LUNA: The Witching Hour

51: Two Sides

Hindi naman sa umaasa ako, pero ang akala ko pag gising ko, siya ang unang bubungad saakin.

Wala na siya sa tabi ko.

It wasn't a dream. What had occurred between me and Midnight last night wasn't a dream. I needed to look under the sheets twice just to confirm about it. I was naked. Nothing under the sheets. In instinct, I closed my thighs together as if Midnight's cock was still inside me, doing whatever he did last night that almost destroyed half of my soul. But he was no longer here beside me and I hated the sullen emotion welling up inside me because of it.

I pinched my thigh to stop myself from sulking for no apparent reason. Hindi ko kailangan madismaya na umalis siya ng walang sinasabi. Last night was the result of the blood ritual he did in order to save me from the lethal poison of his own brother. When he entwined our hands together, our blood smudged over our palms, it was as though a part of us was given to each other. Midnight wasn't specific about many things, though he promised me that he'd take away the pain and he did. Wala na akong plano pang magreklamo.

Matagal tagal 'rin akong tumunganga sa kawalan. Nakaupo ako ngayon sa kama, nakatunganga. Pinoproseso pa ang lahat ng nangyare saakin.

I wasn't hurting anymore but my body felt too drained and saggy and I don't think it was because of last night's lusting, though it might also be one of the reasons, I wasn't entirely in my best state yet.

Naamoy ko na kaagad si Feline bago ito kumatok at pumasok. Nakita ko kaagad sa pagmumukha nito ang pag-alala ngunit nagawa pa niyang mag curtsy sa harapan ko. "My lady" Her voice was thick of concern but her cheeks were flushed bright red at the sight of me on my bed.

She must have remembered something. She was there. Outside. She heard us. Pero siya ang nahihiya saaming dalawa.

Umayos siya ng tayo, "How are you fee--"

I waved a dismissive hand to cut her off. "Okay lang ako. Wag mo ng tanungin"

She gulped down the questions she must have wanted to ask me and nodded. Feline still looked unwilling but nevertheless, she was trying not to worry anymore.

"Ilang araw akong tulog?" Tumayo ako sa kama at naramdaman kaagad ang bigat ng sariling katawan. Hindi na ako nag-abala pang takpan ang sarili at hinayaan na lamang na mahulog ang kumot sa kama pagtayo ko. My nightdress was neatly folded on a chair beside my bed. Kinuha ko ito at sinuot. "Gaano ako ka-kritikal?"

Nakita ko kung paano ako tignan ni Feline na para bang ngayon niya lang uli ako nakita sa buong buhay niya. "You were unconscious for 2 weeks, lady Sahar. Each day your body was getting colder and colder like you were---"she left the words evaporate into thin air. Feline didn't want to say it.

But I snapped back into my senses after hearing the days I've laid in bed unconscious.

2 weeks. I was unconscious for 2 weeks.

Pumasok kaagad ako sa bath chamber para maghilamos. "Anong oras na?"

"It's still 8 am in the morning, lady Sahar. Kayo na lang po ang hinihitay sa great hall"

"Hinihintay ako?"

"A meeting was immediately called for at sunrise. The Seven Deadly Sins are summoned by His Majesty too"

Napatigil ako wala sa oras. Bukas ang gripo ng lababo at patuloy ang pag-agos ng tubig mula dito. Sa harapan ng salamin, napa kurap ako ng isang beses. Nang maka bawi sa pagkabigla, inayos ko kaagad ang sarili. Pinatay ko ang gripo at tinawag si Feline para sa twalya ko.

Tinali ko sa isang mataas na ponytail ang aking buhok at nagpalit lamang ng damit. The black short dress was made out of flower petals that fell with little movement. Casting it a dramatic look. It wasn't really my first choice but this dress was just a random pick. Kailangan ko ng umalis.