Stuck In Between (Published Under IMMAC PPH)

Chapter 32

Chapter 32

I can feel my heart clench as I throw the last piece of white rose on his coffin. Naramdaman ko ang isang mahigpit na yakap sa akin nang naglakad ako palayo doon. He might have done something bad to me, to us, but he's still part of our family. Kahit sobra akong nasaktan sa ginawa niya, papa insisted that despite his evilness, he deserved to have a proper burial. Kahit iyon na lang daw.

Nakita ko si Zion sa malayo, nakatanaw katabi si tita. He was holding her close to him, trying to be strong for the both of them, but I can see his pain as he watched how his dad's coffin was being covered with dirt. Ngumiti siya sa akin nang makitang nakatingin ako sa kaniya. That's why I went to him and gave him a warm hug.

"I'm sorry, Zin," he whispered in my ear as I felt his body tremble against mine, crying. Tumango lamang ako sa kaniya at mas hinigpitan ang yakap sa kaniya.

"Dad did terrible things to you and here you are, giving him a proper burial," umiiyak niyang saad sa akin.

Hinagod ko ang likod niya habang nagsasalita siya. He's not at fault, in... any way. He's also only a victim of our family's evilness. Napagalaman ko na si Tito at ang Lolo ko sa side ni Papa ay parehong mga mortal. My lola was a werewolf, and she fell in love with a human. Lolo was too greedy back then. Hindi niya kayang tanggapin na isa siyang tao, he always wanted to be an immortal, not because he want to live with Lola longer, but because of his greed of power. He wants to be the strongest of all.

"Princess, your grandpa stole your mom's pearl. Back then, hindi ko pa alam na isa akong half blood. Your mom needed the pearl to have her tails back, but because of my father's greed, she wasn't able to come back to her home, in the seas of Akua."

Nagulat ako nang malaman ko iyon. I never met my grandpa, and so I didn't know. Ngayon ko lang nalaman.

"Sadly, my brother, Zoren adapted papa's doing. Kagaya kasi ni Papa ay hindi rin siya ipinanganak na imortal, despite having a wolf mother." Tumingin si Papa kay Zion saka malungkot na ngumiti rito.

"Zion inherited Mama's blood. He also became a half-blood despite having both human parents. That's one reason why Zoren never gave his love for Zion." Narinig kong humikbi si tita nang marinig iyon. She hugged his son tightly, continuously saying sorry to him.

"I'm at fault anak, patawarin mo si mama. Hindi matanggap ng dad mo na isa kang half-blood. He accused me of cheating despite my eternal love for him, hindi pala iyon nagging sapat para sa kaniya. He told me that he's not your father and that I slept with other men—immortal men."

Ramdam ko ang pagbigat ng puso ko nang marinig ko iyon, tinitigan ko si Zion na yakap yakap ang kaniyang ina. He was crying on her shoulder, and as I stare at him, I felt memories flooding my mind.

"Papa!" nakarinig ako ng munting boses sa 'di kalayuan. I saw a familiar little boy running towards a man. Pinagmasdan ko ang lalaki at nakita roon si Tito. He was swaying from side to side and when I saw his hand—both occupied with alcohol, I knew he's drunk.

Nakita ko kung gaano kasaya ang batang si Zion habang tumatakbo siya palapit sa ama. I tried calling him, trying to stop him from coming close to my drunk uncle. My heart speeding up as I realized how I can't seem to reach his ear.

"Zion!"I called in horror when I saw tito slamming him on the ground. Sinubukan ko siyang lapitan nang biglang nag-iba ang paligid.

"He's not my fucking son!" I heard someone shout. Nakita ko si tita roon, nakatayo habang kinakausap si tito. Rinig na rinig ko mula sa aking kinatatayuan ang iyak ni tita habang kinakausap ang huli. I can see tito's clenched fist, glaring at the crying woman in front of him.

"I didn't cheat with you!" nagulat na lang ako nang biglang natumba si Tita habang hawak niya ang kaniyang pisngi. Hinaklit siya ni tito at sinandal niya ito sa pader habang mahigpit ang hawak niya sa leeg ni tita. I can see how tita was slowly losing her breathe as she tried to free herself from tito's hold. Sinubukan kong lumapit pero hindi ko maramdaman ang sarili ko. It felt like I was frozen into place, with no chance to move.

I shouted at tito, trying to use my powers too so tita can be freed, pero walang nangyari. I felt my cheeks being wet by tears as I watch tita slowly losing her breathe, not having enough strength to even fight with him.

"No!" I shouted as I saw her eyes, slowly losing its life. Hindi pwede! He is Zion's only hope! Please!

Doon ko narinig ang hikbi ng isang bata. My attention went towards the little Zion, he was crying so hard while watching his parents fight.

"Mama ko!" hiyaw ni Zion at agad na sinugod si Tito na nanlilisik ang mata sa kaniya. He freed tita, letting her fall to the ground, unconscious. I was shocked when I looked back and saw a mid-sized wolf strangling tito. He has a dirty-white fur and his eyes were hazel brown, it was fierce. As if ready to kill. He growled at his father, and I can see him trembling beneath Zion's wolf. Akmang kakagatin na ni Zion ang ama nang hinarang ni Tita ang kaniyang sarili dito. I saw shock within the two boys; Zion's fangs were planted on Tita's shoulders.

Kita ko ang pagtulo ng luha ni tita habang inilalapit niya ang kamay kay Zion. She was trembling as she reached for his face."Don't fight your papa, anak....M-Mama is okay."

My tears fell continuously as I watch the scene in front of me. Nagulat na lang ng bigla itong nawala sa harap ko.

My surrounding changed again. I was in a dark room when I heard footsteps going towards my direction. I saw Zion there walking with his father. Ramdam ko ang bigat ng presensya nila nang magaharap muli.

"Where's my mother?" he slowly growled at his father. Ngumisi lamang si tito na kamukhang kamukha ni papa. It was like I was seeing him doing this, like an apparition.

"Probably dead." Sinugod ni Zion ang ama at nagulat ako lalo nang bigla niyang naihagis si Zion.

"You think I'm weak, huh, son?" mapang-uyam na sabi nito habang papalapit siya kay Zion. I can see him smirking as he neared him. Ramdam ko ang bigat ng aura nilang dalawa habang masama ang tingin nila sa isa't isa. "I am not the same old man born mortal, son."

I was shocked when I saw Zion's wolf form pressed against the wall. I saw a bigger wolf there, strangling him. His fur was dark as he growled at Zion.

Lalapit na sana ako nang muling magbago ang paligid. I saw myself standing in a very familiar place, it's Nemus.

Napalingon ako nang marinig ang pagtigil ng isang sasakyan sa entrada ng bayan. I saw Zion getting out of it, looking serious as he took his bags. He was wearing the same cloak back when I first saw him.

"Remember, Zion, kung hindi mo dadalhin sa akin ang anak ni Zinder ay papatayin ko ang ina mo."I heard the familiar voice from the car. Nakita ko doon si tito na nakangisi habang si Zion naman ay nanatiling seryoso, but I can see how his hand slowly formed into a fist while nodding at the man in the car.

I felt my tears falling faster as I heard that. He's not at fault...

"Zinnia."

"Zinnia!" napapitlag ako nang maramdaman ang isang malamig na kamay sa braso ko. Pyrrhus was there, looking worried as he stared at me. I smiled to assure him that I'm fine as I wander my eyes around, looking for my cousin.

Nakita ko siya sa malayo, nakahawak sa bukas na pinto ng isang itim na limo. Kalaunan ay ngumiti siya at lumayo dito at pinanood ang unti-unting pag-alis ng limo.

He glanced my way and when he saw me looking at him, he smiled at me. That kind that assures the person who saw it that everything is fine.

And I do hope so.