CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
HINDI pa rin tumitigil ang mga kalaban sa labas ng ice barrier sa pagsira nito. Tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang digmaan sa labas. Pero parang tumigil ang lahat nang sa huling sandali ay ngumiti si Flint sa akin.
"Please, please. Huwag mo muna akong iwan. Hindi ko kaya," bulong ko. He caressed my cheek again using his thumb while smiling at me. He slowly closed his eyes and his hand fell limp beside him. No... This can't be happening! It should have been me! Why is this happening!?
"Flint?" tawag ko sa kaniya, umaasang sasagutin niya ako. "Flint this is not a good joke! Bumangon ka dyan!"
Kinapa ko ang dibdib niya at wala na akong naramdamang pagpintig. Hinawakan ko rin ang pulsuhan niya. I can't feel any beat from there. Paulit-ulit akong napamura. Hinaplos ko ang mukha niya gamit ang mga nanginginig at duguan kong kamay. Hindi maaari. Mabibigat ang paghinga ko at nanlalabo na rin ang mga mata dahil sa luha. Parang may mabigat na batong nakapatong sa dibdib ko. Pabilis nang pabilis ang paghinga ko habang pinagmamasdan ang nakangiti niyang mukha.
The last time I felt like this, he was the one who comforted me. He was always there for me. He said he would always protect me. And he did. But I don't want it this way. I already lost a lot and he was the last person I want to lose. Napahagulgol ako at niyakap ang katawan niya.
"NOOOOOOO!" I screamed on the top of my lungs. The roof of the dome-shaped ice barrier started to melt with the blue-coloured flame. Unti-unting natunaw ang yelong pumo-protekta sa amin habang yakap-yakap ko ang walang buhay niyang katawan. The enemies who are trying to break the barrier to get to us immediately got enveloped by a blue flame. In just a second, they turned into mere ashes. I stared on the grey clouds above while still wailing loudly.
Everyone halted. Enemies, allies, everyone. The battlefield became silent. The members of our group and all our allies kneeled on their right leg and bowed their heads. That was their way to pay respect to the fallen hero. Aunt Ember and Uncle Hayden both rushed towards me, crying loudly as they hold him.
Nakatulala lang ako habang kinukuha nila mula sa akin ang katawan niya. Wala akong magawa kundi ibigay iyon sa kanila. Hindi ako maaaring magdalamhati dahil nasa gitna pa rin kami ng digmaan. How cruel of him to leave me here and made me promise to be happy? How can I be happy when I know I can never talk to him again? My brother died because of me. He saved me.
How cruel this world could be? I already suffered a lot and I don't deserve this pain. Bakit kailangang ako ang maiwan dito? Sobrang bigat na ng kalooban ko lalo na dahil pinipigilan ko ang pag-iyak. Hindi nila ako maaaring makitang mahina. That was the promise I made to myself. Flint's last word is bravery. I need to be brave because no one's there for me anymore if I would become weak. No one's gonna comfort me again when I feel sad. I can no longer be weak from now on.
"Aia," tawag ni Blaze sa akin. Hindi ko siya pinansin at gumapang palapit sa espada ko. Inabot ko iyon gamit ang mga nanginginig kong kamay. I mustered the strength that almost faded away in an instant. Fortunately, I'm still able to ignite my flaming sword. I have no time to be frightened nor be vulnerable. I want revenge.
Kahit nanghihina ang buong katawan ko dahil na rin sa mga natamo kong pinsala at pagkabigla sa mga nangyari, nahirapan akong tumayo. I used my flaming sword as a scaffolding to stand up. Blaze helped me get up quickly and caressed my back.
"You can take a break for a while. Kami na muna ang bahala rito," bulong niya sa akin. Just like on cue, the war commenced. I shook my head to respond to him.
