Umaga na naman. Parang isang mabilis na ulan lang na lumipas ang opening ball ng academy. Hindi ko man lang na-enjoy ang gabi dahil sa tindi ng tensyong namagitan saamin ni Chase. Kung may isang kakilala akong nasulit ang gabi, 'yon ay si Avi na nagawa pang bumalik sa venue pagkatapos namin pagplanuhan ang pagsugod sa dark forest.
Imagine she's just twelve? Pero hinahayaan ko na lang. My little sister knows better than anyone else. She's a damn weaver. Kaya niyang umiwas sa posibleng kapahamahakan.
Always.
Hindi ko alam kung papaano ko sisimulan ang araw na ito. It feels like this day won't be so good—batten down the hatches. What I did last night is like throwing dice with death. Chase Roan Santi was so serious when he mentioned the threat of going against The Drift. Iniisip ko pa lang ang mukha ni Mira Zina Zenovia na galit na galit ay parang babangungutin na ako ng gising.
But I have to keep going. I have to throw caution to the wind if it needed be. Now that I have the key to that doomed forest, I have calculated the risk of facing either Chase or the Zenovia sisters. Glor Fina can be forgiving, but Mira Zina? She's evil as hell. Wala itong palalagpasing kalapastanganan lalo na if it involves me.
I hope the coast is clear.
Bumuntong hininga ako. Inayos ko pa ang sarili ko sa harapan ng salaming may rosas na hindi kailanman malanta-lanta—they still look freash and beautiful. Gumiya ako palabas ng crucible hawak ang training kit ko under sir Fernando Aragon—ang training mentor namin ngayon sa Hunting and Foraging.
Bago pa ako tuluyang makalabas ng crucible ay hinanda ko na ang sarili ko sa posibleng pag-atake ng The Drift. I am expecting flying knives or rotating axes. If they'd be more gentle, maybe just a shower of dirt of traveling cakes towards my face.
Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang wala namang nangyari saakin. Wala pa. OA lang siguro ako.
"Hey, Stella."
Napalundag ako sa kinatatayuan nang marinig ko ang boses ni Fabian.
He snortles very charmingly as he moves towards me.
"Bigla ka na lang sumusulpot, Fabian."
He's still smiling with his buried eyes. Napaka-presko nitong tignan sa suot na lose polo short with two open buttons to reveal his tempting chest. Nakapamulsa ito sa kanyang navy blue tattered jeans nang madatnan ko. He's wearing a knitted bandana na kakulay ng kanyang jeans. Only he can carry this kind of look. This guy is a god!
"M—may kailangan ka?" tila tuliro kong tanong. Hindi kasi ako sigurado kung pati siya ay alam ang binabalak namin nina Isa. May kutob akong alam na rin nito ang mga kalokohan naming Death Squad. He's a member of The Drift afterall. Nakailang lunok ako habang nakatitig saakin ang malamlam na asul na mata nito.
"I'm here to apply as your minder." His eyes flash with his dark lashes.
"Minder?"
"Bodyguard, guardian, protector," he says unhesitatingly. Sinabayan na ako nito sa paglalakad patungo sa deadlock camp. He smells like patchouli, of saffron with woody fragrance. I like how confident Fabian is. 'Yong tipong confidence na hindi napagkakamalang mahangin o mayabang. He just comes so naturally. He speaks when he must and listens when he should.
Pagkarining na pagkarinig ko sa mga salitang binanggit nito, kaagad na pumasok sa isip ko ang posibleng threat mula sa The Drift. The squad can't just let a hurled insult from a budding squad. "Is this about the threat from your own squad?"
"One of the many," he walks at my pace.
Alam kong mas malalaki ang hakbang nito sa hakbang ko dahil matangkad ito, pero mas minabuti pa rin niyang bagalan ang paglalakad para masabayan ako. Palingon-lingon ito sa gawi ko habang tinutungo namin ang deadlock camp.
BINABASA MO ANG
A Tribian Tale
FantasíaHe's after her. Just one bite, One drop, One dark power, One curse that lasts a lifetime. A girl with cursed blood. A boy destined to drain her dry. A fate written in blood-meant to be broken. Four powerful clans vying for supremacy. One god marked...