Sheriagre La Vecchia: A Family's Secret

FAMILY'S SECRET 18

Goddess of Nature

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INIS ko itong itinulak palayo. Nanlilisik ang mata ko itong tinitigan.

How dare he accuse my grandparents of something they are incapable of doing? Why does it seem like everyone here has nothing better to do than to tear down my family's name?

"Huwag kang sinungaling!" I shouted.

Kahit kailan ay hindi nila ako pinagbuhatan ng kamay, they've never laid a finger on me, not even a strand of my hair. I refuse to believe they could ever harm anyone, they're far too kind for that. Isang kahibangan iyon!

His stare remained blank, he shook his head as if I were a complete disappointment. I should never have asked him, wala akong mapapala sa kanya.

"Don't think too highly of your grandparents. They're full of venom. Their foul-smelling mouths and bloodstained hands prove it." My anger flared even more as my hand clenched into a fist.

Bago pa ako sumabog ay tinalikuran ko na s'ya nguni't hindi pa man ako nakakahakbang palayo ay muli itong magsalita.

"If you truly believe they did nothing wrong, why don’t you ask them what really happened to your late brother, Labhrainn?"

Pakiramdam ko'y nabuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig dahil sa sinabi n'ya. Napako ako sa kinatatayuan ko lalo na nang marinig ko ang pangalan ni kuya Rainn. How did he know that? How could he know about my brother, who has been dead for so long?

"I am not your enemy here, carissima. Don’t be blinded just because they’re your family."

KINAUMAGAHAN ay maaga akong nagising dahil sa mga pinong katok sa pinto. Masakit ang buo kong katawan kaya't iritado ko itong pinagbuksan.

"What?" Naiinis kong bungad, nakapikit pa ang isa kong mata.

"Is this your vacation?" Sarkastiko nitong tanong. "Get up and be ready in 30 minutes."  Inirapan ko s'ya. Padabog ko itong tinalikuran at pinagbagsakan ng pinto.

I lay back down on the bed, completely ignoring Vatroslav's words. Bahala s'ya d'yan, maghintay s'ya! I'm still sleepy and I need more sleep.

Nakakatulog na ako nang may biglang humila sa mga paa ko na ikinatili at ikinamulagat ko ng mata.

"I told you to get up, Labyrinth Devereux. Now don’t blame me for intruding," He said firmly before forcibly pulling me to my feet. "You're too lazy to do it yourself? Then let me do the honor of dressing you."

Sa taranta ko ay pabalang ko s'yang itinulak palabas. My chest rose and fell erratically with embarrassment and frustration. The rapid beating felt so intense that I thought it might burst out of my ribcage.

Nagising ang diwa ko sa kanyang ginawa't sinabi. Mabilis akong kumilos upang magintindi ng sarili, bago pa man ito muling takasan ng bait at totohanin ang banta n'ya.

Masama ang tingin ko nang puntahan ko s'ya. Hindi pa tuluyang sumisikat ang araw ay gusto na agad n'ya kong pagurin. Alas tres pa lang ng umaga! I only had 2 hours of sleep, hindi ako pinatulog ng mga sinabi n'ya kahapon.

"Aren’t you being too cruel, Rubeus? I’ve barely had any sleep!" Bulyaw ko dito at padabog na kinuha ang pana at palaso. He’s about to teach me archery.

"Be thankful I even let you sleep."  Ismid nito.

Anong dapat kong ipagpasalamat don? He’s trying to brainwash me into turning my back on my family. Kung ano anong pinapasok n'yang kasinungalingan sa utak ko!

Ito ang unang araw namin ng pagbabantay sa gubat. May dalawang araw pang natitira nguni't hindi pa man nagsisimula ang umaga ay gusto ko na agad bumalik sa SLV. Dapat pala'y hinayaan ko na lang si Dahlia na kunin sa'kin ang misyong ito.