Into The Land Never Told (Aqaven Series #1)

22 Orphanage

Pareho kaming nakatulog agad ni Cordelia nang makabalik kami sa realidad. The next day we decided to search for the guardians. Hindi rin naman nagtagal ay nakita na namin si Aiden at si Vail na malapit sa isang ilog.

"Vail!"

Tumakbo agad si Cordelia kay Vail at agad itong niyakap. Vail didn't waver at hinayaan na lang si Lia. Si Aiden naman ang sumalubong sa akin. Kapansin-pansin ang ilang pasa niya sa braso.

"Anong nangyari? Ba't may pasa ka?"

"We had a little trouble earlier but we're fine. Right, Vail?"

Hindi ko alam kung ako lang ba o sadyang tila nanunudyo ang boses ni Aiden at nakatingin ito kay Vail. Si Vail naman ay nag-iwas ng tingin at nagsimula ng maglakad habang nakalutang sa harapan niya ang mapa. Nang makalapit kami sa kaniya ay napansin ko rin ang ilang mga pasa niya sa braso. Nahagip rin ng mga mata ko ang namumulang parte ng kaniyang leeg. A burnt mark?

I thought Cordelia's back to her usual self but after hugging Vail, she immediately distanced herself. Ngayon ay nasa likuran lang siya namin ni Aiden. I didn't bother her. I think she needs time for herself first before I check her out again.

"Aiden." Bahagya kong siniko si Aiden na seryosong naglalakad at sinusundan si Vail. "Do you know someone named Aero?"

Bahagya siyang napatigil sa paglalakad at napalingon sa akin. His eyebrows crossed while I just stared at him with my raised eyebrow. I didn't know asking that question would shock him. Maybe he knew the story of Aero and Cordelia. Gusto kong malaman kung anong meron sa dalawa.

"Aero? Cordelia's bestfriend three years ago?"

"Well, yes. Paanong wala na siya ngayon?" Bumaling ulit ang tingin ko sa lalaking naglalakad sa harapan namin. Well, he doesn't seem to care that much anymore. Siguro seryoso lang siya sa paghahanap kay Sheldon.

"Well, I barely know Aero but he died during the storm three years ago. He's a talented young man kung kaya't sa batang edad niya ay kaya na niyang mag maglayag ng barko. He can also levitate things so he needs little to no more assist when sailing. Sa pagkakatanda ko gabi kasi tumakas si Aero mula sa dorm nila upang magtungo ng Melian. May kasiyahan kasi sa Melian noong araw na iyon and he uhm..." Bahagyang lumingon si Aiden kay Lia at napansing malalalim ang iniisip nito. "He was actually invited by Amaya late that night. So he went to sail the sea alone and unfortunately the weather was not that good and so up until now his remains are no longer to be found."

Another love problems. Do love really have to be that complicated?

"Kamusta si Lia noong panahon na iyon?"

"Of course she was devastated. Aero's family held a wake for him two weeks prior to him being lost. Amaya visited the wake as if she was visiting a party. Nagalit si Cordelia and so a chaos happened during that last day of Aero's wake." Napabuntong hininga si Aiden at sumilay ng tingin kay Lia na ngayon ay tahimik pa rin.

"Eh kung si Aero ang gusto niya ba't habol siya ng habol kay Vail?"

"Hindi ko alam. Siguro dahil nawala si Aero na ang akala ay si Vail ang gusto ni Cordelia. Lia probably just live with it? I don't really know."

Mabuti nalang at may mga pagkain pa kami sa bag na dala namin ni Vail. Around noon we decided to sat beside the river. Inilabas ko na rin sa bag ang kaniya-kaniya naming fur jacket at ibinigay ko sa kanila. It's cold so they didn't hesitate, even Vail.

"Nasaan si Sheldon?"

Parehong nag-iwas ng tingin sina Cordelia at Aiden. Kung kaya't napabuntong hininga ako. Mukhang nagkawalaan nga sila kahapon sa gubat na ito. Feu Follet is such a dangerous place. I'm hoping Kuya Sheldon will be fine.