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

Chapter 39: Jealousy

Chapter 39: Jealousy
 
Our class went smoothly, it’s just that, I felt awkward when it was only me and Gen who are wearing different uniform. Magkakapareha silang lahat at tanging mga logo lamang nila ang magkakaiba. Dalawa pala ang uniform dito, ang isa ay uniform ng kung saang section ka, at ang isa naman ay ang kung anong year ka. Tanging ang Betas at Alphas lamang ang mayroong iisang uniform, hindi kagaya ng iba. Same sa practical uniform at sa mga suits—dalawa sa mga Deltas, Gammas, at Epsilons, ngunit iisa lamang sa Betas at Alphas.
 
Kinausap din kami kanina ni headmaster and he told us that we should take an examination too so that we can exceed to second year—sophomore, just like the other princes, and princesses. Pinag-iisipan pa namin ni Gen at kung nakapag-desisyon na daw kami ay maaari na kaming mag-take ng exam na hindi naman namin alam kung ano. Kung halimbawa mang pumasa kami ay madami kaming hahabulin but headmaster said that our personal teachers will be the Alphas themselves.
 
Katatapos lang ng klase namin at kauuwi lang namin ngayon sa dorm. Sabi ni headmaster, hindi daw pang-freshmen ang taglay naming lakas that’s why he was encouraging us to take the examination. Hindi naman kasi pwedeng desisyon kaagad silang ililipat kami ng year, kailangan pa ring dumaan ‘yon sa proseso. Now that I am thinking about that, I think I will just accept headmaster’s offer and I believe that Gen thinks the same way.
 
Nakahiga ako habang si Caelum naman ay naglalaro sa tabi ko. Wala yung apat dahil pinapunta ko muna sila sa lugar nila and it will take as their day off na isang-ayunan naman nila. But Lia was in their kingdom right now at baka mamaya rin ay babalik na siya dito. It was only me and Caelum inside of our room and we’re having a son and mother bonding. Wala namang binigay na homework sa ngayon at puro discussion lamang ang ginawa namin kanina. Hindi naman kami nakapasok sa last subject namin bago mag-uwian dahil nga pinatawag kami ni headmaster.
 
Napagpasyahan ko namang tumayo at bumaba. Hindi ko naman gustong ikulong na lang dito si Caelum, I wanted him to have bond with the others too. Tumayo na ako at itinali ang buhok ko na minsan ko lang gawin bago binuhat si Caelum at kinuha ang isa niyang laruan at binigay ‘yon sa kaniya. Lumabas naman ako ng aking kwarto bago bumaba. Nagtiyaga na lang ako sa paglalakad habang hawak kong mabuti si Caelum na hawak-hawak ang kaniyang toy car before I felt him bury his face in my neck again—the thing that he loves to do.
 
Dapat pala nagdala akong starwberries!
 
Pagkababa ko ay agad akong nagtungo sa living room and I found the others in the living room—having their own life but Caelum steal their attention. “Pappa!” Saad ng bata habang pumapalakpak at humahagikgik na naman.
 
He was looking at the prince of fire and I stopped myself looking at my son unbelievably. Kung kanina lang ay nakabaon ang mukha niya sa leeg ko, pero ng maramdaman niya siguro ang presensya ni Aiden ay mabilis siyang umayos and now, he was looking at the prince of fire happily and I can also feel longing in him. Did he miss the prince that he keep on calling ‘Pappa’? Hindi ko mapigilang tanong sa sarili. Because while looking at my son that currently looking at the prince of fire happily with the hint of longing, kaunti na lang ay maniniwala na akong siya ang ama ng anak ko.
 
Caelum… knows.
 
Napansin ko namang nagpipigil sila ng tawa pero hindi na lang pinansin ni Aiden ‘yon at bumilis bigla ang tibok ng puso ko ng lumipat ang tingin niya sa akin na parang nanunuri. He was staring at my son earlier like he was reading him—and now that he’s looking at me, ako na ngayon ang tila inaarok niya. Tumayo naman siya mula sa pagkakaupo sa single sofa at naglakad palapit sa akin habang hindi pa rin inaalis ang tingin sa akin and I once again found myself being lost in his eyes. My heart was beating erratically and even I tried calming myself, wala namang epekto.
 
And I remembered what happened earlier again…
 
Nang makalapit na siya sa akin—sa amin—ay umiwas ako ng tingin pero laking gulat ko ng bigla na lang niyang kunin sa akin si Caelum at kasunod no’n ay inilapit niya ang bibig sa tenga ko kaya naamoy ko ng malapitan ang pabango niya. The smell that I love to sniff… kahit hindi ako makagalaw dahil sa kaniya ay ramdam ko pa rin ang kasiyahan ng anak ko and I could hear him giggling happily—he is happy being carried by his… father.
 
“I will carry him,” saad niya dahilan ng pagtayo ng balahibo ko sa batok. Then his face moved to see my face until a smirk made its way in his lips. “He looks exactly like me, huh?” He said—almost sounds proud just because Caelum looks like him. “He’s really is my son… our son,” after he said that, he left me to go back where he was sitting earlier before playing with Caelum who’s feeling beyond happy right now.
 
Napailing na lamang ako, lalo na ng mapansin kong wala na ang iba sa sala kaya nagtungo na lamang ako sa kusina to grab some water and I didn’t expect that I will find Azriel inside of the kitchen—also grabbing some water. “Hey, Az,” bati ko na mabilis naman niyang ikinalingon sa akin and he flashed his smile at me.
 
“Hey.”
 
Kumuha naman ako ng baso at nagsalin ng tubig mula sa nilabas niyang pitsel. I drank the water first while he was watching me. “Do you have any plan this week?” Tanong ko kapagkwan na ikinailing naman niya ng mabilis.
 
“None. But mommy was asking for my presence this Friday and I think, it’s about royal dine again,” He replied.
 
“I believe that your parents wanted to find a partner for their firstborn,” I said which made him chuckle lightly.
 
“I guess so too since they already have someone for my twin,” he shrugged but my forehead creased.
 
“Okay lang sa ‘yo?” Hindi ko mapigilang tanong dahil kilala ko siya ngunit ng makita ko ang masuyo niyang ngiti ay tila alam ko na ang dahilan.
 
“Well… I know the guy too well and besides, my twin seems to like him too,” he shrugged again which only made me chuckle. “How about you, you have plans this week?” Balik tanong niya na ikina-iling ko naman ng mabilis.
 
“Balak ko sanang kumuha ng trabaho sa Commission Office ngunit kinausap kami ni headmaster kanina and he wants me and Gen to take an examination and if ever that we pass, he will transfer us to the second year,” I replied before putting the glass that I used in the sink before washing it.
 
“Why don’t you try? Sigurado naman akong papasa kayong dalawa ni Ingrid do’n,” I can hear confident in his tone kaya hindi ko mapigilang matawa ng mahina.
 
“Yeah, we will try,” I only said.
 
“Anyway,” humarap naman akong muli sa kaniya pagkatapos ko sa ginawa at nagtatanong ang mga matang nakatingin sa kaniya. “Have you ever heard the word mate?” He asked out of nowhere. “The person that the deities destined for you—your beloved and everything.”
 
I furrowed because of his sudden question but I still manage to answer him. “Mate? As in the person that the deities destined to be with you forever—your beloved?” I asked and he nodded while there was a ghost smile on his lips.
 
“Yes, that thing,” he grinned at me na lalo kong ikinataka. Anong meron? “Sabi nila, kapag biniyayaan ka daw ng mate, she or he will be your other half. You will feel the pull of your bond, the spark, and the emotions that you have never been felt before. It was common to other races, especially, to the nightwalkers. They said that it was the most powerful thing in the world of magic because it was an unbreakable thing. No one can break it even yourself and you will just end up dying. It was a powerful thing because it will make you feel a lot of emotions, will make you stronger and weaker at the same time and most of all, you will feel the love and happiness that only your mate could give.
 
“Mate is a beautiful thing—the most beautiful thing in this world for me and no one can clearly describe that word—words aren’t enough to describe that word but one is for sure for everyone who felt it or experienced it, and to those who are believing in it—that it is a beautiful thing that will happen to your entire life. It was hard to describe but just look into someone who already found their mates—that’s when you will know the real meaning behind the word mate. But unfortunately, immortals don’t know about how does it feel to have a mate—we will never feel that thing and know the meaning behind that word because we aren’t lucky enough to be blessed by the deities to have mates,” he looked at me before smiling softly.
 
Why… is he telling me this?
 
“But you know what? Even though we, immortals didn’t bless by the deities to have mates just like the others, there are still immortals who are lucky enough to have mates but it was rare to happen that’s why consider yourself blessed and lucky when you have one,” then he looks somewhere and he has this far away look, “They said that there are different types on how you will know that he or she is your mate but the common is the fast beating of your heart, the spark that you will feel every time your skin touches, the unexplainable emotions that you will feel that only that person could give, and that person is always in your mind,” he added before looking at me again and smile unknowingly.
 
Ngunit dahil sa sinabi niya ay mayroon na lamang isang imortal ang biglang pumasok sa isipan ko at hindi ko mapigilang napalunok. I can feel my heart beating so fast but I calm myself. Was it… possible? But those emotions… my heartbeat every time he is around, and the spark… does he know? Bumuntong-hininga naman ako habang inaalala ang mga panahong kasama ko siya. My mind is in turmoil, and my system in is haywire. I don’t know what to do now but I need confirmation. I look at Azriel and I was about to ask something to him when I suddenly heard a baritone voice which made my heart went crazy again.
 
“My Hope…”
 
Sabay naman kaming napalingon ni Azriel kay Aiden and I just saw him looking at us—at Azriel seriously and when my eyes look at my son, nakita kong parehas sila ng ekspresyon. Caelum was looking at Azriel too serious just like the prince of fire. Buhat ni Aiden sa isang kamay niya si Caelum bago niya ako tiningnan at naglakad patungo sa akin. Then using his free hand, he hold my hand before facing Azriel again who’s shaking his head now while smirking at him.
 
“Easy, man. I won’t take your woman away from you,” he said habang ako naman ay pabalik-balik lamang ang tingin sa kanilang dalawa.
 
“You better be,” malalim ang boses ni Aiden bago ako hinila palabas ng kusina—leaving Azriel behind.
 
We went to the living room at do’n niya pa lang binitawan ang kamay ko and I just realized that I stopped breathing. The spark… how my heart reacts while I am with him… and the emotions… should I research about that thing first? I don’t want to assume… mamaya mali pala ako. Dapat siguraduhin ko muna bago siya komprontahin kung wala siyang balak na sabihin sa akin. Nahihiya rin akong magtanong sa kaniya ngayon kaya dapat kumpirmahin ko muna ngunit… paano?
 
I don’t know where are the others, it was only me, Aiden, Azriel, Caelum, and Gwen inside of our dorm but Gwen is in her room right now—doing her homework at baka mamaya pa ‘yon lalabas kapag dinner time na at maaga pa naman. Until Aiden sat on the carpeted floor while he make Caelum stand. Umupo naman ako sa mahabang sofa hanggang sa dumating na Azriel at tumabi kina Aiden. When Caelum saw him, he was like greeting him kaya hindi ko naman mapigilang itaas ang kilay ko.
 
Bati na niya si Azriel?
 
Azriel tried to steal Caelum’s attention and he succeeded. Caelum already face Azriel and gave his full attention to him which made the prince of fire grimed. Aiden was still holding Caelum but Caelum already facing Azriel and he is making my son giggle until we heard Caelum’s voice in our heads.
 
“Pappa!”
 
Akmang ngingiti na ako ng bigla na lamang akong makarinig ng malakas na hampas ng kidlat mula sa labas. Caelum slightly flinch kaya naman inagaw siya ni Azriel mula kay Aiden na masama ang timpla ng mukha ngayon habang nakatingin sa dalawa. Hindi ko naman mapigilang magtaka sa kinikilos ng prinsepe kaya napailing na lamang ako bago lumapit kina Azriel at Caelum. Good thing that Caelum didn’t cry and that’s thanks to Azriel who was good at taking care of babies.
 
Nakisali na lang ako sa kulitan nila at napatatawa dahil sa kakulitan ni Azriel and I almost forgot that there’s another prince just beside me. Pero napansin ko sa labas na makulimlim at may nakikita pa akong kidlat ngunit wala naman itong tunog at tanging ang pagkulog lamang ng mahina ang naririnig ko. Uulan? Hindi pa madilim ngunit dahil tila uulan pa ay tuluyang nawala na ang liwanag. Maya-maya pa ay nakaramdam naman ako ng isang nagbabagang tingin at wala sa sariling napatingin sa prinsepe ng apoy.
 
I slightly gulp when I saw how he look at the three of us—especially to Azriel who was busy playing with Caelum. I was looking at him until Azriel whispered in my ears. “Lara, manhid ka ba talaga?” Tanong niya kaya nagtataka ko siyang tinignan na ikina-iling-iling na lamang niya. He was also clicking his tongue while shaking his head while looking at me.
 
“Huh?”
 
“Tsk! Tsk! Manhid nga,” mahina niyang sabi pero narinig ko pa rin kaya napasingkit ang mga mata ko habang nakatingin sa kaniya. “If you continue that way, mas lalong mahihirapan ang prinsepe na masama ang tingin sa akin ngayon,” dagdag pa niya na mas lalo ko namang ikinakunot.
 
Magsasalita na sana ako pero ramdam ko pa rin ang tingin ni Aiden kaya napalingon na naman ako sa kaniya. Nakita kong mas lalong dumilim ang kaniyang mukha at nai-imagine kong mayroong maliit na ulap na madilim at may kasamang pagkidlat sa taas ng kaniyang ulo.
 
Maya-maya pa ay biglang bumukas ang pinto at narinig ko ang mabibilis na yabag patungo kung na saan kami kaya hindi ko mapigilang mapalingon at nakita na lang sina Rielle, Odette, Gen, Jacob, Kaizer, at Chris na hingal na hingal.
 
Why they are in hurry?
 
Even Gwen that came from her room looks like in hurry too and I noticed that they are all pale and panicking kaya nagtaka ako. When my eyes turned to Azriel, I just saw him shaking his head before saying, “Wala akong kasalanan diyan!” Then came back from playing with Caelum again.
 
They inhaled heavily before Kaizer spoke, “Pinsan, kumalma ka nga diyan!” Hindi maipinta ang kaniyang mukha habang nakatingin kay Aiden na tila walang paki-alam sa kanila.
 
“Calm down your ass, Prince Aiden! You know that it was dangerous when you are mad!” It was Gwen and she looks like panicking too—lahat sila ay hindi mapakali.
 
Pabalik-balik ang tingin ko sa kanila—I am totally clueless of what’s happening right now until Aiden walked out. We are all silence when he went to his room at kahit na sa pinaka-mataas ang kwarto niya ay dinig na dinig pa rin namin ang malakas na pagsara ng kaniyang pinto.
 
Because of the loud bang, Caelum hurriedly went to me and hugging me before burying his face on my neck. Naramdaman ko namang ang bilis ng tibok ng puso niya at nanginginig pa siya ng bahagya kaya niyakap ko siya pabalik at hinalikan siya sa kaniyang nuo.
 
That prince of fire!
 
“Damn! Nakakikilabot talaga ang aura niya kapag galit!” Parang kabado pang wika ni Jacob at pasalampak na umupo sa sofa. Gano’n din ang ginawa ng iba at napailing na lang habang kinakalma nila ang kanilang mga sarili.
 
“Gago! Gano’n pala siya magselos! Kingina mo ka, Azriel! ‘Wag mo ngang pagselosin ang lover boy natin!” Ramdam ko pa ang kaba sa boses ni Kaizer ngunit nagawa pa rin niyang tingnan ng masama si Az na tumatawa lang ng mahina ngayon.
 
What’s happening…?
 
Natahimik na naman silang muli na tila pinakikiramdaman pa rin ang prinsepe ng apoy ngunit nararamdaman naming bumabalik na sa dati ang paligid until I can no longer feel the heavy atmosphere na tila nakahinga na sila ng maluwag but still, no one wants to talk like they are thinking deeply but the silence broke by my son and looks like it wasn’t only me who heard it dahil lahat sila ay napatingin kay Caelum.
 
“Mamma…” napatingin naman ako kay Caelum ng tawagin niya ako and he’s now looking at me. “Pappa…” wika niya ulit bago tumingin sa hagdan. But I was taken aback when I see the emotion in his eyes—he is worried… my four months old son is feeling worried!
 
Talaga bang four months old lang si Caelum?!
 
***
 
Aiden Axel Smith
 
“Headmistress.”
 
I look at the headmistress who was sitting in her swivel chair while I stand still a few meters away from her. She asked for my presence early in the morning and I have no idea what she wants from me. She then look at me and smiled at me lightly before motioning her hand to one of the visitor’s chairs and that’s what I did. I sat and face her while I remain on my serious façade. Headmistress still has a pleasant smile on her lips before she clasped her hand and put it on her table.
 
I know what she did in the past but my parents aren’t mad at her just unlike the other kings and queens. My parents and headmistress are close friends and they believe that headmistress has her reason why she did that. It was indeed a great sin, especially, to her twin and I can not imagine her living her life while she knows that almost her friends are mad at her, especially, her twin. Queen Emerald despises her, well, who wouldn’t be? But what the queen did to my Hope is fucking bellow the belt.
 
That’s her mistake—to drag my Hope to their problem and she ends up hurting my beloved. I still can see her pain, I still can hear her cries. She was too hurt. How could the queen hurt an innocent lady like her? How can she let herself snap at the person who has an innocent face? Fuck! Good thing that I made a move to make her feel better, at least, I made her happy and I wanted to see her like that again—I am dying to make her happy every fucking day.
 
“I asked for your presence because I will give you a mission,” she said and her smile faded and changed into a serious look. I remained silent—waiting for what she will say next. She took a deep breath first before looking directly into my eyes. “My daughter…” she took a deep breath again before continuing. “She needs protection and you are the only person that I know that can protect her at all cost.”
 
“Headmistress… you know too well that even you won’t tell me to protect her, I will still do it in a heartbeat,” I said and I just saw her smile—a motherly smile and I know that she is thinking about her daughter now—she is thinking about my beloved now.
 
“I know that, Prince Aiden, but I still wanted to tell you about that…” she look somewhere before she continue talking. “I don’t want to endanger my daughter just because she is the summoner of electric cats. They also wanted to get the summoner of the supreme guardians and I believe that they already know about her—being the summoner,” what she said made me hold my fist tightly. “My daughter can handle herself well but she still needs someone to be there and I am expecting that it was you. I can not say that the academy is enough to protect her because rebellions will do anything just to get what they want. We don’t know when they will attack that’s why we have to be vigilant,” I only nodded and didn’t say anything until she dismissed me. But before I could even leave her office, she even said the words that took me aback.
 
“And please, be patient, Prince Aiden. My daughter is still young. Wait until she turns eighteen…”
 
I didn’t say anything and just left her office but what she said kept ringing in my ears. Does she know? Well, my father said that I shouldn’t be surprised if the headmistress knows something about me even I haven’t told her anything that’s why I assume that she knows something. Besides, she is the kind of mother who will protect her daughter even it means her life. She knows something… even she wasn’t saying anything, her words tell otherwise. Headmistress really is something.
 
I was walking back to our dorm when my eyes caught the very familiar figure of a woman which made my heartbeat quicken. Oh, damn. She was busy eating her strawberries and I just secretly smirked because of it. I only follow her using my gaze and I guess, she came to visit her mother, the headmistress and since the only reason why I wanted to go back to Alphas’ dorm was here already, I decided to wait for her patiently. I just sighed before deciding to follow her and wait for her outside of the headmistress’ office.
 
I can not hear their conversation until I heard the door open but I remained in my position. I am closing my eyes but I can feel her eyes on me—checking me out and I can’t help but smirk but I hide it until I finally opened my eyes. Too adorable. I wanted to tease her even more but when she moved to tie my necktie properly, she just sent my system into haywire even more. I almost stop breathing because of how close we are and I a tempted to kiss those inviting lips of hers but I controlled myself while reminding myself that she was still too young.
 
It was a hard time holding myself back but I have to be patient. When I saw her eating her favorite strawberry, I can’t help but feel delighted. Well, who wouldn’t be? If you see your beloved eating her favorite fruit heartily in front of you—especially when it was you who bought it, who wouldn’t feel delighted? Oh, damn. I was like a love-sick man. I really hate strawberries—heck! I despise that fruit! I hate the taste of it but when she wants to feed me with that damn fruit, I force myself to forget how I despise it but still, I felt weak when I tasted that awful fruit!
 
But it was her favorite…
 
But I will do anything for her… but when I saw how worried she was to me and how she cried, I can’t help but feel happy. I know that it was bad for me to feel happy but I can’t help it! Now I know that she really cares for me and at least I know that she can also feel our bond. I hated that fruit and I could feel how weak I am after I swallowed it and she was there to support me. She was the reason why I feel okay again—I felt better in no time and it was because of her when in fact, that damn strawberry has a big effect on me.
 
It makes me feel so sick in a few days but just by inhaling her scent and feeling her warmth, I just felt better again in just no time. Heck! I am longing for her warmth again! Her, being in my arms feels addictive but I have to wait until the right time comes where I will no longer hold back—where I can own her. It was hard to control myself when it comes to her but since I don’t want to scare her, I should be patient. Soon enough, she will be mine and I will have all the rights to own her.
 
I am jealous, fuck!
 
That fucking prince wanted to sleep in the infirmary for a few days again. He is fucking stealing my family’s attention! I was so shocked when I learned that she already have a baby—hell! Is that the ‘baby’ she was talking about all along?! Damn, then that baby even called me ‘Pappa’! Her baby keeps on calling me Pappa and come to think of it—he fucking looks the younger me! Especially, those fucking eyes! I don’t know what’s happening but all I know was that Caelum is mine—my son—my Hope and I’s son. I don’t know how to be a father but one thing is for sure…
 
And I have a family now.
 
***