Chapter 46: The Tunnels
The moment his lips parted from my wrist, still with my other hand on his cheek, all I did was watch him. "Thank you."
Mas lalong umawang ang bibig ni Kreios at higit siyang napatitig sa akin nang marinig iyon sa akin. "Huh? I should be—"
Umiling ako sa kanya. Ngayon ay marahan ko nang inihawak ang dalawang kamay ko sa pisngi niya habang kapwa nakapatong doon ang magaan niyang kamay.
"I know that we did not have a good start... we're a complete mess and had our different priorities, but here we are right now, in our own mission."
Tipid na ngumiti si Kreios, ipinikit niya ang kanyang mga mata at mas humilig siya sa mga kamay ko. "Of course. I promised to join you— my promises to you will never be broken. Now..."
When he tilted his head, offering his neck, I shook my head. "Kreios, I am fine."
Nauna na akong tumayo sa kanya, hawak pa rin ang mga kamay niya at bahagya na siyang hinila patayo.
"Are you sure?"
I nodded.
Ngayon ay kapwa na kami humarap sa napakaraming daan sa paligid namin. All were tunnels of darkness with unknown paths.
"Just tell me which path, Harper. I will always walk by your side."
"Can you light each tunnel?"
Tumango si Kreios sa sinabi ko. Hindi man niya binibitawan ang kaliwang kamay ko, gamit ang isa pa niyang kamay, naglabas siya ng mga buhangin na tila mga ginto. The illuminated grains of sand floating in the air went in every entrance of the dark tunnels in front of us, giving us a glimpse of the paths.
Hinayaan ako ni Kreios na maglakad sa bawat bukana ng mga daan na nakapaligid sa amin na hindi binibitawan ang aking kamay. He knew when to be playful, funny or pretending to be a foolish one. Now he was calm, collected and gentler.
Nakaikot na kami ni Kreios sa bawat bukana na may kauting liwanag mula sa mga buhangin. Pansin ko na tila pare-pareho lang ang mga iyon. Pinakiramdaman ko kung may kakaibang presensiya ba na naghihintay sa bawat daan ngunit wala akong maramdaman.
If Danna and Father went into this place, how did they locate the right path?
Ngayo'y nasa gitna na kaming muli ni Kreios kung saan ay may bilog na simbolo sa aming tinatapakan.
"Kreios... I have been wondering," hindi ko agad tinapos ang sasabihin ko at humarap ako sa kanya.
"Usually... Father appears in everyone's dream. He always had an encounter with our mates and he's leaving something very important that would help our mission."
He blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Did you happen to meet Father before and he gave you something?"
Mariin kong pinagmasdan si Kreios. Pinagmasdan ko ang reaksyon niya pero ang tanging napansin ko lang ay ang pagkunot ng noo niya at pag-iling niya sa akin.
"I can't remember any. I am sorry."
"Are you sure?"
"Harper, your father is a known king. I don't think I can forget something with his involvement. And do you think if he happened to find me before he will not report me to my grandfather?"
Napatitig lang ako kay Kreios. Father might be righteous, but he was never against adventure. Nakasisigurado ako na kung nangyari man na nakita siya ni ama ng mga panahong pinaghahanap siya ni Leon, mananatiling tahimik si ama.
