Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 44 Visitor

OTTILIE VIRSES POV


Sumapit ang sabado. Mag-isa akong naiwan ngayon sa bahay. May band practice kasi si Plutus, mamaya pa daw hapon ang uwi nito. Inabala ko na lang ang sarili ko sa paglilipat ng mga herbs sa mga paso. Malalaki na kasi ang mga ito at kailangan na nilang ihiwalay para hindi mamatay.

Bandang hapon, natapos din ako sa ginagawa ko. Napangiti ako ng makitang buhay na buhay ang backyard ko dahil sa mga tanim ko. Habang nagpapagpag ako ng putik na dumikit sa jumpsuit ko, narinig ko ang pagtunog ng doorbell. Nakaka-asar naman 'tong si Plutus, gagawin na naman akong tagabukas ng gate.

Nakabusangot akong lumabas ng pintuan at sisinghalan na sana ito ng makita kung sino ang taong nakatayo sa labas ng gate.

"K-kuya..." hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko. "N-napadalaw ka ata?" Tanong ko habang binubuksan ang gate.

Once inside, my brother Oliver, looked at me with his usual serious expression. "I came to get Father's crystal ball," he said. "I need it to practice some new spells."

Mariin akong napalunok habang hindi makatingin ng maayos sa kuya ko. First time dumalaw ni kuya kaya hindi ko mapigilan ang saya sa puso ko.

"Ah, okay... tara muna sa loob habang kinukuha ko." I quickly invited him to sit and prepare some snacks, then slipped into my workshop.

After carefully retrieving the box holding the crystal ball, I brought it to the living room and handed it to him. We sat there in silence for a moment.

"So," Oliver finally said, breaking the silence, "how's life here... on your own?"

"Okay lang naman, minsan nakakalungkot pero sanay naman na ako." I answered quickly as I forced a smile.

A moment of quiet followed, and I closed my eyes tightly, gathering courage. Kailangan kong masabi kay kuya ang nalalaman ko, baka sakaling matulungan ako ni kuya para mahanap si Daddy. Magaling na wizard si kuya kaya alam kong mapipigilan niya si Daddy.

"Kuya Oliver..." I felt my throat tighten, and my eyes burned. "There's something I found out. I... I think Dad might be alive."

Oliver froze, his tea cup halfway to his lips. Slowly, he turned to face me, his brows drawn in confusion.

"What are you talking about?"

With shaky breaths, I explained what I'd done, admitting I'd dug up Father's grave because I'd been haunted by the feeling he was still around. I kept my discoveries vague, not wanting to say too much until I was sure. Oliver looked at me, startled at first, before his expression became blank.

It's a good thing na nakatago ang white board sa sulok. Sa ngayon, hindi ko na muna sasabihin sa kan'ya na iniimbistigahan ko ang mga kaso ng pagpatay sa school. Saka na siguro kapag napapayag ko na si kuya na tulungan ako sa murder case na 'to.

"You're mistaken," he said, his voice even but firm.

I blink, taken aback. "Huh? Anong ibig mong sabihin, kuya?"

He sighed, setting his cup down. "Father isn't alive. Mother just relocated his grave," he explained, his voice growing colder. "She didn't tell you because she was furious that you didn't sell this house. So she kept it from you as punishment."

I felt a sharp, aching pain in my chest, an emptiness hollowing me out. My stepmother had done this without a word, without even letting me know.

My eyes filled with tears, spilling over as I whispered, "How could she... how could she be this cruel? Anak pa din naman ako ni dad." The weight of it all hit me at once, and I broke down, sobbing.

Without a word, Oliver moved closer, pulling me into an embrace. I clung to him, letting the frustration, loneliness, and hurt pour out.

"I'm sorry," he murmured softly, holding me tight. "I should have told you sooner. And I apologize for my mother's actions."

I could barely speak, but I clung to him as I sob into his arms. He continued to hold me, one hand patting my back gently, letting me cry until the pain finally began to ease. Okay na sana, kaso bigla na lang bumukas anh pintuan at iniluwa no'n ang pulang-pulang mukha ni Plutus. Without a second's hesitation, he strode over, yanking me from my brother's side and placing me behind him, his body tense and protective.

"Who the hell are you?!" Plutus growled.

My brother stood up, calm and unbothered, while meeting Plutus's glare head-on. They were nearly the same height and build, hindi malabo na magpang-abot ang dalawang 'to.

"Who is he, princess?" my brother asked calmly.

Nagulat naman ako sa itinawag sa'kin ng kuya ko. It's been a while since he called me like that. Ano kayang topak nitong si kuya at pabago-bago ng mood ngayon.

"Princess?!" Plutus repeated exaggeratedly. "The fuck, witch?" He cast an irritated glance back at me before turning back to face my brother.

And that when I saw my brother smirk for the first time, bagay na nagpagulat sa'kin. Achievement ata 'to para sa kuya kong nonchalant.

"And why you're in my princess house?" Kuya Oliver asked.

Plutus straightened, crossing his arms over his chest. "I live here. Problem with that?"

My heart jumped as I quickly waved my hands in front of me, trying to explain. "It's not what you think! Magpapaliwanag ako-"

Plutus shot me a warning look. "Why are you explaining yourself to him? He has no say in this."

I shot him a glare. "Idiot, he's my brother! Ang sama talaga ng ugali mo!"

Plutus gave me an unimpressed look, as if I'd said something absurd. "Whatever."

Then my brother's sharp voice cut through. "Ottilie. Explain. Now."

I swallowed hard, smacking Plutus lightly on the arm. "Sit down and stop making things worse!" I hissed.

Mapapagalitan pa ako ni kuya dahil sa bunganga ng asungot na 'to. Once we all sat down, I took a deep breath and explained everything, well, almost everything, to my brother, leaving out the parts about the murder cases for now. As I talked, I could feel Plutus's steely gaze fixed on my brother while looking arrogant and defensive, while my brother listened.

When I finished, my brother finally broke his silence. "You know that it's not appropriate for a young woman to live with a man. And you." My brother turned to Plutus. "You should find your own place and stay away from my sister."

Plutus snorted, crossing his arms. "Who says? Your sister did this to me, and she's the one responsible. And why would I take orders from you?" Eyeing my brother from head to toe.

"Where were you anyway when your sister needed you the most?" Plutus added in a mocking tone. "And now, here you are, giving her orders, perfect."

My brother looked genuinely surprised by Plutus's attitude. Nakakunot pa ang noo nito habang may nagtatakang mga tingin. Napahigit na lang ako ng hininga ng ibalik ni Kuya sa'kin ang tingin nito.

"Plutus, ano kaba! It's my decision to move out, bakit mo sinisisi si kuya!" Asar na turan ko sa kan'ya.

Ang magaling na prinsipe, pinitik ba naman ako sa noo.

"Stay out of this, witch. This is between me and him."

Napanganga na lang ako sa kayabangan ni Plutus habang nakahawak sa noo ko. Seryoso ba talaga ang asungot na 'to? Bakit ba siya sabat ng sabat, dapat kaming dalawa ni kuya ang nag-uusap eh. Malala na talaga ang tama sa utak ng isang 'to.

"This isn't about me, it's about you. What if you end up doing something... harmful to her?" My brother shot him a glare.

Plutus lips twisted into a smirk, "Harm her? I'm not the threat here, you are. You're the one who reeks of dark energy. Ottilie's safer with me than she'd ever be with you hanging around."

I frowned. My confusion deepened as I glanced between the two of them, completely confused by Plutus words. Ano na naman kaya pinagsasabi ng asungot na 'to? Bago pa man ako makapagtanong, I saw my brother's face went blank, though his voice held an edge of ice.

"I'll find a way to break Ottilie's hold on you, so you can return to where you belong. Demons should be in hell, not in my sister's world."

Plutus gave a low chuckle, combing his fingers through his hair. "Go ahead, be my guest. Ottilie's had a hard enough time figuring it out, anyway."

Aba't loko 'to ah, ilaglag ba naman ako. So, wala talaga siyang tiwala na magagawan ko ng paraan ang sumpa ko sa kan'ya? Napakagaling, idol na talaga kita Plutus.

And then my brother stood up with a box in hand. I rose from my seat to walk him to the door, with Plutus trailing right behind me. When we reached the gate, my brother turned, surprising me with a warm hug. I went stiff, taken aback by the sudden affection, but his voice was soft in my ear.

"I'll be back soon, princess," he murmured. "Take care of yourself, and call me if you need anything."

"Alright, that's enough," Plutus growled. "You're way too close."

My brother ignored him, giving me a reassuring look as he released me. Then he turned and strode through the gate, his motorcycle roaring to life before he drove off.

When I turned back, Plutus's glare was focused on me, his expression nothing short of furious. Tinotoyo na naman ata ang isang 'to.

"Ano na naman ba?!" Singhal ko sa kan'ya.

He glared, clenching his fists as he asked through gritted teeth, "Did you really just let that fool hug you?"

Napakurap-kurap ako pagiging hangal ng prinsipe na 'to. "Okay ka lang? Kapatid ko kaya 'yon."

"Whatever."

Then, without another word, he stormed off, stomping up the stairs and disappearing without even looking back.

To be continued...