LUNA: The Witching Hour

4: Tarts and Screams

I don't wanna be here.

Being with these creatures in a closed room-- I do not understand why my dark memories are attacking me again when I'm supposed to be doing fine with gatherings. Everything seemed to be a reminder of what happened that night.

Everyone. 

It took every ounce of strength in me to compose my thoughts and collect my composure in one single vault. Telling Simphia to guide me. Keep me away from my own drowning thoughts. Ilang beses akong sumimsim sa aking baso para lang ikalma ang sarili. Although I've been trained from the very beginning to be composed and neglect all emotions when needed to, nahihirapan akong gawin iyon ngayon.

Isa pa, this dinner is chaotic. Very chaotic.

I would never have thought that a king's companions will be like this-- pumapayag ang isang Midnight Zagreus na ganito kagulo at kaingay ang kanyang pack sa hapag.

Dumating ang bagong plato ng mga tarts at agad akong kumuha dito. Dito ko na lang ibinuhos ang lahat ng atensyon ko. Matagal tagal na 'rin akong hindi nakakakain ng mga ganito simula ng umalis ako sa palayso ng mga tao. Ngayon lang uli. To my dismay, witches aren't fond of sweets. We don't have one in our kingdom and I sometimes throw tantrums because of not being able to eat one. Though, I only do that when I'm alone. Let's not destroy my fearless image just because of these sweets.

Sinulyapan ko si Day ng bigla itong tumawa sa biro ni Arius sakanya.

Tumaas isang kilay ko sa napansin.

Unang kita ko kay Day, para itong mahihimatay sa sobrang mutla. He can't even look someone straight in the eye and he smelled so fearful before. Now, he's changed.

He looks much more comfortable now. Gone the terrified kid he was before. Present the boy with confidence lingering in his bright, yellow eyes.

Napansin niya atang tinitigan ko siya kaya lumingon ito saakin. "Hindi ganito ka rami ang mga matatamis na pinapalabas sauna"

Kumagat ako sa hawak hawak kong strawberry tart. Nginuya muna ito bago siya sagutin. "Ganon ba" Walang gana kong ika.

"Uhuh" He says innocently, "No one eats plenty of sweets here like you do"

"More for me then"

Tahimik uli akong kumain. Kain lang ako ng kain para hindi ako malunod sa mga iniisip. To be here is a mission I need to complete. I even need to ignore the heaviness in my chest as I indulge myself in eating just to avoid trouble. To keep my baby away from any harm.

Hindi ko na lang pinansin kaingayan nilang lahat hanggang sa matapos ang kainan. Nagpaalam ako na gagamit ng restroom at kahit naglalakad na ako papuntang banyo, ramdam na ramdam ko parin ang malagkit na titig ni Zagreus mula saakin likod. He likes staring, that's for sure.

Sa banyo, wala talaga akong ginawa kundi tumunganga sa harapan ng salamin at paulit ulit na bumuntong hininga. Dahan dahan kong hinimas ang aking tyan sabay hawak naman gamit ng isa pang kamay sa kwintas na binigay ni Sage saakin. Suminghap uli ako ng malalim.

This night will be over soon. And then another problem will come, unfortunately. The Emperor is asking for my presence for who knows the reason why and as if that's not enough to torment me, I will be escorted by the Demon King and Wrath of the Seven Deadly sins, Midnight Zagreus. For a day I will be joining the two of the most intimidating and fearsome leaders of the Empire of Ursa. How ill-fated I'am.

Inayos ko ang aking itsura sa harapan ng salamin bago ako bumalik sa hapag kainan. There, I saw them talking seriously with each other, stopping when they sensed my presence. Sabay sabay pa nila akong tinignan na akala mo may ginawa akong kasalanan sakanila.