Chapter 7: A Night at Alrose

The light of the moon gleamed to the water's surface reflecting its beauty extensively. At nasama yata ang mukha niya sa gandang iyon.

I slowly crept to her as I watch her look to the sea with questioning eyes. Perhaps knowing the oceans mysteries with her enigmatic black orbs.

"I have been waiting, my prince." she said intoned.

Hindi man lang umabalang lumingon pa sa akin. Even if she does this act of hers I know that she only wanted to see me, or so I thought.

Humakbang pa ako papalapit sa kanya para alamin kung ano talaga ang pakay niya upang papuntahin ako dito sa kalagitnaan ng gabi.

Yes, she wanted to see me. But as far as I know her hindi lang ito ang ipinunta ko dito, because just seeing each other will be boring as hell for her. Malamang aakitin na naman niya ako para bantayan siya pumatay o kaya naman pumunta sa kung saan.

I like this activity of hers just to lighten up the mood and making the scene not boring.

I must admit, I am boring as hell. Yung tipong hindi magsasalita kapag hindi kinakausap. Tatayo lamang sa isang tabi at panunuorin kung ano ang ginagawa mo.

Pero dahil sa kanya, tila mali na ata pagkakaintindi ko sa sarili ko.

Ang Aragorn na hindi magsasalita kapag hindi kinanausap ay magiisip ng paksa na paguusapan makausap lamang siya. Ang Aragorn na laging tutol sa anumang katangahan ay nagpapakatanga basta sabihin niya.

With her every request I will do anything as much as it pleases her.

Ganon na ata ako katanga.

I feel selfless.

But if being in love with her means being selfless, I can be selfless forever then.

"Saan mo naman ngayon ako daldalhin, Maxima?" I stood beside her.

She chuckled before glancing at me, showing her jet black eyes that reflect the light of the moon, "You'll see."

Sumipol siya na bumasag sa katahimikan ng gabi. Hindi alintana kung makakuha nang atensyon.

Hindi na lang ako nagsalita. The only thing I am worried about is if the Chancellor found out that I sneaked out. Tiyak isang malaking kaguluhan kapag nagkataon.

Magiging tama ang lahat ng hinala niya na mariin ko namang itinanggi.

Biglang lumakas ang hangin sa kinatatayuan namin. As the wind blew ferociously towards us I saw her unfazed by the sudden gusts of wind. Siguro siya ang may kagagawan nito.

Is this her power? Wind manipulation?

But before I could prove my conclusion was right, a big bird landed beside her just near the water.

"Surprised?" tanong niya sa akin.

"I am." maikli kong sagot.

Who would not be surprised if a gigantic bird just landed in front of you? Paano ko malalaman kung tutukain ba ako niyan o kakainin nang buhay?!

"Meet, Aquila." she gestured. "I just freed her from the people I've assassinated and now she's taken quite a liking to me."

"Well, I wouldn't be surprised since its you."

"Bakit? Hindi ba normal na mag alaga ng isang higanteng agila?" sumakay na siya sa ibon at sumunod naman ako.

"No, Its just that... you tend to do peculiar things. Hindi na bago pa sayo ang mga ganyan."

Without saying a single word, she just smiled at me. By not even a moment's warning, her bird flapped its wings and jolted into the sky.

Napakapit tuloy ako sa kanya, sa takot na baka mahulog ako at hindi niya sambutin.

She let out a laugh, maybe feeling ecstatic out of my misery. Napakasadista talaga niya kahit saang paraan!

Ilang sandali pa, tila umayos na ang paglipad ng ibon. It went steady now hindi katulad kanina na animo'y gusto na talaga akong hulugin sa himpapawid at tuluyang iwan na lang sa ere.

But even if it is steady now, my arms are still encircled around her. I know she don't like it clingy but now seems to be a chance for me to just feel her even just for a while.

Hindi ako bibitaw hanggat hindi niya sinasabi.

The breeze of the wind gently touched our faces as it sofly caress our bodies. I'm still hugging her but she doesn't seem to mind at all.

"Kapit ka lang diyan mahal na prinsipe, hindi kita sasambutin kapag ikaw ay nahulog." she teased.

Gaya nang inaasahan, still teasing as ever. Ang hindi ko lang inaasahan ngayon ay hindi pa niya ako sinasapak sa pagyakap ko sa kanya. Well, I guess she likes to be hugged by me.

As we fly onto the vast dark sky while still holding her in the safety of my arms, I slid closer to her and slowly put my chin onto her shoulder.

"Why are you so clingy?" she asked at my sudden gesture.

Bahagya na lamang akong natawa. "You seriously asked that?"

Minsan lamang itong pagkakataon na ito. Minsan lamang siyang magpayakap nang ganito katagal at sa tinagal-tagal ng buhay ko hindi pa niya ako hinahayaang hagkan siya ng ganito. She even let my face be this close to her makes the moment more precious. Malamang sasamantalahin ko na ang pagkakataon na ito.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako pumayag sa ganitong set-up namin. We only get together if she wanted to. We agreed that we could date anyone we want but not letting our ties with each other be cut.

We had a hot and cold relationship, which is not a best relationship someone would want. Hindi ko man gusto, pero kung ito ang gusto niya, anong magagawa ko diba?

Our relationship could be even labeled as an open-relationship to be precise, judging by its characteristics.

If we decided to have cool off, that's the cue that we could date someone else.

I never argued with her about that, I just let it be.

At dahil don, marami na rin akong naging relasyon sa iba maliban sa kanya. Even so, no one can replace her.

Iba parin talaga pag siya ang nakikita at nakakasama ko. I can not precisely explain what I feel, but I am sure I can't madly love someone else if that someone isn't her.

I just let myself feel the moment as the darkness of the night surrounded us contrasting with the silvery gleam of the moon.

Hindi ko man makita nang maayos ang ibaba dahil sa dilim, masasabi kong papunta kami ngayon sa kahariang pinanggalingan ko, sa Nazeru.

With the pure wide desert and almost lifeless wasteland, we were definitely at my homeland, Nazeru.

Bakit niya ako dinala rito? May papatayin na naman ba siya? Mabuti na lamang at hindi sa Traia ang pakay niya kung ganon. Ang tanging problema ko lamang talaga ay kung makakabalik ba ako sa Traia ng hindi nalalaman ng Chancellor na nawala ako.

Minutes had passed, we arrived at a city surrounded by thorny brambles. Hindi man kita ang mga rosas na nakapalibot dito dahil gabi, masasabi kong napakaganda pa rin nito.

I know this place. The city famed for the abundance of beautiful red roses in the middle of the harsh desert.

Ang bayan ng Alrose.

Ilang beses na ako nakaparito pero hindi ko pa rin lubos maisip kung ano ang ginagawa namin dito. But I just kept my mouth shut. Gusto kong malaman ang dahilan mula sa kaniya mismo.

We quietly walked past the city gates careful not to attract attention to ourselves.

Oo, nakaparito na nga ako pero hindi sa ganitong kalaliman ng gabi. Alrose seems to be just a simple city enjoying its tourism because of its natural beauty. Kaya malamang, natural na maraming tao dito. Pero hindi ko naman aakalain na kahit hating gabi na ay marami pa rin ditong mga tao.

This ambiance feels not normal. Tila may mali.

At dahil ayaw kong tanungin sa kanya, pagsunod lamang ang tanging magagawa ko. I followed her onto the depths of the people bustling into the busy street. Sa sobrang dami ng tao nakikipagsiksikan na kami.

She continued walking until we stopped in an alley in front of a stairs leading downwards. I immediately looked confused.

Kailan pa nagkasubway system ang Nazeru? Why does it have an underground?

"Ready to know some truths that maybe you don't even know?" in the middle of my confusion, she asked.

I gulped, but then answered, "Yes,"

She offered her hand for me to hold and without a second thought I slowly grabbed it feeling her palms' warmth. Then, she pulled me through the stairs revealing the secret of Alrose I never thought I will be able to see.

Bumungad sa akin ang masangsang na ilaw na tumarak sa mga mata ko pati na rin ang pinagsamasamang amoy ng tao. Ang singaw nang kanilang katawan ay dahilan kung bakit mainit ang paligid.

A secret underground organization.

"Welcome, my prince, to Alrose underground. The biggest black market in all of Nazeru."

I pretend not to be fazed by this sudden revelation. But I'm sure amazement was all evident in my face.

"Kailan pa ito?" tanong ko.

"Matagal na ito mahal na prinsipe. But still, you are older than this I presume."

"Don't call me prince here Maxima. Plus, I am not that old."

Tumaas ang kilay niya sa sinabi ko. "Okay, my prince." sabay ngisi, tila inaasar ako.

She revealed me this supposed to be secret underground black market, but still I do not know what are we doing here in the first place.

Ano ba talaga ang pakay niya sa lugar na ito?

The lights here seemed to be little suns giving light to this huge room we are in. There were gambles, auctions, and many other things that you can only see in a black market.

Nakarinig na ako ng mga kuwento tungkol dito pero hindi ko naman alam na totoo pala ito. This is a new thing for me, as an elf living for more than 100 years more or less.

Muli kaming naglakad papunta muli kung saan hanggang sa may iabot siya sa akin.

"Here, wear this trashy cloak, it suits your style."

I never bothered opening my mouth or uttering a word, kinuha ko na lamang ito at isinuot sa sarili. Tinignan ko rin ang kasuotan niya ngayon, it was slightly different from her usual leather attire.

She was wearing her usual black leather jeans with holsters encircling her hips. Ang kulay pilak nitong damit ay pinapatungan ng isang cropped top leather jacket.

She looks badass in leather. Isama mo pa ang itim nitong balabal na siguro ay magsisilbing pantago ng kaniyang pagkakakilanlan.

Kung may taong kilalang kilala ang pagkatao ni Maxima, malamang nakilala na siya agad. With the all leather outfit, there will be no doubt that its probably Maxima.

With the cloak on and her scarf covering her face, she stood low so did I. Mukhang may sinisipat siya sa di kalayuan. Hindi ko alam kung saan siya tumitingin kaya naman hindi ko masabi kung ano ang tinitignan niya.

Bigla na lamang siyang tumayo at tila nagmamadaling naglakad. Parang may hinahabol kami na kung ano.

"Stay low." she ordered, kaya naman sinunod ko na lang.

Sa paglakataong ito, nakita ko na ang taong pakay niya.

It was clear as day who it was. Wearing a brown outfit probably blending in to the surroundings of Nazeru. Even so, I can still feel his sinister force coming out of him, oozing like liquid.

The Chancellor.

Pero ano ang ginagawa niya rito? Siguro may inaatupag siyang pangangalakal dito sa black market. Ngunit alam ba ito ng pumanaw na hari? Nakikipagkalakalan ba talaga sila sa illegal na paraan?

Ngayong andito ang Chancellor mukhang hindi na ako magaalala pa sa paguwi. Kailangan ko lang naman maunahan siya para magmukhang hindi ako umalis ng Traia.

They were inspecting boxes, many boxes. Ang tanging naghaharang lamang sa amin at sa kanila ay hilehilerang mga crates. At ang tanging paraan namin upang makita ang ginagawa nila ay ang siwang sa mga crates na ito.

Sa pagkakataong ito, hindi ko na talaga alam kung ano ba talaga ang nangyayari. Why is she following the Chancellor? Bakit hindi na lang niya patayin ito sa Traia kasabay ng pagpatay niya sa hari?

"Did your boss ordered this kind of task?" I asked her hopefully finding some reasonable answer.

I looked at her currently loading her pistols with ammunition. Looks like she is getting ready to kill.

"No, he did not." she said with bitterness in her tone.

"Then wh—"

"I'm doing this for myself."

☆☆☆

What she said left me wordless.

She's doing it for herself... That means she is rebeling against her boss.

Ito ang kaisa-isahang bagay na gusto kong gawin niya para sa sarili niya pero hindi niya magawa-gawa. It was because of her damn boss holding a leverage.

Hindi ko man alam kung ano ang alas na iyon pero alam kong mahalaga iyon para kay Maxima. That is why she could not raise her hand and voice or even oppose him. She is like a loyal dog following its owners bidding.

Ilang minuto na rin kami nakatago rito and luckily they moved just a little closer to us. Bahagya kong naririnig ang usapan nila.

"What are you planning to do with these drugs, Chancellor?" a man asked, maybe a conspirator.

"Hindi ko kailangan ipaalam ang plano ko, lalo na sa mga taong kagaya nyo." the Chancellor coldly said.

"My lord, pwede bang malaman kung ano ang ginawa ng mga yan?" tanong naman ng isa pa.

"Tch, isa ka ring mangmang." pinanlisikan niya ito ng mata. "This drug makes people who consume them hallucinate, or so that is what I have been told. They can make any living being into a crazy slightly lifeless bodies that can do anything they are commanded to."

"Just like mind control?"

"Precisely!" the Chancellor exclaimed. "But with a little catch."

The air was so intense with all of these revelation. I looked at Maxima. She is so composed as ever; holding her pistol.

Hindi ko alam kung hanggan kailan kami mananatiling nakatago rito pero hinayaan ko na lang siya. She has a plan and I know it.

Maya-maya pa, nagsalita na siya, "Get ready to run," she said without looking at me; locked onto the Chancellor. "I'm going to shoot."

Sa sinabi niyang iyon, hinanda ko na ang sarili ko.

As she locked her aim onto the Chancellor, I kept asking myself of what reason is she doing this for.

She said she is doing this for herself but the Chancellor has no connection with her boss nor Zaraleans. That means she must have a different reason for intending to kill him.

Bigla na lamang walang pasabing ipinutok niya ang kanyang baril na gumawa ng ingay sa buong silid. I saw the bullets trajectory and it did not even hit the Chancellor one bit. It had hit a metal and ricocheted elsewhere. She missed. Dahil dito, nagkagulo lahat ng tao sa black market. It sounded off the alarm and the lights became red.

Napuno ang silid ng sigawan at pagkakagulo ng mga tao. They're all panicking and I hate it. Naiinis ako sa kaguluhan at ingay, naririndi ako.

"You have missed, princess." to my irritation I said to her without sounding rude.

"Really? No, I didn't."

She snucked her gun onto its holster. Ano? Kitang kita ko gamit ang aking mga mata na hindi man lang nadaplisan ang Chancellor sa ginawa niyang pag-asinta.

"Chancellor! The drugs!" I heard someone scream.

I stood the same time that she did at ginamit ko ang pagkakataon na yon upang tignan ang sinasabi nitong drugs.

It was burning like bonfire. Kumalat na rin ito pati sa mga iba pang mga kahon at tila wala nang natira pang hindi nasusunog.

She really had a plan. I shouldn't have doubted her skills.

"Come on," rinig kong sabi niya sa kabila ng nakaririnding ingay. "We need to get out of here."

At hinawakan niya ang kamay ko sabay hila papaalis sa lugar.

Even though she wore gloves, I can feel its warmth, the softness of her hands and even the slenderness of her fingers.

"Why did you do that?" tanong ko habang tumatakbo palabas ng bayan.

"Did what?" she faux innocently asked back.

"Come on Maxima, wag mong ikailang alam mong malalaman ko rin ang totoong dahilan kung bakit mo ginawa ito."

Bahagya kaming tumigil sa pagtakbo at dahan dahan siyang tumigin sa akin.

"At sinasabi mong alam mo?" tumaas ang kilay niya. "Sinabi ko na hindi ba? I'm doing this for myself, not for anyone else."

"That doesn't seem like it."

I moved closer to her. I can feel her tense as I walk towards her. Alam ko na kung bakit niya ito ginawa...

It's because of me...

When she killed the king, she left the burden of his death to me and I took all the blame from the Chancellor. Hindi ko alam kung bakit niya alam at kilala ang Chancellor pero hindi na ako magtataka kay Maxima. She always gets what she wants.

I maybe assuming things but I can because I know her that well. Hindi siya yung taong aasa sa ibang tao at hindi makakaramdam man lang ng konsensya. Maybe she felt guilty for letting me take all the burden left by the kings' sudden death.

"You don't know anything Aragorn...Stop acting like you know." she coldly said which pierced my heart.

Pero hindi na ako nakapagsalita pa dahil sa isang sigaw mula sa aming likuran.

"Ayun sila! Hulihin nyo!"