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

Chapter XXVIII

Her

A whimper made me jolt awake.

I fell asleep, I didn't even notice it. Napagod yata ako sa nangyari ngayong araw. I heaved a sigh and roamed my eyes to where that whimper was coming from but then it dropped when I realize the source of that sound.

It was Erikson. He was lying beside me, sweats were all over his forehead and hair. Tumutulo ang pawis niya at namumutla siya. His lips were parted in what seemed like a whimper, he's having a nightmare.

Dahan-dahan kong hinawakan ang noo niya at pinahid ang pawis palayo. My heart clenches at the sight of his pain. What is he dreaming about?

He was whispering something incoherent and low that I had to lean in closer to his mouth so I could hear it. Gusto kong malaman kung anong napapanaginipan niya. Gusto kong malaman kung ano ang bumabagabag sa kaniya.

"Ella..." It was barely a whisper.

My heart thundered against my rib cage when I heard that familiar name.

"I'm sorry..."

Bago ko pa siya magising ay kusa nalang bumukas ang mata niya. Our eyes met but he doesn't look like he's here. His gray orbs were distant and in another dimension, it was as if he can see me but cannot really see me.

"Erikson?" I tried to call, suddenly forgetting the right tone in my voice.

His lips part as his pupils dilated. He stared at my eyes for so long and this time, it felt like he was back to the world of the living.

"Ella?"

Fuck?

"H-Huh?"

He blinked again. Once. Twice. Then snap. He rose from lying and slapped his cheek.

"Hey!" Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at sinamaan siya ng tingin. "Huwag mong saktan ang sarili mo." Seryoso kong sabi.

"Sorry..." Nag-iwas siya ng tingin.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Bakit?"

"I... I mentioned another girl's name." He whispered.

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at bumuntong-hininga. Should I... tell—

"But she's dead." He added.

My lips part as I stared at him. He nodded and his eyes looked determined. As if he wanted me to believe it.

"Paanong—"

"I buried her dead body because they faked her body."

"Sigurado ka bang—"

"Oo. I was the one who buried her body. They were all cruel..." He stared at nothingness as a bitter smile formed into his lips.

I'm alive! Kung ganoon nga ang nangyari... Kaninong katawan ang nilibing niya? It can't be me! I'm alive! Right?

"So don't get jealous of..." He gulped. "Ella."

"Erikson—"

"Please don't call me Erikson. I prefer Hendrik."

"Bakit?"

"It reminds me of someone." He shook his head.

"Si... Ella?" I whispered the last word as if I was talking about someone else.

Hindi niya ako sinagot at sapat na ang mukha niya para makumpirma ang hinala ko. I gulped.

"What if—"

"She's dead." Tumayo siya at inilingan ako. My lips part out of shock.

"Erikson—"

"I said don't call me that." He glared at me and my eyes widened. He looked mad at me!