Chapter 54: Reunited

My blood donor was Alexander.

The fact made me restless for the rest of the morning. Pagdating ng  lunch, pinuntahan ko ang ilang orders na nagbabantay sa apothecary  and asked them about Alexander.

"Nasa camp siya ngayon, Ms. Eleanor, nagt-train ng mga orders."

Training camp. It was too far from here and there was no connection or way to contact him.

"Sa susunod na araw pa siya makakabalik."

I asked them if they can relay a message for him. I wanted to talk to Alexander when he comes back in town.

Hindi ako makapag-focus sa aking trabaho sa tower.

Family. That can't be. But who am I? I can't even remember. I've been refusing to remember. But for the first time, I wanted to regain the memories I've lost.

Anabeth and I stayed in the hall after dinner. Sinabi ko sa kanya ang nalaman ko. That Alexander was my blood donor. Pero maging siya ay alam ang bagay na ito.

"It was the reason why you were pulled out of danger," she told me.

"Pero... paano nangyari 'yon?"

"When you were brought to the hospital in town to be treated for the gunshot, Alexander was the one who approached the senior staff. He  told them he can provide the blood you needed. We didn't question him. We were losing hope of finding a match. But he ended up being your perfect blood match."

"But... our kind only matches with families." I tried to make sense of Anabeth's statement. "It's stated in the books. It's why blood lost is the most fatal condition for our kind. Because even the same type of blood can be repelled by our bodies."

Anabeth nodded to assure me I wasn't wrong. "The chance for a stranger to be a perfect blood match is low but possible. Although I personally don't think that was your case."

"Since he requested not to mention it to you, we have no choice but to comply to the beta. But since you've discovered it on your own. I guess he can no longer avoid it."

Anabeth leaned against the chair. "To be honest, I'm curious too. The beta is a secretive person. Only Uncle Sebastian knew things about  him."

"Sir Sebastian?"

Anabeth nodded. "Yes, Alexander grew up under Uncle Sebastian's care."

Humugot ako nang malalim na hininga. "Can I... meet with the former beta?"

--

Anabeth informed Sir Sebastian of my request to talk to him. The next day, I took the day-off to visit their residence without Anabeth. It was  my first time to do so.

Once again, I arrived at the familiar neighborhood. A peaceful street  lined with wide yards belonging to these beautiful family homes. I approached the yard with the big oak tree where I recognized Ms. Venise on a bench reading a medical book and Vincent slumped on the grass with his wooden toys.

"Elya!"

Vincent was the first one to notice my arrival. He dropped his toys to the ground and run to my direction. Tuwing nakikita ko siya, tila mas lalo siyang tumatangkad.

"Hi Vincent," I pinched his little cheek.

Ms. Venise approached me with her hand on her belly. She's several months pregnant by now kaya nagdala ako ng supplement mula sa apothecary.

"We've been expecting you, Eleanor," she greeted. "We're about to  have lunch. You should join us."

Pumasok kaming tatlo sa loob ng bahay where the smell of food in the kitchen wafted on our faces. It smelled of good food. A soup and something savory.

Lumabas mula sa kusina si Sir Sebastian. In his hand covered with  floral pot holder was a big bowl of mushroom soup. "Nandito ka na  pala, Eleanor," bati niya.

Yumuko ako upang bumati. Sir Sebastian placed the large bowl on the dining table. I didn't expect to see the former beta in a floral apron  which was probably made by his wife.

Sir Sebastian lifted Vincent to sit on his toddler chair. "Daddy, I use my big boy plate please?"

Ngumiti si Sir Sebastian na tila hindi makatanggi sa ka-cute-an ng kanyang anak. "Sure thing, big boy."

Bumalik si Sir Sebastian sa kusina. Ms. Venise sighed across the table from me. "You must be wondering," she smiled. "He insisted it. He  even took cooking classes a month ago."

Despite the frustration from Venise's voice, I saw the admiration in her eyes. "He said he didn't get to do it when I was pregnant with Vincent  up to him growing up to be this energetic toddler. He said he wanted to make up for it."

Maging ako hindi napigilang ngumiti. I always refer to Sir Sebastian as  a leader, a former beta. I didn't realize how human they are beyond  their positions.

I helped them set-up the table with Vincent insisting he set up his own plate and kiddy cup. In times like this, I wonder what it was like to  grew up with a family. To have meals together or simple days at home. But whenever I think about my childhood, all I recall were bad  memories.

The meal was good considering Sir Sebastian had only took lessons a month ago. When Ms. Venise pointed it out to tease her husband's improvement, he told us the story of how he used to at the training  camp. And then there's Vincent being cute and trying to eat independently, all while dropping his spoon to the floor every few minutes.

After lunch, I had a dessert of custard filled bread in the balcony with  Ms. Venise. After sending Vincent to his afternoon nap, Sir Sebastian approached us.

"I'll let you two talk," paalam ni Ms. Venise bago pumasok sa living room.

Sir Sebastian sat across the steel table from me.

"It must be important that you went all the way here," tukoy niya sa  rason kung bakit ako nag-request na makausap siya.

I didn't want to beat around the bush. "It's about Alexander," I told Sir Sebastian.

He nodded, letting me go on.

"It's just... I discovered that he was my blood donor. I know it might  not mean anything but I want to believe the possibility." My voice trembled. "Sir Sebastian, you knew him better than anyone in Van Zanth."

"I did," he said.

A brief silence circulated between us before he told me the things I've been longing to know.

"Alexander wanted so bad to be an order," he started. "But he'd been tagged as an outsider despite years of his stay in town. So he trained  hard more than anyone for him to be accepted. It reached the point  where Zackary had preferred him to be part of his group training or duels because he stood out. Alexander took training seriously more than  anyone his age."

"One time, I asked why he wanted so bad to become an order or to train and become stronger. Alexander told me he's searching for someone.  He said he was not able to protect this person. That's why he vowed to  be more strong."

"That someone..." My lips trembled and my voice broke. "Did he find it?"

"For a long time he didn't," said Sir Sebastian. "He became an order.  He requested to be assigned to the borders. He had screened every  person, every train and vehicle passing in and out of the premises trying to search for this person. He constantly volunteer for field work to accompany me and Zander to different towns. His search never  stopped."

"Then one time, when he was spiraling down because of the incident concerning his adoptive family, he told me he found the person he's  been searching for more than a decade."

Natulala ako sa narinig hanggang na namalayan ko ang pamumuo ng  luha sa aking mga mata.

"I believed that was one of the reasons why Alexander accepted the position of the beta. Among other things, he believed his title could protect this person."

Nanlalamig ang mga palad ko habang nakakuyom sa ilalim ng mesa. Naalala ko ang mga pagkakataon na nandoon si Alexander tuwing kailangan ko ng proteksyon. Kung paano niya ako niligtas mula sa mapanghusgang mga tao sa bayan. Kung paano niya ako madalas pagsabihan.

"This person..." I mumbled. My hands trembled on my lap. "Is she...  his sister?"

I didn't know how I came up with that conclusion. I just knew.

"You have to talk to him to confirm," Sir Sebastian told me. "He should be the one to say it to you before anyone else. Because he had worked  harder than anyone for you to recognize him."

Tuluyang pumatak ang luha sa aking mga kamay.

"But why..." I mumbled. "Why didn't he let me know... I've been longing to have someone to call a family."

"Because there are things he's afraid to face, Eleanor. But now that you're aware, please meet him halfway."

Sir Sebastian offered a smile. "We may not be related by blood but I consider him as my first son."

--

I remained teary-eyed when I came back to the apothecary that  afternoon. I went straight to my room and lay on the bed with my heart longing for something I didn't know existed.

I closed my eyes and tried to remember my childhood. Past the faces of my first owners, past the tears and whip and shackles on my feet and wrist, past the horrible thunderstorm of that night when all had changed for me.

The image of a pastry appeared in my memories. Pillow shaped with red fillings.

"Tignan mo, may nakita akong nagb-benta sa bayan," came the voice of a kid. "'Di ba paborito mo ito?"

"'Wag ka ng umiyak, Elea."

"Kuya, kukunin nila tayo. Sabi nila maghihiwalay tayo kasi wala na sila Mama..."

"Hindi yon mangyayari..."

"Kuya 'wag mo akong iiwan."

"Pangako. Kahit saan tayo dalhin, hahanapin kita."

I woke up in a startle. I didn't realize I had fallen asleep. I wiped my cheek covered in dry tears as though I cried in my sleep. I checked the time from the clock in my room.

Six in the evening. It's still early. Baka naghahapunan na ang iba.

Inayos ko ang sarili ko, nagpusod ng buhok at naghilamos para itago  ang pamumula ng aking mga mata. Anabeth was just about to knock when I opened the door.

"Buti nakabalik ka na," she said to me. "The beta's been waiting downstairs. He said it's about the message-"

Napatakbo ako. "Eleanor," tawag ni Anabeth pero hindi na ako nakasagot.

I rushed to the stairs with tears in my eyes and smile on my lips. Once I reached downstairs, I roamed my eyes around. But there was no one in the waiting room.

"Eleanor," bati ni Senior Rowena na pa-akyat ng hagdan.

"Senior, is Alexander here?" I asked in a rush.

"The beta's been waiting for about thirty minutes now so he took a walk in the garden."

Agad akong yumuko at nagpasalamat. "Why are you in a rush?" she called. "You might trip."

I no longer care. I went straight to the garden and saw him checking the plants and touching the leaves. I stopped to catch my breath. His hands were shaky as though he's anxious as I am.

"Alexander..."

He turned to face me. Tears rolled down my cheeks. I ran to him to embrace him. He stood still, surprised. Then he raised his hand to the back of my head and pulled me close.

"Kuya..."

I could feel the tremble of his arms and the crack in his voice as he  called my name. "Elea..." Mahigpit niya akong niyakap. "Natupad ko ang pangako ko."

***