Midnight Angels

Chapter 36

'The Chosen One'

ZIA

Tita Lorisse and Tita Keya are awake. Just them. Mom and the others are still lying in their lab beds.

"Mom!" Sabay na sambit nina Wilder at Celise at tsaka na nila niyakap ang mga ina nila. I just breathed out and looked at them. The poison was flushed out from both their bodies and maybe that's why they are awake now. Hindi naman kasi sila kasali sa forbidden spell na ginawa ni Mommy kasi nasa loob daw sila ng bahay nung mangyari 'yun.

I just looked at Celise and Wilder hugging their mothers.

Tiningnan ko lang ang kamay ni Kuya Xy na nakahawak sa balikat ko. "See that, baby sis? That's a good sign. Pretty soon, Team Alpha will wake up too." Aniya at ngumiti nalang ako. Nakita ko namang tumingin sa akin sina Tita Keya kaya ngumiti lang ako at nagpaalam na aalis muna.

Bumaba ako at pumunta sa kusina at tsaka kumuha ng pudding doon tsaka isang tablespoon. Umupo na ako sa stool dun sa kitchen counter at kumain na.

Tita Miu and Grandpa Storm kept their awakening confidential for the moment kaya walang masyadong pumupunta dito. They weren't prepared for the awakening of Tita Keya and Tita Lorisse and they haven't planned anything beforehand and they thought keeping it confidential for now was best for the two of them.

Kung pupunta naman 'yung iba rito sa village, hindi rin naman sila makakapasok ulit dahil in-effect na 'yung barrier. Tita Miu already checked on them and their vitals were back to normal. No more sign of the poison in their bodies.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Agad akong tumingin kay Tita Addie na naglalakad pababa sa hagdanan at tsaka lumapit sa akin. "Hmm? Wala po." Sagot ko pero pinaningkitan niya lang ako.

"A bit disappointed that Team Alpha is still in their beds?" Tanong niya pero lumingo-lingo lang ako.

"I just can't face Tita Keya and Tita Lorisse right now. What happened a few months ago came back to me. I was suddenly reminded of what I did." Sabi ko at inubos nalang ang pudding at tsaka ito tinapon sa basurahan. Tumingin lang si Tita Addie sa akin at tsaka ngumiti. Tumingin narin ako sa pinto nung pumasok si Ate Dolly.

Sakto namang bumaba si Kuya Xy at sinalubong niya ito ng yakap.

"Missed you, bunbun." Malambing na sabi ni Kuya Xy kay Ate Dolly at nangalumbaba nalang ako sa mesa habang nakatingin ako sa kanila. "Ano na namang nangyari sa kamay mo? Did you get into a fight again, Wen?" Tanong ni Ate Dolly sa kanya kaya agad na pinaliwanag ni Kuya Xy ang nangyari sa akin dun sa UHT. Napaawang naman ang bibig ni Ate Dolly at biglang hinampas ang dibdib ni Kuya Xy.

Kuya Xy just looked at her, confused.

"Kulang pa 'yung ginawa mo! You should've roasted them into a grill and fed them to Hades' dogs. No one touches my sweet little Zia like that." Sabi ni Ate Dolly at niyakap ako. Tiningnan ko lang si Kuya Xy na nakangiting nakatingin kay Ate Dolly. That look of him, I know it. It's the same way Dad looks at Mom.

"Zia?" Agad akong tumingin kay Grandpa Storm na kakababa lang mula sa lab. Binitawan naman ako ni Ate Dolly. "They want to see you." Napalunok kaagad ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Tumingin ako kay Kuya Xy at tinanguan niya lang ako kaya tumayo na ako at dahan-dahang naglakad papunta sa lab.

Grandpa Storm just smiled at me nung nilagpasan ko siya. I just breathed out at tsaka na dumiretso sa lab. My steps were slow and dragged as I was walking hanggang sa makarating na ako sa tapat ng pinto ng lab.