How to finish the story?

11

»» Daphne ««
»» Seravina ««
»» Cedric ««

Our eyes immediately met. I automatically rushed towards Daphne whose clothes were now plain white and her hair down. I know that I have a visible expression, since her eyes widened followed by a worried look too.

"D-Dahpne, are you okay dear?" Marahan ko siyang hinawakan, ang pisngi niyang namumutla. Mariin kong tinignan ang mga balat niya at kabuoan niya.

"What did the doctor say? Is there still something that hurts? You should've taken a rest first," sunod-sunod na dagdag ko.

Marahan niyang hinawakan ang pisngi ko at hinarap ako sa kaniya. "Sis Sera, please, calm down." She showed a weak smile, still trying to reassure me. "Daphne is fine," pagsagot niya sa sarili niya.

She chuckled. "I'm a priestess, ate. I'm healing well, please don't worry." She meets my eyes.

From a smile to me, to a wince when something caught her sight. Nakaharap pa rin sa 'kin, pero nakatingin sa likuran ko. Her eyes twitched, still with a forced smile.

"What is he doing here?" naging malamig ang boses niya, may diin ang tono.

Napalingon ako sa tinignan niya. Ash is looking at us with a smile. Napatayo si Wren at Aeryn para salubungin si Daphne.

"H-Hey! Is it alright for you to come here?!" inis na ani Aeryn. Despite her voice, her face showed how worried she was.

"Yeah . . . you should rest first, Daph," dagdag ni Wren.

Before Daphne could answer for herself, Cedric who's quiet and with her answered. "The doctor said she's okay, she just needs some rest. After this, I'll make her rest even if it means tying her to her bed. I can't just stop her now," malamig at sarkastikong kumento niya.

I looked at Cedric's serious face. If he agrees on Daphne moving, then we can't do anything more about it. Siya lang ang kayang kumontrol sa kakulitan ni Daphne, maliban sa 'kin, kung hindi 'to umobra sa kaniya, wala ng kaya pa.

He still looks pale, as if he was also poisoned. I could see his reaction hours ago. Like me, he must have been very worried, maybe too much. They may argue most of the time, but we grew up together.

I couldn't imagine something bad happening to one of us.

"So, back to Daph's question," muling ani Cedric. Doon ko napagtanto na kahit seryoso ang mukha at namumutla, pareho sila ng tinitignan ni Daphne sa likuran ko. "What is he doing here?"

"Take a sit first, Daph, Ced." Ang kanina pang tahimik at nanatiling nakaupo ang nagsalita. Kade, who's definitely thinking right now has his usual serious expression on, but more firm than usual.

He side glances at Ashe. "This spawn has something to say."

╭ ─┉─ • ─┉─ ╮

What almost felt like a whole hour, despite just being minutes, finally finished. The room was quiet the whole time, everyone's reactions were visible.

Specially Daphne with her empty eyes that I see quite common these days.

Her eyes are twitching while looking at Ashe as he speaks.

"A . . . reader?" Cedric's reaction was the same as us. Napakurap-kurap siya habang nakaawang ang bibig. "H-How . . . how's that possible?" Nakakunot ang noo niya.

"He's playing with us, of course," reklamo ni Daphne, masama ang tingin.

"We also don't know. He also has no idea," ani Kade.

"Do you think . . ." Their eyes went on me. "He's the reason behind the glitch?"

There was sudden silence before Aeryn answered me. "There's a chance . . ."

Wren frowned. "Hey, you! Aren't you even worried that you're here? Don't you want to go back?" Masama ang tingin niya kay Ashe. Lahat kami ay napatingin sa kaniya para hintaying ang sagot niya.

He paused for a moment. "Well . . . yeah. I mean, I don't belong here . . ." Ashe paused for a moment, before looking in my direction.

I was taken aback. Nawala sa pagsandal sa upuan si Daphne.

"But if I'm with my favorite character, would I still complain about it? I would love to stay . . ."

My eyes widened, my cheeks suddenly became hot.

Napaangat na si Daphne sa pagkakaupo na kaagad hinarang ni Wren na makatayo. "GIVE THAT FUCKER BACK TO WHERE HE CAME FROM!!!"

Aeryn winced at her reaction. "Tsk, but well." She looked at Ashe. "There must be a reason why he's here . . . perhaps, for the plot?"

Nakuha ng sinabi niya ang atensyon namin.

"Good point." Kade nodded. "He must have something to do with the plot . . . now that we don't know what the ending will be."

"Then . . . when the story finishes, he'll go back to where he came from, right?" Nalipat ang tingin namin kay Cedric na nakatingin kay Kade, naghihintay ng pagsang-ayon niya. Daphne stopped with her tantrums.

She smirked. "Then, we should finish the story now!" she said, full of herself.

She was answered by silence. Nagkatingininan kaming lahat. Si Wren ang naunang magsalita.

"Hmm . . . so . . . how do we finish a story?"

His question wiped Daphne's smirk. Naiwang nakaawang ang bibig niya.

"The story will finish . . . when the main characters had their happy ending."

We looked at the person who answered the question. Ashe is facing them, I couldn't see the look he has in his eyes under his mask.

Namamanghang tumango si Aeryn, sang-ayon sa sinabi niya. "Yes, right!" She then looked at Daphne. "Your original happy endings!" Daphne looked back at her. She then smiled and continued.

"You and Cedric getting married!"

Mas malala pa no'ng nakainom ng lason ang naging ekspresyon ni Daphne sa narinig. Kapwa niya ay gano'n din si Cedric.

"H-Huh?" Daphne reacted. "DO YOU THINK I WILL BE HAPPY WITH THAT?! THAT'S THE WORST ENDING!"

Aeryn chuckled. "Worth the shot."

"A happy ending is when the antagonist loses . . ." Pagsali ni Kade. "We can't force a happy ending on our own. We should still finish the original plot, where the queen was banished for her crimes."

He got all of our attention. Yes . . . the original ending. I was forgiven because I was a pawn, and everyone found out that it was the queen behind it all . . .

"So, you're saying . . ." Cedric spoke. Kade nodded and continued his sentence. "We should catch the queen in the act."

"A week from now, the Sun Festival will start," Wren added. "That will last 3 days, then it will be the the kingdom's foundation."

I looked at him. "We should set a trap."

They nodded. Cedric answered.

"Yes . . . let's catch the queen in the act and finish the story."

╭ ─┉─ • ─┉─ ╮

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