LUNA: The Witching Hour

62: Awake and Back

Nagising akong uhaw na uhaw. Wala sa oras akong bumangon sa kama, hindi man lang iniitindi kung anong mayroon saaking kapaligiran, at basta basta ko na lang kinuha ang basong tubig na nakahanda sa bedside table.

One glass of water wasn't enough. As soon as I finished drinking down the refreshment, I was instantly pouring myself another glass. Lifting it up to my lips and chugging the water down my throat with big gulps. A few more glasses before I noticed that I was inside Midnight's tent, on his own bed, surrounded by his own things. From the darkness that enclosed the area, I have realized it was nighttime. Only one candle was lit from afar, it didn't shine too bright. Merely a touch of light in the dark.

Something moved beside me. I froze. It wasn't something, it was someone. 'Doon ko lang 'din napansin na may mabigat na nakapatong sa bewang ko at may mainit na presensya saaking tabi. May hula na ako kung sino ito ngunit malakas parin ang pintig ng puso ko ng lingunin ko ang natutulog na Midnight.

The last thing I remembered was exchanging words with the Emperor before Midnight teleported me back to his tent, collapsing down onto his bed, and closing my eyes to sleep from exhaustion.

Weird. Ang bilis kong magising. Dahil siguro sa uhaw.

Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako. Ayoko munang isipin ang mga nangyare saakin at gusto ko pa uling matulog. At least I could have this night for resting. By the looks of it, Midnight might have given himself some free time too. It wasn't him to sleep at night with plentiful of ongoing things we needed to take care of first. If Midnight had decided to take some break from everything then it was safe to assume that I could do the same too.

Fixing Midnight's draped arm around my waist, I laid back down, waiting for the pain to attack me but it didn't seem to come. I've expected at least to be fragile now from the fight. My body aching at every part, the heaving of breaths, the throbbing inside my head. None presented themselves.

Day must've healed me already.

Again, weird.

The injuries, the wounds, the exhaustion I've received from fighting the former Dragon King should at least render me unmovable for a couple of days even with Day's treatment. Alam ko naman na magaling si Day, but even in his calibre, he shouldn't be able to heal me this fast.

Whatever. Gusto ko ng matulog uli.

Sumiksik ako sa matigas na katawan ni Midnight. Finding heat. Bahagyang umungol ng malalim si Midnight sa ginawa ko sabay taas ng baba ng kaunti para ipatong ito sa ulo ko. Pinulupot ko ang kanang kamay ko sakanyang bewang---

My right arm.

I already have my right arm?!

Napabalikwas ako ng upo sa kama. Nanlalaki ang aking mga mata habang tinitignan ko ng mabuti ang aking kanan na kamay. Tinignan ko pa kung nandito 'rin ang kaliwa kong kamay para makasigurado. I almost choke on my own saliva seeing my two arms in front of me. Working. Undamaged. My right arm whole again. I clenched and unclenched my hand, still quite surprised, amazed, and disturbed that I've regenerated my arm within a few hours. In my sleep.

"Lay back down" It was Midnight's heavy, hoarse voice that diverted my attention on him. His eyes were still closed, his brows a little bit furrowed. I've only realized now that he was shirtless. "Sahar, lay back down"

I creased my forehead while he tightened his hold around my waist. It was dark but I could still see how his muscles tensed with the subtlest of movement. His sleepy voice already made me feel some kind of way, seeing him shirtless beside me, unguarded, made it worse.

Pinakita ko sakanya ang kanang kamay ko kahit nakapikit parin siya. "Bumalik na kamay ko, Midnight"

No response.