Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 19 Mistaken

OTTILIE VIRSES POV

 
"Pffft, are you serious?" Plutus smirked. He looks amused, but somehow there's this unknown thing in his gaze I couldn't quite name. "With that rat-nest you called hair? Yeah, no. I’ll pass." 
 
Napabusangot ako habang hinahalo ang likido sa loob ng beaker. Napahiya ako do'n ah, makakabawi din ako sa asungot na 'to. Bahala siya sa buhay niya, ipagpalatuloy ko na lang 'tong ginagawa ko nang matapos na. Malapit naman na matapos itong potion.

Its color had changed from dull gray to a soft, shimmering blue. I grabbed the phoenix ash and sprinkled a small amount into the beaker. The mixture hissed as soon as it touched the liquid.
 
I tried to focus on the task, but it was impossible to ignore the way Plutus’s gaze bore into me. He just sat there with his arms crossed, watching me like I was some kind of strange experiment.
 
"You’re really serious about this magic stuff, huh?" he asked after a while.
 
"It’s not just'magic stuff,’" I muttered, keeping my eyes on the potion. "Importante 'to."
 
I could feel his eyes on me, making me a little uncomfortable. For a moment, I wondered if he noticed how my fingers trembled whenever I reached for an ingredient.
 
"You sure this won’t blow up in your face?" he asked.

His tone sounded casual, but I could tell he was genuinely curious.
 
Mahina akong natawa, "Matagal ko nang ginagawa 'to. So far, hindi pa naman ako nasasabugan."
 
For a few more moments, we stayed in that strange silence. I continued stirring the potion as I focused on getting the final steps right. Samantalang si Plutus, tahimik lang na pinapanood ang bawat galaw ko habang nag-aalmusal ito.

I could feel his attention on me like heat, and it was becoming harder and harder to concentrate. 
 
Finally, the potion was finished.

The soft blue glow reflected against the walls of the greenhouse. I let out a relieved breath and smiled as I admired the beautiful color.
 
"You finished?" Plutus asked.
 
I nodded happily, "Yeah. It’s done!" 
 
Plutus stood up and picked up the sandwich. He handed it to me with a serious expression.

“Good. Now eat something before you blow up the next potion.”
 
"Oo na kamahalan," napipilitan kong sagot dito bago kumuha ng isa at kinagatan ito. 
 
Dingdong
 
Magsasalita pa sana ako ng bigla na lang tumunog ang doorbell. Sabay kaming nagkatinginan ni Plutus habang nagpapakiramdaman. Nakita kong walang imik na tumayo ito habang nakakunot ang noo.
 
“Stay here,” he ordered.

I watched from the doorway as he walked toward the front gate. Through the small opening, I saw him talking to someone. The person was too far away for me to hear anything, but an uneasy feeling settled in my stomach.
 
Sino kaya iyon? Wala naman akong inaabangan na bisita ngayong araw. 
 
When he returned, his expression was still serious, but he seemed more relaxed.

"There's a granny outside looking for you."
 
"A granny?" I blinked in surprise.
 
Bigla tuloy akong na-curious kung sino iyon. I hurriedly followed Plutus to the gate, and as soon as I saw the elderly woman standing there, my face lit up with recognition.
 
"Grandma Mella!" I beamed, rushing to open the gate. 
 
Labis akong natuwa ng makilala kung sino ito. Isa siya sa mga bumibili ng mga healing potions na ginagawa ko noon sa city. Ang totoo niyan, tinuruan ko ang sarili ko na gumawa ng potions para itinda ito sa market para lang magkapera ako.

Ang stepmom ko kasi ang humahawak ng pera na pinapadala ni daddy na hindi naman nakakarating sa'kin. So I had no choice but to find a way to earn money.

Luckily, my healing potions were much stronger than the ones sold at the market. Grandma Mella had been one of my regular customers.
 
"Napadalaw po kayo 'la?" Tanong ko. 
 
Grandma Della smiled warmly as I took her hand and guided her toward the tree in our front yard. There was a small table and a few chairs underneath it.
She could still walk well, but I carefully helped her sit down.

I glanced at Plutus, who was still standing nearby with his usual serious expression.

"Plutus, could you bring some tea and snacks, please?"
 
Plutus leaned closer and whispered in my ear.

“Your debt is getting bigger, you know. Don’t worry. I’ll collect it eventually.”
 
I waved him off.

"Sige lang. May pambayad naman ako," labas sa ilong na sagot ko habang ipinagtatabuyan ito.
 
Once he left, I sat across from Grandma Mella.

"What brings you here, 'la? Paano niyo po nalaman ang address ko?"
 
Matamlay itong ngumiti, "I got your address from your stepmother, dear. I traveled all the way here because I need your help."
 
"My help, po?" 
 
She nodded slowly.

“My granddaughter was born with a weak body. She gets sick often, and nothing we've tried seems to help. I came here because I need one of your healing potions.”
 
Nagulat ako, "Nanganak na po ang anak niyo?"
 
Grandma Mella smiled again, but this time there was a sadness that tugged at her lips. "Yes, she did. A little girl. But her health... it worries us all."
 
Before I could say anything else, Plutus returned with a tray. He placed it on the table and sat beside me, quietly listening to our conversation.

Inabot ko muna kay grandma ang snacks bago nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita.

"It's normal for children to get sick sometimes, especially while they're growing. But don't worry, Grandma. I'll make a potion that'll help strengthen her body."
 
Relief immediately appeared on her face. She reached across the table and squeezed my hand.

"Thank you, dear. I knew I could count on you."
 
When I turned to Plutus, I noticed he was staring at me with an intensity that made me feel... self-conscious. 
 
"What?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
 
Plutus just lifted one of his own brows in return but said nothing. Ngayon ko lang nalaman na may pagka-chismoso din pala ang prinsipe na 'to. Pero muli kong ibinalik sa matanda ang atensyon ko. 
 
"I'll go prepare the potion now. Please enjoy your tea in the meantime." Paalam ko sa matanda at saka tumayo sa pagkaka-upo.
 
Grandma nodded, sipping her tea with a grateful smile. Before leaving, I shot Plutus a pointed look.

"'Wag kang aalis diyan, samahan mo lang si grandma."
 
He opened his mouth to protest.

“Why should I—”

But I was already hurrying back to the greenhouse before he could argue.
 
Ilang minuto lang ang itinagal ng paghahanda ko sa gamot ni grandma Mella. Mabuti na lang at may mga nauna na akong nagawa kaya may stocks ako kahit papaano. 
 
When I returned, I handed Grandma Della a small pouch and explained how to give the potion to the baby.

Grandma Della stood up and reached into her bag. She pulled out a brown envelope and tried to hand it to me.

I quickly shook my head.

"Ay huwag na po, 'la. Use that money to buy some toys for the baby. She’ll have more energy after taking the potion, so she’ll need something to play with.”
 
Grandma Della chuckled before pulling me into a hug.

“You’re such a sweet girl, Ottilie. I’m so grateful to you.”
 
Sunod nitong tinignan si Plutus na kanina pa nanahimik.

"You two make such a lovely couple! He's so handsome."
 
Nagulat ako sa sinabi ng matanda.

"Couple?"
 
I glanced at Plutus.

He was already walking back toward the house without saying a word.

"Wala po kaming relasyon."
 
She waved me off with a knowing smile. "I hope you two last a long time, dear."
 
With one final wave, Grandma Della disappeared down the road, leaving me standing there, speechless.
 
Ano na naman kayang katarantaduhan ang pinagsasabi no'n habang wala ako?

To be continued...