Dark Fairytale (Published under Cloak Pop Fiction)

Chapter 46: Blood Wine and Enemies' Head for Dinner

Author's Note: Oo, yung CPR, haha. 👀  - Siel Alstreim

CHAPTER 46: Blood Wine and Enemies' Head for Dinner

I had always wanted to go to the sea. I remembered having vacations on the beach with my parents when I was still a little girl. I was happy and carefree playing with the waves. I always wished we could stay for more days. But instead, my parents would promise me that we would go again on the next holidays. And they were always true to their promises... until that day.

Ever since that tragedy, I really thought that I wouldn't be able to spend days by the sea anymore. Thus, when I learned about Eremitia, I promised myself that this would be my sea; the place I would always come back to. I made plans and dreams for Vinea and they were almost stolen from me.

I smiled to myself as a gentle wave reached my feet while I was sitting on the sand. The sun on the horizon was bidding its farewell leaving soft hues of purple and orange behind. Naramdaman ko ang alampay na lumapat sa aking balikat. Hindi inaalis ang tingin sa kalangitan na tinanggap ko iyon at hinawakan ang magkabilang dulo sa aking dibdib.

"Let's go back inside. It's getting darker and colder here," wika ni Declan na nakatayo na sa aking likuran. Halos iginugol ko na ang buong araw sa pagtulog at pagpapahinga kaya naman ay ipinagpapasalamat ko nang magising ako ng dapit-hapon at malamang hindi pa tuluyang lumulubog ang araw.

"Akala ko'y hindi ko na makikita ang paglubog ng araw. Sa tingin mo ba ay mayroon din nito sa kabilang-buhay?" tanong ko na ang tinutukoy ay ang tanawin sa aming harapan.

Isang buntonghininga ang narinig ko sa kaniya pagkatapos ay naupo siya sa aking tabi. "I really thought that there's only darkness after death; that everything ends once we took our last breath," sagot niya.

Napailing ako habang nangingiting lumingon sa kaniya. "Well, I like to believe there's a world that is more beautiful and peaceful than here out there. A bright place that has no pain and sorrow. Where the music is the joyful laughter and the air is full of hope."

Bahagyang napakunot ang kaniyang noo. "That's a mere fantasy. The void seems to have more probability than that," sansala niya.

Ikinumpas ko ang aking kamay bilang pagwawalang-bahala sa kaniyang sinabi. "I hope our mothers are watching us from that place. Maybe, those three women found themselves young again and having fun together. I think they all deserve that."

Hindi agad na nakasagot si Declan. Nanatili kaming dalawa na tahimik na pinapanood ang paglubog ng araw hanggang sa mawala na ito sa aming paningin. Nang tuluyan nang dumilim ang paligid ay tumayo na si Declan at inalalayan ako. Nagulat pa ako nang buhatin niya ako sa kaniyang bisig.

"I can walk. It's still slow but I can move now," paalala ko sa kaniya habang naguumpisa nang uminit ang aking pisngi.

"I don't want to risk it. You might run away from here," halos walang emosyong sagot nito.

Saglit ko siyang tinitigan na sinalubong naman niya. Nang mauna siyang magbawi ng tingin ay napansin ko ang tila pamumula ng kaniyang tainga. Isang malakas na pagtawa ang pinakawalan ko.

"Was it your attempt to joke, Declan?" nakangisi kong tanong.

Muli siyang umiwas ng tingin at pagkatapos ay nagsimulang maglakad. "I guess what happened brought some changes to us. And I like this side of you..." Nawala ang panunudyo sa aking tinig nang tumigil sa paghakbang si Declan at tumitig sa akin. Napakalapit ng aming mga mukha at pakiramdam ko ay mas humigpit pa ang kaniyang mga braso sa aking katawan.