LIKE how it's been when I first tried to challenge the limits of what is considered to be the physical remains of my past deep within my flesh, I've come to without actually wanting to open my eyes. I have this desire to tightly stitch my lids, never to see the usual view of the ceiling again and never to feel the shame of keeping a body that deteriorates as I speak.
"Signorina, svegliati! ("My lady, wake up!")" My tiny ear chip buzzed.
I groaned after hearing Hillary first thing in the morning. "Cos'è? ("What is it?")"
"..."
"Qual è il tuo problema? ("What is your problem?")
Ngunit kahit na ba may bakas ng pagkaurat ang pagkakatanong ko ay wala akong nahita mula sa AI na ito. Ni ubo, ni tikhim, ni paghimig nang sa ganoon ay makapanghula ako, wala. Pero ang mismong salita rin na 'yon ang nakapagpadilat at nagpabalikwas sa 'kin sa pagkakaupo. There's no such thing as nothing happening. Not when the enemy still lingers in the dark.
"Date and time today," I demanded with clarity that made me my brow instantly rise. Agad na dumampi ang palad ko sa lalamunan ko, nagugulumihanang hinahanap ang bakas ng sakit na sa pagkakaalala ko ay siyang nagnakaw ng ulirat ko.
"È l'una e mezzo, ("It is half past one.")" she answered as she automatically flashes a clock and calendar through my contact lenses. "It is the day of the Queen of the Hunt."
Halos manlumo ako sa pagkakakulay pula ng kuwadrado ng petsa ngayon sa kalendaryo. Pakurap-kurap pa ito, animo'y nang-aasar na tulad nito'y mga oras sa kamay ko ay kumukupas. At ang mas nakapang-aasar pa rito'y totoo ito. Ang paglaho ng sakit at mas malayang pakiramdam sa lalamunan ko, at ang pagkakakumpleto ng pagbabalik ni Hillary online, lahat ng ito ay tumutukoy na mahigit isang araw din akong nahimbing.
"I must admit, Aljaz Louis Tyrell is worthy of being Garth's protégé. It took me a while to penetrate the system he put up without being detected," she stated in an amused voice. The amusement her words emit, however, is by no means a compliment. After all, if there's anything Hillary resembles the most with me, her mistress, it'd be the unquenchable thirst for dominance.
Soon, at the tip of my bed, a blue holographic figure of a female teen was formed, glitching but quickly materializing. "Losing time to prepare is indeed a disadvantage, but with you falling into a deep slumber, I was able to fix you a bit," Hill pointed out with a sigh, her still pixelated legs crossed. "From now on, you don't have to worry about speaking as much as before. It'd take days or even weeks for the gut-wrenching pain to come again. Of course, only if you pushed yourself too hard."
"Is that so..." I mumbled, almost unrelieved by the news.
Batid ko na dapat ay maginhawa na kong nakahihinga. Ngunit sa 'di malamang dahilan ay 'di pa rin ako mapanatag. Marahil dala ito ng kamalayan na simula ngayon, wala ng paghinto o paghihinatay na magaganap. At kung papalarin na mailapat ang mga bagay-bagay sa mga dapat nitong kalagyan, balang-araw ay gigising ako sa parehong silid na ito. Handa nang magpaalam at lumisan.
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The Montelier Bride
Mystery / ThrillerIn order to survive her hunters, Quinzel de Agustin, a woman who bears truths that could forever change the Underground, told one lie--- she's a mute. However, when their trail comes closer than ever to threaten her freedom, Quinzel decides to resor...
