Alexandria Academy

Chapter 38: Goodbye

EDITED VERSION

N O T E:

Please  watch the video on the media. And credits to the owner.

Next chapter is the epilogue, enjoy reading!

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Althea's POV

I opened my eyes and immediately held my head. Walamg patid sa pagpintig at pagkirot ang binti ko kaya napaupo ako at tiningnan ang paligid. The last thing I remember is that I'm with Isaac then everything went blank. Pinagmasdan ko ang paligid.

I'm in a hospital room, and there's a dextrose in me. Bumalik ako sa pagkakahiga at tumitig sa ceiling. Maya-maya ay bumukas ang pinto kaya napalingon ako. Only to see Mrs. Zecharia. Natigilan ako at napaisip. What is she doing here?

"You're awake." Umupo siya sa stool na katabi lang ng higaan ko kaya umupo ako para makapag-usap kami nang maayos. "You've been unconscious for three days straight. Do you want me to call the doctor?"

"H-Hindi na po. I'm okay." It's awkward. The last time I talked to her was about my father and about my real identity. At habang tinitingnan ko siya ngayon, mas lalo akong kinakabahan. I know she's got something to say.

"I want to tell you something," she said. Umiwas ako ng tingin. I'm afraid of what I'm about to find out. Pero kung hindi ko malalaman ngayon, kailan pa? "The day that you fell from the Crystal Falls, it wasn't an accident."

Natigilan ako. Napatitig ako kay Mrs. Zecharia. I was waiting for her to say that it was just a joke, but all I could see is her serious face. Hindi ako makasagot. Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko.

"The portal of Magic World won't open unless you're like us. I found you before you could even find us. Nang araw na mahulog ka sa falls, it was me who led you here." Napasapo ako sa ulo ko nang lalong kumirot 'yon dahil sa sinabi niya. All along it wasn't a coincidence? It was all planned. But how come I didn't notice it? Pinapaikot lang nila ako sa palad nila?

"Are you saying that..." A tear fell down from my eye. "...you planned all these?"

She placed her hand on mine. "I'm saying that this is your real home, Althea." Ngumiti siya na mas lalong nagpaiyak sa akin. Is this really my home? Kung ito ang tahanan ko, bakit ako nasasaktan? "I know my son hurt you and I know how much it torments you every time you see him that's why you want to go back to your old world. But I just want you to know that Isaac also loved you, and I know it because he's my son. Hindi kita pipigilan kung ang pagbalik mo sa mundong 'yon ang magpapagaan ng loob mo. Hindi ko rin sasabihin sa 'yong patawarin mo na ang anak ko. But can you promise me one thing?"

Tinitigan ko siya sa mata. Mrs. Zecharia is sincere. Kitang-kita ko 'yon sa mata niyang nagsusumamo ngayon sa harap ko. "Come back home when you're already okay."

Ngumiti ako nang mapait pagkatapos ay tumango. "Pangako."

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Nagising ako at tiningnan ang orasan. It's already midnight. Pagkatapos naming mag-usap ni Mrs. Zecharia ay nakatulog agad ako at ngayon lang ako nagising. Natigilan ako nang mapatingin sa kanan ko at makitang nakaupo si Hunter habang nakatungo sa hospital bed. He's sleeping. Hinihintay niya ba ako?

"Hunter..." I touched his hair. He growled and opened his eyes. Nang makita niya ako ay agad siyang umayos ng upo at humalukipkip. "Why are you here?"

"I just want to see you and talk to you." He smiled, kaya napangiti na rin ako. Ngayon ko na lang siya ulit nakita. Thanks to him I got the courage to fight. "Are you reallt leaving?"

Bumagsak ang tingin ko at wala sa sariling tumango. "Pagkagaling na pagkagaling ko, aalis kaagad ako. Mrs. Zecharia took care of the apartment I'll live on. Inasikaso na rin niya ang eskuwela ko. Planado na ang lahat. I'm leaving."

Hunter took my hand and placed it on his cheek. "Well then, atleast let me say this before you leave me." Hinalikan niya ang likod ng kamay ko at pagkatapos ay tinitigan niya ako. "I like, Althea."

"W-What?" 'Yon lang ang nasabi ko. I don't know how to react that exact moment. Maybe because I was thinking about someone else. I was thinking about the guy who hurt me even though Hunter is in front of me. How come we always choose those people who'll eventually hurt us?

"You don't have to say anything. And you don't have to fall for me, too. I just want you to know that all those times we spent together, it's worth treasuring." Lumamlam ang mata niya pagkatapos ay tumayo siya at hinalikan ang noo ko. "Goodbye, Althea. Until we meet again."

"H-Hunter..." Binitawan niya ang kamay ko pagkatapos ay naglakad siya paalis. Pero bago siya tuluyang makalabas ay nilingon niya ako.

"Take your time healing."

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One week had passed. Nakasakay ako sa sasakyang maghahatid sa akin patungo sa apartment na titirhan ko. Tuluyan na akong umalis sa Alexandria Academy. I don't consider this as an end, rather this is the start of a new adventure. A life away from him and the others.

Nang makarating ako sa harap ng apartment ay umalis na kaagad ang driver. Hila-hila ang maleta, pumasok ako sa loob pagkatapos ay tinitigan ang mga gamit na may takip ng puting tela. The apartment is kind of spacious for me.

Lumapit ako sa bintana at binuksan 'yon. The sunlight illuminated my bare skin. Mapait akong napangiti at inalala ang mukha ni Isaac. I didn't had the chance to see him after I left the Magic World. And that's okay. Kasi kapag nakita ko siya, pakiramdam ko ay pipigilan ko na ang sarili kong umalis. Kapag hindi ako umalis, patuloy lang naming masasaktan ang isa't isa. I'd rather leave than hurt him.

Umupo ako sa sofa. Will it make a difference kung ako ang naunang nakilala ni Isaac? Kahit saan ako tumingin, kahit ano'ng gawin ko, mukha niya ang nakikita ko. Perhaps, this is how love feels like.

But this love I feel towards him, it's not healthy. I loved him more than I love myself and that's scary. I can't lose myself again kaya mamahalin ko muna ang sarili ko at babalik ako sa kaniya pagkatapos ng lahat.

Isaac, wait for me. I'll see you at the end of the horizon where the sea and the sun meets every dusk.

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