The Kingdom Of Rose And Ashes (Halifax Series I)

Epilogue

Nang nasa parlour na kami, isang matandang babaeng nakabisteda ng pula ang bumati sa amin.

Agad akong nakaramdam ng kaba pero nilamon ito ng saya especially when Sin held my hand.

Akala ko dati ako na lang nag-iisa ang naiwan pero may kadugo pa pala ako.

The woman in front of me looked old. Puti na ang kanyang mahabang buhok at kulubot na ang kanyang mukha but she still look beautiful despite her age.

Her pointy ears wiggled when we arrive.

"My goodness, you look just like your mother!"  She gasped when her eyes landed on me. 

"But with your father's eyes and oh, the ears! Indeed an elf. Magnificent!"

Pareho kaming napatitig ni Sin sa ginang na nagpupunas na ng kaniyang luha. We were not expecting she will greet us like this kaya hindi namin alam kung ano dapat ang gagawin.

"I should have known you'll inherit your grandfather's gift! Emma would be so proud!" 

"M-Masaya rin po ako na— na makita po kayo." I awkwardly answered but she hugged me nonetheless.

"You've grown so well, I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you."

Nakita ko sa mga mata ni Sin na hindi niya alam kung dapat ba siyang umalis para bigyan kami ng privacy o manatili para bigyan ako ng suporta.

"I'm sorry you have to deal with everything on your own. Hindi ko alam na itutuloy ni Emma ang plano niyang itago ka sa mundo ng mga tao para mailayo kay Marina."

"E-Emma? Sino po si Emma?" 

Napatigil ang ginang sa pagyakap sa akin at tinitigan ako na para bang tinubuan ako bigla ng kabute sa mukha.

"Sino si Emma? Sino si Emma? Hindi mo kilala si Emma? P-paanong... Anong nangyari? Paano mo nakalimutan kung sino ang ina mo?"

I stiffened and Sin immediately went to my side nang makita niyang nabigla ako.

"H-Hindi si M-Marina ang ina ko?"

Nanlaki ang mata ng Lola ko.  "Marina? My goodness, of course not."

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag habang naging malungkot naman ang mukha ni Lola.

Sin immediately offered his hand to her for diversion.

"Sin Fuevo, King of Fire Fae."  Inabot ng ginang ang kamay ni Sin at tinitigan siya ng mabuti gamit ang berde niyang mga mata.

Mapanuri ang mga titig ng ginang at para niyang sinusukat si Sin.

"I heard so many things about you, young man." Sin stiffened with her words but he stood his ground.

"I would like to express my condolence since Marina is your daughter but know that I did what is needed to be done. Your daughter murdered our King, stole our simbull and kidnapped my mate."

Mas lalong naiyak ang ginang sa sinabi ni Sin kaya napatuwid siya ng tayo at lumingon sa akin.

Kung hindi lang umiiyak ang ginang, natawa na siguro ako sa hitsura ni Sin. I can almost read him through his expression.

I fucking suck at these things!

"Now I'm really worried you'll hate me for making your grandmother cry." Sin whispered on my ears.

Tahimik na lumuha ang ginang at nang makabawi na siya, she had this sad look in her eyes.

"Forgive me for that. I can't seem to control my tears this days. Dala na ng katandaan."  She started. "It was all my fault." Mahinang daing ni Lola.