Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 6 Proud

OTTILIE VIRSES POV

After my classes ended, dumiretso muna ako sa isang boutique para bilhan ng damit si Plutus. Baka mamaya magreklamo na naman 'yon dahil hindi ko siya inaasikaso.

Daig ko pa may anak sa ginagawa ko, napaka-angas talaga.

Madilim na ng maka-uwi ako. Mabuti naman at pina-ilawan na ni Plutus ang buong bahay. Pagpasok ko sa loob, may naaamoy akong mabangong aroma sa kusina, kaya doon ako dumiretso.

Pagpasok ko, naabutan ko si Plutus na nagluluto.

"Himala, nagluto ang prinsipe," pang-aasar ko sa kan'ya, tumalas tuloy ang tingin nito sa'kin.

Pffft.

Nang mapatingin ako sa soot nito, muntik na kong mapahagalpak ng tawa. Soot-soot niya ang spongebon apron ko, habang may sandok sa kamay.

Imagine, a guy so tall with baby blue hair, nakasoot ng spongebob apron? That's something you don't see every day.

"You said you don't know how to cook," Plutus muttered while stirring the pot. "I don't want to die from starvation."

Natawa ako sa sinabi nito, "Namamatay din pala sa gutom ang mga demons?" Pang-aasar ko dito na ikinatalim ng tingin niya.

Marunong naman palang magkusa. Wala naman kasi talaga siyang aasahan sakin pagdating sa kusina. Kaya kong kumain ng mga instant food pero dahil nga maarte si Plutus mukhang mapili din ito pati sa pagkain.

Nilapag ko na lang sa counter ang paper bag na pinamili ko kanina.

Plutus glanced at it suspiciously. “What’s that?”

"Binilhan kita ng mga damit. Shorts at bagong undergarments. Magsabi ka kung hindi kasya para maisoli ko," mahabang turan ko.

His eyes widened slightly.

“You bought me something?” he asked, looking genuinely surprised.

Then he ruined the moment.

“…Is it branded?”

Mabilis akong napatampal sa noo ko sa sinabi nito. Akala ko pa naman bumilib na siya sa ginawa ko. Wala na talagang pag-asa na magbago ang asungot na 'to.

Huminga muna ako ng malalim saka namewang sa harapan niya.

"Kung ayaw mo, ibabalik ko na lang," nagtitimping turan ko at kukunin na sana ang paperbag nang mabilis na hinablot ito ni Plutus saka niyakap ng mahigpit.

"Impatient, aren't we?" Plutus smirked, then raised his eyebrows. "This will do for the mean time. Next time, I want a branded one."

Sa sobrang inis ko aambahan ko na sana ito ng suntok ng iharang nito ang sandok na hawak niya.

"Oops, if you hit me, no dinner for you tonight."

Napa-isip agad ako sa sinabi nito, sabagay, may point siya. Wala na akong oras para mag-asikaso ng hapunan ko dahil may assignment pa ako na pag-aaralan.

Dahan-dahan kong ibinaba ang kamao ko saka siya nginitian ng matamis.

"Okay, fine... tawagin mo na lang ako kapag luto na."

Plutus looked disturbed by my sudden attitude change.

“Weirdo,” I heard him mutter as I left the kitchen.

~~

Sabay kaming naghapunan ni Plutus, infernes, masarap siyang magluto. Hindi ko nga lang alam anong tawag dito, mukhang pang maharlika kasi ang itsura ng pagkain.

Habang kumakain, I kept flipping through the spellbook beside my plate. I still had an assignment about energy manipulation, and the pressure was already stressing me out.

Kailangan ko lang naman mapailaw ang isang kandila at paano din ito patayin.

Napaka-dali lang hindi ba?

Plutus noticed me stressing and finally sighed. “Why do you look so miserable?”

Saglit naman na umangat ang tingin ko sa kan'ya, "Assignment ko. Kailangan ko mapailaw ang kandila, tas patayin din gamit ang gift ko."

Plutus smirked immediately.

“That’s it?” he asked. “You look like you’re preparing for war, not a candlelighting."

I shot him a look, not appreciating his enjoyment of my misery.

"Ang hirap kaya, lalo na't first time kong pag-aaralan gamitin 'tong gift ko."

He raised an eyebrow before leaning back lazily.

“If you’re that desperate,” he said smugly, “I could teach you.”

Mabilis na nagliwanag ang mga mata kom

"Yes, please!"

His grin immediately turned mischievous.

“Fine. I’ll teach you after dinner,” he said. “But it’s not free. I’ll think of something I want in return.”

Muntik ko ng pagsisihan ang pagpayag ko. But I was too desperate to back out now.

After dinner, I quickly cleaned up while Plutus waited in the living room looking far too entertained by my suffering. I sat across from him on the floor with a candle placed between us.

Plutus leaned forward slightly, suddenly more serious.

"Alright, listen carefully," he began, "Energy manipulation is all about focus. You need to channel your magic through intention. The candle is just a medium, you control the flame."

Mabilis akong tumango, kailangan kong maperfect 'to dahil ayokong mapahiya sa klase bukas.

“Watch closely,” he instructed.

Plutus lifted his hand above the candle wick. A faint glow slowly appeared at his fingertips.

“Feel the energy around you,” he continued calmly. “Focus your intention.”

Then, with one smooth motion,

Fwoosh.

The candle instantly burst into flame.

"Woah, ang angas!" Napapalakpak ako sa sobrang pagkamangha.

Plutus smirked proudly. "Of course it was. Now it's your turn."

My heart immediately started racing.

Okay, Ottilie. Kaya mo ’to.

As I positioned myself in front of the candle, inaalala ang lahat ng sinabi ni Plutus kanina.

I took a deep breath, trying to channel my nerves into focus.

But the moment I focused, panic hit me.

The energy around me felt unstable, and my thoughts became a mess. Sweat started forming on my forehead.

Plutus frowned. “Why are you sweating so much? You look like you’re about to faint, idiot!”

"Teka lang kasi!" I shot back. "Ang hirap kaya!"

He rolled his eyes dramatically. “Relax. Focus on the flame, not your anxiety.”

I took another deep breath and closed my eyes tightly.

Calm down.

Focus.

Tumango ako sa sinabi nito at saka mariin na pumikit. Kinalma ko muna ang sarili ko at saka muling nag-focus sa harap ng kandila.

I imagined the flame flickering to life, visualizing it as a small burst of light. Slowly, I felt a pulse of energy flow from my fingertips.

Then, just like that, it happened. The candle ignited, a small flame dancing at the tip of the wick. My heart leapt, and a wide grin spread across my face.

"Yes! Nagawa ko!"

To be continued...