A Happily Ever After

Chapter Thirty-One

STEFAN

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"Do you really think you can handle that guy?!"

Hindi ko magets kung concern ba si Christopher sa akin o nangaasar lang.

"Oo naman!" My own voice cracked. "Anong tingin mo sa akin, mahina? I am built for intensity!"

I flexed my biceps at him. The manly dude just raised an eyebrow at me.

"You know na hindi lang payabangan ang labanan dito, di'ba?" Balik sa akin ni Christopher. "That guy is an experienced fighter. He is a prince for fuck's sake! Hindi porke't nasa katawan ka ni Allvais, kaya mo na rin siyang tapatan! Gamay mo na ba 'yang katawan na napasok mo? Hindi!"

Nilingon ko si Liam, for emotional support and back up, yet the guy only avoided my gaze.

Parang nawalan ako bigla ng pag-asa. I let the energy drain in my body and sat down on the ground. "I just... I... I can't lose Jessa. I don't want to lose her just like that."

Panandaliang tumahimik dito sa hut. Prince Ellis indeed honored his word and gave us two huts for the six of us. The size of the hut we're in is not bad, yet it's quite humid. Isang kandila lang ang binigay sa amin bilang ilaw dito sa loob, I am not even sure if it's enough for the whole night.

Wala pa ring imik ang dalawa sa sinabi ko. "I seriously don't know what I am doing, okay? Give me some grace." Halos bulong kong saad. "I was under pressure, buong akala ko makukuha na nila si Jessa. I.. I can't afford for one of us to be taken like that!"

"Well..." Kinamot ni Liam ang leeg niya. "Here we are na, eh. Might as well face it? Hindi ka rin naman walang wala sa harapan ng Prinsipe."

"Hoy." Christopher squatted down and looked me in the eye. Nakakatakot na 'nga ang lalaking ito sa normal niyang hitsura sa normal naming mundo, mas nakakatakot pa siya ngayong nasa katawan siya ni Hyran. His eyes are darker, sharper, and filled with more rage. "The situation you created has no space for any drama."

"Hindi naman ako nagda-drama—HOLY SHIT!"

Christopher raised his leg to kick me in the face— only for me to block his attack with my forearm that's activated with hardened scales.

"That is what you need to work on." Tuloy lang ni Christopher na akala mo ay hindi ako muntikan ng patayin. "You have to play fair and don't give that fuckass Prince a loophole to defeat you. He set the rules for your fight to be non-magic, then that is what you'll have to follow."

"Parang kahapon ko lang naman nalaman na may gantong powers pala si Allvais, pero parang nagiging default na ito sa katawan ko kapag may atake." Reklamo ko at pinanood na maglaho ang scales sa balat ko. "It's like I am forgetting who I am outside this world, of how it feels to be a normal human with normal abilities."

Hindi ulit nila magawang makaimik sa sinabi ko. That's when I realized that it feels so long since the last time we thought of our lives outside this book, na para 'bang sa sobrang focus namin na makasurvive sa mundong ito sa araw araw ay nawawala na sa isip namin na may mauuwian pa pala kami na kabilang mundo. A universe where we are just normal teenagers with nothing to think about but to pass our exams and quizzes.

Tumayo si Christopher. "Come on." Tinignan ko lang siya mula sa pwesto ko. "Liam and I will be your practice partners for tonight. You will give it your all tomorrow morning and you have it to show to me first, if you're going to stand a chance against the Prince or not."

"Cool!" I bounced from my seat and stood up. "My practice buddies!"

I pulled the two guys from their arms and hugged them. Christopher immediately protested, Liam awkwardly tapped my shoulders.