Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 6 Proud

OTTILIE VIRSES POV 
 
 
Nang matapos ang maghapon kong klase, dumiretso na 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 ko nang hindi mapigilan ang tawa ko. Nakasoot lang naman siya ng yellow apron habang may sandok sa kamay. Imagine, a guy so tall with baby blue hair was wearing a yellow apron? That's something you don't see every day.
 
"You said you don't know how to cook," Plutus said while frowning. "I don't want to die out of starvation." 
 
Natawa ako sa sinabi nito, 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. Nagtataka naman niyang tinitigan ito habang may hawak na sandok.
 
"Binilhan kita ng mga damit, shorts at bagong undergarments. Magsabi ka kung hindi kasya para maisoli ko," mahabang turan ko na nagpakurap-kurap sa mata niya. 
 
"You bought something for me?" he said as he looked so stunned. "Is that even 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 naman 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." 
 
Parang naweirduhan naman ito sa mabilisang pagbabago ng ugali ko. "Weirdo," rinig kong bulong pa nito bago ako tuluyang makalabas sa kusina. 
 
 
~~
 
 
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 nga ako ay may librong nakatabi sa lamesa. I was busy flipping over the instructions for the spell I needed to practice. I could feel the weight of the assignment pressing on me, and the stress was getting to me.
 
Kailangan ko lang naman mapailaw ang isang kandila at pag-aralan din kung paano ito papatayin. Napaka-dali lang hindi ba?
 
Plutus, who had been silently observing me, finally broke the silence with a huff. "What are you so worked up about?"
 
I looked up from the book, surprised by his tone. "It’s just… this assignment. We’re supposed to practice energy manipulation, lighting a candle and then putting it out."
 
Plutus smirked, clearly amused. "That’s it?" He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "You look like you’re preparing for a duel, 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, clearly not convinced. "Well, if you’re that desperate, I could help."
 
Desperation was exactly what I was feeling, so before I could secondguess it, I nodded eagerly.

"Yes, please!"
 
His smirk deepened, turning into a mischievous grin. "Alright, I’ll teach you after dinner. But," he added with a gleam in his eye, "it's not for free. I'll think about what I wanted in return." 
 
I swallowed, already regretting my decision just a little. But I was too desperate to back out now.
 
After dinner, I hurriedly put away the dishes, my nerves were tensed as time goes by. Plutus was already lounging in the living room, waiting with that same amused expression on his face. I joined him, sitting across from him on the floor, a candle placed between us.
 
He leaned forward slightly, his posture casual but his eyes sharp. "Alright, listen carefully," he began, his voice lower now, more serious than before. "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. Then Plutus began, he leaned closer to the candle, his eyes narrowing in concentration. 
 
"Watch closely," he instructed, and I leaned in, not missing a single thing.
 
He raised his hand, fingers poised over the candle wick, and I could see a faint glow beginning to shimmer at his fingertips. "Feel the energy around you," he continued, his voice steady. "Focus your intention. It’s about the connection you make."
 
With a swift motion, he brought his fingers down to the wick, and in an instant, the candle burst to life, flames flickering brightly in the dim room.
 
"Woah, ang angas!" Napapalakpak ako sa sobrang pagkamangha. 
 
Plutus smirked, clearly enjoying my reaction. "Of course it was. Now it’s your turn," he said, arrogance laced in his voice.
 
My heart raced as I positioned myself in front of the candle, inaalala ang lahat ng sinabi ni Plutus kanina. Okay, Ottilie, kaya mo 'yan. I took a deep breath, trying to channel my nerves into focus.
 
But as I raised my hand, I felt the pressure building, the energy swirling around me but refusing to settle. I tried to concentrate, but my mind raced with doubts, and soon I felt sweat pooling at my forehead.
 
"Why are you sweating?" Plutus scolded, leaning back and crossing his arms. "You look like you’re about to collapse!"
 
"Teka lang kasi!" I shot back, frustration bubbling over. "Ang hirap kaya!"
 
He rolled his eyes and then combed his hair at the back, obviously feeling frustrated. "Just take a breath. Try it again. Focus on the flame, not your anxiety."
 
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...