Overcoming the Darkness (Series 2)

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

SOFIA stood before the tall mirror. Dark bags could be seen under her eyes. Hindi na siya nakakatulog nang maayos lalo na kagabi. Matagal niyang pinag-isipan ang mga bagay-bagay.

On whether she should or should not stop her plans.

Since the day that Sofia unexpectedly came back, everyone tries to act normal around her. But she wasn't buying it, she knows that they are just waiting for her to snap. They are being wary especially from the fact that she might attack one of them anytime.

Wala rin siyang pakialam. She didn't let Zafrix's words affect her. She didn't show any sign of emotion just like what she is suppose to do. Hindi rin niya sila kinakausap. She just let the days passed by. Kailangan din naman niyang mag-ubos ng oras. She didn't care kung hindi siya nito pinapansin.

Zafrix is not entirely ignoring her all the time, pero hindi rin siya nito kinakausap. From time to time ay nakikita niya itong pinapanood ang bawat galaw niya. As if he was checking something, or making sure that what he was waiting for isn't happening.

She is having a hard time, though. A strange man hidden in a cloak have been keeping his eyes on her. Mas madalas pa niya itong makita kaysa kay Zafrix. And she felt very uncomfortable about it. Hindi niya rin alam kung sino iyon but she heard the rest of them calling him "Bill". Ito ang unang pagkakataon na nakita niya ang lalaking iyon.

Wala na ring nagtanong sa kaniya tungkol sa kahit ano. It's like nothing happens. It's like she didn't do anything like joining forces with Vein. It's like she didn't exist. Except for one person who kept on trying her chances to talk to her.

Cyan.

One time, Cyan cornered her in a room. Abala sa paghahanda ang mga ito para sa simpleng birthday celebration ni Crystal nang makita siya nitong nakaupo mag-isa sa veranda at nililinis ang mga dagger na ginamit siya sa pang-hunt ng mga bampira. Yes, she can still go outside. Just like what Zafrix said, they are letting her do whatever she wants. She has Kersten to inform her though. They are still keeping their eyes on her.

"Puwede ba tayong mag-usap?" tanong ni Cyan.

"Tungkol saan?" malamig niyang tugon nang hindi nagtataas ng tingin. She needs to keep this up. She needs to.

"We know, Sofia," patuloy nito. "Alam na namin na alam mo na ang lahat."

Hindi siya nagsalita.

"Alam kong wala ka nang pakialam, but at least let me know..."

She began to feel uncomfortable. Hindi niya nagugustuhan na marinig ang kalungkutan sa boses nito. Nagpigil siya at pinanatiling tahimik ang sarili.

"Just let me know if it's true."

Kusang huminto ang mga kamay niya sa pagpupunas ng mga punyal. Sofia could tell from the moment that Cyan's voice cracked that she's hurting from seeing her act of being unconcern.

"You've known all along didn't you?" patuloy nitong tanong kahit hindi siya nagsasalita.

"Even if it's true," she began before cleansing the dagger she was holding again. "Would it change anything?"

"Since when did you know the whole truth?" dagdag na tanong nito, halata sa boses nito na pinapakalma nito ang sarili at pilit na pinapatatag ang boses.