Found You, Cindirella (Cast a Spell Series #2)

Chapter VI

Her

Hindi ako nakapagsalita doon. Madona stromed out of the room amd Ana followed through, holding my mask. Drizzy glared at me before she followed Madona.

"Wait! Madona!" Habol ko nang mabalik sa ulirat.

Hindi ako pinakinggan ni Madona. I huffed and tried to chase for her so I can get my shoes back. Bahala na 'yang damit at maskara na pinaghirapan ko! Basta ibalik niya lang ang sapatos!

"Ang sapa—"

My words halt when Madona opened the window on the hallway of the attic and threw my shoes before I could even scream at her. Nalaglag ang panga ko sa ginawa niya. Nilingon niya ako at kahit na ayaw kong ipakita ang galit, ang luhang nagbabadya dahil sa matinding galit, unti-unti silang bumaba.

"That's for lying." At tinalikuran niya ako.

I felt like my heart fell along with the shoes. But it's a different kind of falling unlike when I'm with Erikson. This time, the fall was destructive, breaking my bones into pieces, completely wrecking me in pain. Tiningnan ko ang bintana at tumulo ang luha ko nang walang makitang presensya ng sapatos ko. Tanging matataas na puno at kahoy ang nakita ko pero hindi ako susuko! Baka nandoon lang iyon!

So I ran downstairs and didn't spare them a glance. Lumabas ako at pinuntahan ang bakuran kung nasaan ang kakahuyan, I ran and tried to search for the shoes as the leaves under my feet crunched. Papalubog na ang araw at malapit na ang gabi pero hindi ako uuwi hanggang hindi ko nakikita ang sapatos! Erikson gave me that shoes! I will treasure it like it's my life on the line!

Pero wala, eh. Ilang oras na akong lumilibot sa gubat pero ni isa ay wala akong makitang sapatos ko. Kaunti nalang ay titigil na ako. Malamig na ang simoy ng hangin at madilim na rin ang kagubatan. Puno na ng lamok at rinig ko ang ingay ng mga kulingling. Pagod na ako, tuyo na rin ang luhang kanina pa tumutulo habang naghahanap.

Sapatos lang 'yan. The devil in me whispered.

I wish it's just a shoes for me but it's not! It was a gift! A gift I never thought I would receive after my mother died. My Papa loves me but he was too busy grieving for my Mother's death that he neglected me and my birthdays. Until we lost a fortune and he couldn't afford giving me anything. Until he met Madona and forgot my birthdays completely. Until he met an accident. I never received a gift from anyone.

And Erikson... he was the first person who gave me a gift. I have always thought that receiving gift was a luxury I couldn't afford. Once you received a gift, it means someone still cares for you. Choosing a gift is hard, and the time you sacrifice to choose a gift means you care for the person that much to give them gifts.

I don't care if there are people who gives gift without meaning. But I... I treasure gifts a lot. Gifts, they heal my wounded childhood heart who hoped every birthdays to receive a gift but received none.

And to lost that precious gift... it means losing a part of piece I found when Erikson gave me that gift.

I sat on the branch and closed my eyes as my heart sank in millions of curses and anger meant for Madona.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Hindi ka pwede pumatay, Cindy. Kung papatay ka ng tao, ikaw lang ang magbabayad. Walang magbabayad sa bills ng Papa mo.  'Tsaka ka na maghihiganti kapag may kaya ka na.

My ears rang when I heard a crunch of leaves from somewhere. I huffed but didn't open my eyes. I'm too exhausted and drained, and mad, to even care for anyone.

"May hinahanap ka ba?" A soft warm voice spoke.

Binuksan ko ang mata ko at tumama ito sa mata ng matandang babae. She looked old but not old enough, maybe in her forties? She was smiling gently at me and she was a really beautiful woman.