════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 18❞"Do you always take care of these plants, Esmeralda?" I asked curiously while following her movements. She's cutting stems and pulling out all the grass na hindi naman kasali sa mga tanim.Malaki ang lupain na pinagtataniman nila. Dinala ako dito ni Esmeralda dahil nabored ako kakaupo sa bato kaya tinanong ko siya kung may magandang lugar ba na puwedeng tambayan, kaya nandito kami ngayon. "Yes, My lady. I am in charge of these plants and this place. Bago pa man mamatay ang inay ko ay ibinigay na sa 'kin ang responsibilidad sa mga halaman ng aming tribo."Napatango-tango ako at inilibot ang tingin sa buong lugar. Iba-iba ang hugis, kulay, at itsura ng mga halaman. Kadalasan ay makikita talaga ang mga rosas at lily. Napangiti ako nang matanaw ko ang isang bulaklak hindi kalayuan sa kinatatayuan ko kaya lumapit ako. Nang makalapit ay pinagmasdan ko muna ang bulaklak at namangha sa ganda kaya walang alinglangan kong pinitas ang bulaklak. "You don't
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 19❞"You can't even settle your own issues and now you're adding this prick to your problems?""It was your fault to begin with. Why did you talk to him? Why didn't you pretend he didn't really see you?" Cassius looked at me with judgment. "And now it's my fault? He was trying to touch your face so I stopped him." I was stunned. "Because of that?!" I was annoyed.Cassius tormented me with his stare then cursedly turned his back on me while I was left in disbelief at where I was standing.I turned to look at the boy. He looks uninterested in everything apart from the stare he was giving me earlier. He has the height of a three-year-old kid so he is only up to my thighs. Regardless of his height or his age, it doesn't really matter. What I do know is that he is unique, even more unique than Olivia or the priestess. His name wasn't even mentioned in the novel. I knelt on the grass to touch him."What do you want from me?" I made sure that I was giving
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 20❞It's already been a week since I got to this place. There is no change except that all the men in this tribe are forging wood and moving it to the other land where the areas will move before the typhoon happens. Now I'm just hanging out here on the big rock on the top of the mountain not far from the arean tribe's residence. The wide sea can be seen from here, so it feels really peaceful. I was playing with the small stone in my hand while looking at the sea. The waves of the sea are calm and the cold wind goes along with the waves, blowing my long hair. I felt a presence behind me so I slowly turned around."Hey," Esmeralda greeted with a smile. "Yeah." I just looked back at the sea and let her sit next to me."Everyone is waiting for you to eat down there," sabi niya. "I am... not part of your tribe. I don't deserve the wait and also, it's uncomfortable."I could see the widening of her smile from the corner of my eyes. "You are part of us righ
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 21❞It was late when Cassius came back to me and told me that he would only agree if I let him follow whatever he wanted. He wants to ensure that my plan to meet the phoenix would not lead me to danger so I agreed to what he wanted. I told Esmeralda that I was leaving first and lied that I had another mission given to me. It's good that she believed me even though I know she was really worried about me leaving. I also instructed her to take good care of Darius while I was away.Now we are in the middle of the forest while searching for the place where the phoenix's home is."Want some?" I offered him the rolled salmon that Esmeralda packed for me. He turned to me and came closer to me then bit into my rolled salmon.He continued walking again while I just followed him. He chose to be in his human form so that I could walk with him because it was already night and he didn't want what happened to me when I was alone in this forest to happen again. "Ouch
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 22❞Nanlamig ako sa kinatatayuan ko, ni hindi ko magawang tanggalin ang mga mata ko mula kay Cassius. "And now you're trying to steal my woman," I heard Cassius said. The ghost is at my back, I can feel its presence. Para bang nakatitig at hinihintay akong lumingon sa direksyon niya. This is what I'm telling him, ayoko sa ghost hunting! Cassius was about to step forward when the fire grows thicker. Para bang hinaharang siya ng apoy upang huwag makalapit sa 'kin. I don't know why he's just making a simple step when he can just teleport in front of me. What is he trying to do? Bakit ba gan'yan siya makatingin na para bang may hinihintay na makita?I froze when I felt like someone was touching the tip of my hair. "What's your purpose of coming here?" someone whispered again. Pumikit ako ng mariin bago sumagot. "We are trying to find someone." "You, what is your purpose of coming here?"Para itong bingi, paulit-ulit lamang ang binubulong niya sa 'kin
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 23❞I am riding on Cassius' back while we're traveling back to arean tribe's home. Bumaba pa kami mula sa pinakamataas na bundok dahil ayoko na ang lumipad pa. Simula din nang mawala ang presensya ng lost soul ay naging maayos na ang aura dito sa itaas ng kagubatan. Nang makababa kami ay huminto muna kami sa ilog na pinanggalingan namin kanina para makapagpahinga. Cassius' washed his face while I remain quiet, sitting beside the large boulder. "What do you think will happen after we come back there?" tanong ko. Napalingon siya sa 'kin. "Why would you ask me that? I don't really care," pabalang na sagot niya saka binasa ang buhok niya. Tinitigan ko siya mula ulo hanggang paa at hindi ko maiwasang mamangha sa porma ng katawan niya. Tagatak siya ng tubig mula sa binasa niyang buhok kaya mas lalong humulma ang hugis ng katawan niya. "A lot of women are attracted to you, for sure," bulong ko sa sarili at hindi napansing nakatitig na pala ako sa katawan
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 24❞"Did you kill all of his men?" I asked in curious when he suddenly disappeared earlier. We're now getting near to our destination and the sun is about to rise. "Yeah." He nodded. He looks like he's in his deep thoughts. I never really understood his emotions, minsan sweet, minsan gusto akong patayin, minsan naman ay parang may sarili mundo kagaya ngayon. Hindi ko na lamang siya binigyan ng pansin at tinuon na lamang ang atensyon sa paglalakad ako. I can't feel the lost soul inside me, nor do I have to ability to speak to him again. Parang naglaho na lamang siya kasabay nang pagsama niya sa 'kin. It feels too fast actually. The moment I reached out his hand, parang kilala ko na siya dati pa. I don't even understand how he's able to trust me on our first meeting and is willing to leave the forest just to become a soul without much figuring out whether he will survive or not. As much as I wanted to ask him more about why and why and another couple
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 25❞Pumatong sa pinakamalaking bato ang priestess at inisa-isang binulong ang kan'yang mga dasal bago sinimulang gamitin ang kan'yang kapangyarihan. Nasa tuktok siya ng bundok kung saan makikita ang malawak na dagat na ngayo'y tila handa na sa pagsalakay sa kanilang tribo. The whirlpools were big enough that it could destroy a mountain, lalo pa't malakas din ang ulan, maging ang hangin. Inipon niya ang kan'yang lakas upang magkaroon ng malaking harang gamit ang hangin. The barrier was large enough to shield the island but it was not strong enough to withstand the strong whirlpools coming to destroy the island. Tears broke down from her eyes while trying control the barrier when the whirlpools striked. She can feel the pain throbbing inside her as her mana began to dissolve because of using too much power. Hiniling niya sa panginoong maprotektahan niya ang kanilang tribo. "Let us go now, priestess! Let's leave, now!" Lilith screams as she tried reach
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 31❞The four corners of my room was echoing with silence when I woke up. Sinilip ng mga mata ko ang nakasarang bintana at nakitang madilim ang labas kaya naisip kong gabi na. Bumaling ang tingin ko sa gilid ko at nakitang tulog si Darius. Bumangon ako at nakapaang tinahak ang nakasarang terrace ng kwarto ko saka sabay na binuksan ang glass door dahilan upang salubongin ako ng malamig na hangin. Umalingawngaw sa tenga ko ang tunog ng hangin at ramdam ko ang pagyakap ng lamig sa akin kasabay nang paglitaw ni Cassius sa harapan ko. "Hi there, young missy," he says. "How was your sleep?" he asked.Muli akong hinampas ng malamig na hangin dahilan upang sumabay ang mahaba kong buhok sa galaw nito. But my eyes remained on him. "Feels like I'm still dreaming, right now."He chuckled. "Come here." He extended his left hand. Words were like magic that strangely, it made me follow. When I held his hand, I saw how his eyes sparkled with adoration."There you a
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 30❞"Wala na po ba tayong bigas para mamaya, ma?" Hinilot ko ang sintido ko nang makita ang nakakalat na mga laruan ng bunso kong kapatid sa maliit naming sala. Masikip ang buong espasyo na dalawang tao lang ang kakasya, sa sala din na ito ay dito rin kami kumakain. "Nakauwi kana pala Lumina. Naku, pasensya kana ha? Pinalaro ko muna ang kapatid mo kasi nilabhan ko pa mga bagong pinadalang lalabhan." Iniisa-isang kinuha ni mama ang mga kalat na laruan habang ako ay nakatayo lamang sa may pintuan.Pinagmasdan ko siya at napabuga na lamang ng hangin. "Diba sabi ko po sainyo na huwag na kayo tatanggap ng mga labahin? Paano kung atakehin ulit kayo sa sakit?" "Minsan lang naman, anak. Kulang na din kasi ang bigay mo. Hindi naman puwedeng aasa nalang lagi sa sweldo mo. Anak, wala na tayong bigas tapos 'yung gatas ng kapatid mo mauubos na. Ayaw na tayong pautangin ni Lusil kase hindi pa natin nababayaran 'yung utang sa nakaraang buwan."Natahimik ako. Sa hu
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 29❞"Where is Darius?" I asked him. He gently caressed my head while I am leaning on his chest. "He's at your room, I teleported and hid him there." Tumango-tango ako. Nasa bench pa rin kami, pinapakalma ako. Tumahan na ako sa pag-iyak kaya naman ay pinagpahinga muna ako ni Cassius sa bisig niya. We were silent the whole time, walang nagkusang magsalita o magbukas ng topic pagkatapos ng halikan namin, ngayon lang.Para nga akong nakalutang ngayon, hindi ako makapaniwalang umabot ako sa puntong makikipaghalikan ako pagkatapos umamin ng feelings ko. Well, it's not the first time that we kissed, but it was the first time I felt that it was romantic. Pero ano nga ba kami?No label but engaged in secret?Napangiwi ako sa naisip at nagmadaling humiwalay sa kan'ya. "Okay na ako," I said to him and fixed myself. Sobrang basa ko sa sariling luha ko. "Are you sure?" he asked. Eyes checking on me, kaya mas lalo akong nailang at pinilit na iniwas ang tingin mu
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 28❞“So, you’ve returned, My lady.”Tumango lamang ako at marahan uminom sa tsaang hawak ko. The cup was too small for me na anumang oras ay baka maubos na kakainom ko dahil sa atmosphere between us. The emperor invited us both to have a tea in accordance to the mission given to me… I mean to us, dahil kasali si Olivia.“I guess l, you saved them from the disaster,” muling sabi niya habang diretso ang tingin sa ‘kin. She was pertaining to her tribe.Uminom uli ako sa hawak kong tsaa at nang makitang wala na itong laman ay mabilis kong inilapag ang tasa sa maliit na mesang nasa gitna namin. umayos ako ng upo at marahang tumikhim.“Is that your power, My lady? Predicting the future?”“Ah, no. I have no ability or whatsoever. I just had a dream about it.”Her eyes sparkled. “Really? Then you must have the ability to dream about what will happen in the future.” Napalunok ako at iniwas ang tingin sa kan’ya. “I don’t think so.”“I do believe that it’s your
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 27❞My life as a call center agent was tough, inot just because of the time and tasks related to work, but it also adds up to the struggles I've been facing since I became the breadwinner. Ako ang panganay kaya ako dapat ang magtaguyod sa pamilya, ako dapat ang susuporta sa mga kapatid kong hirap sa pag-aaral dahil sa kahirapan. Si mama, hindi makahanap ng matinong trabaho dahil may sakit siya sa puso at hindi rin siya nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral. Si papa naman ay nagkasakit ng kidney stone na sa kadahilanang wala kaming pang-opera ay namatay ito sa kasamaang palad. Kaya naman ay napunta sa akin lahat ng responsibilidad. Hindi naman sa nagrereklamo ako, mahal ko ang pamilya ko. Pero sa tuwing naiisip ko ang mga pagkakataong nasayang dahil ibinuhos ko ang sarili sa trabaho ay nanghihinayang ako. I wasn't able to experience life as a teenager. Mga ligawan, galaan, at pagpasok sa isang relasyon ay hindi ko naranasan. I have plenty of what ifs that I can on
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 27❞Nasa himpapawid kami ngayon, lumilipad. Tinatanaw ko ang malawak na dagat habang nakakulong sa bisig ko si Darius. Kalma lamang ang paglipad ni Cassius kaya hindi ako kinakabahan habang nakasakay kami sa kan'ya. Riding a dragon feels like dreaming. Kahit naman sa pagreincarnate ko ay parang panaginip din. Ilang buwan na din simula nang mapunta ako sa nobelang 'to. Maraming nagdaan at marami na ding nasaksihan ngunit alam ko, hanggat hindi ko natatakasan ang pagpapakasal ko sa male lead ay malaki ang posibilidad na mamamatay ako. But Cassius gave me half of his life, it means that if I die, he'll die too. But it's impossible, he's immortal. Kung ganoon ay ano ang mangyayari kapag napahamak ang buhay ko? Will I really die? I'm hoping not. I didn't want to die. Gusto ko lamang mamuhay ng payapa kahit pa alam kong nasa isang nobela ako. Inilibing na kaya nila mama ang katawan ko? Sana naman ay kahit sa paglibing sa katawan ko ay maayos. "You okay
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 25❞Pumatong sa pinakamalaking bato ang priestess at inisa-isang binulong ang kan'yang mga dasal bago sinimulang gamitin ang kan'yang kapangyarihan. Nasa tuktok siya ng bundok kung saan makikita ang malawak na dagat na ngayo'y tila handa na sa pagsalakay sa kanilang tribo. The whirlpools were big enough that it could destroy a mountain, lalo pa't malakas din ang ulan, maging ang hangin. Inipon niya ang kan'yang lakas upang magkaroon ng malaking harang gamit ang hangin. The barrier was large enough to shield the island but it was not strong enough to withstand the strong whirlpools coming to destroy the island. Tears broke down from her eyes while trying control the barrier when the whirlpools striked. She can feel the pain throbbing inside her as her mana began to dissolve because of using too much power. Hiniling niya sa panginoong maprotektahan niya ang kanilang tribo. "Let us go now, priestess! Let's leave, now!" Lilith screams as she tried reach
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 24❞"Did you kill all of his men?" I asked in curious when he suddenly disappeared earlier. We're now getting near to our destination and the sun is about to rise. "Yeah." He nodded. He looks like he's in his deep thoughts. I never really understood his emotions, minsan sweet, minsan gusto akong patayin, minsan naman ay parang may sarili mundo kagaya ngayon. Hindi ko na lamang siya binigyan ng pansin at tinuon na lamang ang atensyon sa paglalakad ako. I can't feel the lost soul inside me, nor do I have to ability to speak to him again. Parang naglaho na lamang siya kasabay nang pagsama niya sa 'kin. It feels too fast actually. The moment I reached out his hand, parang kilala ko na siya dati pa. I don't even understand how he's able to trust me on our first meeting and is willing to leave the forest just to become a soul without much figuring out whether he will survive or not. As much as I wanted to ask him more about why and why and another couple
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 23❞I am riding on Cassius' back while we're traveling back to arean tribe's home. Bumaba pa kami mula sa pinakamataas na bundok dahil ayoko na ang lumipad pa. Simula din nang mawala ang presensya ng lost soul ay naging maayos na ang aura dito sa itaas ng kagubatan. Nang makababa kami ay huminto muna kami sa ilog na pinanggalingan namin kanina para makapagpahinga. Cassius' washed his face while I remain quiet, sitting beside the large boulder. "What do you think will happen after we come back there?" tanong ko. Napalingon siya sa 'kin. "Why would you ask me that? I don't really care," pabalang na sagot niya saka binasa ang buhok niya. Tinitigan ko siya mula ulo hanggang paa at hindi ko maiwasang mamangha sa porma ng katawan niya. Tagatak siya ng tubig mula sa binasa niyang buhok kaya mas lalong humulma ang hugis ng katawan niya. "A lot of women are attracted to you, for sure," bulong ko sa sarili at hindi napansing nakatitig na pala ako sa katawan