Athyeia's PoV

As soon as I received his letter, mabilis akong nagpabalik patungo sa manor.

If I remembered correctly this was one of the happiest day of my life.

Ang araw na kaniya akong tinanggap muli.

At first, the coachman were confused when I asked him to turn around, so I told him it was urgent.

During the trip back, I wasn't able to think of anything else but Levi.

All I did was call his name in my mind.

"Athyeia." Nakangiti niyang sambit saakin nang makita niya ako. I hurriedly pulled my dress over him and hugged him—na agad din niyang ibinalik saakin. "Or must I say, Alaina?"

Hearing my name from his rose colored lips sent me spasms of thrill and happiness.

"You believe me." Maalwan kong sambit at agad na lumayo dito.

He smiled. "You think I wouldn't?" Mahina ko siyang sinuntok sa braso.

"You can't blame me." Napahinga ako. "You might think that I must have been crazy."

"You are crazy in the first place Alaina." He stated. Sinamaan ko naman ito ng tingin. "That is one of your redeeming qualities. Don't glare." Mariin niyang suway saakin.

Napangiti naman ako sa kaniyang sinabi. "So I've got alot of redeeming qualities ei?" Now it's Levi's turn to frown. I chuckled. "So..." Lumayo ako sa kaniya when I realized that I was too close. "What now?" I questioned.

"I already banished your cousin out of this place, so you don't have to worry about her." Hindi naman sa masaya ako sa kaniyang ginawa ngunit pakiramdam ko ay sapat na iyon para saaking pinsan.

"That's not what I mean." Makatotohanan kong sabi. "I came here thinking that you would kill me." Saad ko. Lumamlam naman ang tingin saakin ni Levi.

"You really think I can do that huh?" Napapahalinghing niyang sabi.

"At first." I admitted. "But you proved me wrong." Sabi ko at umupo sa isang bench. I ran a great distance and I am pretty tired.

"What happened after I stabbed her?" Now it was his turn to ask. Umupo ito saaking tabi.

Napakibit balikat naman ako.

Even I don't know what happened to Athyeia. Sinabi ko kay Levi ang lahat—that I was taken aback by his love for Athyeia kaya naman itinigil kong basahin iyong libro.

"I can't believe I'd do that to her." Sabi nito. Napalingon naman ako.

"So do you think you love her?" Tanong ko. It might just be a book but that book were the real feelings of the real Athyeia. Siya ang nagsasalita doon.

And I'm afraid to hear it but still, gusto kong malaman.

Looking at my peripheral view, I gazed at Levi. Malayo ang kaniyang tingin, he was making small gulps.

With a clenched fist, I touched my chest.

It feels heavy and my eyes felt so tiresome.

Ramdam ko ang bilis nanaman ng tibok ng aking puso and I just want to cry because of the overwhelming feelings that I do not want to show.

What will he say?

Levi looked at me. Hinuli niya ang aking mga mata bago marahang ibinuka ang kaniyang bibig.

"What do you think?" He asked.

"Sasagot ka ba o magtatanungan nalang tayo?" Naiinis ko nang sagot. I am whole heartedly waiting for his words and that's what he'll say?? Tsk!

"You know.." Panimula nito. Muli siyang lumingon sa malayo. "I might have won wars and killed people but I can't ever kill the lady I loved." Sabi niya.

Is he confirming that he loves Athyeia?

I tapped my chest.

It's feels like it's being bitten by a lot of ants. Each giving out a hurtful tugging feeling.

"How?" Tanong ko. "You haven't met the real Athyeia right?? How sure are you na hindi mo kayang patayin ang taong mahal mo??" Umultaw ang isang ngiti sa kaniyang mga labi. "It's not like you experienced it."

"And if I did?" Agad niyang kontra saakin. His eyes flickering by the passing sunlight.

So he fell for the Athyeia in the book?

So love really knows no boundaries, huh?

"How?"

Levi hissed at me. Huli na nang mapansin kong pipitikin niya ang aking noo. "What was that for?!" Singhal ko dito.

"You have a lot of question Alaina. Why don't you just believe me?" How can I if I can't help but yearn for your answers Levi?

Kahit ilang beses ko kasing sabihin sa sarili ko na wala akong laban sa tunay na Athyeia ay hindi ko mapigilang umasa padin.

"I feel uneasy. Malinaw na iba ka sa Levi na nabasa ko sa libro so I am starting to think na hindi kayo iisang tao." That by itself if weird.

"We are not Alaina." Tila naiinis nanaman niyang sabi. "That Levi was created by Athyeia. And I... I didn't even meet her. Malamang ay napakalayo ko na talaga sa kaniya."

"What do you mean?" Nalilito kong sabi. How could they be that different if they are the very same person?

"Let's say that there are twins." Sabi niya. Tumango naman ako. He is giving an example and I badly want to understand so I intently need to listen. "Both are raised the same, fed the same, and both have the same experiences."

"But the both of them still turned out different. Why?" I nodded at him, eager to know the explanation why. "Because even though they are together, there are different people around them. Different people who treats them differently. And because of those people, their minds and feelings are not like those threads that are entangled into one yarn."

"Their worlds maybe one but not all of it is theirs."

Napangiti ako habang inaalala iyong mga salita ni Levi. Especially the last one.

"The Azturias was bounded to Athyeia. And I, am bounded to Alaina. That is what makes us different." So that means na iba siya sa Levi na iyon?

I felt a hint of this fluttery feeling that was constructed inside of me.

Ngunit hindi din agad iyon tumagal at agad din akong napasimangot. "I'm sorry." I sulked. "Dahil saakin hindi mo nakilala iyong pinakamamahal mo." Paghingi ko sa kaniya ng patawad.

"It's fine Alaina. You need to save Jeremiah and Laura."  Saad nito. "Athyeia being gone is not your fault. Ikaw mismo ang nagsabi, she led you to this life." He smiled. "And I'm glad she did that." Bulong nito na rinig ko naman.

I was trying to figure out what he said pero agad ding nawala ang isiping iyon noong muli siyang magsalita.

"About that book. Do you know a way to find out how it ends?" Tanong niya.

My heart stopped.

So he still wanted to know Athyeia.

Hindi naman iyon siguro maiiwasan.

"I don't know. But I think I know someone who can help." I honestly answered.

Wala din naman kasi akong mapapala kung hindi ko siya tulungan. I already took away the love of his life, ayaw ko nang mas makialam pa sa kaniyang buhay.

Levi knocking some sense unto me kind of proved to me just how much of a person he is.

Kind and understanding.

He may have killed people, but that, I think, is also one aspect of being human.

It might be one of its bad sides, but the reason behind that, to do something like that, there must be a trigger.

It's just like love...

"Where's the book? Naandito na tayo?" Levi said. Napabalik naman ako sa huwisyo at sumilip sa bintana ng karwahe na bukas na pala ang kurtina.

"Here." I said and showed him the box I was handling with my outmost care.

"You know. You shouldn't think much about other stuff. You need to pay attention to your surroundings more." Pangangaral niya saakin as he gone down the open carriage door.

"Oh come on. Just say that you're jealous." Nakairap ko ditong pangaasar. Though it ain't probable, medyo nasanay nadin ako siguro sa laging pagsagot-sagot sa kaniya.

I felt really comfortable with him this past month.

Levi held his hand high towards me. Inabot ko naman iyon.

"And what if I am?" Malamlam ang tingin niyang sabi. I felt my face heat up. Nasobrahan nanaman ang lalaking ito sa pangaasar! Ugh.

If this was the modern era, girls would trample down his feet for his sugarcoated words. Sensya siya, mas madami akong experience—which I mostly read from romance novels—but still, experience padin 'yun ano!

Besides. We are friends.

"Then baka mas bigyan kitang pansin next time. You just have to tell me and I will gladly give it to you." Diretsyo kong sagot. Not even batting an eyelash.

Akala mo ba hindi ako natututo sa iyo?

Let's just say that being upfront with teasing him is something I have learnt from him. And I hope it works kase talo ako pag ako lamang ang naaapektuhan noon.

And I didn't fail.

Levi averted his gaze and that showed how victorious I was.

He backed down.

"Let's go. Malapit nang magsara ang tindahan ni Lola." Sambit ko sa kaniya. Wala namang pagdadalawang isip at imik itong sumunod saakin.

The both of us glided through the door.

And when I opened it, there was Lola Thea, standing, smiling, waiting for us.

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