Chapter 55: Leaving

Alexander and I both sat on a bench while watching the little lights surrounding the plants like tiny fairies. The breeze swept all over the garden, rustling the leaves of the trees.

Alexander took his coat off and placed it on my shoulder. Hindi na ako nag-abala pang magdala ng panangga sa malamig na hangin nang magmadali akong puntahan siya.

"Alam kong madami kang gustong itanong sa'kin."

Tumango ako sa kanyang sinabi. Pero hindi ko alam kung saan magsisimula. Punong-puno ako ng tanong and it took me a moment before I could voice them out.

"How long did you know?" I asked. "Alam mo na ba ang totoo mula noong tumapak ako sa Van Zanth?"

"Ah." I heard a low curse from Alexander. "Not really. I even threatened you, remember? In my eyes, you were only the girl Zackary brought in Van Zanth and took interest in."

He ruffled his own hair with his fingers as if he remained frustrated  about it kahit pa matagal na itong nangyari. "So I made my own research about you."

"Because you worry about Zackary," I said. "You wanted to know who I am."

Umiling si Alexander. "Nagtitiwala ako sa desisyon ni Zackary. Alam kong hindi siya basta-basta magdadala ng sino man sa Van Zanth," Alexander sighed. "It was your skill that I took interest in. Narinig ko  ang tungkol dito mula sa dating beta."

"Sir Sebastian?" I asked.

Alexander nodded. "He knew your skill was similar to the skill of the person I've been searching for my entire life. At noong nalaman ko ang pangalan mo, nagkaroon ako ng pag-asa." Umarko ang sulok ng  kanyang labi sa isang ngiti. "They let you retain your name."

"My name..." I mumbled. "But I thought it was given by my first owner... kahit ang mga sumunod kong naging amo ay ganoon din ang inisip."

Umiling si Alexander sa tabi ko. "When you were younger, you  wouldn't respond to anyone who wouldn't call your name. Kaya siguro hindi nila naalis 'yan sa'yo."

Natulala ako sa kanyang sinabi. "It's... my real name?"

Eleanor. For some reason I always take my name for granted. Because just like the things that once surrounded me while serving owners, I thought it wasn't mine to begin with. So any name would suffice for me. Any insult I was certain to answer to my owners' commands and unending whim.

But I have a name. I gingerly placed a hand over my beating chest. Eleanor.

Pinagmasdan ako ni Alexander. In his face was an expression I rarely  see from him. A smile small, a fond gaze. Pero unti-unti itong nabura nang muli siyang magsalita.

"I seek the help of the former beta to confirm things about you," he resumed. "Noong nalaman ko ang mga pinagdaanan mo, gusto kong isa-isahing gilitan sa leeg ang mga among nanakit sa'yo." He leaned against the bench and craned his head up to the night sky above. "Hindi mo pagdadaanan ang lahat ng ito kung naging malakas lang ako at naipagtanggol kita noon."

I watched him and I could still see the guilt lacing his face. But the past no longer mattered to me.

"Why didn't you tell me." I mumbled. "If you knew all along, why didn't you tell me?"

Nanatili siyang nakatitig sa langit, tila hindi niya ako kayang harapin. "Madaming dahilan," sagot niya. "Nalaman ko na dahil sa mga nangyari sa'yo, malaking parte ng memorya mo ang nawala. Nasa Van Zanth ka para magsimulang muli at hindi ko gustong makasagabal doon. Higit sa lahat, noong dumating ka, wala akong magandang reputasyong maihaharap sa'yo."

His chest lifted up in a deep breath.

"Naalala mo noong nakita mo ako sa gilid ng tindahan na sinabuyan ng tubig na may kasamang dugo? Naisip ko noon, paano ako haharap sa'yo nang ganito? Lahat ng pinaghirapan ko nasira bago ka dumating sa bayan."

Biting my trembling lower lip, I pulled my gaze away from him before mumbling. "But it wouldn't have mattered to me." My voice was raw, breaking. "All I wanted was someone to call a family."

Umalis mula sa pagkakasandal si Alexander at tuluyang humarap sa'kin. "But I needed to be someone who can protect you," he said, his voice calmer and more reassured. "Hindi ko na hahayaang maulit ang nangyari noon."

"Is that why you accepted the beta position?"

Sumilay muli ang ngiti sa labi niya. "With this title I can finally protect you. Hinihintay ko lang na makilala mo ako or at least have an idea of who I am."

Pilit akong huminga nang malalim upang kumalma. Pero unti-unting namumuong muli ang luha sa aking mga mata. "Paano 'pag hindi ko nalaman?" Humarap ako kay Alexander. "Maghihintay ka nang maghihintay."

Inabot niya ang pisngi ko at pinahid ang aking luha. "You would have a hard time believing me unless you recognize me first. And it's only  right you found out this way. At least now, I can show up in front of you without being ashamed."

I remained sobbing in front of him. Ngumiti lamang siya at marahan akong niyakap. Sinandal ko ang noo ko sa kanyang balikat. "You're a great person, Alexander. Even before being a beta."

I felt the slight puff of air from his chest, like a proud sigh. "It really does feel different coming from you."

That evening in the garden, Alexander told me his intention to take me  to the town where we both grew up. Our hometown he had been searching for months.

"We're leaving Van Zanth?" I asked him.

Umiling siya, nakangiti. "Zackary would kill me if I let you do that. We're just gonna visit the place to help you regain more of your memories."

Alexander told me he'd file a day off on the weekend so we can visit  our hometown. A part of me was scared to go back to the place where it all started. But I wanted to see it... to have a place I can call my hometown.

That night, after my conversation with my brother, I lay on the bed with a smile on my lips and my face beaming like the sun. I hadn't felt this pleasant and light for a long time.

--

The following day, I immediately filed a leave of absence for the weekend. Senior Violeta, the senior staff who approved of my leave, didn't ask much about it.

When I told her about Alexander and I being related, she didn't even  look surprise at all. It seemed like she had talked about it with  Alexander because of the blood donor incident.

"I'm glad that you finally have someone to call a family." Senior  Violeta embraced me with her wrinkled arms while we both stood in  her office that early morning.

I couldn't help but leaned on her soft and petite body. For the longest time, I considered the people in the apothecary as my family. I could tell how happy she was for me.

After breakfast, I walked to the tower and went straight to my working station. Nadatnan ko si Anabeth sa harap ng kanyang working station, naghihintay nang may malapad na ngisi sa labi. She's been grinning nonstop since last night when she came barging in my room and I  finally got to share her the news. We even got reprimanded by the staff who were already preparing to sleep in their own respective rooms because of how loud Anabeth had screamed.

"I knew it! I knew it!"

And now, since breakfast, hindi na naalis ang ngiti sa labi niya.  Pagdating ko sa work station, tumayo siya at lumapit sa'kin. Umakbay ang isang braso niya sa aking balikat.

"My lucky lucky friend who have an alpha for a mate and a beta for a brother." Her words were followed by a giggle while I stood there,  gaping at her.

It suddenly occurred to me the realness of her statement. It was something I never would have the audacity to dream of. But what Anabeth had said was true.

I am Zackary's mate. I am Alexander's sister.

--

That afternoon, after working in the tower for an entire day, making  sure my work wouldn't be compromise by my sudden leave, one of the staff informed me that someone was waiting for me outside. When I asked who it was, the staff smiled.

"The alpha."

Gumugit ang ngiti sa labi ko. Agad kong kinuha ang coat mula sa  kwarto ko at nagtungo sa main door ng building. Paglabas ko sa  driveway, I saw Zackary's tall built from a distance while talking to the orders in the area.

As if sensing I had arrived, he cut the conversation short with the orders and walked towards me waiting by the driveway. I waved at him, my  face beaming. His lips twisted to a smile without taking my eyes off  me.

"Why did you come here?" tanong ko nang makalapit siya. "Do you  need anything-"

Nabigla ako nang hawakan niya ang gilid ng aking mukha at marahan akong hinalikan sa labi. "Is it wrong to visit my mate?" nakangiting tanong niya nang maghiwalay ang aming labi.

I opened my mouth to response to his teasing statement but my flushed face got the best of me. Bahagya kong itinago ang namumula kong mukha. I heard him chuckle.

"Ah, how I miss your flushed face," his deep voice stated. Hinawakan niya ako sa magkabilang braso at marahang hinila sa isang yakap. "My innocent mate."

The way he whispered on my ear with his warm breath sent shivers on my back. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a moment,  savoring him this close to me.

"Zack?" I mumbled. "Do you... want to go for a walk?"

Naramdaman ko ang kanyang pagtango. Bahagya siyang lumayo sa'kin  at inabot ang isa kong palad. He intertwined his rough slender fingers with mine.

We took our time walking in the garden. Papalubog na ang araw. The setting sun cast orange rays separated by tree thunks and branches all over the forest surrounding the apothecary.

"I've heard it from Alexander," Zackary told me while walking with  slow steps, strolling by the patches of herbs and green plants in the garden. "That you finally recognized him."

Pinisil ko ang kanyang palad bilang pagsang-ayon.

"How are you feeling about it?"

Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at humarap sa kanya. Bahagya akong tumingala sa kanyang mukha na nakatitig sa'kin. "It's like my heart overflows with happiness."

Inabot ng isa niyang palad ang aking pisngi. "Good," he mumbled. "I  also heard you're leaving this weekend to visit your hometown." His thumb caressed my cheek in a circular motion.

"Are you worried?" I asked him.

"I am," he said. "But you have Alexander with you and you have my mark." He reached down to my collar and gingerly pulled it down to expose the unfading mark he made on my skin. "Nobody's foolish enough to hurt an alpha's mate."

Zackary leaned down to my neck and gently, his lips brushed on my  skin. Isang malalim na hininga ang pinakawalan ko. I wanted to pull  him closer to me, to feel his lips more on my skin. But I had to remind myself we're outside, in an open area where people could easily see us anytime.

Patuloy ang paghinga ko nang malalim na tila napapagod na hindi ko magawa ang gusto ko. What gotten into me to feel this way? Dahil ba ilang araw kaming hindi nagkita?

As if sensing the same desire, Zackary's lips continued to brush against the skin on my neck, down to my shoulders. "Hurry up and come back  to me," he whispered. Napaangat ako sa pagtayo nang hagkan ng kanyang labi ang likod ng aking tenga.

"I'm dying to do more than this."

My eyelids fluttered, staring at him with wide eyes. Inabot ko ang kanyang buhok at hinayaan ang daliri ko na haplusin at paglaruan ang kanyang buhok. "We'll be back the same day."

"I know," he mumbled, letting my fingers play with his hair while he  bent down with his lips caressing my skin.

"Zack," I mumbled.

"Hmm?"

"Say my name." He lifted his head up to stare at my face. "I want to hear my name from you."

Gumuhit ang ngiti sa sulok ng kanyang labi. "Eleanor," he mumbled, voice deep, husky. He cupped my neck and place our lips just an inch apart from each other. Our lips met once again in soft, lingering kiss before he whispered.

"My lovely Eleanor."

***