Midnight Angels: The War

Chapter 49

'A Glimpse'

"Bakit umiiyak 'yan?" Ininguso ni Atlas ang lokasyon ni Audin na nandun sa dining table at umiiyak habang kaharap ang isang bowl ng salad. Reed was sitting beside him, arms-crossed and telling him to finish his salad.

"He said bad words kaya pinaparusahan siya ni Reed." Tipid na sagot ni Lucas habang nagbabasa ng libro. Audin looked up at Reed and pouted pero pumikit lang si Reed at umiling. "Ubusin mo 'yan." Mariing sabi ni Reed sa kanya.

"Or else, no desserts for you." Dagdag niya kaya mas lalong umiyak si Audin.

"Ayoko nito! At bakit ba ang strict mo? Hindi naman kita inaano ah!" Mangiyak-ngiyak na sabi ni Audin kaya napasapo si Reed sa mukha niya't tumayo tsaka may kinuha sa fridge. He got bacon strips at tsaka ito nilagay sa ibabaw ng salad ni Audin.

"Now will you eat that?" Tanong niya. Umirap nalang si Audin at walang nagawa kundi ang kumain.

"Instant Daddy ka ba Reed? Batang ama." Natatawang sabi nina Wilder sa kanya kaya tumayo naman si Ash at tinapik ang balikat ni Reed.

"This is the story of a boy who became a father at such a young age. Naunahan mo pa 'yung gurang sa team natin ah." Natatawang sabi ni Ash kaya agad na binaling ni Xy ang tingin niya sa kanila.

"Who the hell are you calling gurang? Gurang ka din!" Inis na sabi ni Xy sa kanya.

"Omg, so conyo. Is that how gurang people speak?" Natatawang sabi ni Archer at humagalpak na naman ng tawa sina Wilder. Umiling nalang sina Xy at bumalik na sa ginagawa nila.

"Kapag inubos mo 'yan, may chocolate donuts ka bukas." Mahinang sabi ni Reed nung makitang wala nang gana si Audin sa pagkain. Agad namang tumingala si Audin sa kanya at ngumiti. Napabuga nalang ng hangin si Reed at sinapo ang mukha niya.

Who could resist such cuteness? Tumayo nalang siya at umupo na dun sa sofa.

"Si Zia?" Tanong ni Atlas nung mapansing wala na pala ito. "Umuwi na." Tipid na sagot ni Lucas.

And that's when everyone looked at him, including Xy. Yes, they have accepted the fact about Zia's fate and everything but still, even saying that she comes home to a different place and spend time with Hunters, it's still hard.

After all, Zia has always been by their side.

✥✥

"Paano nga ba napunta sa ganito?" Hoshi asked.

He's been silent all week, or as how Walter says is, Hoshi's been silent ever since Zia disappeared to be with the Hunters. Kasalukuyan silang nasa field ng alpha village. A bonfire in front of them, marshmallows on sticks near the fire, chairs that suit everyone single one of them, cold drinks, and warm feelings.

Nakatingala rin si Hoshi sa mga bituin habang sinasabi niya 'yun.

"Sa lahat ng mga pinagdaanan natin, ito na yata ang pinakamahirap." Nakayukong sabi ni Duke habang pinaglalaruan ang isang stick sa apoy. Some of the team members looked at him.

"Mas mahirap pa 'to nung nawala ang mga alaala natin. Mas mahirap pa nung kinalaban natin ang Blue Queen. Ang hirap." Mahina niyang sabi. Hinagod nalang ni Joshua ang likod niya.

"Uno is not even a threat anymore. Mas nag-aalala tayo kay Zia." Sabi rin ni Baxter at uminom ng cider.

"Fate. Destiny. Future. Fuck all those things, man. I just wanted her to live a good life and shit started giving her a whole fucking dramatic motherfucking life." Vernon was already drunk when he said those words as he tossed his bonnet cap into the fire that Milo had to catch it before it was burned.