Viridescent Blood

Chapter 20: Gift

Chapter 20: Gift

THIRD PERSON

Nanatiling naka-upo sa sahig si Savani, tila nabato na ito sa kanyang kinatatayuan. She is still holding her mother's diary as if her life depended on it. Ang mata nito ay hindi nilulubayan ng tingin ang pigura sa kanyang harapan. Her beauty amazes the girl in distress, her gaze looks at her as if she's a God that Savani is supposed to worship.

"Aren't they, Savani?"

Muling nahila sa reyalidad si Savani nang marinig ang boses ng tao sa kanyang harapan. Pilit nitong hinuhulaan sa kanyang isipan kung ano ang tinutukoy ng pigura. Nag uumapaw na tanong ang nabuo sa kanyang ulo. Nag simula na siyang mag-taka kung sino ang pigura at kung ano ang ginagawa niya sa sikretong silid na maging siya ay ngayon lamang natuklasan.

"Who is this lady? What is she doing here? Anong nalalaman niya?"

These are some of Savani's thoughts while eyeing the lady in front of her. She wiped her cheeks to get rid of the visible tears falling down from her eyes and composed herself. She stood up to match the lady's eye level and looked her in the eyes. She seemed familiar however she doesn't have the slightest idea whom this lady resembles as if something in her head is purposely blocking the memories.

"They're cruel, indeed."

She replied, the shivering and shaking of her voice from earlier disappeared from her system. Tila tuluyan nang nawala ang babaeng kanina lamang ay nag hihinagpis sa sahig.

"Who are you?"

Muling nagsalita si Savani at kinwestiyon ang pigura sa kanyang harapan. Imbis na sumagot ay isang kakaibang ngiti lamang ang isinukli ng pigura kay Savani. Isang ngiting tila inaasahan na niya ang tanong na iyon at inaantay lamang niyang sambitin ni Savani.

"Are the contents of these diary true?" Hindi pa nakakasagot ang pigura ay muling nag-tanong si Savani.

The lady shrugged her shoulders and slowly shook her head.

"Why are you confirming the contents from me? A good subject must ask directly to her leader. That's what the Mistress of this manor is supposed to do."

"Don't joke with me!" A loud scream echoed the whole place.

"I refuse to be looked at nothing but a subject of that man." Matigas na ani Savani. Nanginginig ang kanyang katawan sa galit.

"Oh... really?" The lady answered in awe which made the latter look confuse.

"You may have not notice this but dear... you're already his subject and you've been acting like one."

The lady's face immediately switched from two different emotions. She is now grinning at Savani, who is stunned. She must've realized what the lady meant just now. The whole place echoed with small laughters from the lady and it made Savani rage with anger. Her anger is not directly towards at the lady but to the fact that the Head has been manipulating her from the very beginning, and she realized it just now.

"How did you know about this diary?"

Savani asked, trying to suppress her anger. The lady's gaze lowered at the blood dripping down the floor from Savani's closed fist. It seems like to fully mantain her sanity, she directed her emotions to her closed fist. Her finger nails are digging deeper into her flesh but she has not yet realized it.