PHANTOM: Tierra Firme Book 1

14: Gio

I WOKE UP with heat from a soft body lying beside me.

I instantly knew whose body it was. At sa sumunod na sandali, nagblangko ang aking utak. Iisa lang ang laman.

My Queen.

We were under the blankets, and I was lying on my back, my body prone. Her limbs were around me, one arm of hers around my neck, her face buried on my arm as she slept.

The hand on my other side lifted to reach her, to softly caress her cheek.

Mia...

She didn't wake up. Hers was the sleep of someone who had been dead-tired.

How many days had I been out? I wondered.

Noon ko inilibot sa paligid ng kwarto ang aking mga mata. It was a spacious bedroom, and all the windows were opened to allow sea breeze to come in. But I still felt chilled to my bones. It wasn't as bad as the worse moments of my olden days. But I still hadn't felt like this for a very, very long time.

Napapaling ako sa direksyon ng pinto nang may narinig akong ingay mula roon. Then it was opened by someone. Isang matandang babae ang pumasok. Halos nasa kalagitnaan na siya mula sa pinto patungo sa kama nang makita niya ako, makitang nakamulat ako.

Napatigil siya sa paglakad. May isang sandaling nakita ko ang takot sa kanyang mga mata bago niya iyon naitago. Saka, mas tuwid pero tense ang lakad, ay nagpatuloy siya sa paglapit.

Nakamata ako sa kanya, alerto. Sa ilalim ng blanket, nakahawak ako sa isang kamay ni Mia. I would not let it go, anuman ang mangyari.

"Gising ka na," sabi ng matanda sa mahinang tinig, halos bulong. Halatang hindi niya gustong magising si Mia.

Marahan akong tumango.

"Wala kang malay sa loob nang halos isang linggo." Sumilid ang kanyang mga mata sa dalagang nakayakap sa akin sa pagtulog. "Hindi ka iwan ni Mia, gusto niyang ipainom sa iyo ang kanyang dugo. Pero sobra ang nakuha sa kanya nang ginawa niyang pagsira sa wards at pagtulong sa 'yo noong hawak ka ng mga miyocto at iba pang nasa labas. Hindi handa ang kanyang katawan at..."

"Naiintindihan ko," sabi ko sa mahina ring tinig. My voice came out like hoarse whisper, almost like a croak. My throat hurt like a bitch.

"You suffered along with them, it just didn't kill you," sabi niya. "She didn't have control. It was a good thing the intention was to save you. Kung hindi..."

Muli akong tumango, saving my voice.

Ilang sandaling hindi siya umimik, nakatayo lang doon, hawak ang plangganang dala niya sa pagpasok. Tumingin siya kay Mia saka ibinalik ang tingin sa mukha ko.

"If you are going to leave with her, they will make you wear the ring."

I had expected that. But hearing it was still difficult, after everything the ring symbolized. "I know."

"She never left your side, kahit isang sandali lang."

Naunawaan ko rin ang sinasabi niya. Hindi papayag si Mia na suotin ko ang singsing.

"Will you bring the ring here?"

She did not expect that. Nakita ko ang pagkagulat sa kanyang mukha. Nakita ko siyang bahagyang namutla. "Do you know what her full name is?"

"Rosa Mia. Nakita ko sa Register of Guests."

"Did you know then that she is..."

Umiling ako. "No. But as soon as I felt her... before I even saw her..."