Love Across Time

Chapter 23 - Aurae

Chie Pov:

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" I could hear the voices of two people arguing.

Nakatago ako sa loob ng aparador, nanginginig na ang mga tuhod ko. Ano ba 'tong pinasok ko!! Hindi ko nga alam pano ako napunta sa ganitong sitwasyon???

Bumalik ang atensyon ko nang magsalita ang kausap ni Lolo.

"Am I not allowed here anymore, DAD?" Yep, it's definitely a woman's voice. Kausap ba niya si Lolo?

Parang binuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig sa naisip ko. Could she possibly be... Aurae?

"I told you many times!!! Pano kung makita ka nila ha?! Use your little brain, Rae!" galit na galit na sigaw ni Lolo.

I bit my lip, suppressing a snort. "Yari siya kay Lolo," I muttered under my breath, almost amused despite my terror. Eh paano kaya kung ako yung mahuli dito? Mapapalipad na ako palabas ng bintana niyan!

"Is that so? Hindi naman nila malalaman," she replied calmly, almost mockingly.

Kalma ka lang, kalma lang, Chie. Di ka nila nakikita. Invisible ka. I closed my eyes, hoping that, somehow, that would make me blend into the closet's dark wood.

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko; sumilip ako sa maliit na siwang ng aparador. She was slim, elegant, with a sun tattoo on the nape of her neck. And i know she's wearing a mask.

"Grabe, she's really something," sabi ko sa sarili ko, medyo na-amaze, pero bumalik ako agad sa realidad nang marinig ko ulit ang boses ni Lolo.

"Idiot! If anyone finds you, I swear to God...." galit na sabi ni Lolo, pero may takot din sa tono niya. Kitang kita ko sa pagkuyom ng kamao niya ang kaba.

Aba, si Lolo kabado din pala. I murmured, shaking my head a little. Kala ko ako lang natatakot dito, eh!

"What are you so afraid of? Natatakot ka ba sa sariling mong anak? Your blood flows in me," she replied coldly, and the tone of her voice sent a shiver down my spine.

Walang pag-aalinlangan na sinampal siya ni Lolo, at umalingawngaw ang tunog sa buong kwarto. Pero, nagulat ako dahil ngumiti lang siya, She was almost... enjoying it. A fucking Psychopath.

"I'm disgusted that you're my own blood!" sabi ni Lolo, kita ang galit at pagkasuklam sa mukha niya. "A killer? Do you think I'm proud that you're mine? I'm not, Rae!"

Suddenly, Aurae slammed her hand on the table, the force so strong it made the entire room shake. She was terrifying. If that hand landed on someone's face, it would probably knock their teeth out.

"Wag kang magmalinis, Dad!" bulyaw niya. "You think I don't know all your dirty little secrets? Should I say them one by one, so even the little rat hiding in the closet learns of your sins?"

Natigilan ako. Alam niyang nandito ako. Ramdam ko ang pag-init ng mukha ko at namumuong luha sa gilid ng mga mata ko habang unti-unting bumabalot ang takot sa katawan ko. What would she do to me if I came out?

Grandpa's eyes flicked over to the closet, confirming that he, too, was aware of my presence. His expression darkened. "You leave them out of this, Aurae. If you want to drag someone to hell, do it alone."

Aurae let out a low, mocking laugh, then took a step closer to the closet. I held my breath, my pulse racing as I heard her footsteps approaching. My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest.

With a devilish smile, she leaned close to the closet door, her face just inches away from me. "Come out, little mouse," she whispered. "It's rude to eavesdrop, don't you think?"