Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 54 Pub

OTTILIE VIRSES POV 
 
 
Hawak ang mga flashlights, sinumulan namin baybayin ang daan patungo sa abandonadong bahay. The path was overgrown with crawling vines and thick underbrush, making it difficult to walk without tripping. After a while, narating din namin ang pintuan ng bahay. The wooden door was already weathered and cracked from years of neglect. 
 
Plutus reached out and pushed the door open, the hinges letting out an eerie creak that gave me chills. As we stepped inside, the smell of mold and decay greeted us. Para kaming pumasok sa isang haunted house na pinamamahayan ng masasamang elemento. Broken furniture lay scattered across the floor, and plants had found their way in, weaving through cracks and corners.
 
My flashlight swept over the room until it landed on something that caught my attention. There's a massive magic circle drawn in the center of the room. 
 
"Para saan kaya 'to?" I murmured, crouching down to get a better look. The intricate lines and symbols were unlike anything I had seen before.
 
Nakatayo lamang si Plutus malapit sa pintuan, habang pinapadaanan ng flashlight nito ang buong bahay. Panigurado, umaatake na naman ang neat-freak syndrome nito. Napapa-iling na lang ako bago inilabas ang camera na dala ko upang kuhanan ng litrato ang magic circle. 
 
Pag-aaralan ko kung para saan ito ginagamit, at kung may kinalaman ba ito sa iniimbistigahan namin.
 
"You might want to focus on more than just that circle," Plutus said suddenly, umalingawngaw ang malalim nitong boses sa buong bahay.
 
Tumayo ako at saka hinarap si Plutus, "Bakit? Ano ba napansin mo?"
 
He ran a hand through his hair as he shrugged, "I don’t know exactly, but someone’s been here recently. Look around. The stuff in this place has been moved, see how all the furniture is pushed to the corner? That’s not natural for a house left like this."
 
I shone my flashlight toward the corner he mentioned and realized he was right. A cluster of old chairs and a small table had been neatly stacked there, completely out of place in the chaotic mess of the room.
 
"What if that someone is the one that the old lady's talking about?" Mahinang turan ko kay Plutus.
 
Plutus nodded. "Yeah. Can’t say why or how often, but this isn’t just a random abandoned house anymore."
 
"Then, we need to figure it out who... and why." I said while thinking.

 
~~~
 

Nang matapos kami sa pakay namin, napagpasyahan namin na umuwi na. By the time we made it back to the village, colorful lanterns were everywhere, lighting the busy market. Kahit sa gabi, hindi nauubusan ng tao ang lugar na ito. I wanted to stroll around, but I feel so exhausted. And by the time we approached Plutus's car, I was already picturing the drive home. 

Gusto ko ng humiga.
 
"What the hell?!" His loud curse startled me, making me jump.
 
"Anong nangyari?" I hurried to his side, only to find him glaring at the front tire of his car. 
 
It was completely flat.
 
Plutus groaned loudly as he ran a hand through his hair in frustration before kicking the tire. "Unbelievable! Of all the damn places—"
 
"Hey, hey!" I stepped closer and cupped his face to calm him down. "Breathe, Plutus. Deep and slow, okay? Just follow me," I demonstrated, taking a deep breath in and exhaling slowly.
 
Nagwawala na kasi ito, nauunawaan ko naman na parehas lang kaming pagod. Knowing Plutus, maiksi talaga ang pasensya nito sa mga bagay-bagay. Napaka perfectionist din niya, hindi lang umayon sa kan'ya ang panahon, mabilis na agad iinit ang ulo nito. 
 
I can see his ocean blue eyes were filled with irritation, but thankfully it softened slightly as he mimicked me.
 
"Fine," he muttered between breaths, his jaw still tight but less tense than before.
 
When he finally calmed down, I gave him a small smile. Mabuti naman at kumalma na din ang prinsipe, muntik na kaming maka-agaw ng atensyon dahil sa pagwawala nito. 
 
"Kalma, okay?" Paninigurado ko habang nakatitig sa mga mata nito. "Ganito na lang, bukas na tayo humanap ng mag-aayos ng gulong mo. Mag rent na lang muna tayo ng inn na matutulugan natin ngayong gabi." 
 
"This is such a pain," he grumbled but nodded in agreement. Then, out of nowhere, he wrapped me in a tight hug.
 
Hindi ako magalaw sa biglaang pangyayakap ni Plutus. Nakabaon na ngayon ang mukha ko sa dibdib niya. His arms caged me securely, as if I might disappear. It was so unexpected that I laughed softly. 
 
"Para saan ang yakap, mahal na prinsipe?" I teased as I hugged him back.
 
He didn’t answer right away, just held me for a long moment before muttering, "I needed that."
 
I smiled against him. "Feel better now?"
 
"A little," he admitted, his voice gruff but warmer.

He pulled back just enough to meet my gaze. Then I saw a teasing smirk tugging at his lips. "Although I think food might fix the rest."
 
Mahina naman akong natawa sa sinabi nito, "Hindi ko aayawan 'yan."
 
Nagulat ako ng mabilis nitong dinampian ng halik ang tuktok ng ulo ko bago niya ako inakbayan. "Let's go, witch."
 
For a moment, I forgot about the flat tire and the abandoned house. Ito naman kasing si Plutus, pasumpong-sumpong. Pasalamat talaga siya at mahal ko siya, natitiis ko pa ang ka-abnormalan niya.
 
~~~
 
Pagtapos namin magpareserved ng kwarto sa isang inn, naghanap muna kami ng makakainan bago kami magpahinga. Sakto naman na may pub malapit sa inn, kaya doon na namin napagpasyahang maghapunan. Pagpasok pa lang namin sa loob, sumalubong na agad sa'min ang maingay na tawanan at kalansing ng mga baso. Ang pinaka-nagustuhan ko sa lahat ay ang banda na tumutugtog sa maliit na entablado. 
 
Sa sobrang pagkamangha ko, nakalimutan ko na si Plutus. Nang lingunin ko ito, nakita ko na hindi pa ito pumapasok sa loob. Napa-ismid ako bago nilapitan ang nakasimangot nitong mukha. 
 
"Ugh, there are way too many people in here," he muttered, taking a step back with a look of pure disgust on his face.
 
"Teka lang, saan ka pupunta?" Tanong ko dito habang hinihila siya papasok sa loob. "We’re eating here whether you like it or not."
 
Plutus groaned but let himself be pulled to an empty table near the corner. Agad naman kaming nilapitan ng isang waiter at inabutan ng menus.
 
"Anong gusto mo?" Tanong kong muli habang namimili. 
 
"Just pick something for me." Plutus slouched in his chair, clearly looking unimpressed.
 
Pinaningkitan ko ng mata ito, talaga naman, maghapon na ang topak ni Plutus. Daig ko pa may kasamang bata dahil sa tantrums nito. As I placed our order, naka-isip ako ng idea para naman hindi kami mabagot habang nakatambay dito. 
 
"Parang masarap uminom ngayon, ano sa tingin mo?" Nakangising turan ko sa kan'ya. Tinitigan ako nito ng masama habang nakasandal sa upuan nito. 
 
"You? Drinking? Are you sure you can handle it?" He said while arching an eyebrow. 
 
Mahina akong natawa sa naging turan nito, "Hindi naman malakas ang tama ng beer, pwede na 'yon," pagdadahilan ko, pero deep inside hindi talaga ako pala-inom. "Saka nasa pub tayo, hindi dapat mawala ang beer sa orders." 
 
Hindi na nakapalag pa ang prinsipe nang magtawag muli ako ng waiter, para um-order ng dalawang baso ng beer. After a while, sabay na dumating ang pagkain at drinks namin. Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti habang kumakain kami. 
 
"Alam mo, ngayon ko lang napagtanto na first date pala natin ang trip na 'to," natatawang ani ko sa kan'ya. 
 
Napahinto naman si Plutus sa tangkang pagsubo nito, "A date? Really? I thought humans considered dates as eating at fancy restaurants, shopping, and all that other stuff."
 
"Sapat na sa'kin ang ganitong klase ng date," kibit-balikat na turan ko bago sumubo ng isang kutsarang puno ng pagkain. "As long as we’re together, even in simple places like this, it’s special. Alam mo naman na maiksi lang ang buhay ng tao, kaya bawat oras na kasama kita ay mahalaga." 
 
Mukhang napahaba ata ang sinabi ko, napahinto kasi si Plutus sa pagsubo ng pagkain niya. Aaminin ko, may kurot sa puso ng aminin ko sa sarili ko na balang araw ay tatanda din ako, habang si Plutus mananatili sa kung ano siya ngayon. 
 
"You do know I’m immortal, right?" he muttered under his breath.
 
I took a sip of my drink, letting his words hang in the air before answering. "Saka ko na p-problemahin 'yan. For now, I just want to enjoy this, getting to know you better."
 
His grin returned, sharper this time, as he picked up his fork again. "Fair enough."
 
I chuckled softly as we continued eating. Pwede naman pala kausapin ng matino 'tong prinsipe na 'to, bakit kailangan niya pa akong bigyan ng stress araw-araw.

 
To be continued...