The Zero Curse

Epilogue

Once upon a time, a man cursed himself for killing the love of her life... and the curse lived on forever.

AURORA CALYTRIX's POINT of VIEW

Kabado akong napatingin sa pinto nang marinig ang mga papalapit na yapak. Napalunok ako, at mabilis na nagtago sa ilalim ng lamesa— hindi alintang 'di ako nagkasya dahil sa tangkad ko. Nahulog at nilipad pa ang papel na hawak ko kanina.

I heard the door open and I immediately heard my father's voice, Seraphin. "Zero still hasn't been found."

Napakagat naman ako sa sarili kong labi at palihim na sumilip sa kanila. I saw my dad talking to Kaiden, one of Exiquel Four's friends before— based sa kwento ni Mama.

Exiquel Four— the woman who I was named after. Pinangalan nila sa'kin ang pangalang ginamit n'ya n'ong pangalawang buhay n'ya. Aurora Calytrix.

Father sighed and approached the table I'm hiding under. Mas lalo naman akong kinabahan at napapikit nang mariin. I almost jumped in surprise when I heard a slam on the table.

"I'm just worried. It's been sixteen years. He still doesn't know the cause of the Zero curse," ani Papa. Mas lalo naman akong naging interesado sa usapan. I pursued my lips, while holding my breath— hindi ako puwedeng gumawa kahit maliit na tunog.

Oh, Gods. I'm eavesdropping na! Bakit ba ako nagtago, e' wala naman akong ginagawang masama? Nakakahiya tuloy na bigla nalang lumabas!

Oh, I remember I'm here for something crazy.

"Why did he have the curse, anyway?" Kaiden asked and I heard him tapping the table.

Papa answered, "He cursed himself. The moment he had killed Four in her first life, he hated his powers; thus, the Zero curse emerged."

"Alam mo na 'to dati pa?"

Papa didn't answer for a moment, but maybe... he shook his head. "I just figured it out years after her death. Naisip kong maari pang mabuhay si Four— only if Zero accepts and overcome his fear for his own power."

Muntik naman akong mapasinghap. I covered my own mouth to prevent myself from speaking out loud. Goodness, Caly!

"Nag-aalala rin ako sa maaaring mangyari sa kaniya. Pa'no kung namur— I hope not. He's probably in a safe place. Either here in the Orphic Dimension or the mortal realm."

"Are you sure, though?" tanong ni Kaiden ulit. "We haven't found him for years. What if he's in another realm?"

"What do you mean, Kai?"

"Summerland. What if he already died?" Summerland... the realm of Souls.

"Impossible," marahas na sabi ni Papa.

"It's not, though. With all the years that passed—"

"He can't go to that realm on his own— especially when he still has the curse."

Ngayon nama'y lumayo na ang boses nila. Unti-unti na silang umaalis na kwarto, at tila ba may dinaanan lang dito. When I heard the door close, napahinga na ako nang maluwag. Nauntog pa ako pagtayo ko.

"Aray naman!"

I sighed and scratched my head. Hinanap ko ang naiwan kong papel, at nang akmang pupulutin ko 'yon, nilipad 'yon.

"Bwisit— ah!" Hindi ko na napigilan ang sigaw ko nang makita ko si Papa na nakatayo sa tapat ko. He smirked and shook his head.

"You and your curiosity, Caly."