Gloom of Luminescence

Chapter 14

AIRA

"By the way Mistress Amara, wala man lang ba kaming pabuya?" Zayn chimed hoping. Mama just casually placed her spoon down before grabbing the glass and drinking from it. She used the table cloth placed in her lap to dry her lips before turning to Zayn who gave her a wide smile, his teeth not showing.

"I guess I am feeding you now and missions weren't supposed to be done in exchange of anything." diretsang sagot nito. Agad namang umiling-iling si Zayn at bahagya pang natawa.

"That's not it. Tungkol sa nahuli naming summoner. Maybe we can get incentives like others. Hindi ba't may pabuya ang mga sinumang makakapagdala ng isa bilang bihag?" dagdag pa nito habang hindi natatanggal ang nakapintang ngiti sa labi. Hindi nito pinapansin ang masamang tingin ng katapat.

I bet I can't stand it if someone would be glaring at me that long.

"That's why I'm feeding you dinner." sagot naman ni Mama na muling kinuha ang ibinabang kubyertos at pinagpatuloy ang paghiwa sa piraso ng karne. Napatikhim naman ng huli bago muling ibinuka ang labi ngunit bago pa man may lumabas na salita dito ay nauna nang magsalita si Maia.

"Bakit hindi tayo mag-ikot sa bayan bukas? I mean we can tour Aira around, that would be fun!" saad nito sa isang malakas na boses. Napangiwi pa ang ilan sa amin dahil sa pag-iiba ng boses niya dahil doon.

"Woah you sound different." Au muttered from the other side of the table.

"Let's do that." maikling sagot lang naman ni Alexis bago lumingon sakin habang nakangiti. I smiled back at her before returning my attention to Maia who is now shooting death glares at Zayn. Their relationship is weird if ever there is, much weirder than Au and Maia's.

Hanggang sa matapos kaming kumain ay wala nang muli pang nagsalita. We deserted the dining before taking the long hallway.

Ang kaninang tahimik na pasilyo ay napuno ng maiingay na boses at yabag namin.

"Mas maganda kung ngayon na tayo maglilibot. Nights in the city are always the best!" Au said filled with enthusiasm. Nagpaikot-ikot pa ito habang tinatahak namin ang pasilyo. She's actually happily, her dress is swaying with her every move. She looks so happy by herself. The others stared at her weirdly.

And we did ended up going to the city. Ten noisy people walking the busy streets of the city.

Pakriamdam ko ay bumalik ako sa Pilipinas noong 1900s, mula sa mga istruktura at maging sa transportasyon. Tila naglalakad lakad kami ngayon sa Europa. Its a wonderful city. There were floating beams of lights scattered everywhere lighting up the road. The weeping willows made it more magical. They were mostly purple and pink. I feel like I'm living inside a painting.

Nang mapadaan kami sa city square, kung nasaan nakatayo ang estatwa ng isang lalaki, ay nagsimulang maghiyawan ang mga lalaki.

"Shut up." Maia and Zayn have an almost similar expression. Parehong nilisan ng emosyon ang mga mata nito at naging blanko samantalang nakangiwi pa si Maia habang humihigpit ang hawak sa aking kamay.

"Anong meron?" mahinang baling ko kay Au na nasa kabilang gilid ko ngunit mukhang narinig iyon ni Maia dahil mas humigpit ang hawak niya sa akin.

"Baka mabalian mo na siya niyan." si Rhyan na nang-aasar pa rin ang tono ang siyang naghiwalay sa pagkakahawak sa akin ni Maia mula sa likod.

"You see, Zayn and Maia is actually arranged to marry each other." Au had to stop her statement to see my reaction. Napaawang na lang ang aking labi at saka pasimpleng sumulyap sa dalawa.