A Happily Ever After

Chapter Thirty

STEFAN

The lady's chamber has a ceiling that soars up to three storey high. The square shaped windows that are lined up on the left and right walls are tall enough to shape huge pools of light to splash across the cobblestone floor. The wide space is emphasized more by the lack of items and decorations. The only signs of life are at the messy rugs and at the table full of fruits, all settling at the elevated platform at the end of the chamber.

Pinanood ko lamang ang babae na naglakad papunta sa dulo. Pati paggalaw ng bestida niya na ngayo'y naarawan ay parang inaaya akong sundan lang siya. Kaya ganun naman ang ginawa ko habang hindi tumitigil sa pagkain ng brownies na ito.

Hindi ko na mabilang kung naka-ilan na ba akong brownies. Siguro lima na. Nakakapagtaka 'nga, hindi naman ako gutom pero parang takam na takam ako sa pagkain na ito. I don't remember being obsessed with sweets back in the normal world. Sure I eat some cakes and other sweet pastries, but not as excited as this one.

Nakita ko ang paglingon ng babae sa akin habang naglalakad. There is it again, the mystical glint that flashes in her eyes. The unusual detail sent my guts in a weird swirling sensation, prompting my legs to follow her more.

"You never asked my name." She pouted when she sat down beside the table.

"Ah." Punong puno pa ang bibig ko mula sa brownies. Mabilis ko iyon nilunok. "I'm sorry. What is your name?"

Her hand slowly slides across the table. Her eyelashes batted at me, her girly gaze piercing through mine. "I am Ciraea." Her voice floated in the calm air. "I lead the women in this land."

Tsaka ko napagtanto puro babae 'nga ang mga nakikita kong tao sa lugar na ito. Parang kami lang ni Christopher at Liam ang unang lalaking umapak dito ah!

Binaba ng babae ang tray na puno ng brownies. Kumuha ako ng isa at kumagat ulit.

"You lead the women? That is so cool." Nakita kong ngumiti si Ciraea. Something about that smile seems to electrocute me, but in a bizarre way. "You seem to do well without the masculine influence. That is nice."

Ciraea tilted her head at me while biting her bottom lip. "That is right, traveller."

Napalunok ako nang maalala kong hindi ko pa nasasabi ang pangalan ko. "Oh! I am Allvais, by the way." I swiftly wiped the crumbs off my mouth. "I am currently on a quest on the west. Kaya kailangan namin ng ilang materyales."

Bigla akong napaiwas ng tingin kay Ciraea. Something was missing in the details I just said. Like.... What is on the west? And... who is 'we'?

May kasama ako?

Natanaw ko na pinapanood ako ni Ciraea. Ako naman ay natahimik sa mga tanong sa utak ko. Bakit 'nga ba ako andito? Anong meron ba sa mga gamit na dala dala ko?

"Uh. Uhh.." The brownie stayed sweet in my tongue. "I'm sorry. I'm quite unsure why I am here..."

Tatayo sana ako nang hinampas ni Ciraea ang lamesa. "No. No. I am not letting you go, Allvais, when you're unsure of what's going on with you." Her voice is as sweet as the brownies. "Kumain ka pa muna at baka mahimasmasan ka. Ano ano naalala mo?"

"Uhm." Kumuha ulit ako ng isang brownie at kumagat doon. "I believe that there is something in the west. Something like.. Sleeping creatures or something. Kaso hindi ko maalala kung may kasama ba ako. Parang may kasama ako. May kasama ako?"

Nilibot ko ang tingin sa chamber bago muling tinignan si Ciraea. "Sino sino kasama ko? Pakiramdam kasama natin sila dito."

"Oh no no. You are the only gentleman here, Allvais." Ang sarap talaga ng boses niya sa tenga ko. Kaso may hindi tama sa sinabi niya, yet at the same time, I have nothing to prove her wrong. I feel like I am not the only man here, but I cannot pinpoint it enough.