The Zero Curse

Chapter 5

I stare at the moon above, wondering what will happen if the sun rises again, wondering if how long would it take until the red gradient in the sky and moon vanishes, for this red color symbolizes war.

It has been four years ever since the Blood Fest and war began. Those years came by like a swift wind, and up to this very moment, we still do not know when the war will end.

Nakilala ko na rin ang lahat ng mga Orpheus, what I call to those who will make the Orphic Dimension. Ngunit hanggang ngayo'y kulang pa rin ng dalawa. Hindi ko pa rin alam ang rason sa likod n'on, 'pagkat sigurado akong tinatago nila 'yon mula sa'kin.

"Lalim ng iniisip mo," ani Exiquel at nagbato ng tinapay sa kamay ko. Ningitian ko naman siya, at umusog para magkasya siya sa inuupuan ko.

"Iniisip ko lang kung kailan matatapos 'to. Apat na taon na, pero wala pa ring nangyayari. Hindi pa rin natin makuha si Tita, at hindi pa rin tuluyang nagbubukas ang portal. We've been training and fighting endlessly in the span of four years. Pakiramdam ko 'don nalang umiikot ang buhay natin. Sa tingin mo ba, gan'to nalamg talaga tayo?"

She scoffed and sat on the same seat where I was. Taking a bite from her own bread, she looked up to stare at the sky, too. Bahagya lang siyang napatingin sa'kin nang marahan kong haplusin ko ang buhok niya.

She gulped before looking back at me. "Nakausap mo na ba si shokoy?" tanong niya, dahilan naman kung ba't malakas akong napatawa.

"Shokoy na talaga tawag mo kay Papa?"

Ngumisi siya at napairap. "Ikaw nagpasimula n'on, ah. Awkward naman kasi kapag Tito, eh mukha nga lang kayong magkapatid."

"Why are you avoiding my question, anyway?"

She sighed before finishing all the bread in one bite. Kinuha ko naman ang tubig sa tabi n'ya, at mabilis 'yong inabot sa kaniya. She finished it also in one straight drink. Amp, sana hindi masamid ang bebe.

"Hindi ko kasi ma-gets ang sinasabi mong gan'to nalang ba talaga tayo? What do you mean ba? Personally, I think we're still living a life. I'm with you, Kuya, and the others. Sure, we're fighting for our lives, but that doesn't mean we can forget that we are alive, too. That we need to live, too."

Hindi ko namalayang nakatitig na pala ako sa kaniya. At times like this, I can't help but fall for her more. Lagi siyang makulit, maingay, at hindi seryoso, pero alam niya rin kung kailan kailangan magseryoso, tumahimik, at makinig. Seeing this side of her makes me want to mar— nevermind.

"Bobo, 'wag mo akong titigan."

"Hindi ka pa nasanay." I chuckled and returned my gaze at the stars again, so she won't be uncomfortable. "Sabagay, sa loob ng apat na taong 'yon, mas nakilala natin ang isa't isa at ang iba, syempre. Maybe we really are living, it's just hard to continue on with this situtat—"

Exiquel's hand covered my mouth and stopped me from speaking further. Her eyes looked around warily. Sabay naman kaming dalawang napalingon sa likod nang may malakas na pagsabog mula roon.

"Vampire spies again?" I asked and removed her hand.

Napatango naman siya. "Naramdaman ko sila ngayon-ngayon lang dito, pero nasa likod na agad sila? Oh baka naman marami sila?"

"Could be." Without further ado, I released ice mists around the area— in order to feel them and detect where they are. Nagtaka naman ako nang walang maramdamang tao. I raised my hands and the ice mists spread upwards, too. But something's wrong…

"What is it, Zero?" tanong sa'kin ni Four nang mapansin niyang ilang beses kong inangat ang kamay ko.

"Ayaw umangat ng nga ice mists. O pakiramdam ko, natutunaw ang mga 'yon," tugon ko habang nanliliit ang matang naglakad papalapit sa gubat na pumaligid sa buong base. Then, I looked up the stars again and noticed that it was redder than usual.