Athyeia's PoV

"Magandang hapon po Lola Thea." I greeted Lola Thea as I curtsied in front of her. Pinagkalooban niya ako ng isang ngiti.

Her smile looked true however cloudy.

It felt as if I was receiving sad vibes from her.

Hindi ko na lamang iyon pinansin at imbes ay ibinalik ang kaniyang ngiti. "Magandang hapon Lola Thea." May paggalang ding sabi ni Levi.

Tumalikod saamin ang matanda.

"Sundan niyo ako." Me and Levi looked at each other when she said that. Tumango din kami sa isa't-isa.

Lola Thea looked as if she already knew what we came here for.

I don't exactly know why ngunit ramdam kong may isa din siyang malaking kagampanan sa istoryang ito.

And she might be the only way to patch up the missing piece. Or so I hoped.

"Sige maupo muna kayo." Sabi niya nang makarating kami sa maliit niyang kusina.

Muli ay umupo ako sa lamesa niyang kay pamilyar. May nakahanda na doong tatlong upuan, iyong dalawa para saamin ni Levi at iyong isa ay para sa kaniya.

Tulad nang ginawa ni Lola Thea noon saakin ay ipinaghanda niya kami ng mapait at mainit na inuming tsokolate. Sa kaniya naman ay tsaa.

Ngunit imbes na ganoon ang kaniyang ipinainom ay ako lamang ang binigyan niya ng tsokolate. At pareho silang nakatsaa ni Levi.

"Camellia?" Bulong ni Levi saaking tabihan noong makaupo si Lola Thea saaming harapan. "You have good taste Lola Thea." Sabi nito. I think he is trying to initiate a conversation, grabe naman kasi ang tahimik namin ditong tatlo kanina.

"You know your tea." Napapangiting puna naman ni Lola. Levi gave out a gentle smile, iyon bang tila may naaalala mula sa matagal nang panahon.

"I used to drink this with my mother when I was still a kid." Kuwento nito. I once again listened attentively, I already knew from the novel back then about his mother. Madalas niya iyong ikuwento kay Athyeia. We talked about it at times pero hindi ganoon kadalas.

I do not want to talk about something that would make him uncomfortable.

Ngunit kahit ganoon ay gusto ko pading matuto tungkol sa ilang bagay na sa kaniya padin nanggagaling.

Levi talked about some things to Lola Thea. It was like they are far away friends conversing after a very long time.

And then, Levi brought up the book.

Iyong aming tunay na pakay.

"Ang libro ni Athyeia Abarca." Natutuwa nitong sabi at marahang binuksan ang libro. She looked at me. "Hindi ganoon ka kumpleto ngunit nandito ang lahat nang mahahalagang detalye. Matalas ang iyong isipan iha."

"Salamat po." I thanked her, flattered by what she said. Nanlaki naman ang aking mga mata. "Nabasa niyo din po iyong tunay na libro??"

Akala ko naman kasi ay iisa lamang ang kopya noon.

Marahan saaking tumango si Lola Thea.

"Pleasr tell us what happened after I killed Athyeia." Paghingi ng pabor ni Levi sa matanda.

Namayani ang katahimikan sa loob ng kusina. Ang tanging maririnig lamang ay ang tunog nang librong inililipat ang mga pahina.

Pero maya-maya ay agad din iyong pinutol ni Lola Thea.

"Bukas." Bulong ni Lola Thea. Nagtaas itong muli saamin ng tingin. "Pumatungo kayo dito bukas nang tanghali," Inabutan niya ako ng isang susi. "Bukas ay malalaman ninyo ang sagot sa inyong katanungan."

At first, medyo nalito pa kami noong una. Pero pumayag nadin kami ni Levi tutal ay magdidilim na.

Nagusap-usap pa kami nang kaunti bago kami tuluyang pumanaog pauwi ni Levi.

Noong nakapasok na kami nang manor, hindi ko mapigilang magliwaliw nanaman ang aking utak sa kaiisip.

I gulped.

I might regret this but....

Huminga ako ng malalim. Wala akong mapapala kung puro takot at kalungkutan lamang ang iisipin ko.

Think optimistically Athyeia.

"Levi." Medyo may panginginig ngunit buo ang tapang na tawag ko sa pangalan ni Prinsipe Levi Azturias habang naglalakad kami sa unang pasilyo papasok ng manor.

"Mm?" He looked back and stopped walking.

Due to the chandelier lights, I felt how fleeting our current time is.

This will all pass.

I need to get the answer now or else I would never be able to question him ever again.

I want to end everything that has been bothering me.

Cowardice is not the key.

"Why do you want to know what happened to the real Athyeia?" Halos pabulong ko nang sabi. "Do you love her?" Saad ko habang nilalaksanlaksan ang aking boses.

"Are you jealous?" Nakataas ang kilay niyang sabi. Napahalinghing naman ako.

"Just answer me." I almost pleaded as I stared back into his eyes.

Napangiti naman ito. "Athyeia is another man's woman." His confident smile turned into a smirk. Ginipit niya ang distansya saaming gitna. I just found myself lost within the pool of his ruby eyes as he stood mighty and high in front of me. "I have you so why bother about her?"

I felt speechless. Hindi agad rumehistro saaking utak ang kaniyang mga sinasabi kaya naman tumitig lang ako sa kaniya.

"J do not want you to have any speck of fear left."

"F-fear of  what?" Nalilito kong tanong as I felt my heart palpitating.

"Fear of me." He sighed. "I can't marry a lady who is afraid of me." Muli siyang ngumiti.

Oh God. Is this a confession?

Nakatunganga at nanlalaki ang mga mata kong nakatitig lamang sa kaniya.

Levi chuckled and gave my forehead a soft, gentle, feathery kiss. "I love you alright? I want you to be at ease and to marry me. No more further questions please."

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