Intruded Trails (Van Doren Series #1)

Chapter Seventeen

Memories

Lumapag ang mga paa ko sa lupa. Agad kong naramdaman ang lamig ng lupa na hindi man lang umepekto sa nararamdaman ko ngayon sa pagbaba sa harapan nila.

I thought I would be afraid or nervous to face them, but no. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero ang tanging nasa isipan ko ay ang pagbibigay halaga sa araw na ito.

I don't want this day to be false, or questioning. I want this day to be solemn.

Aalahanin ko ang araw na ito sa susunod ko pang mga araw.

Malumay na ngiti ang iginawad ko sa kanilang lahat. I tightly held Epione's blanket covering my nakedness. Niyakap ko rin ang sarili ko at kusang tumupi ang mga pakpak ko sa likuran.

The sun now has brightly risen. Mulat na mulat na ang mga mata kong nakatitig pabalik sa kanila. My heart is finally beating again. My body felt differently, a rapid heat overflowing every part and the world looked unfamiliar in this new eyes.

Their faces were priceless. Glinda and Farren are looking at me dumbfounded. Khaliel in awe unbreathing, and Epione with an amused and challenged grin on her face.

"Oh, holy gods and goddesses. She's glowing..." Sighap ni Glinda at lumalim pa ang kunot sa noo.

Nawiwindang siyang humakbang ng isang beses papalapit sakin at pinasadahan ako ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa.

I wanted to laugh at her. I've never expect she could be this smitten. Hindi ko inakalang makikita ko ang reaksyon niyang ganito dahil sakin. Even me, I didn't expect my form to look like this. But someone like Glinda... What was her last name again?

Napasinghap ako. Ngayon ko lang napagtantong ni hindi ko alam ang kabuoan ng mga pangalan nila.

Nothing changes with them still. Wala pa rin akong masyadong may nalalaman sa kanila. I may have a lot of things in mind about them, but that wouldn't be enough. I'm one of them now. I promised to be part of every thing when I lived again. But first, I need to know many things about them.

Kahit ang ibig sabihin pa nito ay ang paglampas ko na sa mga linya.

I will make sure that this... power that was given to me won't be a waste. I won't waste this change. I won't waste this new life for my vengeance.

"Aking anghel..."

Khaliel suddenly walked forward to me. Huminto siya sa harapan ko at malapitang pinagmasdan ako sa mga mata. May pananabik sa mukha at tila may inaasahan nang makita.

Naghintay akong may maramdaman na kahit ano.

I looked at him in the eyes. His hand raised. Nagtangka siyang hawakan ang mukha ko ngunit natigilan siya.

"Masyadong sagrado ang mukha mo sa ngayon para hawakan. I can't, Khione... I can't touch you. That would be mistake. It is a sin to dare to hold such perfection. Hindi kita pwedeng hawakan... I'm afraid I might not let you escape in my hands--"

"You can t-touch me, Khaliel."

I waited to feel something. But nothing. Akala ko maiiintindinhan ko na ang sinabi niya. The bond thing. But I felt nothing. Just impatience to step away from him.

His palms brushed my cheeks.

Nagulat ako nang biglang may humawi sa mga kamay niya. Tumingin ako sa humila sa kanya at nakita si Farren. She stood beside him glaring curiously at me. Sumilip siya sa mga pakpak ko.

"Sinabi ko naman sayo. You're not mated, Khaliel..." Her sweet voice hummed persuading her brother.

I stared at the both of them. Sa malapitan mas lalo ko nang nakikita ang pagkawig nila. There in no doubt they are siblings. That misty and soft features were perfectly fitting their divinity.