MY CURSED MATE

I A thousand farewells I

Warning! This chapter is not edited, so expect typos, misspelled words, and grammatical errors. Thanks and enjoy reading!

KABANATA C

Third Person's POV

Sa kalagitnaan ng tahimik na umaga ay kasalukuyang balot sa pawis at pamumutla ang mukha ni Everly habang mariing nakapikit ang parehong mata at mabibigat ang paghinga. Panaka-nakang niiling ang ulo dahil sa hindi magandang panaginip, pilit na ginigising ang sarili mula sa bangungot na iyon.

Sa kanyang panaginip ay kita nya ang sariling nakatayo sa gitna ng malawak at nagyeyelong lugar, tila ibinalik sya sa oras matapos ang digmaan. Ramdam niya ang nakakapasong lamig ng yelo mula sa kanyang walang sapin na talampakan. Ngunit hindi niya na iyon alintana dahil ang kanyang atensyon ay umiikot sa kabuuan ng lugar.

The battlefield stretches endlessly before her. Broken weapons and charred earth paint a grim picture. Among the devastation, corpses litter the ground, their faces pale and lifeless.

Nagbabadya ang kanyang paghakbang ng maramdaman niya ang paglapat ng kung ano sa kanyang paa. Nang sandaling ibaba niya ang tingin doon ay laking hilakbot ang kanyang naramdaman ng tumambad sa kanya ang duguan at putol na katawan ng isa sa mga kawal.

All the bodies stirred and started to move. Rotten and decayed, they crawl toward her, their hollow eyes staring into her soul.

"T... Tulong... B... Bakit mo kami p... pinabayaan?" Nahigit ni Everly ang kanyang paghinga kasabay ng pagtulo ng luha sa kanyang mata at pilit na pagtakip sa kanyang tenga. Isang maling atras ay tuluyang bumagsak ang kanyang katawan sa sahig.

She crouched to the ground as the voices of the dead soldiers filled her head. She can still feel their touch in her skin which sends bolts of electricity all over her body. She could almost hear her own heartbeat pounding out of her chest.

The ground begins to shake violently. A blinding light flashes, followed by a deafening explosion. The force throws her backward into darkness.

Tuluyan ng napabalikwas si Everly mula sa pagkakahiga ng sandaling magising sya ng tuluyan mula sa bangungot na iyon. Habol ang paghingang napatulala sya sa kawalan.

"P... Patawad..." She grips the fabric of her nightgown over her heart, as though trying to hold herself together. Her body trembles with the weight of guilt and pain pressing down on her chest.

Ramdam niya ang nagbabadyang luha sa sulok ng kanyang mga mata, ang bigat sa kanyang dibdib ay tila sinasakal siya, marahan nyang inilapat ang parehong palad sa kanyang leeg.

A soft knock on the door breaks the silence. Everly quickly wipes her tears, straightens her posture, and forces her breathing to slow.

"C–Come in." Rinig nya ang garalgal sa kanyang boses bago ilipat ang tingin sa pintuan.

The door creaked open, and the person she didn't expect to see stood in front of it.

"Everly," Her mother steps inside, her presence warm and gentle. Her eyes immediately soften when she sees Everly. Despite the evident exhaustion in her features, she offers a genuine smile that radiates love and comfort.

Everly's resolve crumbles the moment their eyes meet. Fresh tears spill down her cheeks, unbidden and uncontrollable. Her mother doesn't hesitate. She crosses the room in swift, purposeful steps and wraps Everly in her arms.