Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 38 Sharing

OTTILIE VIRSES POV
 
 
As we climbed the steep stairs, each step echoed with an eerie creak. The dim hallway lights flickered on and off, casting shadows that made the inn feel even more like something out of a horror movie. Plutus kept his grip on my hand, practically dragging me along until we reached room 202. He pushed the door open, revealing a small, cramped room that looked… well, less than ideal.
 
"Are you kidding me?" Plutus muttered, his voice filled with irritation as he took in the room. "I’d rather sleep in the car than stay in this dump."
 
I panicked, gripping his hand tighter and tugging him inside.

"Saglit lang! Lilinisin ko na lang, 'wag mo ko iwan mag-isa dito." 
 
He let out a frustrated groan but handed me a small bottle of disinfectant spray from his bag, clearly unwilling to touch anything in the room.

"Fine. Here, use this. And make sure you spray every inch of that bed," he grumbled, stepping aside as I nervously glanced at the bed.
 
Nang malapitan ko ang kama, napanganga na lang ako ng makita kung gaano kaliit 'to. Sa laking tao ni Plutus, paniguradong lalagpas ang paa nito sa kama. Mas lalo namang hindi ito pwede sa dalawang katao dahil sa liit nito.
 
Then, I heard Plutus click his tongue in exasperation, stepping up beside me to survey the tiny bed. We both stared at it in stunned silence before awkwardly looking at each other.
 
After a moment, he cleared his throat and took a step back. "I’ll go change my wet clothes," he said stiffly, gesturing to the bathroom before disappearing inside, closing the door firmly behind him.
 
Without another word, he strode toward the bathroom, closing the door firmly behind him, leaving me standing alone in the cramped room, clutching the disinfectant spray.
 
 
I let out a sigh, looking at the bed, then started spraying it down. "Ako na sa upuan, ikaw na lang sa kama," mahinang sigaw ko, 'yong tama lang para marinig niya. 
 
From the other side of the door, I heard him grumble something, pero dahil masyado na itong mahina, hindi ko na ito narinig. 

 
~~~
 

Matapos kong maligo, naabutan ko si Plutus na naka-upo sa isang upuan sa harap ng isang maliit na lamesa. Walang imik na umupo ako sa katapat nitong upuan habang nagpapatuyo ng buhok. Nakita kong may ini-abot itong isang maliit na tasa na may lamang umuusok na inumin. 
 
"It's a tea," he simply said while slowly brewing his. 
 
"Salamat." 
 
Patuloy pa din ang malakas na ulan na sinamahan ng malakas na hangin. May bagyo ba? Sa pagkaka-alam ko, wala naman ayon sa weather forecast. Habang tahimik kong iniinom ang tsaa ko, hindi ko alam kung saan ibabaling ang tingin ko. Nakaka-ilang naman 'to si Plutus kung makatingin. 
 
"Show me your hand," he commanded in a deep ass voice.
 
Napakurap-kurapa ako sa sinabi ni nito, nagtataka man ay inabot ko pa din ang kamay ko. Plutus' fingers brushed mine as he carefully examined the small wound on my fingertip. I watched him closely, wondering what he was going to do next.
 
I saw his eyes close for a brief moment, and then something strange happened. A warm, golden light radiated from his hand, wrapping around my finger like a soft glow. My heart skipped a beat for a second. I didn’t say anything though, totally mesmerized by the golden warmth that seemed to pulse from him.
 
When the light finally faded, I looked down at my finger in disbelief. The cut had disappeared, leaving no trace behind. I gasped in excitement, inspecting it as I smiled widely, amazed by how effortlessly he healed it.
 
"Wow! Ang angas!" Namamanghang turan ko habang sinusuri ang daliri ko. 
 
"That was nothing," he muttered with a smug grin. "I’ll take my well-deserved rest now. You should do the same."
 
I nodded, trying not to feel too awkward as he turned away. He walked to the other side of the room, clearly done with the conversation. I finished my tea in silence and glanced over at the couch. With a resigned sigh, I stood up and made my way over, but the moment I lay down, I realized how uncomfortable it was.
 
The couch was too hard, and my body ached from the long day. I bit my lower lip, trying to find a comfortable position, but no matter how I shifted, it felt like the couch was made for someone half my size.
 
After several minutes of shifting uncomfortably on the couch, I heard Plutus’ voice cut through the quiet room, deep and commanding.
 
"Come over here. Now."
 
Mabilis akong napabangon dahil sa pang-uutos nito. "Bakit na naman ba?" 
 
His face remained impassive. "Don’t make me say it twice."
 
Inis akong tumayo at hindi na nakipag-talo pa. Hindi naman ako mananalo sa isang 'to. Nang tuluyan akong makalapit sa higaan niya, nakabusangot ko itong tinitigan habang prenteng nakahiga sa kama niya. 
 
"Lie down," he ordered, shifting onto his side to make space. 
 
Inangat nito ang kumot para bigyan ako ng daan para makahiga din. Mariin tuloy akong napalunok dahil sa kaba. Seryoso ba siya, magtatabi talaga kami sa iisang kama? 
 
With a sigh, I finally gave in, crawling into the bed and turning my back to him. I stiffened as Plutus pulled the blanket over both of us as his warmth settled around me.
 
I opened my mouth to argue, but the words caught in my throat when he wrapped his arm around me, pulling me closer. His warmth seeped through me, his steady breaths brushing against my neck, making me shiver. My heart pounded erratically, but oddly, I felt a sense of comfort in his embrace.
 
Plutus’ solid frame practically enveloped mine, making me feel small and safe. Despite the odd situation, my body gradually began to relax, lulled by his steady breathing.
 
Just as I was drifting off, I felt something soft and warm graze the back of my neck, a feather-light touch, almost like a kiss. Nanigas bigla ang katawan ko sa kakaibang pakiramdam na iyon. 
 
"D-did you just kiss me?" I accused him, my voice barely audible. 
 
"Sleep," he murmured gruffly, his voice gentler now, almost soothing.

I could feel him settling in behind me, pulling me closer as if to keep me from slipping away.
 
Dahil nga sa sobrang kaantukan, hindi ko na nagawang patulan pa si Plutus. 
 
~~~
 
Nagising na lang ako nang mag-isa na sa kama, kahit inaantok pa, pinilit kong bumangon at sinulyapan ang orasan. It was only two in the morning at nakakasiguro akong tumila na ang malakas na ulan sa labas. 
 
"Plutus?" I called softly, but the only answer was the quiet creak of the old inn.
 
Still half-asleep, I stumbled out of bed, searching the small room. But he was nowhere to be found. My throat tightened as I swallowed nervously, grabbing my jacket before stepping into the hallway. The dimly lit corridor seemed to stretch endlessly in the dark, and each step made the floorboards groan beneath my feet.

Hugging myself, I whispered his name again. "Plutus?" My voice was barely audible, but even so, it echoed down the empty hallway.
 
Finally, I reached the lobby, where the innkeeper was standing behind the counter, her face lit up with a strange smile.
 
"Hello, nakita mo ba 'yong lalaking kasama ko kanina?" 
 
She tilted her head, still has that creepy smile on her face. "Ah, opo. Nakita ko po siyang lumabas."
 
I let out a small breath of relief. "Baka may kinuha lang sa sasakyan," I glanced toward the entrance.
 
"Ma'am, tsaa po muna kayo," the innkeeper offered, holding up a cup of freshly brewed tea. "It’ll warm you up while you wait."
 
"Thank you," I murmured, taking a cautious sip. It tasted herbal, earthy, and slightly sweet, calming my nerves.
 
Palagay ko, kaedaran ko lang ito o mas matanda lang siya ng ilang taon sa'kin. Habang tahimik kong iniinom ang tsaa, muli kong nilibot ang tingin sa buong lobby. Gawa lang ito sa kahoy at makaluma din ang style nito, halata na pinaglumaan na ng panahon. 
 
After a few sips, a strange drowsiness settled over me. My vision started to blur, the room seeming to sway around me..I immediately leaned on the counter, gripping its edge tightly.

"I… I’m feeling a little… dizzy," I managed to say, trying to keep my eyes open.
 
The innkeeper rushed around the counter, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Okay ka lang ma'am?" she said, her voice laced with false concern.
 
But just before my eyelids fell, I caught a glimpse of her face, her lips curling into a grim smile that sent a chill down my spine.
 
"Plutus..."

I whispered, but my body was already betraying me, the world going dark as I slipped into unconsciousness.
 
 

To be continued...