KING OF TORMENTS [Completed]

CHAPTER 30

I felt an unexplainable emptiness the moment I opened my eyes. I was calm and almost emotionless, as if my body was completely detached from the real world. My thoughts are vague and in haze, nonetheless, I'm fine. I just couldn't explain why I felt this weird sensation. The terrifying calmness and the fatal emptiness.

I lazily stood from my bed. Inilibot ko ang aking paningin. Saglit akong natigilan nang mapansing wala ako sa King's Edifice, sa halip ay nasa loob ako ng aking kwarto sa Sinclaire Mansion.

Even though that was confusing, I remained passive. I just shrugged the thought because right now, it doesn't matter. In fact, I felt like nothing actually matters to me. Iyong pakiramdam na alam kong may mali pero may kung ano sa aking isipan ang nagtutulak na huwag itong pansinin.

I looked at my own reflection in the mirror and examined my face. Nothing change, or my mind was just stubborn to digest the fact that something change. My eyes were lifeless and its iris emphasized the absence of my emotions that used to lingered on it. My lips were still in perfect shape but it was too pale, like someone sucked the color on it and leave it in a complete devastated state.

I consciously blinked and turned my back from the mirror. Pumasok ako sa banyo at naghilamos. Sinuklay ko rin ang mahaba kong buhok bago ako nakapagdesisyong bumaba na.

Naabutan kong seryosong nag-uusap sina Mommy at Daddy. Nasa tapat naman nila si Lush. Tahimik itong nakikinig sa dalawa at kapansin-pansing balisa.

Saglit akong natigilan.

Kailan pa dumating ang mga magulang namin?

Bakit hindi ko sila napansin kagabi? Kung sa bagay tulog na tulog na ako sa biyahe. Baka nga si Lush na lang ang nagdala sa akin sa kwarto.

"Mayroon ng bagong itatayong laboratory. We are running out of time. Kailangan na itong mapag-aralan ng mabuti." Seryosong sabi ni Mommy. Mahina lamang ito pero umabot pa rin sa aking pandinig.

"Morning," walang emosyon kong bati.

Agad nahinto ang kanilang usapan at napalingon sa akin. My face remained void with emotion even thou I can clearly see the longing, grief and pity from my brother's eyes, as well as the strange expression that hovered in my parent's visage.

Mom's almost foreign gaze landed on my face. She looked at me closely. Her meticulous eyes traveled around my face as if looking for something. Dumapo ang tingin ko kay Daddy. His expression was purely unreadable. Nang nag-abot ang aming tingin ni Daddy ay bigla itong ngumiti... ngiting tila may ipinapahiwatig.

"Morning," Mommy greeted casually.

"Come here, Sapphire." Tinapik ni Daddy ang espasyo sa tabi niya.

Napakurap ako at parang isang kontroladong manikang naglakad papunta sa tabi niya. Agad na akong umupo. Nag-abot ang tingin namin ni Lush. Napailing ito. Tila ba may gusto siyang sabihin sa akin.

"You did well, my daughter." Ginulo nito ang aking buhok. Tiningnan ko siya ulit ngunit nanatiling tikom ang aking bibig. "What do you want as a reward? Gusto mo bang ipapatay ko sa mga tauhan ko ang bestfriend mo... Ano nga ba'ng pangalan no'n? Zoey, right? Ang huling balita ko ay nasa ospital pa rin iyon." Ang lambing ng pagkakatanong ni Daddy. Ni minsan hindi ko pa narinig na ganito ang tono ng pananalita niya sa akin, ngayon lang.

"Dad stop it—"

"Shut up, Lush! Sinabi ko bang sumabat ka?" But his expression hastily changed when he heard Lush talked. Nawala ang ngiti nito at matalim na tiningnan ang kapatid ko. They were now looking at each other like they're talking using their eyes. Si Lush ang unang nag-iwas ng tingin na tila sumusuko. Nilingon niya ako saglit bago ito napayuko. Agad kong napansin ang pagkakakuyom ng kaniyang mga kamay, bahagya pa nga itong nanginginig. My brother appeared to be a tame devil as of the moment.