Midnight Angels

Chapter 22

'The Replacement Plan'

ZIA

"What?! You did it before marriage—I mean, that's not my point. It's a baby. There's a baby. What have I done?" napaupo ako sa tabi ni Grandmama habang sinasapo ang mukha ko. Tita Addie is three months pregnant. She was supposed to surprise Tito Seth but she was the one who was surprised by what happened.

Tito Seth ended up in that bed without knowing that Tita Addie is carrying a baby. Baby Morgan.

"Anong baby? Tita Addie! You—oh my god." Tinakpan na ni Wilder ang sarili niyang bibig at umupo narin sa tabi ko. Tita Addie smiled at us at tinapik ang upuan sa gilid niya habang nakatingin siya sa akin. Napapikit ako at dahan-dahang tumayo.

Naglakad ako papunta sa tabi niya at agad niya akong niyakap noong nakaupo na ako.

"Don't blame yourself too much, okay Zia? It wasn't your fault, sweetie." Aniya at hinalikan pa ang noo ko. My lips trembled as I looked at the bump on her belly. I could hear the baby's heartbeat. It was healthy.

"It's a healthy baby.." Wala sa sarili kong sambit at tinanggap ang isang baso ng juice na binigay sa akin ni Grandmama. "How do you know?" nakangiting tanong ni Tita Addie at hinaplos ang buhok ko.

"I can hear it," sagot ko at pinunasan ang juice sa labi ko. "Hmm. You're just like Seth Morgan." Aniya at niyakap ako ulit. Napapikit ako at iminulat ang mga mata ko at tiningnan sina Wilder.

"New cousin!" sigaw ni Wilder kaya binatukan kaagad siya ni Kuya Xy.

"Hindi pa nga lumalabas." Suway ni Kuya Xy sa kanya at hinawakan nalang ni Wilder ang batok niya. Tumingin ako kina Grandpa Storm at saka ko binalik ang tingin ko kay Tita Addie. I looked back at them from time to time until I figured out what was happening.

And somehow, Grandpa Storm knew what I was thinking.

"Yes, Zia. Dito na muna si Addie sa amin. Just so we could offer protection for her and the baby knowing that this realm is in bad shape. And considering that she's carrying the Team Alpha's leader's baby, some creatures might be after her and the safest place for her is here." Sabi ni Grandpa Storm kaya tiningnan ko si Tita Addie at napalunok.

"I'm sorry." Sambit ko at yumuko. "Dahil sa akin hindi nalaman ni Tito Seth na—ow!" agad akong napapikit noong mariin na pinisil ni Tita Addie ang pisngi ko.

"I told you not to blame yourself, right? It wasn't your fault. It wasn't you. Okay? The next time I hear you blaming yourself, I'll smack you. Got that, Zia?" tiningnan ko si Tita Addie. Tito Seth always liked her because she was kind and pure but also, she was direct and had no fear. Mahina akong tumango at tumingin kay Grandpa Storm.

Tumango siya sa akin at saka na naglakad papunta sa opisina niya.

Tumayo naman ako at susunod na sana kay Grandpa Storm pero saglit akong huminto at lumingon kina Kuya Xy na nakatingin sa akin. Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga. "You can come if you want." Mahina kong sambit at agad naman silang ngumiti at sumunod na sa akin. Pagpasok namin sa opisina ni Grandpa Storm ay umupo kami sa sofa na nandoon at tumingin sa kanya.

He breathed out and looked at us.

"This is about Archia, right?" Indeed, Hybrid1 is always ten steps ahead of us.

I came here to ask for advice. Because of all the creatures in this realm, Grandpa Storm was the wisest of them all. Because I know that I wasn't knowledgeable enough when it comes to ruling Kingdoms or making wise decisions. I grew up under the supervision of my parents and I wasn't able to make clear decisions of my own.