LUNA: The Witching Hour

33: Friends

Nym and Pandora were two of those witches who treated me kindly even though I hadn't done the same to them. Kahit hindi ko aminin, silang dalawa ang naging ka-close ko sa coven. I wasn't exactly the expressive type but I would admit to myself that I had truly appreciated those particular moments I shared with them. Ngayon na magkikita na uli kami, parang may kung anong saya akong naramdaman.

Friends were hard to have in this empire, especially when you ought to keep them until the end. Mortals could have that kind of luxury but we, immortals weren't exactly gifted when it comes to any form of relationship. Time had its own disadvantages if you had been dwelling on it for too long.

Hindi man halata sa mukha ko ang pagkasabik na makita uli sina Nym at Pandora, pansin kong nahahalata naman iyon ni Midnight. Ramdam ko ang mga tingin nito saakin habang nilalakad namin ang daan papuntang bahay ko. Nung mga oras na hindi ko na matiis ang sarili, nilingon ko siya para tanungin kung may madumi ba sa mukha ko at panay ang tingin nito saakin. Midnight hadn't said a word and casually averted his gaze from me like I wasn't someone worth his attention. 

Pagdating namin sa bahay, hindi na ako nagulat pa ng makitang wala itong pinagbago. Ganoon parin ang mukha nito. Black bricks and sophisticated. Si Zarax ang unang umakyat sa hagdanan at sumunod lamang kami ni Midnight.

Pagbukas nito sa pintuan agaran itong tumabi para magbigay daan sa tumakbong Pandora--- "Omg, si Sahar!" Tinapon nito ang sarili saakin at walang awang niyakap ako sa leeg ng sobrang higpit. Muntikan na akong mawalan ng balanse dahil sa ginawa niya. Kung hindi lang ako hinawakan ni Midnight sa bewang, mahuhulog talaga kaming dalawa ni Pandora. "Dumating ka nga! Dumating ka! I cannot believe this! This is so good to be true--"

Pinisil ko ang kanyang bewang, "Masusuntok kita, Pandora, umayos ka na"

I didn't mean to say that.

At once, she let go of me, straightening her spine in a half second, her onyx eyes that I hadn't seen for months widened at my remarks. "Ikaw nga si Sahar!" Tumalon talon pa ito sabay pumalakpak. "Nako, muntik na kitang di mamukhaan dahil sa itim mong buhok!"

Pandora didn't change at all. From her weight, height, the way she moved—to her gleaming onyx eyes that looked so black even when reflected by light, her long silver-white hair that seemed to glitter when illuminated, and bubbly yet fierce personality. My eyes moved past her shoulders and saw the once short-haired witch, now owning brown hair that waved down her shoulders took the space beside Pandora with a familiar smartness swimming in her turquoise eyes.

The grin Nym gave me still had this cleverness attached to it, "It's good to have you back, Sahar"

Something softened my heart from the sight of them but all emotions were stripped off my face, not a hint of gentleness lingered for any of them to see. Maybe if I were someone like Feline, I'd cry in happiness. Or if I were someone like Pandora, I'd squeal and jump in joy. But I was Sahar— I was my own person. And the Sahar everyone knew was a witch with a stone for a heart.

Magsasalita pa sana si Pandora ng mapansin nilang dalawa ang hari na nakatayo sa likuran ko.

Walang pasabi sabi ay agad agad silang nag bow ng sobrang baba.

"Your Majesty" Sabay 'rin nilang tugon.

"Love," Midnight quietly called out, na agad ko naman binigyan atensyon.

Sanay na dapat ako sa binigay niyang petname saakin, pero hanggang ngayon— hindi. Bahagya parin akong nabigla ng tawagin niya ako sa ganyan— mismong sa harapan pa nila Pandora.

"Sa labas lang ako. Discuss what needs to be discussed then. Babalik ako bago lumubog ang araw" There weren't any hidden messages in his words and he sounded so sincere I thought I must have been hearing things again.