Emerald Eyes

Chapter 36: The Sacrifice

I gasped for air before my eyes snapped open the moment I regained my concsiousness. Inuubo ako at hirap sa paghinga habang nakasalampak sa lupa. There's this continuous ringing in my ears that's blocking other sounds.

"--venly!"

Napatingin ako sa may bandang gilid ko nan g may biglang nagbuhat sa akin at pinaharap ako sa kaniya. It's Vylant.

He's touching my face gently with a worried expression plastered on his face. He's trying to say something but I can't focus as the ringing in my ears keeps on getting louder and it's making my head hurt. I can feel myself groaning in pain.

Tinakpan ko ng dalawa kong kamay ang aking mga tainga, umaasang mawala ito o kahit mabawasan man lang ngunit walang nangyayari.

Naramdaman kong ibinaba ako ni Vyl sa lupa at pinasandal ulit sa puno. He then touched both of my hands that are currently covering my ears. Ipinagdikit niya rin ang aming mga noo pagkatapos ay nakita kong bumuka ang kaniyang bunganga.

He's like whispering something. Pagkatapos lang ng ilang segundo ay unti-unting humina ang nakakabinging tunog. I waited for another few seconds until it completely stopped.

"Does it still hurt?" He asked worriedly.

I slowly removed my hands from covering my ears. Nagtataka ako dahil bakit parang alalang-alala ang kaniyang ekspresyon. Bago pa ako makapag tanong, bigla niya akong binalot ng kaniyang yakap.

"Fuck, you scared me. I didn't know what to do."

Isiniksik niya ang kaniyang mukha sa espasyo sa pagitan ng leeg at balikat ko. Nakaramdam ako ng parang basa dito at mas lalo niya pang hinigpitan ang kaniyang yakap.

Why is he crying?

"What happened? Why are you--"

My words were cut off when he suddenly crashed his lips into mine. Napako ako sa kinauupuan ko at hindi agad nakagalaw. Napaawang pa ang labi ko dala nang pagkagulat. The familiar sensation brought chills to my body.

He put his hand on my nape and pulled me closer to deepen the kiss. It took me a few seconds more before responding.

His kisses were a bit aggressive but... still gentle. Nakapalibot sa baywang ko ang isang kamay niya habang ang isa ay nanatili sa batok ko. It felt like he's afraid to let me go. Parang ang tagal-tagal naming hindi nagkita sa paraan ng kaniyang paghalik. He bit my lower lip softly before he stopped.

I was a bit out of breath when I stared into his enchanting eyes. Ramdam ko ang malakas na pagkalabog ng puso ko sa dibdib lalo na nang may nakita akong bakas ng luha sa kaniyang pisnge. I raised my hand to wipe the still wet trails of his tears.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't able to protect you. It didn't cross my mind that the spirit of Lezabel would come for you."

Spirit? Lezabel?

And then it struck me. Sunod-sunod ko nang natatandaan ang mga nangyari na parang rumaragasang tubig. My thoughts overwhelmed me. Bumigat ang aking paghinga at hindi na mapakali ang aking sistema.

Then I remembered something again...

"Willow! Where's Willow?!" I shouted while panicking.

Mabilis na ipinalibot ko sa kapaligiran ang aking paningin at nakitang nasa may likod lang ni Vyl sina Zy at Willow. I ran towards them immediately even though I still feel a bit dizzy from just waking up.

Naabutan ko si Zy na nanlalaki ang mga mata habang nakatitig kay Willow. Bakas sa mukha niya na katatapos niya lang umiyak. I immediately touched Willow's face to check her. She's barely breathing so I held her wrist to check her pulse. Agad akong naka ginhawa nang may maramdamang pulso. She's alive. Willow's alive.