The Courtship of A Dragon (Encantadia Modern AU)

ii

AMIHAN

She looked around the room she would share with her half-sisters. There was a double deck on the left wall and a single one on the right. Sisters, Amihan mentally corrected herself, imagining the sweet smiles of the twins. Her stepfather, Enuo, was driving when he told the news. Buong akala pa naman niya nang nagdaang-araw ay kay Pirena siya makikihati sa kwarto. Wala naman siyang reklamo doon lalo pa't sa tingin niya hindi okay kay Pirena ang magkaroon ng roommate. She felt her cheeks burn, scolding herself for judging her eldest sister.

Now that we are a bit older, would Pirena still pretend that I don't exist at all?

She was supposed to return to them a week ago but she couldn't leave her home for seventeen years just like that. Dapat saglit lang siya noon sa kanyang lola pero umabot ng ganoong kahabang panahon. Minsan, iwasan man niyang isipin, nakatatampo. Ang hindi niya lang alam ay kung kanino siya mas nagtatampo: sa kanyang lola ba o sa kanyang ina? Despite that, her father's mother still made sure that she would experience the best childhood she could possibly have without her mother, her sisters on her side. It had been ten days since her grandmother passed away and she missed her terribly.

She hugged her stuffed toy, Lira, a fluffy dog with blue patches on its white fur. Even though she would celebrate her 18th birthday in a few days, Amihan couldn't help but seek comfort from it. Isa ito sa mga natanggap niya noong bata pa sa isa sa mga boxes na ibinahagi ng church na kinabibilangan ng kanyang lola tuwing pasko. Ang alam niya'y mga bata rin ang nag-ipon at nagpadala ng mga ito. Usually, a box only contains a letter from the sender, but she was lucky to have a picture included on the one she had gotten. Kalasag, the name signed under the letter. They were both ten at that time, so, ibig sabihin eighteen or mag-e-eighteen na rin ito ngayon.

She wondered if he still had those dimples on his cheeks. The smile she used to have as a kid was slowly fading away as she got older.

"Amihan!" Two distinctive voices called in unison. She spun around and saw her roommates, Alena and Danaya, both dressed in their SHS uniforms. "Welcome home."

She smiled, and at the same time, the twins rushed into her arms. "Ali, Dany, I miss you." She kissed their foreheads. "Ayan, roommates na tayo like we've always dreamed of."

"Iisang school na tayo papasok," naluluha sa tuwang sabi ni Alena. "Hindi ka naman sa Makati, di ba, magka-college?"

Amihan shook her head. "Sinabi ko kay Ina na dito na ako mag-aaral."

"Yes." Nagtatalong sabi ni Danaya. Hindi rin naman pala masyado seryoso ang pinakabata niyang kapatid, naiisip ni Amihan.

"Si Pirena nga pala," biglang tanong ni Amihan. "Haven't seen her, hindi pa naman umpisa ang klase sa college, di ba?"

"Naglayas ang bruha." Nakangising sabi ni Danaya. Alena noticed and elbowed her twin on the stomach. "Ali!"

"Nag-away na naman sila ni Ina." Malungkot na sabi ng pinakamaintindihing anak ni Mine-a. "I called her last night, sabi niya kay..." tumigil ito, tila hindi alam kung anong salita ang gagamitin. "Sa papa niya muna siya tumitigil."

"Jusme, Ali." Nasambit ni Danaya. "You're talking to Pirena and you didn't even mention it to me until now."

"Eh, isusumbong mo siya kay Ina sandaling i-share ko sa'yo."

"Dapat lang." Danaya crossed her arms on her stomach. Kung hindi lang alam ni Amihan na si Alena ang mas matanda, maiisip niyang si Danaya ang unang lumabas sa sinapupunan ng kanilang ina. "Worried na worried na si Ina at ilang araw ng hindi nagkakakain. Hindi ka ba nag-aalala?"

"Hindi naman sa ganoon, Dany."

Naisip ni Amihan na pahupain na ang ang namumuong tensyon sa pagitan ng kambal. "Alena just wants to give Pirena the space she definitely needs right now." She patted the left shoulder of her youngest sister. "Though, kailangan rin natin sabihing nasa maayos na kalagayan ang Ate para wag mag-alala si Ina."

The twins nodded, seeing Amihan's point. The three of them stood in silence for awhile, wishing for someone to initiate a new topic they can equally contribute to. Hindi maitatangging may mga bagay-bagay na hindi pa nila gamay at alam sa isa't isa. A video call is different from the actual person.

"Oh, you brought Lira with you." It was Alena who broke the ice. "Akala ko kasama siya sa mga idinonate mo dati sa McBee."

"Coming from you talaga, Ali." said Danaya with a raised eyebrow. There was smile on her face and Amihan let out a sigh of relief. "Nakakahiya sa stuffed toy mong parrot."

"Marinig ka ni Kahlil!" Tawang-tawa sabi ni Alena sabay punta sa wardrobe nito kung saan kinuha ang isang green na stuffed toy parrot. Nakipag-exchange ito kay Amihan ng laruan. "Hindi pa nga siya umaabot ng isang buwan sa akin."

"Cutie." Amihan looked at Kahlil, the green parrot, and then to her serious sister. "Naku, Ali, inggit lang itong si Danaya sa atin."

The Serious One returned it with a frown. "Malayo pa sa isip ko ang magka-boyfriend." Wika nitong may pinaghuhugutan.

"Boyfriend kaagad? Hindi ba puwedeng from a friend?" Mabilis na tugon ni Amihan sabay tingin kay Alena. "But, tell the truth, galing nga sa manliligaw mo?"

"Amihan!" Alena turned tomato red. "Danaya kasi, exag."

"Exag?" Danaya echoed, more hot-heated than teasing. "The guy's a certified stalker."

"Eto na naman tayo," Amihan chimed in. "Dany, inhale, exhale."

Danaya inhaled and exhaled before she spoke again. "So, ano mo na siya ngayon, Ali?" She looked betrayed na para bang maninira ng gamit anytime.

Hindi kaagad makasagot si Alena at niyakap si Lira. Napangiti si Amihan sa inaasal ng dalawang kapatid. "Ali, it's okay."

"Thanks, Ami."

"Akala ko pa naman may kakampi na ako 'pag dumating ka, Ami." Danaya mumbled, looking dejected as ever, and Amihan couldn't help but smile more no matter how much she resisted the urge.

"Danaya, wala akong kinakampihan." Amihan side-hugged her youngest sister. It's the truth; she's the most objective among the four sisters. Well, at least, she's trying. "Pero, maiintidihan mo rin kapag nagdalaga ka na." She ended by sticking a bit of tongue.

Danaya rolled her eyes. "We're twins." She said, a finger pointing toward Alena who was also laughing at her sister's stubborness. "Fraternal pero twins pa rin."

"I know."

Amihan looked at both sisters, smiling. Welcome home.

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Avisala! Thank you for reading. Don't be afraid to share your thoughts :) Also, I've edited the previous chapters to fit my current ones. I don't know how this works, if automatic bang magbabago o you have to re-add it.