Endless Pen [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

ATHANASIA'S POV

"Breathe," bigla kong narinig na sabi ni Bangun sa akin habang pinipisil ang kamay ko. "Magiging maayos din ang lahat. Trust me." Inilapit niya ang kamay ko sa labi niya saka hinalikan ang likod nito.

I have to admit it. Bangun looked fine doing that sweet gesture while driving one hand. Napangiti naman ako. I have never thought of Bangun as a sweet type of person. "Thanks, Bangun."

He only smiled and focused his attention on the road, but his right hand stayed with me. We were silent for the whole trip but it wasn't awkward at all. Mapapatingin kami sa isa't isa tapos ay ngingiti lang tapos maghihiwalay na ulit ng tingin.

I swear. Never in my lifetime have I thought of me and Bangun ending up in this kind of situation. Marami rin kaming pinagdaanan pero hindi ko inisip na aabot kami sa ganito.

For the last two hundred years of my life, Zagan was the only one who got my heart. He was the only being I have ever loved. But this? I'm not even sure if I do love Bangun. All I know is that I feel something about him.

I could suddenly catch myself smiling when I think of him.

I get to be my real self in front of him and he would not leave me.

He would get annoyed or mad, but he would still care about me,

Something I have never felt or done when I was with Zagan.

"Hey, I'm curious though," I tried to get his attention, which I easily got.

His eyes remained on the road. "Hmm?"

"When... did you start—I don't know—feeling whatever this—"

"You mean kailan kita minahal?" tanong niyang ikinakurap ko ng ilang beses. Nang hindi pa ako makuntento ay talagang nanlaki ang mga mata ko. I saw him glance at me after receiving no response and all he did was chuckle. "Saka ko na sasabihin sayo. This isn't the perfect place and time for that."

Saka ko lang naramdamang tumigil din pala ako sa paghinga. "R-Right. N-Next time."

Buong byahe ay pareho na kaming tahimik. Halatang may malalim na iniisip si Bangun kaya naman hindi ko na lang siya inistorbo at lumipat ang isip ko sa makakausap namin mamaya.

Mahaba-haba rin ang byahe namin to the point na ilang beses din akong nakatulog. At nang magising ako ay nasa tapat kami ng isang mataas na company building. Dito nakatira si Jelayah? Ang nasa isip ko kasi ay nasa gubat o yung may mga waterfalls. Basta sa tahimik at mawala sa syudad pero mukhang maling-mali ang hinala ko.

"Let's go?" bigkas ni Bangun nang makalabas kami pareho ng sasakyan niya. Tinanguan ko lang siya saka ako nag-ikot ng tingin.

Sosyal ang dating ng loob ng building. Mga mamahaling gamit at dekorasyon ang nakalagay sa paligid. Hindi mo aakalaing dito nananatili ang isang makapangyarihang dyosa.

Nang makapasok kami sa elevator ay pinindot ni Bangun ang highest floor. So she owns this company huh? Big time.

"Anong klaseng kumpanya ito?" hindi ko napigilang itanong.

"A publishing company." Tiningnan ako ni Bangun saka nginitian. "Technically, isa ang kumpanya niya sa ni-reject mo ang offer noon."

Ramdam ko ang dahan-dahang panlalaki ng mga mata ko. "S-Seryoso?"

Bangun pinched my nose as he chuckled. "Yeah, but she already knew that you'll do that so... no worries."

Para naman akong kinabahan dahil sa sinabi ni Bangun. I once rejected her company's offer? Bakit parang mas kinabahan ako ngayon kesa sa galit na dapat ay nararamdaman ko?

Once the elevator door opened, we both stepped out of it and walked towards the only door on that floor. Naghanap ako ng desk ng secretary doon pero wala naman kaya medyo naguluhan ako. Kumatok naman kaagad si Bangun saka nagsalita, "Jel, open sesame."

Umangat ang isa kong kilay. For someone who told me that Jelayah was a very respected and most powerful goddess, he seemed chill. Bigla namang bumukas ang pinto na walang tao ang naroroon.

"Tara na," pagyaya ni Bangun saka pinauna ako sa pagpasok.

I then saw a white-haired woman sitting on a swivel chair in front of her desk. She looked so focused on her papers that she did not glance at us even for a little.

Tumayo naman sa tabi ko si Bangun. "Jel, nandito na siya—"

"I am fully aware, Bangun." Inangat ng babae ang mukha siya saka ako tiningnan ng seryoso. "Nice to have finally meet you, Athanasia. Have a seat." She gestured to the visitor's chair. Akmang uupo na kami ni Bangun nang muli siyang magsalita. "Not you, Bangun. Get out. I only want to talk to Asia."

Agad sumimangot si Bangun. "Pero Jel—"

Jelayah pointed to the door. "Out, Bangun. Thank you for bringing her here safely but we need privacy now." Bagsak ang balikat na umayos ng tayo si Bangun saka naglakad papunta sa pintuan. Hawak na niya ang doorknob saka lumingon pa sa amin na parang nagmamakaawa. "Nope. Not gonna work on me. Now leave. I'll text you once we're done." Napipilitang tumango si Bangun saka umalis. Narinig ko naman ang pagkaka-lock ng pinto saka ako tumingin kay Jelayah. "As you know, my twin brother, Bangun, really is like that."

Nagulat naman ako sa sinabi niya. Twin brother? "Magkapatid kayo?"

Jelayah sighed. "Unfortunately, yes but we're close. It's just not that obvious." Umayos siya ng upo saka tiningnan na ako ng seryoso. "Well, I guess my brother already told you who I am and what I do. I also instructed him to give you a clue about your mission since it's taking so long for you to realize what it is, hence the death of more humans."

Sumeryoso naman ang mukha ko. "Kapag ba nagawa ko ang misyon ko ay hahayaan niyo na akong mamatay nang tuluyan?"

She stared deep into my eyes. "Is it still the thing you most desire? Alam kong ilang siglo mo nang ginustong mamatay. Pero ngayon... 'yun pa rin ba ang gusto mo?" Natahimik naman ako. "Anyways, you are here to know your mission. If you complete it, then we'll talk about your reward." Tumango na lang ako. Tumayo naman siya saka naglakad papunta sa cabinet niya. "I believe that you are aware of the murders that are related to your characters, hmm?"

Tumango naman ako. "Yes, the officer and I are trying to solve it—"

"But I thought you had already solved it." Agad akong natigilan saka naalala si Zagan. "You see, Athanasia, your characters and the victims weren't just plain coincidences. You were meant to write their deaths, but it's not to the likings of the gods and goddesses."

Mas lalo akong naguluhan sa pinagsasasabi niya. "So ano ho ang meron? Sinasadya kong patayin sila? Ginusto kong patayin sila?"

Jelayah took something out of the cabinet and faced me. "Of course not. Putting your past aside, you don't like putting anyone else in harm—except for yourself, of course." Napatitig naman ako sa hawak-hawak niyang espada. Naglakad siya papalapit sa akin. "You see, with your past, Athanasia, you'll be able to do your mission swiftly and easily. But it'll also be your past that'll hold you from doing so."

"What do you mean?" Sa hindi malaman ay ayaw bumitaw ng tingin ko sa espadang iyon.

"Your mission is to kill Zagan." Agad napaangat ang aking paningin sa diyosa. She also has golden eyes. "Only you and this blessed sword would be able to do that. Once completed, you are to receive your most desired reward." Iniabot niya sa akin ang nakabalot na espada. Kulay pula at ginto and handle nito pati ang case.

Nang hawakan ko ang espada ay may kakaiba akong naramdaman. "It feels familiar."

"Of course it does. It was yours before you became immortal." Muli akong napatingin sa kanya. "Now, hold it tight. It will give you your memories." Ibinaba ko ang tingin sa espada saka hinawakan iyon ng mahigpit bago ko ipinikit ang aking mata.

And once I did, I could feel strong winds enveloping me before I got lost in my memories.