Children Of The Abyss

33

MILO

"Hi gorgeous." I smiled at Ree.

"Labas ka muna! Nagaayos pa kami ni Lilith." tulad niya sa akin.

"See you later, then." I give her a quick kiss on the lips.

"Get out of here Milo! Masusunog ang buhok ko dahil sayo eh." Lilith complains.

Iniwan ko silang dalawa sa kwarto. Naligo ako pagbalik ko sa kwarto. Nakahanda na din ang damit na susuotin ko. Mabilis lang akong nagbihis. Huli kong inayos ang buhok ko. Contact lenses ang gamit ko ngayon hindi ang eye glasses.

Paglabas ko ay nandoon na sila Desmond at Alistair. Naka v-neck na black t-shirt si Desmond sa loob ng suit. Alistair's inner shirt's first button is open.

Lumabas na din ang dalawa sa kwarto ni Ree. Kinulot ang buhok ni Ree na nakapusod. Lilith has a crown of braided hair. Muntik ko ng hindi nakilala ang dalawa.

"You ready?" tanong ni Desmond.

"Yes!"

"Of course!"

"Let's go."

Pinauna namin ang mga babae. Mahahaba kasi ang damit nila. Sinarado namin ni Alistair ang pinto.
Nakaabrisiyete ang dalawang babae kay Desmond.

"Let me borrow them for a while." they both giggled, "Sa inyo naman sila mamaya." he winked.

Nagiba ang ayos ng ceremonial hall. May red-carpet sa tapat ng pinto nito. Souls open the door for us. Gold and black tapestry hang above us. May mga designated table din. Para sa amin.

All eyes are on us. Pagpasok namin ay halos ngumanga sila. Lalo na kay Alistair at sa dalawang babae na kasama namin. Whose equally beautiful.

"Settle down students." sabi ni Orphne.

Naupo kaming lahat sa lamesang nakalaan sa amin. Trumpets can be heard outside the door kaya umayos kami ng upo.

"Ladies and Gentlemen let us welcome the royal family." pumalakpak kami.

Naunang pumasok si Hades sumunod si Macaria at Colette. Nakaayos din ang dalawa, lalo na si Persephone. With a gold crown on her head.

"Abyssinians welcome to the founding anniversary ball." tumayo si Hades sa podium, "Tonight we will celebrate the 33rd anniversary of Dark shadows institute. I now commence the start of the party." we give him a round of applause.

Abyssinians are the students nickname here. Since our parents are from the underworld, the dark abyss beneath the mortal realms.

Tumayo ako para maisayaw si Ree. Yumuko ako bago iabot ang kamay ko sa kanya.

"Can I have this dance?" alok ko.

"Sure." inabot niya sa akin ang kamay niya.

Ganoon din si Desmond at Lilith. Alistair wants to be her last dance. Walang ibang makakapagpatayo sa kanya bukod kay Lilith.

Sabay kaming naglakad ni Ree sa dance floor. They give way for us.

"You look beautiful." I said in a hoarse voice.

"You are handsome as well ayaw kitang ipasayaw sa iba." she puts her hands on my shoulder.

"Your Mom keeps looking this way." I told her.

"I'll let her meet you later." she locks eyes with me.

After all the years of supressing my feeling for her hindi ko ineexpect na magigising ako sa katotohanang hindi ko pwedeng itanggi.

"I love you." I whispered on her ears.

"I love you too." tinago niya ang mukha sa leeg ko.

I feel her breath on my neck as we sway to the music. I twirl her around, sumabaya ng buhok niya sa pagikot niya. Her skirt expands when I do that.

She giggles after that.

Coriane swept me off my feet after a mission. She was so brave that time. She protected me from a cyclopes. No joke she looked liked a warrior in my eyes.

Her innocence brought me closer to her. That one thing I lost came back to me in this girl's form. I keep it at first baka akalain niyang kapatid lang ang tingin ko sa kanya. Na ganoon nga ang nangyari until the day she got sick.

"Those eye smiles put a spell on me." sabi ko kanya, "Your smile captivated me, then your eyes," those blue eyes that made me sink, "Then this." I give her a quick kiss on the lips.

"Milo!" pinalo niya ang balikat ko.

"What?" natatawa kong tanong.

"Si Mommy!" she burried her face on my chest, "P-pati sila Hades."

"Don't worry magpapaalam ako sa kanila." sabi ko, "Want to get married right here?" biro ko.

Lalo siyang nahiya sa sinabi ko. But she sure is laughing, "Stop that."

"It will be my pain if you are taken away from me." walang halong pagsisinungaling.

"It will be my death if you leave me." tinapatan niya ang titig ko.

Hindi ako nagsising mahulog sa kanya. Never and will never be.

"Alright, lovebirds! change partners."

Nagpalit kami ng partner ni Desmond. Sa kanya naman si Ree, sa akin si Lilith.

"I feel small kahit nakaheels." biro niya.

"Tall boys compliment short girls." sabi ko sa kanya.

Isa rin iyan sa nagustuhan ko kay Ree. Her petite height. Her, being short means I can carry her when there is trouble. Just the right height for her.

"Not really." sagot niya.

"If it is your opinion." I smile at her.

"Do you know why Alistair's like that?" tanong niya.

"It's a long story. You can ask him." sagot ko.

"I don't really want to know the whole story." she retorted, "Just... bits of it."

"You can talk to him... without screaming." payo ko sa kanya.

"Hindi ganoon ang nangyayari sa amin. You know that." is she sad about it?

"You won't understand each other's pain if you can't accept yours." paliwanag ko.

"Is that the only way?"

"There's no such thing as shortcuts for pain Lilith." I keep it simple, "There are stages that's why acceptance is the last part of it."

"I'll try... not to scream at... him."

Tinapos namin ang pangalawang kanta bago naupo.

Now, what will you do Lilith?

Will you accept Alistair's past... and feelings for you?