Mist and Moonlight

CHAPTER 46: I Am You

Naia's POV

I have a relationship with a reaper. It is against their vises. The same person who visited me in the hospital gave me a buoquet.

I remember his promise on the hospital. "I will never let you go ever again. Understand?"

We keept it a secret. Kahit kay Artemis.

Noong isang gabi pagkatapos nilang tulungan ang pinsan ko ay dumiretso siya dito sa bahay.

"I'm sorry I was busy." he apologize.

"Okay lang. It's part of your job." I console him with words. "Is she safe?"

"Oo. Dinala siya sa headquarters." hinawakan niya ang mga kamay ko.
"She needs rest."

After she wake-up from her deep slumber, Dan is gone. I know that his body didn't take the sustained injury he also loss so much blood. Nagwala ang pinsan ko removing the IV fluid making her bleed more.

They the owner of the house talk to her. Knocking some sense in her system.

"Poor Artemis." thinking out loud.

"Let's keep it for a while. Saka natin sabihin kapag tapos na ang lahat." we both agreed on that.

He hugged me tight watching the moon. It's past 12 midnight. Dumaan lang talaga siya para makita ako.

He gave a peck on the lips and a kiss on the forehead bago umalis.

Para siyang akyat bahay actually. Pinaglihi yata sa unggoy.

Binigyan niya lang ako ng buoquet ngayon. Sa veranda siya ng kwarto dumaan. I'd call him spiderman for now.

I'm bored because I am grounded. Daddy might hang them upsidedown kapag tumakas ako.

Nalaman kong grounded din si Artemis. Her brother's command sinunod na lang niya she will lose her allowance if she don't.

I did my routine—change my clothes, brush my teeth—bago matulog. Napadaan ako sa full body mirror.
I see my reflection change. A flicker. Kinilabutan ako kakabasa ko lang to ng horror story sa wattpad.

Pinatay ko ang lampshade only opening the dim lights.

I'm standing in front of a mirror pero wala akong reflection. All I can see is my background. The post modern bedroom set-up with the lights on.

I pinch myself. It hurts kahit panaginip lang ito. I'm looking for a clock, if there is one I'll believe this is not a dream but an apparition.

I keep looking around seeing an old and small grandfather's clock on the bedside table.

Napadaan ako sa salamin sa tukador.
My reflection is not my image. An lady with a jet black hair and serene look on her face is doing the same action as I did.

It continued for a minute bago siya magsalita.

"Naia..." she sat on the bed kahit nakatayo ako sa harap ng salamin.

"You..." I'm afraid of my next words but I say them anyway "...ikaw ang babaang nasa panaginipi ko."

"Very good. You remember still me." she brush her long hair. Ngayon ako naman ang nasabay sa kanya.

What is the meaning of this?

I am resisting pero ganun pa din. She laughed so did I. Lumapit ako sa lamesa at hinagis ang jewelry box sa salamin. It broke to peices.

I can still see her.

"I am you..." the words spill from her—my—lips slowly.

"Hindi ka totoo!" I scream at her.

"I am..." my clothes change. Her clothes are on me even her face.

There's a piece of mirror beside my foot.

"Do it and you'll die." she challenged me.

"I will gladly do it. So you won't harm my family." idadampi ko na ang salamin sa pulso ko.

"What about him?" tanong nito "Hmm..." humalakhak siya na tila nanalo na.

"I told you I am you. I see what you see, feel everything even the fast beating of his heart and yours also." she made me put the piece of mirror on my wrist.

"Tss."

"Mukhang lalabas ng maaga ang sikretong tinatago ninyo..."

Blood gushing from the wound.

"You witch!" curse her!

"I will let you have your temporary freedom for now." sinabi niya sa akin "sa susunod ako naman ang gagamit niyan."

"Fuck you!" there I said it.

"Enjoy your last days as Naia Isabel Reymundo Luna." pati ang buong pangalan ko gusto pa niyang angkinin.

I woke up tears stained my face. Tinignan ko ang pulso ko. Isang namumulang linya ang meron dito. Basag ang full body mirror sa tabi ng cabinet ko. It is shatterd to pieces tulad ng ginawa ko.

Nasa baba nito ang porcelain doll na basag-basag din.

I quicky dial his number.

He picks it up at the third ring.

"What's wrong?" his husky bedroom voice is on the other line.

"Let's meet. Later sa cafe soleil." my heart beating fast against my chest.

"Are you okay?" nagaalala niyang tanong I heard the quilt rustle.

"I will be when I see you." malambing kong sagot.

"Bring your body guards." I imagine his tousled morning hair and half naked body.

He slept here once noong nawala si Artemis sinamahan niya ako hangang sa kumalma ako. He left before sunrise.

We didn't do anything except sleep.

"I will." tying my already long hair.

"Okay. See you later. I love you. " bumangon na siguro siya. I heard a door open.

"I love you too." saka ko binaba ang tawag.

I cleaned the shattered mirror. I pricked on one kakamadali. Kinagat ko ang na lang ang daliri ko para tumigil ito sa pagdudugo.

That porcelain doll is the gift for my 7th birthday. I sighed seeing it broken.

At 10 am in the morning tumulak ako papunta sa nasabing lugar bringing two bodyguards with me. They stayed on the first floor I went to the second floor.

There he sits with this  Mr. Goody- two-shoes look. I let him hug me. I smell his pefume. Mint, our favorite.
Umupo kami sa lamesang malayo sa bintana.

I want this moment to be ours if this is gonna be the last.