Greatest Witch

Kabanata 10

Veracity 

It was Madam Z, the woman in black with the name of Zaheera. Hindi maalis alis ang tingin ko sa batang pigura niya. Maganda ang kutis nito kagayang-kagaya nang mayroon siya ngayon. Mala-gatas ang kulay, matangos na ilong, magandang pilik mata at maabong mata at ang kaniyang pisngi ay namumula dahil sa katamtamang lamig nang panahon. Matangkad ito at maganda ang hugis nang kaniyang katawan. 

"What brings you here, Headmaster of Wizardy Academy?" Nakangiting tanong ni Mama. Mabilis namang umikot ang mga mata ni Madam Z. 

"I told you to stop rolling your eyes to my wife, sister." My father said. 

"Alright, brother. You're still so whipped to your wife." 

"Of course, I am. I am not able to love someone else because I was bewitched by this beautiful soul beside me who I love wholeheartedly since then my eyes meets hers." My father look at my mother with sweetly. Their affection to each other is solid as rock because I witness it when I was a child. If I am going to choose another parents, I would still choose them over and over again because they deserve every happiness in the world. 

"Kaya nga kailangan mo na ring maghanap nang mapapangasawa, Z." Nakangiting wika nang aking ina. 

Pilit na ngumiti si Madam Z. "I won't bother to have one. Kaya ko namang gawin ang lahat nang maaring gawin nang kalalakihan at kababaihan." 

"I can't agree more, Zaheera will always Zaheera. I guess Zenger blood's will be with you always." Father said. 

"I am really thankful to be part of this family." My mother said emotionally. 

"Of course you are always be part of this wonderful family, Shereenaih. You are one of us, don't ever forget that." Madam Z's words stuck inside my head. 

I immediately look at Madam Z, he is my father's sister and it means... she's my aunt. I don't know how to react on sudden revelation I just heard. Hindi matanggal-tangal ang tingin ko sa kaniya kasabay nang pag-init nang aking mga mata. The overwhelming feeling I once long might suffocate me for tearing in joy and blissfulness. Who would have thought that I am not really alone? 

"Ito ba ang gusto mong malaman ko, Madam Z?" Nanginginig na tanong ko, naghalo ang saya, pangamba at kuryusidad sa aking sistema. 

"Yes, my niece but there's more... let me explain everything to you once we get done in here." Her soft response give comfort for me. 

Bumalik ang buong atensyon ko sa aking mga magulang. Lahat sila ay nakangiti habang nakaharap sa isa't isa. Pinagmasdan ko nang maiigi ang mukha nang aking mga magulang. Buong puso akong nangungulila sa kanila araw-araw at tuwing naaalala ko ang sinapit nila ay hindi ko maiwasang huwag sisihin ang aking sarili. 

"The lethal creature is alive... and I don't know what to do, Hiljas. The students is in grave danger because of my carelessness. I could not forgive myself if something happens to them---"

"Hush, Zaheera!" My father's voice thundered. "You cannot rewrite the past, let it go. If that devilish creature is alive then we need to kill him first before he kills us." 

"Z, hindi mangyayari ang nangyari noon. Hinding-hindi makakawala ang taong iyon sa mundong ito hanggat nabubuhay pa ako. I also take responsible for it, until now I am really sorry..." Aniya ni Mama. 

"No, no, Sher. It's my heart's fault. Hindi sana ako nagpadalus-dalos sa sariling emosyon at nahulog sa mabuting katangian at kabutihan niya. Isa iyon patibong at malaking pagkakamali." 

Bumuntong hininga ang aking ama kasabay niyon ang pagbuhos nang malakas na ulan dahilan para matahimik ang buong sala kung saan sila umiinom nang tsaa. Magatatakim silim na nang tumila ang ulan.