Summoned by Love [Agartha Series #1]

CHAPTER EIGHT

Nangunot ang noo ko nang maramdaman ang banayad na pagdampi ng malambot na bagay sa aking noo. Nang dahan-dahan kong idilat ang aking mga mata ay ang mukha ni Luke na ang lapit lang sa akin at ang labi nitong nakadikit sa noo ko ang sumalubong sa akin. Naitulak ko siya sa gulat at muntik pa siyang mawalan ng balanse nang hindi inaasahan ang pagkilos ko.

He looked at me in amusement, even shook his head, then went back on his seat while his eyes were still on me, and plastered a wry smile on his face. “You’re surprisingly strong, huh?”

I rolled my eyes. “Nakailang halik ka na sa akin, ah.”

“Hmm. Can’t help it.”

Can’t help it niya mukha niya! Mapagsamantala!

Nagbuntong-hininga ako at binaling na lang ang tingin sa paligid namin. Wala naman akong makukuha kung makikipag-away pa ako sa kaniya. “Nasa mall na ba tayo?”

Naka-parking na pala kami nang maayos ngayon sa malawak na parking lot. All the walls were made of glass kaya kitang-kita ko ang labas ng building na kinalalagyan namin. We’re on the last floor of the building, I guess? Nasaan ba kami? This did not look like a mall at all. And bakit dito ang parking lot?

Instead of answering my question, Luke got out of the car and turned around to open the passenger seat for me. Lumabas ako sa sasakyan at laglag ang pangang linibot ang tingin sa kabuuan ng paligid. Even the floor we’re stepping on was made of glass! I could even see what’s below us! I wasn’t really afraid of heights and I’m used to it. Walang kaso sa akin kung nasa pang-ilang floor kami ngayon, but we’re stepping on a glass! What if this would break‽

And now I could feel my hands sweating and my heart’s throbbing. My knees were trembling too, glued on the glass floor, and I could not bare to look down.

“We’re here, Yannarayyih.” He grabbed my waist and smiled at me. “Let’s go.”

I shook my head and did not move. Luke’s brow furrowed in bewilderment as he looked at me and I sighed. “I could not move my feet, okay? This... this floor is made of glass! What if it breaks?”

His mouth fell half-open in amusement. “This isn’t a normal glass, Yanna. This won’t break easily.” Still, I wasn’t convinced and he noticed it. “Look at those agarthans below us. They are comfortable walking and strolling, right? This building is safe.”

I tried to look down below us. Kitang-kita rito ang mga paninda sa ibaba at ang mga sinasabi niyang “agarthans”. Siguro’y ganoon ang kabuuang tawag sa iba’t ibang uri ng mga nilalang na naninirahan dito sa mundo nila.

“Now, calm down.” Napapitlag ako nang muling marinig ang boses niyang bumulong malapit sa tainga ko. It was gentle and reassuring. “You know I won’t put your life in danger, right?”

I stayed silent and breathed heavily to calm myself. I could not still fully trust Luke. I barely know him and the first time we met here in his world, a werewolf appeared and tried to get me. Noong gabing ’yon pa lang, nang gabing dumating ako rito sa Agartha, linagay na niya ako sa panganib. We encountered a werewolf and witches already. What creature would be next?

“I will always protect you,” he said, and I knew based on the changes of his tone, he had read my mind. “Kahit iyon lang ang paniwalaan mo sa akin, Yanna.”

’Di na ako nakapalag pa nang hilahin niya ako papuntang elevator. Still, my steps were too careful not to create a  crack on the glass. And now, I think, it’s really impossible. I almost forgot that this world is advanced and magical! I should walk comfortably just like him and all creatures here! Magmumukha akong katatawanan sa mga nilalang dito if I act ignorant! Baka isipin nilang hindi ako taga-rito at patayin pa ako.