LUNA: The Rebellion

71: The Empress

In my dreams, I saw everyone.

Every single one of them. Si Sage, si baby, si mama, si papa, si Francis--- Charlotte, Ophelia, Acey--- Si Pandora. There was this vague memory of me talking to them. I couldn't remember clearly. Hindi lang sila ang nakita ko, nakita ko 'rin ang mga mukha ng ibang mandirigma. Hindi ko man masyadong maalala kung ano ang nangyare sa mga panaginip ko, but I was certain of one thing. They all looked in peace. There was no pain in their eyes anymore.

I woke up the next second with tears rolling down my face. Nanginginig pa ako nung nagising ako. There was no one in the room with me and I panicked for a while until I came to the realization everything looked familiar to me. The bed. The walls. The cabinets. The ceiling. The windows. The curtains. They all looked familiar.

I found myself staring at the opened windows beside my bed for some reason. The outside world felt surreal for me all of a sudden. That was when I heard Midnight's voice.

Midnight broke down in front of me. He wept and wept while holding my hand. He tried to keep his voice down, but there were moments when he couldn't. His shoulders trembled nonstop and the blanket that covered my legs was soaked from his tears.

My face softened at the view of him, crying. What have I done to this demon? How much did he suffer while I was gone? Sumikip ang dibdib ko para saaming dalawa.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras kaming ganoon ang posisyon, it was only when the other Pack members came barging inside my room did Midnight and I stopped weeping. Pinunasan kaagad ni Midnight ang kanyang mga luha at ganoon 'din ako.

"Gods above" I heard the gasp and the sobbing sound that came out of Kaimana's mouth before she threw herself to me. "Gods above. You're back. You're finally back"

Hindi pa nga ako nakaka-reak sa ginawa ni Kaimana, may narinig na akong humagulgol sa gilid. Arius had dropped onto his knees beside my bed and wept like a baby. Inabot niya ang kamay ko at niyakap ito ng sobrang higpit sa bisig niya, umiiyak parin. Napabitaw wala sa oras si Kaimana sabay atras, I thought I saw her holding back her laugh when she saw Arius's face.

"Iyong sipon mo, Arius. Sinasabi ko sayo" Tumutulo na kasi iyong sipon niya sa kamay ko. Hindi ko alam kung mandidiri ba ako o maaawa sakanya. "Halika nga dito"

Arius went in for a hug. Niyakap niya ako ng sobrang higpit, to the point I almost couldn't breathe. Ni hindi na siya nakapagsalita pa dahil mas humagulgol lang ito sa tenga ko.

"O tama kana. Kanina ka pa 'e. Kami naman. Oa kana" Hinila siya sa kwelyo ni Tartarus.

"Epal" Bulong ni Arius sabay padabog na umalis. Kitang kita ko kung paano siya pagtawanan ni Kaimana sa gilid.

Yung totoo, iyakan o lokohan kami dito? Kasi ako mismo nalilito na kung anong emosyon ang ipapakita ko sakanila.

But... I missed this. I missed them. It had been a while since I felt warmed surrounded by such presence.

My thoughts had been caught off when Tartarus ruffled my hair. He was gentle when he did it, not frisky. "Tangina mo talaga, Sahar"

I stuck out my tongue at him. Walang hiya niyang hinila ito bigla kaya natampal ko siya kaagad sa noo.

Tumatawa siyang umatras para pagbigyan naman ang iba saakin.

Nagulat naman ako ng pitikin ni Radu ang noo ko.

Ano ba?! Nawala lang ako ng saglit mas lalo ata sila naging biolente?!

Masama ko siyang tinignan.

Radu dropped his head on his shoulder, grinning like a playful wolf. "Tagal ko ng hindi nakikita 'yan ah. Buti naman naisipan mong bumalik?"