Intruded Trails (Van Doren Series #1)

Chapter Thirty-three

The sixth kingdom

Hindi ako makatulog.

Walang kurap ang tingin ko sa nag-iisang ilaw ngayon sa itaas. Hanggang sa mga oras na ito sa kalagitnaan na ng gabi, hindi pa rin pumapasok sakin ang lahat. Hindi pa rin humihina ang tibok ng puso ko sa paulit-ulit na pag-iisip na ako ang sanhi ng pagpapakita nito rito.

I don't have any interest on stars. Sa mundo ko, hindi ganito ang nararamdaman ko sa tuwing titingala--Kadalasan, ni hindi nga ako tumitingala. Whenever I look at stars, frustration will only drawn in me. Hindi ko alam kung anong unang tititigan sa dami ng mga ito.

There is only one above me now. It was like the sun of night. I didn't bother to search for the moon.

It's here because of what I did. Nararamdaman ko ang koneksyon nito sakin sa una pa lang na paghawi nito sa gitna ng mga ulap. The feeling when it shine down upon me was tempting. Parang hinihila nito ang mga pakpak ko lumipad papunta roon.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"

I felt his presence behind me. Tahimik na tumango ako.

"Glinda said it's mine. Totoo ba iyon?"

Hinawi niya ang mga hibla ng buhok ko sa balikat ko. Nawala ang tingin ko sa itaas at napatikhim. I stared at his gentle hand on my shoulder. Inabot niya ang dulo ng may parteng puting hibla ng buhok ko at marahang pinaglaruan iyon sa mga daliri niya.

His eyes met mine and I instantly looked away. He just confessed. Wala namang masama roon, hindi ba? I trust him and I think I already knew him well enough to still play sheepish. Hindi ko lang mapigilang mahiya.

I wonder if... his sister and the others in our heads heard that, too. I hope they didn't. Hindi pa kami nag-uusap ni Farren nitong mga nakaraang araw. She seemed distant as if she's avoiding me. Something's wrong with her and I'm giving her the time. I just don't want this to mean anything to her.

"Hmm..." Khaliel nodded. "Yours. Until the end. Sagisag na iyan ng kaharian ng Le Erusauvian."

A smile immediately crept on my face. "That's good to know."

I flinched when his finger touch my chin. Dahan-dahang dinala ako ng ito sanhi na mapatingin sa kanya.

"You're happy today. Ito ang unang beses na nakita kitang ganoon kasaya. The way they looked, and they way you looked at them too, was beyond beauty, Khione..."

I glanced at him. "Masaya ako kanina, hindi ko itatanggi iyon. But, Khaliel... I don't want them to look at me that way because I took a risk for them. I-I don't even know what to do next..."

"You didn't just take a risk for them. You gave them a kingdom. Isa sa mga bagay na magdadala sa kanila sa bagong simula. Lahat ng maabot ng tingin mo na may buhangin ay may marka na ng pag-asa," nagdilim ang mga mata niyang tinitigan ako at nagtigas ang bagang. "Speaking of risks. Theana Khione, I swear of you if ever do that again..."

"Hindi na."

Umiling ako. Sariwa pa rin ang mga alaala niya sakin. The way he slits everyone's throat inside that shelter. I can handle it, but there's regret. As much as possible, I don't want Khaliel to have blood on his hands for me.

Isa pa... Ayoko nang maulit pa iyon. Ang mga nakakasindak na tingin na ibinigay ng mga lalaking iyon sakin. Ang mga naglalakihang katawan nila na nakapaligid sakin. Ang mga uhaw na salita nila. I felt like selling myself and dignity. That won't happen again.

"I just did it to end the grievance between them and the people here. I won't put myself in that situation again." Sambit ko.

Matagal niya akong tinitigan bago nagpakawala ng hininga. "Kung nandito lang kanina si Sullivan at Ceruxis, I'm sure that old man would fly to the nearest kingdom and gave you a throne,"