Chapter 8: The Twin

Bago umalis, dinala ako ni Ms. Laura sa isang kwarto sa second floor.

"Sweetie, here's Eleanor from the apothecary for your medicines."

Sumulyap ako sa babaeng nakaupo sa puting kama. She was in the middle of reading a book nang ibaba niya ito para humarap sa'min. Lumapit si Ms. Laura at umupo sa tabi niya.

"Are you sure you're okay here? I won't go if you need me here."

"It's fine, Mom."

I never thought a voice could sound so feminine until I heard Zanra's voice. It's like hearing flowers in the form of voice. Soft spoken yet steady.

Ms. Laura kissed her daughter's forehead before walking back to me. "I'll leave you two here. Pwede mong ipaalam sa isa sa mga kasama namin sa bahay kapag aalis ka na."

Muli siyang humarap kay Zanra. "We'll be back this evening."

Pilit ngumiti si Zanra. "Drive safely."

Tumahimik ang kwarto nang makaalis si Ms. Laura. From the open window, I heard a car leaving the mansion. Lumapit ako sa isang desk para ipatong ang paper bag laman ang kanyang gamot.

"Ms. Zanra, here's your medicine. They're in capsule form since you've requested it last time-"

"You're new here?" Nakatuon ang atensyon niya sa'kin.

"Yes."

"What are you here for... in Van Zanth?"

I have nowhere else to go. Pero sa halip, iba ang sinagot ko. "To work."

Sinara niya nang tuluyan ang hawak niyang libro. "It's time for my afternoon stroll. Can you go with me?"

Anabeth didn't mention about a stroll. Is it still part of my visit? Zanra pulled herself out of the bed, white dress reaching the floor, long wavy hair cascading down her back. She's beautiful with a heart shaped face and eyes that resembled her mother, along with the prominent features of a Van Zanth, graceful and tall. But I heard from Anabeth that Zanra is a pure human and base on her health records, she has weak body and an unstable heart.

Zanra took a thin cardigan from the back of the door before facing me. "Let's go."

I bit my lower lip bago sumunod sa kanya. Sa living room pa lang, ilang mga tagasilbi ang nabigla nang makita si Zanra sa labas ng kanyang kwarto.

"M-Ms. Zanra?"

"It's time for my stroll," she said pointedly. Even with a body weaker than the rest, she had the authority similar to her father which made the servants bowed their heads.

Nanatiling madilim ang langit paglabas namin sa mansion. Zanra took her time walking in the garden, looking like a princess in a white dress, frail and delicate.

"Is your real name Eleanor?" she asked me, stepping carefully to the gravel path.

"Yes, that's what my first owner called me."

"Owner?" Lumingon siya sa'kin, nagtataka.

"I'm... I used to serve owners."

Her eyebrows scrunched together on her pale face. "In exchange of what?"

Natigilan ako bago sumagot. "For them to let me live."

We walked passed several archways made of thick rose bushes that resembled a tunnel. "Ironic, isn't it?" she said to me, hands clasped behind her back. "They owned you and let you live, while I own myself but I'm barely living."

Pinagmasdan ko siya hanggang sa marating namin ang paanan ng kakahuyan sa dulo ng garden. I expected her to turn back to the gravel path pero patuloy siya sa paglalakad hanggang sa madamong daan papasok sa kakahuyan.

"Bumalik na tayo sa mansion, Ms. Zanra," paalala ko sa kanya.

"Don't worry, this is still part of the property." Nakatunghay siya sa mataas na puno, sa langit. "What's beyond these woods? I've always wanted to know."

Bigla kong naalala ang sarili ko sa kanya, nakatunghay sa mataas na pader, nakatitig sa maliit na bintana ng basement. What's beyond these walls? I've always wanted to know.

Nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad, with Zanra searching for something beyond the trees. "We used to play here when we were kids. I wonder if the tree house is still here."

Lumakas ang ihip ng hangin sa kakahuyan hanggang sa isang bagay ang naramdaman ko sa pisngi ko. Tumingala ako sa langit kung saan unti-unting bumabagsak ang ulan. Tumakbo ako kay Zanra, inalis ang coat na suot ko at pinatong sa ulo niya.

"Ms. Zanra, kailangan na nating bumalik."

Napansin ko ang lungkot sa mukha niya bago tumango. "You're right."

Hindi pa kami nakakalayo sa kakahuyan and the top of the mansion's roofs were still visible behind the trees. Inalalayan ko siya habang nagmamadaling bumalik sa garden, maingat ang bawat hakbang sa madulas na daan.

On our way out, a strong wind swept the entire woods making the branches creaked. Bigla akong napatingala sa itaas nang marinig ang kakaibang ingay. I instinctively covered Zanra, extending both of my arms to protect her.

Bumagsak ang malaking sanga sa balikat ko, pushing me down a few inches. Inalis ko agad ito at humarap kay Zanra. Nakatitig siya sa'kin, eyes wide with shock.

"Eleanor, are you okay?"

Patuloy ang pagbagsak ng ulan so I pushed her to move forward. "Okay lang ako, Ms. Zanra."

Pagbalik namin sa loob ng mansion, isang tao ang nasa living room. Nakakunot ang noo niya, nakahalukipkip ang mga braso, habang kausap ang ilang tagasilbi. Nang marinig ang pagdating namin, agad siyang lumingon.

"Where have you been?"

Tahimik si Zanra sa tabi ko. Nagmadali ang mga tagasilbi na kumuha ng towel para sa kanya. Nanatiling nakakunot ang noo ni Zackary habang pinagmamasdan ang kapatid niya.

"Mom and Dad told me to be home early, now I know why."

Tahimik parin si Zanra nang sabihan siya ni Zackary na pumanhik sa kanyang kwarto. Bago umalis, lumingon siya sa'kin, nagaalala. Pilit akong ngumiti to assure her I'm fine.

Bumaling ako sa bintana, sa malakas na ulan sa labas. Marahan kong hinawakan ang namamaga kong balikat. I should head back to the apothecary.

"You should probably change too."

Bumaling ako kay Zackary, then upon realizing I was staring at a future alpha, I lowered down my gaze. "Kailangan kong bumalik sa apothecary."

Bumalik ang kunot sa kanyang noo. He indeed looks so much like his father... seryoso at hindi ngumingiti. "Then change before you go. There's an empty guest room upstairs. I'll let them send you dry  clothes."

One of the servants in the living room ushered me upstairs. Dinala niya ako sa familiar na kwarto, kung saan ako natulog noong unang beses kong tumapak sa mansion. Binigyan niya ako ng tuyong twalya bago umalis sa kwarto.

I was left inside the room, unmoving. It took me a minute bago ko hinawakan ang damit ko, carefully unbuttoning my collar and pulling a sleeve down.

Pinagmasdan ko ang balikat ko sa salamin. Tila mas lumala ang sugat ko dahil sa pagtama ng malaking sanga kanina. Hinawakan ko ito, then brushed my fingers on the ample amount of scars on my skin caused by my previous owners.

Ang nagbabagang sigarilyo na pinapatay ang upos sa braso ko, ang mahahabang sugat mula sa hampas ng latigo na umaabot sa likod ko.

Don't you dare go around complaining, you dog! You don't deserve to live!

Isang katok sa pinto ang gumulat sa'kin. Sa lalim ng iniisip, napaatras ako at nasagi ang bedside table. Bumagsak ang vase at kumalat ang mga pulang rosas at basag na parte nito sa sahig.

"Are you okay in there?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at pilit inayos ang kalat sa sahig. Hindi ko sinasadya... hindi ko gustong makasira.

"Ms. Eleanor."

Lumingon ako sa pintuan nang bigla itong bumukas. The door was held open by Zackary. Natulala ako nang ilang segundo habang nakatitig sa kanya, nakakunot ang noo niya nang makita ang kalat.

"Pasensya na... hindi ko sinasadya..." I tried to pick the pieces of the vase from the floor but my hands were terribly trembling. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba basa parin ako mula ulo hanggang paa o dahil sa maling na nagawa ko.

"Leave it."

Tuluyang pumasok si Zackary sa kwarto. Tumungo siya sa drawer at naglabas ng makapal na blanket. Paglapit niya sa'kin, marahan niya akong hinila patayo at ibinalot ang blanket sa balikat ko. His gaze lingered on my shoulder, eyebrow scrunched together, jaw tensed. That's when I realized he could see my wounds and scars.

"What happened to your shoulder?"

Bigla akong lumayo sa kanya. "I'm okay... I'm not complaining..."

Nanatili ang titig niya sa'kin. "I didn't say you are."

I strayed my eyes away from him, unable to say anything. Zackary went to the bathroom attached to the room. Paglabas niya, he had a first aid kit with him.

"Your skill doesn't allow you to heal yourself so you must be extra careful," he said to me. "Sit here," he referred to the bed.

Nang hindi ako sumunod, hinila niya ako paupo sa higaan. He opened the kit and pulled out some ointment. Dinampi niya ang bulak na may ointment sa namamaga kong balikat. I tried to move myself away from him pero hawak niya ang braso ko.

"You try too hard to please people and be useful, it's bothersome."

"I'm sorry."

"And your apologies are bothersome too."

I bit my lips and prevented myself from saying anything further. Tahimik ko siyang tinitigan. Zack's eyes... once focused, they turn to radiant gold, the very thing I saw from his father earlier.

***