanted the leader to be on their side.

Umiling si Eleanor sa tanong ni Anabeth. "They're just protecting Rebecca in her absence," she mumbled. "It was my fault... I should  have known."

Eleanor raised her head to meet Anabeth's gaze. At kahit pa sinabi  nitong okay siya, hindi maipagkakaila ang sakit na namumutawi sa mga mata nito.

"Zackary deserves the best people to be on his side..." tahimik nitong sinabi. "I was just... hoping I could be beside him too. But it's like aiming for the skies."

"Eleanor..."

"Maybe I just got confused because I never felt this before," patuloy nitong sinabi. "I never had someone who willingly protects me without asking for something in return."

Humugot nang malalim na hininga si Eleanor bago ito pinakawalan. "But it's okay... I just need time to process this before I could face him again..."

Isang pilit na ngiti ang sumilay sa labi ni Eleanor.

"I promised to help him and it didn't change... gusto kong makapagpahinga siya tuwing kailangan niya... I could still help the alpha, right? Even from a distance."

***