Missing Zodiac [Season One]

Chapter Seventeen

The emperor

Miza

Hm.. There's no way.

"How's school?" Biglang tanong sa'kin ng human lightform na 'to. Hindi ko naiwasang magtaka sa kaniya, I don't know what he's thinking, napatikhim na lang ako at sumagot. "Ahm.. Ayos lang naman... po."

I notice something in my peripheral vision, medyo nabigla ako ng lingunin ko ang mga tao sa likuran namin, bahagya silang nakayuko sa human lightform na 'to, lahat kami ay nakatayo na.

Is he the emperor they keep mentioning about?

Should I bow my head too? Kaso hindi ko feel.

"How's your grades? May mga bago ka na ba ulit na mga kaibigan?"

He speaks so casually..

Why does he care? Hindi ko naman siya kilala.. I don't remember him yet.

Hindi ko tuloy alam kung ano bang dapat kong gawin. Hindi tuloy ako nakasagot agad na ikinatawa niya naman kaya napakunot ang noo ko.

Because of that, napansin ko rin ang pagtataka ni Taurus pati ng iba sa'kin. Kumukunot talaga ang noo nila. What's with this human lightform?

"Ahaha! I see, don't you recognize my voice? Lagi pa naman tayong naglalaro sa amusement park and your favorite toy is a white plushy bunnies, marunong ka pang gumawa ng mga iyon."

Eh?

I was stunned for a second there, how did he know that? Kinakabahan na tuloy ako na hindi ko maintindihan dahilan para mapahigpit ang hawak ko sa palda ko habang titig na titig sa kaniya. He mentioned my childhood favorites na tila nagbigay kaba sa'kin, I don't understand.

"Lai Emperare, klure debra zunatta?" I heard Aries ask.. I didn't understand that though.

"My Emperor, what do you mean by that?"

"Aries, Lai Kuzare.. Oliza debra noi rikarataitte." Baling naman sa kaniya nito. I don't understand them, kaya napayuko nalang ako, but Taurus seems to be confused now, just as I am.

"Aries, my daughter.. You don't have to look annoyed."

Pero dahil do'n, natigilan si Aries at agad napayuko. "Aka.. pasima."

"I'm.. sorry."

What the heck are they saying? Damn I feel so out of place.

"I want to go home." Ani ko na tuloy dahilan para mapatingin ulit sila sa'kin. Tila nabigla pa si Taurus at binulungan ako. "Miza, don't talk to the emperor like that."

Tinitigan ko tuloy siya saglit at saka napabuntong hininga. "I don't know this human lightform, I don't feel like bowing my head, he's invading my childhood memories." Ani ko, naisip ko kasing baka may kakayahan lang itong magbasa ng isip just like those two mermaids. I don't need to be nervous.

But I just can't get rid of it.

Narinig ko pa ang mahinang pagtawa ng nilalang na 'yon.

Tila nararamdaman ko pa tuloy na gusto na akong pagsabihan ng mga tao sa likod, they just can't do it, mukhang ito nga ang ginagalang nila at maaaring pinakamataas sa kanilang lahat.

Agad naman niyang nilahad ang tila kamay niya, my eyes wided a bit in surprise nang hawakan niya ang balikat ko at iusod niya ako sa harap niya. I felt something warm in my chest but I don't want to show it or let them notice it. Umusod nalang ako sa harapan niya but I can't help but to feel more nervous.

Hindi ko alam kung makakapagsalita pa ba ako. "Mizazikanie.. Reign ahaha! Your grandfather has a really good surname.. Alam mo ba, ako ang pumili ng pangalan mo.. It's the pen name of this certain author who loves to talk about stars and planets." Tila pinindot niya pa ang ilong ko, animo'y tila close na kami.