Daughter Of The Moon (DOTM)

XVI

Zarina

Natapos ang eksena sa hallway kanina ng bigla na lang tumakbo si Maia paalis. Hindi ako nagdalawang isip na sundan siya. She's probably hurt. Maia has been a friend to me. Nung mga oras na wala akong ka-alam alam about sa lugar na ito, she patiently explained everything to me.

She settled at the bench where I and Giovanni had a confrontation last time. Doon ay nagsimula siyang humagulgol. I feel her. She's probably very confused right now. Ano nga bang dapat niyang maramdaman? Siyempre ay masasaktan siya, malulungkot.

I heard Matthew is a sorcerer too from her mother's side. They've been friends since she was a child kasama niya ito nang lumipat sila sa pack na ito. It's very unexpected for Matthew to find out he has a mate too. At dito pa niya ito makikilala. Worst is, it's Ryle's sister.

Minutes passed Maia's still crying. I can't find some words to say. Kaya naman ay nanatili na lamang akong tahimik na pina-pat ang kaniyang likod. The best she could do right now is to cry. Para maibsan yung sakit na nararamdaman niya. Later she will feel not so well but at least a little bit better.

"Why do this have to happen to me?!" Maya maya ay bulalas niya. I don't know what to answer. I feel sad too but I don't want her to thunk that I pitty her.

"Everything will be alright Maia." Iyon lamang ang tangi kong nasabi.

"Moon goddess is so cruel." Mahina niyang sambit. "Bakit pa niya kailangang pakealaman ang mga buhay namin at pagbuhol-buholin ito?!" She shouted.

Maybe moon goddess is cruel. But I can't get mad at her. Having the assurance that you will find your other half someday, is amazing. But still, this situation is really fucked up.

"Zarina, I don't know what to do! I don't know what to do!" Desperado nitong sabi sa akin.

"Then just follow your heart, Maia. Ano bang sinasabi nito?" I smiled at her.

Love has all the answers. Love can even be the answer.

I know deep inside her heart, she has a special place for Ryle.

"I-I don't know, Zarina." Mahina niyang sabi. "Ikaw? Paano pag nahanap ni Giovanni ang totoong mate niya? What will you do?" Halos pabulong pa niyang dugtong.

Natulala ako.

Right.

What will I do? Heto ako't nagbibigay ng payo sakaniya, gayong malala rin ang sitwasyong meron ako. I don't want to deny the fact that I'm falling for Giovanni. Noong una ko pa man siyang makita ay nakaramdam na ako agad ng espesyal na pagtingin sa kaniya. But what if he finds his mate? What will happen to me?

"M-maybe.... I would... I don't know too, Maia." Mahina kong sagot.

I suddenly felt sad. I am here to comfort Maia and yet, ako ang nahawa sa lungkot na nararamdaman niya. If Giovanni finds his mate, and he loves her too...

"Then maybe I should just let him go." I finally answered.

Napalingon siya sa akin. Ang mga luha sa mata niya ay patuloy paring tumutulo. Para bang hindi na niya iyon mapigilan.

"You will?" Tanong niya.

"Of course, it's his other half. Ang matagal na niyang hinahanap. The moon goddess might have granted that connection for a purpose." Sagot ko.

Alam kong lahat ng nangyayari sa buhay ay may dahilan. Pati narin ang pagkawala ng memorya ko. At lalong pati na rin ang pagpadpad ko sa lugar na to.

Pati na rin ang pagkakakilala ko sakaniya.

And whatever it is, I'll just go with the flow.

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"How is Maia?" tanong ni Gio sa akin.

Ilang oras na rin ang nakalipas simula nang iniwan ko si Maia sa may garden upang mapagisa. Kailangan niya iyon.

"She's okay now I guess. How did you find out?" Tanong ko rin sa kaniya.

"Of course, I will know everything in this pack! I'm the alpha!" Pagmamayabang nito saka lumapit sa akin.

Akmang ipupulupot nito ang kaniyang mga braso sa baywang ko nang lumayo ako. I am not his mate. He shouldn't feel this way towards me. He should't do that.

Kumunot ang noo niya sa ginawa ko.

"What's wrong?" Tanong niya.

"I am not your mate, Giovanni." I said looking away from him. I don't want to see his face. Baka hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko.

"Do I look like I care?" Sarcastic niyang sabi.

Napalingon ako sakaniya. Parang naiinis ang itsura niya habang nakatingin sa akin.

Idiot, you should care! It's your mate! It's not just someone you could just turn your back from. I wanted to tell him this. But I can't. My other self is telling me to be selfish just for once. But may rational mind is telling me to stop.

"What if one day, bigla mo siyang mahanap?" I asked him hoping he would say what I want to hear. But then again, my rational mind is cursing myself for being selfish.

"What if I never find that mate?" Balik niyang tanong.

Iniwas ko lamang ang tingin ko sakaniya. Do I have to settle at that hope?

Yung pag-asang baka hindi na niya mahanap ang mate niya? I don't want to be selfish but I don't want to lose him too.

Maia is right. The moon goddess is really cruel.