The Zero Curse

Chapter 10

EXIQUEL's POINT OF VIEW

Kabado akong tumayo sa harap ni Phoenicia. Nakagat ko pa ang dila ko habang iniisip kung pa'no ko sisimulan ang sasabihin ko. I knew she has contact with Zero's mother, Callista. Hindi ko gusto na makipag-usap sa kaniya, pero ngayon, kailangan na.

"What is it, Exiquel?" she asked, calmly, almost without any emotions.

Inangat ko ang tingin ko, at pilit na itinago ang kaba. "Callista, the one from the other realm. Puwede ko ba siyang makausap?"

"Callista...?" sambit niya na tila inaalala kung sino 'yon. "Ah, the one who told me about the other realms. Paano mo naman siya nakilala?"

"I heard," mabilis kong sagot. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang mapagtanto ang sinabi ko kaya't kaagad akong bumawi. "Before. She's Zero's mother."

She mouthed an 'oh' and smirked at me. "Bakit mo naman siya gustong makausap? You're gonna tell her about your lover? She probably won't care."

Marahas akong umiling, at pinigilan ko pa ang irap ko. Bakit ba 'tong babaeng 'to, assuming? Akala ata niya sa lOvE lang umiiral mundo ko. Duh. Siya lang naman ang gan'on.

Pero hipokrita ko naman, dahil totoong para kay Zero ang ginagawa ko.

"I think she can help me in practicing my spells," tugon ko. "Besides, she has experience of traveling from realm to realm. It would be best to talk to her."

Saglit na natigilan si Phoenicia at tumingin sa'kin. She seems convinced, but I'm still not sure. Feeling ko talaga isang maling galaw ko, deads na ako.

Pero joke lang kasi alam kong kailangan n'ya ako. Hindi niya ako pwedeng patayin, duh. Pero pahirapan, kaya n'ya— as if naman hahayaan ko.

"She's not easy to talk to," Phoenicia stated, crossing her arms over her chest. "Hindi ko rin sigurado kung willing siyang tumulong sa'yo. But why not? I'll set up a meeting for the two of you."

"Where?" I asked.

"Wherever she wants to," sagot niya. "I don't know where she is right now, but I guess I could reach her."

Nanliit naman ang mata ko. Nauuto ko na ba talaga si Phoenicia? O ako ang nauuto? She'll really do efforts to make me meet Callista. Not that I'm complaining... it's just so suspicious.

"I-I'll take my leave," ani ko, at hindi na hinintay ang sasabihin pa n'ya. Hinayaan naman niya akong umalis.

Kahit na gusto kong kausapin ngayon si Zero, mas mabuting hindi na muna.

Who knows? Phoenicia might hear my words.

°°°°°°

Two days after, I was instructed to go here. The Third Forest. One of the forests that lead to the Phoenix Well. Nasanay na ako sa init na dala ng mga Phoenixes kaya't hindi na bago sa'kin ang temperatura rito.

Napangiwi ako nang may dumaang Phoenix sa taas ko. Malakas akong napabuntung-hininga at pinaypayan ang sarili ko. If I were to be reborn, I would definitely not wish to be a Phoenix!

Napatingin naman ako sa baba, at nanliit ang mata nang may napansing kakaiba. I reached down and carefully parted the grass, so I can see what's beneath. Puzzled, I peer in to see ice mists on the grass. Then, it follows a strange pattern along the ground—almost like a line or symbol.