Lumina Academy: Light and Shadow (Realm Series #1)

Chapter 23: A Magical Night

Chapter 23: A Magical Night
 
We teleported—and yes, gano’n siya kalakas upang makapag-teleport mula sa palasyo hanggang sa harapan ng akademya. We went inside while still holding hands and we avoided the students until we reached my dorm. Walang nagsalita sa aming dalawa habang naglalakad kami patungo sa dorm ko and I thanked him before I closed the door. He only nodded and he is back from being cold again.
 
Napasandal ako sa pinto bago mabilis na tinanggal ang heels ko at tinakbo ang salamin upang tignan ang mukha ko. Ngunit tila gusto ko na lamang maglulumpasay sa sahig dahil sa kahihiyan—mukha akong multo sa itsura ko! Buti na lang light lang ang make up ko but I still look like a mess! At sa harapan pa talaga ng prinsepe na ‘yon!
 
Napailing-iling na lamang ako bago pumasok sa loob ng kwarto and there I found my guardians—Lia, Tati, and the siblings are waiting for me. The ladies were concerned about me while Zephyr was pissed off—not liking what happened to me in the palace but I told him that I am okay. I am fine and they don’t have to worry about me but I know that they still can feel my heavy heart.
 
Gusto kong magtungo kay Mimi at yakapin siya—I want to see her for me to feel at ease dahil hanggang ngayon ay mabigat pa rin ang dibdib ko. What just happened is hard to forget—an unforgettable moment for me and even the queen’s words are still lingering through my ears. I tried to eat strawberries to help me calm my nerves pero hindi ko magawang kumain man lang and it only means that I am really affected by what happened.
 
Bumuntong-hininga na lamang ako bago napatingin sa madilim na kalangitan. Na sa labas ako at hanggang ngayon ay buhay na buhay pa rin ang academy dahil sa kanilang paghahanda. Mimi told me that everything is already fine and I should just rest for tomorrow’s ranking. I don’t have to help her anymore and it’s also a good thing because I don’t want to worry her if she find out what happened. Hindi naman lahat ng estudyante ay tumutulong dahil gusto ng academy na maghanda kami para bukas and only the kinds of faeries are the one who are decorating the academy.
 
Muli akong bumuntong-hininga bago ko napagpasyahang maglakad-lakad. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako patungo hanggang sa mapansin kong na sa parte ako ng academy kung saan ako lamang ang nandito. I was about to go back when I felt the familiar presence on my back which made me stop and my mind stopped from processing.
 
“Hey…”
 
Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata ko hanggang sa naramdaman ko na lamang ang sarili kong humarap sa kaniya and there he was—standing in front of me was the prince of fire who’s wearing a black turtle neck—hindi pa ba siya nagbibihis? The moon’s light was shining on us and I can feel the cold breeze but I felt a bit embarrass when I realized what I am wearing—a cute pink sleepwear that has strawberries imprinted on it and white flip flops.
 
“H-Hey…” I said back and smiled at him.
 
Nakatitig lamang ito sa akin kaya nakatitig lang din ako sa kaniya—titigan challenge. Until he spoke making my mouth hanging open. “Wanna see the city light?” He asked and it slowly processed on my head until I realized what he said.
 
City… city lights!
 
Did he just said—? “Totoo?!” Hindi ko mapigilang makaramdam ng galak dahil do’n and he can clearly see it from my face until a dashing smile made its way on his lips.
 
“Yes…” he was smiling! Oh, deities!
 
“B-But how?” I asked before looking where the main building was. Bumalik ang tingin ko sa kaniya at nakita kong nakamgiti pa rin siya.
 
“Do you… trust me?” He asked slowly and I saw that he was waiting for my answer—he was hoping for a yes and his eyes are looking at me hopefully.
 
Do I trust him?
 
Hindi ko siya masyadong kilala… all I know is that he is a prince and a powerful student of this academy—nothing more, nothing less, yet why my inner self was telling me to trust him? No… I already trust him the moment I laid my eyes on him and that’s surprising to me. I don’t trust easily someone that I barely know but I guess, he’s an exemption.
 
Nang hindi ako sumagot ng ilang minuto at nakatitig lamang sa kaniya ay napansin kong tila kinakabahan na siya. He’s starting to panic and he even gulped not just once but I can’t count anymore! He look like in misery because of me that’s why I already answered. I smiled at him before saying, “Yes, I do trust you…” nakita ko kung paano siya nakahinga ng maluwag bago muling ngumiti sa akin.
 
“Ax…” he suddenly said at nanlaki na lamang ang mga mata ko ng mapagtanto ko kung ano ang gusto niyang mangyari.
 
He was summoning his guardian!
 
Biglang humangin at kasunod no’n ay ang huni ng malaking ibon na nagmumula sa itaas kaya napaangat ang ulo ko upang tignan ang kalangitan. Ngunit nanlaki na lamang ang mga mata ko sa nakita—a griffin! One of his guardians! Napaawang ang labi ko—lalo na ng lumapag ito sa tabi niya and now they both towering over me. Nakatitig lamang ako sa guardian niya and I can feel their overflowing power at kung siguro ay hindi ko lang nakakayanan ang presensya nila ay baka bumagsak na ako.
 
Hanggang sa pasakayin siya ng kaniyang guardian and the prince of fire look at me before offering his hand to me. “Come on…” he said that’s why I slowly raised my hand while my eyes are now settled to his.
 
Nang maglapat ang mga kamay namin ay naramdaman ko na naman ang sensasyon na hindi ko maipaliwanag—ang pakiramdam na pilit kong hindi pinapansin. He gently pulled me up and placed me in front of him. Dahil sa posisyon namin ay ramdam na ramdam ko na naman ang init na nagmumula sa kaniyang katawan at paghinga niya na tumatama sa likod ng aking tenga.
 
I tied my hair earlier and I am starting to regret it now. Parang sinasadya niya pang ilapit ang kaniyang mukha sa likod ng aking tenga kaya wala sa sariling na palingon ako sa kaniya—making our face be closed at each other. Malapitan kong nakikita ang kaniyang gwapong mukha but I guess, his blue eyes kept on captivating my orbs and it is hard for me to look away.
 
“R-Ready…?” Napakurap-kurap ako dahil sa tanong niya kaya mabilis akong tumango-tango bago iniiwas ang tingin at tumingin sa harapan. “Get ready…” he whispered right through my ear and his lips was almost touching it which gave goosebumps to me.
 
His guardian—Ax made a sound in a peaceful night before he started to fly and because this is my first time flying, hindi ko mapigilang kabahan ng kaunti kaya napapikit ako. I never tried doing this before with Nixie and Penelope! But Aiden was just behind me and I felt his left hand encircled on my waist before I heard him hushing me—calming me down but I still couldn’t open my eyes.
 
We were in that position hanggang sa naramdaman kong pantay na ang paglipad namin bago ko narinig ang boses ni Aiden. “Open your eyes now…” he said and that’s what I did.
 
Unti-unti kong iminulat ang aking mga mata bago siya nilingon at nakita ang kaniyang nakangiting mukha. I was still slightly nervous but while seeing his smiling face, I just calmed before I look down. Tuluyan ng nawala ang kaba ko ng nakita ko na ang matagal ko ng pinangangarap na makita. The city lights! Napa-awang ang bibig ko at manghang napatingin sa ibaba. From above, I could see the magical city lights and I can’t help but feel amazed.
 
“Wow…” buhay na buhay ang central and when I look where the academy was, mas lalo akong namangha dahil sa liwanag na bumabalot dito.
 
I wanted to cry because of so much happiness. Hindi ko alintana ang nararamdaman kong lamig dahil sa nakikita ko ngayon. And if earlier I was feeling sad and had a heavy heart, now I feel delighted and wanted to cry because of happiness and that’s because of the prince who made my wish come true—the prince of fire who was just behind me that has been watching me the entire time since we’re already here on the sky.
 
I was chuckling—para akong bata ngunit masaya lamang talaga ako dahil natupad na ang pangarap ko—to see the city lights—to see how magical this realm is in night time. Kahit nilalamig na ako ay hindi pa rin ako magka-mayaw dahil sa nakikita ko—halos nakalimutan ko na ngang mayroon akong kasamang prinsepe kung hindi ko pa siya narinig na tumawa but I am too busy to give him an attention.
 
“Cold?” I felt his warm breathe through the side of my face but it is not enough to distract me. Kahit hindi ako nakatingin sa kaniya ay tumango pa rin ako habang mayroong ngiti sa labi habang nakatingin sa ibaba. I heard him chuckled again before I felt his both hand hugged me from behind and that’s enough for me to turn my attention to him.
 
I sigh because of contentment when I felt his warm hug. Nawala ang lamig na nararamdaman ko because his hug was enough to make the cold away. I felt warm now and that’s because of the prince of fire that’s why a smile made its way on my lips—a genuine and sweet smile made its way on my lips before I look at him through my shoulder.
 
“Prince of fire…?” I gently called him and I even noticed the emotion through his eyes when I called him that ngunit mabilis lamang ‘yon nawala. He was looking at me softly—malayong-malayo sa walang emosyon niyang mukha na nakasanayan na ng nakararami and there’s a hidden smile forming in his lips.
 
“Hmm…?” lalo akong napangiti ng marinig ko ang malambing niyang tono.
 
But my smile turn into a soft chuckle because of his sweet hummed. Because I chuckled, it made him frown but I am still smiling at him. “Thank you…” I softly said before looking at him with tenderness. He was taken aback at first until I spoke again. “Thank you for showing me how magical this world is… prince of fire…” I continued until a sweet smile formed on his red lips. There’s that emotion in his eyes again but it vanished seconds after.
 
Parehong nawala ang mga ngiti sa aming mga labi but we remained looking into each other’s eyes softly… and tenderly before I felt his right warm hand on my left cheeks. We’re looking into each other’s eyes while the moonlight was shining above us… and I just realized that I am with the man that I didn’t imagine to be this close… the man that I didn’t imagine to be the reason why I will witness how magical this realm can be during night time.
 
And when I noticed that his face was moving closer, I just found myself closing my eyes until I felt him kiss me… on my forehead before fireworks appeared from the dark sky—lighting it up with its beauty while I and the prince of fire are still on the sky.
 
With him while his lips are still on my forehead…
 
***
 
Nakahiga na ako at kanina pa paikot-ikot dahil hindi ako makatulog at hindi ko alam kung bakit. But every time I am closing my eyes, the scene earlier was coming on my head. Oh, deities! Huminga ako ng malalim upang pakalmahin ang nagwawala ko na namang puso. Anong oras na naman at hindi ako makatulog. Idagdag pang rankings na bukas at lahat ng esudyante ay tulog na pero heto ako ngayon!
 
Bumuntong-hininga na lamang ako bago tumayo at napagpasyahang lumabas na naman. I was only with Tati and Lia because Zep and Fina came back to their realm for them to get ready for the ranking, however, I am still not sure if I am going to summon them or not. But I guess, I will only summon them when needed.
 
I went outside at pinunta ako ng mga paa ko sa mystique forest—the forest of the people under this academy—the mystique creatures. This forest is one of the magical part of the academy but only the mystique creatures are allowed to enter here. Nagtungo lamang ako sa garden na nasa harapan ng forest at mayroong fountain do’n at may mga nakapalibot na mga bench kaya umupo ako isa sa mga ‘yon.
 
I was only watching the fountain until I remembered what happened again earlier. Beautiful fireworks can be seen on the sky while the prince of fire’s lips are on my forehead. The moon’s light is also shining on us until we both felt a strange feeling at tila ako lamang ang nakakita kung paano magliwanag ang gitna ng dibdib naming pareho at mas lalong lumiwanag ang buwan kasabay ng pagliwanag ng mga dibdib namin.
 
What was that…?
 
Napailing na lamang ako bago nanatili do’n ng ilang minuto hanggang sa mapagpasyahan kong bumalik na sa aking dorm. Ngunit na sa kalagitnaan pa lang ako ng paglalakad ng wala sa sariling mapahinto ako bago napatingin sa isang direksyon—sa direksyon kung na saan ang flower bed garden until I just found myself walking towards there.
 
What am I even doing here? I should be sleeping by now…
 
When I reached the flower bed garden, pixies welcomed me and even surrounded me like they are happy that I went here. I heard that pixies are aloof from immortals—they are not friendly to the immortals and even they are just around in the academy, they didn’t dare to get near to the immortals. Ngunit may mga ilan sa kanila na hindi naman masyadong iniiwasan ang mga imortal but they didn’t dare to be like this just like how they welcome me.
 
I chuckled because of them but we stopped when we heard a baby’s cry. Bigla naman akong nanigas sa kinatatayuan ko at bumilis ang tibok ng aking puso ngunit napalitan naman ‘yon ng pagtataka ng makita kong pinalilibutan ng mga pixies ang isang bagay na lumulutang. Their pixie dust was encircling on that thing that causing it to float towards me until I just realized that it was a baby!
 
Nakalapit sa akin ito—the pixies hand me the baby and the baby suddenly stopped crying when he’s already in my arms. But my face just softened when I saw the tears on his cheeks at namumula pa ang kaniyang ilong. I think he’s a boy and four to five months old pa lang siguro siya. Humikbi pa ito habang tinitignan ako. I noticed that his eyes are color blue—a familiar blue eyes at bata pa lamang ay gwapo na.
 
Pinunasan ko naman ang luha niya at ngumiti ng matamis. I have no background when it comes to handling kids but I hope, I can survive here. “Hello, little one, why are you alone here?” I asked as if sasagot naman ang sanggol na ito.
 
The pixies are still surrounding me—surrounding us while also watching this cute baby in my arms. Nagtaka ako kung saan siya galing—kung bakit siya nandito at kung sino ang kaniyang mga magulang—madami akong mga katanungan na hindi ko alam kung sino ang makasasagot sa akin. The baby has nothing aside from the golden silk cloth and other than that, he has nothing else.
 
“Who are your parents…?” I asked again softly while the baby was only staring at me. He wasn’t moving—he was only staring at me.
 
“It was you…”
 
Bigla naman akong napatingin sa nagsalita and it was Queen Clarion who’s now flying towards me. The pixies and I bowed at her until she’s already in front of me. Ngayon ko lang napansin ang pagkakamukha nila ni Lia, lalo naman ng ngumiti siya bago tumingin sa sanggol na hawak ko.
 
“Ano po?” Hindi ko siya maintindihan at kailangan ko ng kasagutan.
 
Queen Clarion look at me again before a soft smile made its way on her lips. “You are his mother, princess… he’s already telling you that you are his mother…” the queen said before looking into the baby that is currently in my arms.
 
Nakita ko naman itong nakangiti na sa akin and there is something in his eyes while looking at me. Then suddenly, I just could feel the connection—the connection between a mother and her child that’s why deep inside me, I know that he is my child… kahit pa hindi siya nanggaling sa akin. Nothing is indeed impossible in this world. Life has a lot of unexpected things and just like what’s happening right now, nagka-anak lang naman ako ng hindi inaasahan.
 
“Is he… really my child?” I asked before holding this baby’s little cute hand. Hinawakan nito ang hintuturo ko gamit ang kaniyang maliit na kamay at narinig ko na lamang ang munti niyang tawa kaya napangiti ako. But when he hold my index finger, I just felt a strange feeling—no, it was a happiness and love.
 
“He is… princess. Even he didn’t come from you, he is still your biological child,” the queen answered and my smile widen before looking at the queen. “He’s only four months old but expect that he isn’t just an ordinary immortal… he can be more advanced than the other baby immortals,” the queen said and I can’t help but frown.
 
“Where he came from?” I can’t help but ask.
 
The queen smiled before saying, “Sorry, princess, but I don’t know either. Those details that I told you are the only things I know,” napatango-tango na lamang ako at pinili na lamang na huwag isipin kung saan siya galing.
 
“Thank you…” I said and she smiled at me.
 
“Take care of him, princess…” she said and her eyes are telling something and she also wanted to tell it to me but decided not to before she left.
 
Napatingin akong muli sa hawak kong baby na nakangiti pa rin ngayon habang titig na titig sa akin. “Ano kaya ang ipangangalan ko sa ‘yo…?” Napa-isip naman ako ng ipangangalan sa kaniya—a name that will suits him.
 
Ngunit habang nag-iisip naman ako ay bigla naman niyang hinawakan ang pisngi ko gamit ang dalawa niyang maliliit na kamay habang titig na titig pa rin sa akin. Napangiti ako lalo dahil parang kinabibisado niya ang bawat sulok ng mukha ko. Is he… really a four months old baby? But just like the queen said, he can be more advanced…
 
I’m now a mother…
 
I think of a name again hanggang sa mayroong pumasok sa aking isipan. I smiled at him sweetly before telling him what’s his name for now on. “From now on… I will call you my baby Caelum Skylar Axel Watson,” saad ko habang masuyong nakatitig sa kaniya.
 
Bigla namang napa-bungisngis si baby Caelum na halatang nagustuhan ang pangalang binigay ko sa kaniya kaya hindi ko mapigilang matuwa dahil nagustuhan niya ang ipinangalan ko sa kaniya. A name that suits him and he like it. Napangiti ako lalo—proud sa naisip kong pangalan niya.
 
“Are you hungry, my baby Caelum?” Pagkasabi ko no’n ay bigla siyang ngumuso at unti-unting nagpi-pinkish ang kaniyang ilong, pisngi, at ang kilay niya. He’s about to cry again kaya naman pinatahan ko siya. “Okay. Okay. I will get you some milk,” I said and kissed his forehead but I noticed that his head turned to face one of my boobie at bigla kong naalala ang mga mommy na nagbre-breastfeed. “Oh, my—no, baby Caelum! Mamma maybe have boobies but they don’t have milk!” Nagpa-panic kong wika na ikinatigil naman niya bago umiyak kaya naman iniba ko ang kaniyang pwesto.
 
I changed his position and made him rest on my chest before I teleported to my room. It was against the rule pero maluwag naman ngayon—ang hindi lang maluwag ay ang seguridad ng akademya para na rin sa kaligtasan ng mga estudyante. Nang makarating ako sa kwarto ay kaagad kong ginising sina Lia at Tati at nagtataka naman sila dahil mayroon akong hawak na bata.
 
“He’s hungry… he needs milk,” I told them when baby Caelum is still crying.
 
“Let me handle that thing, Lara. Leave everything to me. Just wait for me here,” Tati said before she went to get my ID and teleported somewhere but I guess, she will go and look for an open store to buy some stuff that baby Caelum needs and she’s in human form.
 
“Where did you find him…?” I look at Lia while trying to make Caelum stop crying.
 
“In flower bed garden… and your mother told me that he is my child,” I answered and she nodded before she also tried to make Caelum stop crying.
 
Naaawa na ako sa anak ko and I guess, he’s really hungry at hindi rin nagtagal ay dumating na si Tati na may mga dalang gamit. Mabilis ang kanilang mga galaw hanggang sa makapagtimpla na si Titiana at mabilis na ibinigay ito kay Caelum na kaagad namang tumahan. Nakahinga naman kami ng maluwag bago ko napagpasyahang bihisan siya.
 
Tati bought some pairs of his clothes, diapers, milk, and bottles at buti na lamang at may nabilhan pa siya. Inilapag ko naman si Caelum sa higaan before I put diaper and clothes on him. But I just noticed the birthmark on his left chest—it was a golden shield and inside of it was a purple blazing fire. Nang haplosin ko ito ay mabilis na nagliwanag ang shield ng ginto at purple naman ang apoy.
 
“Beautiful…” I said.
 
“Yes, it is…” rinig ko namang saad ng dalawa.
 
Tinapos ko naman ang ginagawa ko bago itinabi ang telang naging balot niya bago tumabi ng higa kay baby Caelum na pumipikit-pikit na ang mga mata habang dumi-dede siya. Kaya bago pa siya makatulog ay hinalikan ko na muna siya sa nuo at ngumiti habang nakatingin sa kaniya.
 
“Sleep tight, baby Caelum…”
 
I have a magical night… I guess.
 
***