Athyeia's PoV

Why don't I kill him?

He's right.

I am probably like those rebels.

Living my life against him.

Ngunit bakit ba hindi ko siya mapatay-patay gayong alam kong siya ang magiging katapusan ng buhay kong ito?

I am probably an idiot.

Isang tangang nangangarap na walang buhay na matatapakan habang masayang gumigising araw-araw.

But things took quite a different turn.

I was already left off to my world... but then, I still chose to save Laura and Jeremiah.

And now I have crossed paths once again to the man who will kill me.

The man in front of me.

The man who once was an enemy but is now a friend.

"A letter." Mahina kong sambit habang iniikot sa bewang niyang may sugat ang piraso ng tela na pinunit ko mula saaking damit.

I am doing this para hindi masyadong dumugo ang kaniyang sugat. He might die out of blood loss kung hindi ko ito gawin, I don't know how to take a bullet off someone's body, baka mamaya ay matulungan kami nina Jah, but for now, magaantay muna kami ng tulong.

"A letter?" He questioned, lost. Ngumiti ako sa kaniya.

"I'll write you something." I'm afraid that he might not believe me. At baka ay masyado pa siyang magdalawang isip tungkol saaking identidad.

Come to think of it...

Does the real Athyeia know what was about to happen too?

And was Athyeia being a rebel the cause of her death?

"Ha." He scoffed. "And you plan to run away after telling me the truth?" Binigyan ko siya ng isang matamis na ngiti.

"Of course." Pagamin ko. "I don't want to die early." Seryoso kong sabi. "But you have to promise me one thing for me to tell you."

"What? Which was not to kill you??" I shook my head. Hinigpitan ko pa iyong tali sa kaniyang bewang.

"No." I want to know what Levi will do once he know the truth.

"I want you to promise to never ever, ever approach me nor talk to me. Do that and I won't do anything else."

Me, Levi, and the place fell quiet after that.

Pumikit naman si Levi, he was breathing heavily while touching his wound.

I held his hand when I felt how cold it was. Ipinatong ko din ang kaniyang ulo saaking balikat habang ako naman ay nakasandal lamang sa pader.

I was giving him every amount of heat that I can.

At dahil sa tahimik na pasilyo, hindi ko man rinig ang tibok ng kaniyang puso, ay ramdam ko naman ang mahina niyang pulso.

Just knowing that he's pulsating is enough.

Lumipas ang ilang segundo at dumating na si Doctor Jeremiah, mababakas sa kaniyang pagmumukha ang pagaalala.

I carried Levi with him, malamang ay didiretsyo na kami sa klinika ng kastilyo. The manor's clinic was full of many medical instruments, panigurado akong mas malawak at mas may kagamitan sa palasyo kaysa doon sa manor.

When we came to the clinic, dinala agad si Levi sa isang pribadong silid.

During the whole process, I just silently prayed by the chapel. I also prayed that everyone would be okay, kahit kasi naandito ako sa loob, I can hear gun fights going on from outside.

I hope my family evacuated to a safe place.

Just like that, I fell asleep.

Maya-maya ay nagising na ako.

I was already in a room which wasn't familiar to me. Napabangon naman ako kaagad.

The room's color was a mixture of red, white, and black with a touch of gold.

"Athyeia." Napalingon ako sa tumawag ng aking pangalan. It was Verona, sitting beside the bed I was sleeping at, reading silently.

"What happened?" I questioned.

"You slept. Paniguradong napagod ka nanaman." Nagaalala ang mukha niyang sabi.

"Where am I?"

"In my room." Sambit naman ng isang boses. It was Levi's, I saw him opening the door and walking long strides towards me.

Naked on top and covered with gauze.

Napatingin ako sa baba.

Mamiiii ba't ang gwapo?!

I felt my face heat up. Diyos ko naman! Pati ba naman kung sugatan siya eto iniisip ko?? Kaloka ka Athyeia!

"Y-You shouldn't have. P-Pero s-salamat padin." Nahihiya ko ditong sabi nang hindi sa kaniya makatingin.

Pero charot lang, nasilip padin ako. Hakhak.

Bakit kaya papa ko, lagi ding topless pero hindi naman ganito kalakas ang dating??

Wahhh! Lab padin kita Papa, iba lang talaga ang gwapo ni Levi! Tama! Iyon lang 'yun!

Pwera biro, pati 'yung mga tambay na hubad-baro sa harap ng tindahan ni Mama, walang binatbat kay Levi Azturias!

"It's not an issue. Inaayos nila kahapon ang mga gamit mo, so he made you sleep here. You should get ready, aalis na tayo by 8:00AM." Paliwanag naman saakin ni Verona. I see...

So lalayo na talaga ako.

"O-Of course."

"I brought you a dress to wear." Levi said na muling nakapukaw ng aking paningin. As soon as he said that, may grupo ng mga kasambahay na pumasok sa kwarto, they brought in a mannequin wearing a light blue formal dress. They also brought in a box of accesories. "Change in my walk-in dresser. You should be fine."

Nakakahiya naman, nagabala pa siya. At base sa kalagayan niya ay pakiramdam kong napakasakit pa ng kaniyang sugat. He might not show it but I'm sure that a gun wound hurts so much.

"Shall we go out first Prince Azturias?" Lakambining suhestyon ni Verona nang tumayo na siya sa kaniyang pagkakaupo.

Levi nodded at her. "We'll leave after they leave." Sabi ni Levi at tinapunan ng tingin ang isang babae at dalawang lalakeng nagpasok ng damit at kahon.

When they left, nauna nang lumakad palabas si Verona. She was at the door when she looked back. "Prince Levi?"

Levi, who seemed to be lost in thought came back to earth. He put his hand inside the pocket of his trousers, humugot siya doon ng isang fountain pen.

My eyes widened.

May ganoon siya? Sabi kasi saakin ni Laura noong sinubukan kong humanap ng ganoon ay napakamahal noon. So I only used feathers and ink for writing Athyeia's story and my diary.

He placed it above a wooden writing table and looked at me. "The letter." Nakuha ko naman agad ang gusto niyang sabihin.

I kind of feel happy that he remembered what I told him. I hope that, that means a good thing.

Na handa siyang maniwala sa isusulat ko no matter how absurd it maybe.

I hope he trust me enough.

Verona's PoV

I patiently waited for Levi Azturias to come out of his room after he chatted with Athyeia.

I need to talk to him badly and tell him about what Athyeia really is.

I wonder if he would still fancy her even after knowing the truth?

My poor cousin.

It's her fault though.

Masyado na siyang nangangamkam.

When Levi Azturias came out of the room, hinintay ko munang dumiretsyo siya nang lakad sa may pasilyo.

I waited for him to walk in thr right shade of sunlight before pulling his arm.

Fall for me.

"What?" Asik nito saakin at marahang tinanggal ang aking kamay sa kaniyang braso.

It upsets me down to my bones that he wont let me touch him when Athyeia casually can.

Still, I flashed him a demure look.

No matter what, I must look attractive. Hindi ako dapat gumawa ng galaw na aking ikakasira.

"She's a witch." I told him as I stared at his eyes. Believe me.

Imbes na pansinin ako ay tinalikuran lamang ako ng prinsipe nang walang pagdadalawang isip. I secretly hissed.

"Athyeia is a witch!" I shouted. "She is a witch that plans to take you away with her. She only wants your riches! She would never love you!" Dagdag ko pa, already frustrated.

Why doesn't he care for anybody else beside her?

They only met for a week! Napakaimposibleng mahalin niya si Athyeia nang ganoon kabilis!

Just as I wished for it, napatigil ito nang paglalakad. I secretly smiled.

Believe me Levi.

That's right.

Without turning, I heard him muttered: "So?"

Lalo namang nadagdagan ang inis saaking puso. Ganoon lamang ba talaga iyon? He still won't bother??

Natatakot kong tiningnan ang papalayong siloweta ni Levi. Mabilis ang tibok ng aking pusong tumakbo ako patungo sa kaniya.

If he won't believe me, then maybe this thing in my hand can make him!

"Read this." I said and shoved the book towards Levi Azturias' naked chest. "And when you do, talk to me." I kindly smiled. "I'm always here for you."