Midnight Angels

Chapter 3

'The Memories'

ZIA

"Kuya, sina Mommy?" tanong ko kay Kuya Xy nang makababa ako mula sa kwarto ko. We're still at Archia at nakita kong wala sina Mommy sa master's bedroom. It's six in the evening and the house is so silent. Usually sa ganitong oras ay nag-iingay na sina Tito Hoshi. Tiningnan ko naman si Kuya Xy na nagbabasa ng libro doon sa sala.

He was wearing his reading glasses, which was weird since I didn't know he needed them to read. Or many it's just for fashion. I don't know. I guess Kuya Xy wants to become a fashionista like Tito Milo.

"They went on a mission," sagot niya kaya tumingin ako sa pinto. It became a habit of mine to just stare at the door whenever Mom and Dad went out for a mission. Noong bata pa ako ay naghihintay lang ako sa kanila rito sa sala hanggang sa bumukas ang pinto at umuwi sila.

"They won't be back until tomorrow. So, I'm staying here with you." Binalik ko ang tingin ko kay kuya na nakaupo sa sofa. I observed him again. Kuya Xy always styled his hair like Dad's hair, although his hair is a bit longer on the front, giving off a rather 'bad boy' vibe, but it's countered by his posture, giving off the bad boy but gentleman vibe.

And since Kuya Xy is a demon, his eyes somehow resembled Tito Walter and Wilder's eyes. The gaze of a demon. Parang napansin naman ni Kuya Xy na nakatitig lang ako sa kanya kaya tumingin narin siya sa akin.

"Are you describing me in your head again?" natatawa niyang tanong at tumango nalang ako at saka umupo sa tabi niya.

"Nga pala. Tito Matthew stayed. He's going to run some test on you," aniya kaya saglit akong natigilan. Tumingin narin siya sa akin habang nakatingin lang ako sa kamay ko. Binaba na ni Kuya Xy ang libro na hawak niya at hinawakan ang kamay dahilan para tumingin ako sa kanya.

Ngumiti siya sa akin at tuluyan na akong humarap sa kanya.

"Sasamahan kita. I promise, no needles this time." When he said the words 'needles', my mind immediately remembered how painful it was for me back then. Enduring all those needles just so I could live after having an attack. Pinikit ko ang mga mata ko at tinapik-tapik naman ni kuya ang kamay ko.

"Hey, you're strong. You're my baby sister, so you're strong. It's just a few tests." He comforted me at ngumiti ako sa kanya.

"Ilang taon kitang hiniling kina Mommy at Daddy tapos ibibigay ka sa akin ng ganito. I swear, I'm gonna punch those deitie—" Natawa ako sa mga sinasabi ni Kuya Xy. Tumigil naman siya tsaka tumingin sa akin sabay gulo ng buhok ko.

Maya-maya ay dumating na si Tito Matthew na may dala-dalang mga folder. Ngumiti siya sa akin at naglakad na kami papunta sa lab. It was cold tonight and the kingdom was bustling as always. Royal guards were surrounding me. Rangers were everywhere, telling people to make way.

"Make way for the prince and the princess!" I couldn't help but hide my face whenever they say that. I'm still not used to all this publicity. Kuya Xy has gotten the hang of it, but I haven't.

"It's the princess!"
"Good evening, Princess Zia!"
"It's the prince! It's the prince!"

The villagers greeted us and wished us good health. They wished for my heart to heal and I couldn't help but smile at their words. At dahil nakatingin ako sa kanila ay nabigla nalang ko noong agad akong hinila ni Kuya Xy kaya napatingin agad ako sa daan. There's a huge hole on the middle of the road, filled with mud and dirty water.