Kabanata X
Celebration

***

CLEOBELLE / SINCLAIR

"Why are you so restless?" nakahalukipkip na komento ko kay Catherine habang naka sandal sa hamba ng pintuan.

"It's the Crown Prince's birthday! Of course I'd be restless! It's the most anticipated ball!" she stated.

Nailing na lang ako. 

"Fine, I'll help you."

Bago pa siya makapag salita ay itinutok ko ang daliri rito. Kasabay nito ay ang pag palibot ng mahika ko sa kanya.

Wow, I'm like a fairy godmother. Although the truth is I'm the evil witch.

"Wow. . . It's beautiful," she stated, enticed by her transformation.

"It's still your beauty, I just helped you prepare faster," I hissed.

Nakangiting yumakap siya sa akin.

"Thank you Sinclair! I love it!" nagniningning ang mga matang sambit niya.

Lumayo ako dito at inirapan siya. "Bakit ba feeling close ka?" reklamo kong nagpatawa dito.

"Come on, Sinclair. Aren't I your favorite sister?" she grinned, teasing me.

"You've become more arrogant," I hissed. "I have no choice. Between you and those two imbeciles; Lorcan and Solana, you're the only less stupid," I added.

Napasimangot si Catherine doon.

"Nevermind," she frowned.

"By the way, I found a great dress for you!" She excitedly stated as she took out another box.

"I want to have a ball gown tailored for you but you insisted that it should be simple. Good thing I found something nice!" she added.

"Why would you give the bastard child of Emberwood a grand ball gown anyway? Where's your common sense?" I rolled my eyes at her.

Sinimangutan lang ako nito.

Just like I did to Catherine, I used my aether to dress up faster.

The dress that she bought is a simple dress with an elegant allure.

It is made of chiffon with a cowl neckline and a split sleeve. Additionally, I paired it with a black corset.

The dress has a flowy skirt reaching down to my ankles, the fabrics were like petals because of the multiple layers that created a gradient illusion in shades of white, navy blue and black.

Moreover, aside from an ankle bracelet, I didn't wear any other jewelry.

Hinayaan ko lang na nakalugay ang buhok ko at hindi na ako naglagay ng kung ano-ano pa sa mukha ko.

The noble ladies have been preparing for this event for months. They want to be grand and excessive to impress their kind.

Kaya nga ay kahit si Catherine ay matagal ng pinaghahandaan ito. She's become Pyropolis' noble society's flower, so she has to dress to impress.

"Tara na!" hagikhik niyang inaya na ako palabas.

Paglabas namin ay sumunod lamang ako sa likuran niya. Umakto bilang kanyang tagasunod.

Nakita kong napatulala pa sa akin ang tatlo. Sina Baron, Lorcan at Solana na mukhang mga garapatang binihisan.

"Vespera?" the Baroness called my mother's name, making me pause.

Right. Unlike in my past lives, we didn't encounter each other in my childhood. So she wouldn't mistake me as her daughter anymore.

Akmang yayakapin ako nito ngunit agad akong umiwas.

"Where have you been? I've been looking for you everywhere!" She smiled at me warmly.

I don't get it. What kind of relationship did the Baroness have with Vespera before the affair happened?

Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin.

"Bakit mo pa kailangang bihisan ang bastardang iyan?!" iritang tanong ni Solana.

"Bakit hindi? Kahit pagbalibaliktarin mo pa ang mundo ay kadugo natin ang tinatawag niyong bastarda. At isa pa ay ang Emperador mismo ang nagpatawag sa kanya. Gusto mo bang insultuhin ang Emperador?" ngisi ni Catherine.

"Hinding hindi ko matatanggap ang bastardang iyan! Wala akong kapatid na may sira ang uta—"

"That's enough Solana. You can torment that pest after the ball. Just not now," the Baron stated.

Para bang uusok na ang ilong ni Solana sa galit habang matalim ang ibinibigay na tingin sa akin. 

"You never listen to me! It's always Just Lorcan's or that b*tch Catherine's opini—" 

Hindi niya naipagpatuloy pa ang sasabihin nang malakas na sampalin siya ng Baron. Namuo ang luha sa kanyang mga matang nabigla sa nangyari.

"Shameless child," the Baron hissed. "Why can't you be like your siblings? Your sole purpose here is  to find an honorable husband. Make sure to do your best in this ball," he added.

Solana continued sobbing as we walked pass her to go to each of our carriages.

I saw how she was about to hit me with her flame when suddenly our eyes met each other.

I looked down on her as I felt her nerves shake just by meeting my intense gaze. I can smell her fear as she seems to drown into my cold eyes.

I grinned and turned my back on her. If she's not stupid, she'll choose not to bother me.

Hindi ko gustong maglakbay ng ilang oras mula Pyropolis hanggang sa Capital, kung kaya't nagpasya akong mauna na at magteleport patungo sa nasabing lugar.

Mukhang hindi sa palasyo gaganapin ang pagdiriwang ngayong taon.

I just had one problem as soon as I reached the place.

Out of all the places the crown prince could celebrate his darn birthday, he'd decide it would be nice to hold it on a cruise ship.

If I remember correctly, I died in the water in my first life. I think I was on a cruise as well back then.

'Lumina Cruise.' I've read the name of the cruise in the back of my mind.

Parang gusto ko na lang tuloy palubugin ang barkong ito.

I just sighed and snuck inside.

The cruise ship is grand and filled with excessive luxury. But it didn't hide the stench of the dark thoughts of these pretentious nobles.

I just looked around, tempted to crush all of them. 

Maybe I'll just hide the whole celebration?

Kaya lang naman ako pinatawag ng Emperador dahil wala siyang magawa sa buhay niya. Nag-eexist lang siya para maging bobo sa librong ito.

Marahil ay gusto niya na namang gamitin ako upang gawing katatawanan si Aslan.

Bukod sa maipapahiya niya si Baron Emberwood na nagsisimula ng tumaliwas sa kanya ay masisira niya pa lalo si Aslan.

Pagod na akong mag- isip kaya naman ay nagpasya akong magtungo na lamang sa bulwagan kung nasaan ang mga pagkain at inumin.

'You're gonna drink?' Elsa asked.

'Yes, and?' I answered through telepathy, while pouring myself a drink.

'Don't 'and' me, my King. You, plus alcohol, equals trouble—a chaos rather!' she exclaimed, overreacting.

Napangisi ako doon saka nilaklak ang isang buong bote ng alak.

Nakita kong napanganga siya doon na nagpahagikhik sa akin habang patuloy lang sa paglagok ng inuming alak.

'Bahala ka nga diyan! Hindi na kita tutulungan kapag gumawa ka ng katangahan!' giit niya saka tuluyan nang naglaho.

Nailing na lang akong ipinagpatuloy ang ginagawa.

"Snow? Inside?" I heard the bartender whisper.

Maya maya pa, ang kaninang bulwagang puno ng nakakainis na hagikhikan ay napuno ng pangamba at sigawan.

"Why is everyone in chaos?" I asked the bartender who's about to leave.

"Can't you see? The whole cruise is frozen! There's snow inside! It's the ice witch attacking us! You should hide!" He exclaimed, panicking.

Kinalas niya ang pagkakahawak ko sa kaniya saka kumaripas ng takbo.

"What is he saying? I'm not attacking anybody?" kunot ang noong bulong ko sa aking sarili.

"Protect the Royal family! Kill the witch!" sigaw ng mga Imperial guards na ikinailing ko lamang habang patuloy ako sa paglagok sa iniinom.

It's just a bit chilly. What's with the ruckus?

"Hey!" I heard another annoying voice, from yet another useless character.

Hindi ko ito binalingan ng tingin pero alam kong si Lorcan iyon.  Nagtataka lang ako dahil tila ba ay wala na siyang ibang purpose sa buhay kung hindi maging basura.

"What are you doing here?! Are you thinking of escaping?! Kanina ka pa hinahanap ni Catherine!" mariing sambit nito saka hinawakan ako ngunit agad ding napabitaw sa akin.

"You're freezing! Did you encounter the witch?!" giit niya.

Napangiti ako doong sinalubong ang kanyang mga matang nagpatigil sa kanya.

I whispered a chant, which one's ears could barely hear.

"You look stupid Lorcan," I smiled and just like that, he turned into a carp.

Nailing na lang ako. 

Maaaring bumalik siya sa dati niyang anyo nang walang naaalala sa nangyari, maaari ding hindi na.

Hindi ko rin alam kung anong klaseng sumpa ang ipinataw ko sa kanya.

Wala din namang nakakita dahil sa barrier na nakapalibot sa amin sa mga oras na isinumpa ko siya.

Hayaan na nga.

Habang nagkakagulo ang lahat ay muli akong kumuha ng isa pang bote ng alak at inisang lagukan iyon saka basta na lang itinapon sa gilid.

Gusto kong makita ang karagatan, kung kaya't nagpasya akong maglakad sa direksyon patungo sa upper-deck ng barko.

Ngunit natigilan ako nang may mabanggang isang bulto. Ni hindi ko man lang namalayan ang presensya nito.

Tumingala ako dahilan upang makasalubong ko ang nagbabagang tingin niya.

He has a pair of fiery eyes that remind me of crimson rubies. It's beautiful. . .

He looks familiar. Where did I see this handsome man again?

Masuyong hinawakan ko ang kanyang mukha. "You're beautiful. . . " I smiled at him sweetly.

"You should evacuate, where it's safe miss," he uttered, ignoring my sentiment.

Umiling ako sa kanya saka siya tinalikuran at naglakad patungong upper-deck. Umakyat ako sa railing at dinama ang simoy ng hangin.

I looked at the dark ocean, reflecting the night sky, mesmerized.

When I died in my first life, I was pushed into the sea.

I want to feel that sensation again. Maybe I'll remember things, faces and my life in that world. . .

I smiled as I turned my back into the sea, raising my hand as if embracing death.

As I let myself fall, I saw those beautiful fiery crimson eyes again, gazing coldly towards me. I smiled at him as I felt the cold water pull me into the depths of the abyss.

'I want to die. . . ' That's my thought while letting myself fall, looking at the light on the surface.

Suddenly, I saw a figure jump into the water.

Napangiti na lang ako nang mapait saka ipinikit ang mga mata nang may maalala.