Crownless Queen

Chapter 29: Under the Moon

CHAPTER 29
Under the Moon

"Putukan na!" sigaw ni Primo at napangiwi ako nang makarinig ng mga pagsabog mula sa malayo.

New Year is coming, but I won't forget the day Raven messed up my mind again and now I became uneasy. Raven is confusing me so much, tsk.

Nandito kaming lahat sa garden kung saan pwedeng makita ang mga fireworks para mamaya. I strangely feel sad and incomplete at the same time, but I don't know why.

All of us were wearing red t-shirts and I found myself looking so plain. Sinuot ko 'yung kwintas na regalo sa akin ni Nikolai. I was just staring at it the whole time earlier.

Pinagmasdan ko si Melody na nakangiti habang gumagamit ng cellphone. Baliw na ata. The countdown started and everyone looked so happy and excited. I frowned when I heard loud noises nearby.

"5, 4, 3, 2, 1!" Everyone cheered when the fireworks started showing up in the sky. Sobrang ingay ng paligid at ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko ngayon.

"Happy new year!" sabi nila at nagsimulang magpaputok. Melody looked so happy right now while taking photos on her phone. Nilabas ko naman ang phone ko sa bulsa at nakitang nagpop-up ang isang notification.

Unregistered Number
Happy new year, Artemis.

I sighed. Ibinalik ko nalang ang phone ko sa bulsa at inayos ang suot kong jacket saka pumasok sa loob ng bahay. Hindi ko ramdam ang saya ngayon pero bakit sila masayang-masaya? I felt like longing for someone. Longing for someone's warmth.

Umupo ako saglit sa sofa pero naramdaman kong nag-vibrate ang phone ko kaya kinuha ko na naman ito. My brows furrowed when I saw the caller's ID.

Unknown Number
now calling...

ACCEPT | REJECT

"What the hell do you want?" bungad ko na may halong inis sa aking boses. Suddenly I regret answering his phone call.

[I want to see you for the last time.]

"Tsk. Sabi mo hindi mo na ako guguluhin pa, hindi ba?"

[Please.]

"..."

[I wanted to see you... so bad.]

Pinatay ko na ang tawag at hinigpitan ang hawak ko sa aking jacket. Should I see him? But what for? Hindi ko namalayang lumabas na pala ako sa bahay nila Primo at naglakad papunta sa kawalan. Pupuntahan ko ba siya?

The fireworks were too noisy. Kada lakad ko ay nagliliwanag ang langit.

Habang nagpapatuloy ako sa paglalakad ay nakaramdam ako ng kakaibang ihip ng hangin. My hands become cold when I heard something behind me. May kumakaluskos, at papalapit ito sa akin. Baka lasing lang, o tambay. Hindi ko ito pinansin at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Nandito na ako, hindi na dapat ako umatras.

I should be honest with myself right now, but the footsteps behind me were so heavy. I was barely breathing because of fear. What should I do?

"Night, the target is here."

Shit. I've heard of that name again! I sharpened my senses and I heard the person behind me was carrying something heavy, like a metal.

The next thing I knew, I was being chased by two men in the streets!

"Shit, shit, shit!" natataranta kong bulong habang tumatakbo nang sobrang bilis. Madulas pa ang kalye dahil umulan kanina, damn!

Why do they always pop out of nowhere?!