Stuck In Between (Published Under IMMAC PPH)

Prologue

PROLOGUE

I looked out the window as the car was passing through the fields. Nakabukas ang bintana ng kotse kaya ramdam ko ang simoy ng hangin. It felt so fresh. Hindi kagaya ng pinaggalingan ko, the air here is much more cleaner and fresher. Halata agad 'yon dahil makikita mo agad ang nagtatayugang puno dito.

Nemus.

This is the town that will be my new home from now on.

I sighed. All my life, I used to live in the neighbouring town. Hindi ako sanay sa paglalakbay. Mas gusto kong manatili na lang sa loob ng bahay, stay in my cozy bed, or in the library to read books and draw the sceneries of our town.

But since an attacked happened, my parents decided to bring me here. Sabi nila, it's a much safer place for me. Dahil nandito sila.

Hindi ko alam kung sino ang tinutukoy nila sa sila but I am just hoping that it'll really be for the better.

"We're almost there, Zin. Sorry kung kailangan ka naming iwan muna doon. We have to go back and help them," sabi ni Mama sa akin matapos ang ilang minutong katahimikan. Hanggang ngayon, clueless pa rin ako sa mga nangyayari. Ang sabi nila sa akin, ako ang kailangan nung mga umatake. I just scoffed at them. Walang espesyal sa akin para pagtuunan nila ako ng pansin so, why me?

I'm just a mere human. There's nothing special about me...or so I thought.

When we reached Nemus, the town's people followed us with their curious gazes. Napatigil pa sa paglalaro ang mga bata dahil sa pagdaan ng aming sasakyan. Maybe it's their first time seeing this kind of vehicle? Pansin ko kasi na parang walang masyadong sasakyan rito.

We went up to a hill. Umikot ang sasakyan sa isang malaking fountain bago tumigil sa harap ng malaking double doors. Standing there was a butler, I think and a few house servers. They all bowed when they saw our car.

Naunang pinagbuksan ni papa si mama bago niya ako pinagbuksan ng pinto at inalalayan niya si Mama palabas. Nakita ko naman ang pagtango ni Papa sa butler at ang pagngiti ni Mama sa mga house servers. I don't know how to react as their attention went towards me.

"Maligayang pagbabalik Mr. and Mrs. Coronel. Ms. Zinnia," my mouth parted at that. I was shocked with what he just stated. How did this guy know me?

"Ang laki laki mo na, Ms. Zin," sabi naman ng isa pang house server na halos kasing edad ko rin na mas lalo ko'ng ikinagulat. I stared at them cautiously, still wondering how they knew me.

Hinarap ko sila Mama ng may nagtatakang mga mata. She just smiled at me and said, "Welcome home, Zin."

Welcome home? Hindi ko pa man napoproseso ng maayos ang sinabi ni mama ay nagsalita na si Papa. He held my hands, making me face him fully.

"I'm sorry if we kept this to you for a long time. But I know that you'll be able to search for the answers yourself. You are special, anak. Way more than you could think. And I'm sorry again if we're only saying this now. Kung kailan pa nagkaproblema saka pa namin sinabi sayo. We wanted to tell you the earliest time possible but we can't. Because we know that you're not yet ready, and though this came in a shock, I know that you'll be able to do what you're destined to do." He squeezed my hand; his eyes were telling me that everything will be alright.

"Alam kong sa mga oras na ito, maraming tanong na ang namumuo sa isipan mo. 'Wag kang mag-alala anak, you'll find the answer to those questions soon. Just be patient. You'll be facing what you are destined to be. It'll be hard, but I know—we know that you can pass through this. Dahil ito ang tadhana mo, you are made for this, Zinnia," sabi ni Papa.

He carresed my cheeks and kissed me on the forehead then he hugged me really tight. Ramdam ko kung gaano kalakas ang kalabog ng puso ko, it was as if it knew that there may be something bad to happen. Sumunod si Mama na gano'n rin ang ginawa. She whispered how much she's proud of me for fighting for this long. Fighting for what exactly?

"We love you anak, always remember that."

And with that, they bid their goodbye. I was holding my hand over my chest, trying to calm my nerves as I watch their car slowly turn small until my vision couldn't see them anymore.

I waited for days, and then days turned to weeks, and then months. But no Mama and Papa came back for me; no one came back for the lost Zinnia Hyacinth.

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edited.