Greatest Witch

Kabanata 12

Chronicle

The lukewarm feeling of the weather today gives me all the comfort that I need. Nabubura nito ang mga hindi magandang tumatakbo sa aking isipan. Alas tres na nang hapon at ganoon pa rin ang panahon, malamig. Ayokong bigyan nang espesyal na kahulugan ang binigay na bulaklak sa akin ni Enso dahil para sa akin ay isa lamang iyon gesture of a friend. 

"Ano na naman kaya ang bumabangabag sa isipan ng kaibigan ko?" 

"You scared me!" Tili ko. 

"Haha! Ang lutang mo kasi frieny." Aniya ni Yelien habang abala sa paglalaro ng kaniyang buhok.

"May iniisip lang ako." Sagot ko. 

"Hmm, nalilito ka sa dalawa 'no?" 

"Dalawa? You mean? Come on, no! It's not what you think, Yel." 

"I really want to read you mind right now but I know you value your privacy a lot and as a friend, I want to respect you." 

I smile, "You are really the best." 

"So, what's going on between you and Liam right now?" 

Mabilis na umiba ang timpla nang mukha nito. Mula sa inosenteng kuryoso ay napalitan ito nang usual niyang expression, naka-pout, magkasalubong na kilay at naka-cross-arms. She's childish sometimes and I really like that side of hers. 

"Don't ask me about him, I really don't get men! One second they're sweet and then in blink of an eye they're acting different. Hindi ko siya maintindihan idagdag mo pa ang pagbuntot ni Grayeh Damen sa kaniya at ang loko ang saya-saya niya pang nakikitawa ha!" Dire-diretso nitong sabi sa akin ng hindi humihinga. Kaagad nitong pinaypayan ang sarili matapos niyang binitawan ang mga salitang iyon. 

"I guess relationships can be difficult sometimes, I mean, emotions.  Sometimes its genuine and sometimes it's shallow, uncomfortable and non-solid." 

She look at me with impressed expression. "Ano'ng nakain mo ngayon, Shereene? Hmm? Ito na ba talaga ang epekto ni Flame sa'yo?"

"No, and never. I'm just saying what I observe... in H world when I was still living in there." 

"Aww, sigurado akong namimiss mo rin ang lugar na 'yon." Aniya, tipid akong ngumiti at niyakap ang aking sarili nang dumampi ang malamig na simoy nang hangin sa aming direksyon. 

"Yes, and in that place I was living my very best to survive and exist even though I know that I really don't belong in there. I meet a lot of people who take advantage of me when I was young, sold me as a entertainment thing in circus, and make me as their slaves... it was horrible and I can't imagine myself if I stay there for more couple of years..." 

"O my god, I'm so sorry to hear that awful incidents you encounter, Shereene. You are really a brave person. At kung sakali mang babalik ka doon, sasama ako magbabayad sila---"

"Your company is no longer needed, Soviet. Give me the list of their names, I will burn them down in single snap." 

"Flame..."

He is burning, all I can see is fire all over his body. Ang dating malamig na paligid ay napalitan nang mainit at tila mapapasong temperatura. Halos maiyak ako sa init nito sa aking katawan, hindi ako makagalaw dahil sa sobrang init nito at ang hininga ko ay tila nagiging mainit na rin. 

"S-Stop..." All I can say, weakly.

"Flame, calm down... you might burn down our dormitory" My eyes started blurry and I feel my throat getting thirsty. I hold Yel's hand for support and I feel like I'm going to faint. Hinihiling ko na lamang na tumilig na iyon dahil kung ilang segundo pa ang itatagal nito ay sigurado akong magkikita na naman kami ni Ardeur.