Luna Ville Series 1: Lovely Magic Fountain (COMPLETE)

22nd Chapter: Demoted

ALAUDE was damn nervous. His stupid heart just would not stop beating fast. Hindi niya alam kung saan siya dadalhin ni Umi matapos siyang sunduin sa bahay. But he was praying that they would not go somewhere secluded. Blame it on his stupid hormones.

After the night he got drunk because of a broken heart, ang tanging natatandaan niya nang magising ay nag-inuman sila nina Primo. But the first thing he thought of after waking up was kissing Umi. Heck, he had been dreaming of it every night. Hindi niya alam kung hanggang kailan siya makapagtitimpi. Baka mamaya, bigla na lang niyang mahalikan ang babae.

Shit! Bakit naman kasi kung kailan madilim na, saka pa nagyayang lumabas ang babaeng ito?

"We're here!" masiglang anunsiyo ni Umi.

Napapiksi si Alaude nang marinig ang matamis na boses ng babae. Saka lang siya natauhan. Nasa parke sila ng Luna Ville. Nasa tapat pa ng wishing fountain. "Magwi-wish ka ba uli, Umi?"

Umiling ang babae. "Nope. I'm going to thank the water fountain fairy who granted my wish."

Bahagyang tumaas ang sulok ng kanyang mga labi. "Water fountain fairy? Ngayon ko lang yata narinig 'yon."

She smiled sweetly. "Siyempre, pauso ko lang 'yon, eh." Natawa sila pareho sa biro. Pero mayamaya lang, sumeryoso ang babae habang nakatingin sa estatwa ng batang anghel sa ituktok ng water fountain. "Seriously, Alaude, we're here because I want to thank you for helping me find my prince."

He stiffened. He could feel his heart painfully breaking into tiny pieces. Kulang ang sabihing may tumarak na patalim sa kanyang puso, dahil pakiramdam niya, sinagasaan iyon ng bulldozer. Hearing the woman you love say she had found her prince was morbid. "Is that so?" walang-ganang sagot niya.

"Dito nagsimula ang lahat," pagpapatuloy ni Umi na hindi pa rin nakatingin sa kanya. "Kung hindi mo ako dinala rito, hindi siguro matutupad ang wish ko na mahanap ang prince ko. You're my fairy godmother, Alaude."

So, I'm a fucking fairy godmother, huh? Whoever invented that stupid character should be banished to hell!

"Tapos na ang paghahanap ko sa prinsipe ko, and it's all thanks to you."

And that leaves my heart broken. "Are you really sure about Zaggy boy? Paano kung meron pa palang ibang nagmamahal sa 'yo?"

Marahang umiling si Umi. "The signs told me that Zagg's the one. At naniniwala ako ro'n."

Those fucking signs.

Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Umi, saka pinagdaop ang mga kamay sa tapat ng dibdib. Then, she closed her eyes, probably to start praying.

It was like the night she made her wish. She also closed her eyes and prayed. Alaude just stood there and watched her. Like what he was doing now. Habang nagdarasal ang babae, isa-isa namang nagbalik sa kanyang isipan ang kanilang mga alaala.

The moment she ran beside him in Shop-o-pop just because of a box of pancake, he already felt the difference between having her by his side and walking alone. And he realized it was more fun having her little figure beside him. He was an only child, and ever since his parents migrated to US, he had been alone. Pero mula nang magkaroon uli sila ng ugnayan ni Umi dahil sa pagpayag nitong lumabas agad kasama ang isang estranghero, nataranta siya. Sanay siyang ang sarili lang ang iniintindi. Pero hayun siya, mula nang umiyak si Umi sa harap niya, parati na siyang nag-aalala para sa babae. Hindi siya pinatahimik ni Umi dahil hanggang sa pagtulog, nakikita niya ang maganda nitong mukha.

Ang akala niya, masaya na siya sa tahimik na buhay. But he guessed Umi was her favorite mess. A mess he would not get rid of in his life. Dahil binago siya ni Umi. And he did not want to go back to his old life without her shouting at him, glaring at him, punching him, and smiling sweetly at him. Isipin pa lang, nahihirapan na siyang huminga.

Mariin siyang napapikit para pigilan ang kung ano mang nagbabadyang pumatak mula sa kanyang mga mata.

"Are you okay, Alaude?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Umi.

When he opened his eyes, he was greeted by her beautiful face. Pilit siyang ngumiti. "Yes, I'm fine. Tapos ka na bang magpasalamat sa water fountain fairy mo?"

She laughed softly. "Yep. Uwi na tayo."

"Umi?"

"Po?"

"Masaya ka ba? Kay Zagg?"

Halatang nagulat ang babae sa tanong pero sumagot pa rin. She smiled, but he thought her smile did not reach her eyes. "Oo naman. Matagal ko na siyang hinahanap, 'di ba?"

Tumalikod siya. "Go, Umi. Maiiwan muna ako rito."

"Sigurado ka?"

"Yes. Please."

Matagal bago sumagot si Umi. Mayamaya ay naramdaman ni Alaude ang pagpulupot ng mga braso ng babae sa kanyang baywang mula sa likuran. Napapikit na lang siya.

"Thank you for everything, Alaude." Then, she slowly let go of him.

He watched her walk away. His heart was aching for her. Gusto niyang yakapin at ikulong sa mga bisig si Umi, pero pinigilan niya ang sarili. He did not want to keep her from finally getting her wish—her fucking Prince Charming.

"Ang tanga mo, Alaude!" malakas na kondena niya sa sarili nang mapag-isa na siya sa parke.

Pagkatapos ay nagpatihulog siya sa malaking water fountain, nagpalutang sa tubig habang pinagmamasdan ang maliwanag na buwan sa madilim na kalangitan. The night breeze and the water were cold, but the tears that fell from his eyes were warm.