CHAPTER 24

E N D E M I O N

The curse wants to be unleashed. I need do some research about these. I feel something is coming. It maybe because I was the cause.

After all I am the curse itself. A curse that could kill a life. Ironic because I was assigned to protect the crown prince. Turns out I maybe or could be the reason for his death, causing destruction. Destroying the balance and harmony to the people of gaivera.

Parang hindi tama to. I should have leave this responsibility to Sakumi but I don't want her to get hurt. Or be involved in any of these.

Even if I tried to save her I maybe the one to hurt her. Hopefully it won't happen, I must act now. I can't show off like these.

I wore my gloves and droop the hood on my head to cover the Blanc hair of mine. The one that could lead myself to doom. The pressure in the hall just got worse as I past the empty corridors. Abyss that surely taken the light coming from the reflection of the moon.

I heard murmuring voices coming and I hid myself somewhere and saw four  silhouette talking and past my hiding spot. It was the priestess. They're seem to be on a hurry and heard the worries of how they delivered their words to each other.

The conversation must be serious, eavesdropping won't hurt a soul. I followed them secretly behind. Tip toeing, avoiding clutter from my boots. And went to the meeting place, calling the other priest and slam the door before my face. I couldn't hear them from behind the door.

Mahirap din na may makakita sakin na nakikinig sa labas. I must stay hidden.

Naglakad lang ako at may nauntog akong tao at Isang monghe. Halos malagutan ako ng hininga sa pagkabigla. Inalalayan ko itong tumayo, pero mukhang bata pa ito, mukhang baguhan pa.

"Amph, have you seen the priest coming these wa.....?" I hit him on his neck. Nahimatay naman ito at bilis ko siyang sinalo at dinala sa Isang silid Hindi rin naman akong pwedeng magsuot ng robe na tulad nilang priest baka mabuking pa ako. Di ako pwedeng pumalpak.  My life is at risked. My eyes roam around the room and saw an open window, sumilip lang ako at may maliit itong daanan papunta sa kabila at may balkonahe.

Okay!

Dumaan nalang ako at iniiwasang tumingin sa baba hanggang sa maabot ko na ang balkonahe. Nakinig lang ako sa usapan nila sa loob. Mukhang seryoso pa ang mga tono ang iilan parang may kinakatakutan. I stayed low so the  guards on the on patrol at night won't see me up here.

"...The priestess from the first dimensional space send his reports it's the first time to hear such terrible news and it's going to affect Gaivera! What could go wrong"

"The climate change will cause a lot of damaged.  We know that living organisms are extremely sensitive into this kind of phenominon"

"I agree brother, Gaivera was different from earth, they are highly advance on technologies but lack of ability to restored the mother nature, those people have their own free will to do the things that will surely affect many living, sharing the earth with them, humans have been known to embraced the sins, unlike the virtues of Glaceal cleanse this sinner away, but earth on the other hand are not aware of these, such arrogant not fearing God as there creator!"

"They sure are, they have killed many animals just to own something that wasn't even there's"

"So what are the effects of the climate change to the plan my brother?"

"Climate change will bring more frequent and severe extreme weather events, including extreme precipitation, wind disturbance, heat waves, and drought... Extreme precipitation events can disturb plant growth, particularly in recently burned forests, and make plants more vulnerable to flooding and soils to erosion it is fatal for the living being in trezelia... Most of all the darkness will absorb this bad energy and multiply itself to kill!!"

"Don't say such words my brother, we have our guardians to protect Trezelia"

"Pero isipin nyong madadamay ang ibang mundo tayo ang mananagot nito"

"The climate change is not our fault my brother, it happens might be written in the prophecy"

"Aye brother.. but haeannon should be the one to tell us the prophecy because some of the creatures are blessed by the Goddesses"

"We should not wait for them to tell us.."

".... We know that plants and animals may adjust the timing of certain phenological events, such as tree flowering or migration, based on changes in weather. But why now, it's so sudden, hopefully the new core will be safe, they had no idea what is coming"

"We should atleast talked to the core about these..."

"No, we must talk with the earth priestess to stop what they are doing "

"It's too late my brother, since the human evolution started their ways in life are now far from our own knowledge, it's is better to leave them, we must act and protect our land, if we meddle with earthlings then think about the possibilities, those humans are knowledgeable and had there own free will.. "

"Brother let's not talk about their ways in life, we must deal with our own"

This meeting might be connected of why my power just showed up in the sacred land, this is an omen, a sign for upcoming disaster. Natatakot ako na baka may magawa akong kamalian at makapatay ng inosenteng tao.

"But even if, we may cause panic to everyone, we all know that we priestesses always maintain the peace, if we tell this to them maybe it'll just put doubt to the new bearer"

"So this is a fifty fifty chance, either tell them or not"

" I think we shouldn't"

"But thinks about the living being, animals, Fluerishia, Arkdale and other places in Trezelia and the nature itself will be doom!"

"Shhhh, let's not speak louder, someone will hear this"

"..I have a bad feeling, it never happen before, I think a bad omen slipped into the temple"

Medyo kinabahan ako sa sinabi ng taong iyon. Ako na mismo ang natakot sa sarili ko. Kailangan ko na sigurong umalis pero hinahanap ko parin ang kasagutan sa lahat.

My guts tells me to stay.

"You have troubled my brother, no omens will passed the border of torii, Klaudio is securing the gate it's impossible for the darkness slipped this is a sacred place"

He had leave his post when I entered the place. But.. they should have notice me, a bad energy can trigger the nature of thermizia

Maybe I was just overthinking things. Hindi naman ako kalaban Diba?

"We may not know, but let's just pray and hope for safe and secured the  ceremony"

"I do hope so..."

"I have to call the other bearer to talked about these"

I slipped from eavesdropping and went to the other side but the boy is already awake.

I had no choice but to jump on someone's balcony. I looked down and measured the impact and I must atleast jump lightly to avoid crashing the balustrade and injured myself.

With a glint of my eyes, I pressed my back on the wall, feeling the impact and how the gravity pull me down. I leapt over, the time seemed slow as I descended gracefully, the wind whipping past me. The cold tiled floor rushed to met me, and I landed softly, my knees bending to absorb the impact. And thankful I landed without breaking my osteo.

"E-endemion? what the..."

I turn my shoulder in panic because someone is still awake at this time of hours shit!

Dark silhouette rushed over me until a light met her. No wonder the voice sounds familiar and she bend down and cupped my face on her hand.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming and...?" She look up with a shock " Pwede ka namang bumaba dito wag ka magshortcut! Tingin daw di kaba nasugatan? Sumbong kita sa papa mo!"

Pinagalitan ako ng mas bata pa sakin

Pinatayo niya ako at tiningnan ang damit ko kung may sugat ba akong natamo tsaka naman ako pinikot sa tagiliran. Para siyang langgam ket maliit lang pero buong katawan ko apektado ng sakit.

"Baliw ka talaga wag mo gawin ulit yun delikado ang ginagawa mo!" Sigaw niya sakin at hinila ako sa loob at pinaupo ako sa tabi ng kama. "Diyan kalang ipagtitimpla kita ng kape"

" Sami wait.."

I stop her and she let go the handle and approached me with uneasiness on her face. Napatanong din ako dahil nung lumukso ako dito napansin niya agad

"Di kaba natulog Sami?"

"Hinintay kita e"

"Huh? Hinintay mo ako.. bakit?"

"Kase diba bigla kang nahilo kanina at sinabi ko na kapag kailangan mo ako punta kalang pero look, like Ikaw pa pumunta pero imbes nasa pinto e lumukso ka talaga dito ng ganuong kataas, baliw ka talaga no?"

"Sensya na, nag alala ka ba?"

"Eeh alangan naman pagtawanan kita pag namatay ka ganon!"

I sighed, never felt so amused for a child lecturing me. Ang cute niya talaga konte nalang ibalibag ko to palabas ng kwarto. "Okay sorry, nagshort cut lang ako" hay, I lied on her, tsk tsk I'm sorry but I had no choice.

She stretch her arms and pulled down my hood but it's too late because she already saw it and she gasped. "Y-your hair? It's...it's... What's the heck.." I grab her down on the bed to hushed her from hitting tantrums "W-what are you doing?!" There's shock on her tone and I buried my head on the mattress right beside her neck. "E-endemion.. Endemion oyyy!!" Sabay yugyog niya sakin pero di ko nakayanan ang bigat ng katawan ko.

"You smell nice and warm"

I can feel her poundering heart and she's squeaking. "Be still Sami, I'm tired..." I whispered on her ears

I felt her small hand wrapped around me and that soothe the pressure inside my head.

I finally raised and saw her face in deep red.

"I'm sorry Sami" Sabi ko at tinakpan niya ang mapula niyang mukha. Umalis na ako at umupo sa tabi ng kama habang minamasahe ang ulo ko. "Sensya parang mabigat ang pakiramdam ko ngayon.."

I felt her small hand touch my forehead and neck "Ang init mo ah"

She jumped down the bed and left, after a few minutes we came with a bowl of water and piece of cloth. "Sami I'm not..!"

"Sshhh!!" May pinainom siya sakin at nabigla ako sa pait ng lasa nito at inabutan niya agad ako ng basong tubig. "Lie down.... hurry!" Pinahiga niya lang ako sa kama at medyo nakaramdam ako ng kiliti sa tiyan ng maramdaman ko ang kamay niya na nasa mukha ko at inalis ang buhok na nakaharang saking mata. Nilagay niya lang ang basang tela sa noo ko.

"Di nga ako nilalagnat"

"Manahimik ka or isusumbong kita na lumukso ka mula sa balkonahe, kung di maayos ang pagkalanding mo e talagang patay lang bata ka" natawa lang ako sa sinabi niya at pinikot niya lang ako. Bata daw e. Di ko mapigilang matawa sa sinabi niya. "Tumatawa kapa baliw ka talaga" inis na sambit nito at Inabot kolang ang maliit niyang kamay. Her delicate small hands are too adorable. Medyo nabigla naman siya sa ginawa ko imbes na hilain niya ang kamay niya ay pinabayaan niya lang ito. I raised her knuckles and planted a kiss on it.

"What was that kiss means?"

"It's a gratitude" kung pwede.lang sa labi na kita hinalikan e. Kaso hindi pwede. De biro lang siguro nagdala lang ako sa kagandahan niya.

"What happen why are you hair sudden turn white? D- did something happen?"

I sighed and looked away. I don't want to lie, should atleast shut my mouth. Even I tried to explain this condition, she'll be ended asking a lot more questions and I don't know how to answer them. Ako mismo sa sarili ko di ko rin alam na bat ako ganito.

As my realization took me I let go of her hand. Muntik ko nang makalimutan na isa siyang bulaklak. I hid my arms and turn my back. Nahulog lang yung tela sa noo ko. "Gagi yung tela" hinila hila niya ako pero nagmatigas ako at pinikot niya ang tagiliarna ko na kinalingon ko at hinila siya sa tabi ko.

"Masakit Sami.." Manahan kong sigaw sa kanya at parang mas nanghihina pa ako lalo.

Minsan talaga di ko alam anong pumapasok sa ulo ko at magawa ko siyang hilain lagi sa kama. My eyes caught up with those glare. I was awestruck of her eyes, staring deeply into my soul, so deep, like I could even drown to my death. The temptation are messing with me, heat starting to aroused me, I ran my eyes down to her pink luscious lips. Napalunok ako ng wala sa oras pero hinila ko nalang at binaon ang ulo niya sa dibdib ko. Feeling her small body to mine. Nababaliw ako sa amoy niya.

"E-endemion! Ahh... This is uncomfortable could you let me go" struggling, she attempt to lift my heavy arm of her body. And raised her up.

"Stop moving Sami" I sighed, pressing my face into the crook of her neck "You smell nice, stay for a moment please" Bulaklak ka nga talaga Sami.  She's squeaking, trying to loose from my grip. 

Isang bulaklak na nasa kamay ng Isang sumpa.

"Okay na" Sabi ko at binitawan ko na siya.

She's steaming and move away creating a distance with us. Umupo lang ako na inalis ang tingin sa kanya. Pag hindi ko napigilan baka ko na mismo ang unang tao ang makakakuha sa pagkababae niya pero ayokong dungisan yun. Hindi ako ganuong tao. She trust me and I don't want to take advantage to that.

"Sami"

"What" her voice was calm even I know she's angry with me.

"I think you should go home"

"Why?!"tilting her head in confusion

"Because your life is in danger"

"I already know Endemion, but I know you'll be there for me, Diba?"

I sighed before nodding my head "You maybe right but I'm afraid I can't do that anymore. I'm going to send you back" I need to be honest with her. I want to tell her about my condition but maybe she'll freak out and will call me a monster if she knows that I bare a curse within me.

"Ano bang problema mo bat gusto mo akong pauwiin kala ko ba nagbago na ang desisyon mo para ipasama ako sa paglalakbay, nagalit kaba dahil kasama ko ang prinsepe kanina, okay sorry kala ko okay lang sayo"

Medyo tama karin dun. Di ko alam na nagseselos na pala ako. Siguro nga na hindi na kaibigan ang tingin ko kanya. Sakumi you have unlocked something inside. Di na kita pwedeng pakawalan. Pero natatakot parin ako sa pwedeng mangyari.

"What if I told you there's a monsters lurking around the temple"

"Àno?!"

Dun palang sa reaksyon ko alam kong mabibigla siya "Wala alis na ako"

"Teka lang ang labo mo pakilinaw daw"

"Bigyan kita ng example, if you have a friend and this friend of yours are keeping a secrets from you for a long time then turns out it was something that would split you both and never to see each other again, what will you do?"

She's already in tears. She's too emotional. No!! I won't loose Sakuri!!" She's pouting  like a toddler that were scolded by her mother "Well in that case I will find a way for us, I can't loose her it'll break my soul"

"But what if the two of you needed to die?"

She just turn pale and slowly her head turn to me and she choked me "No one is dying!!!" Sabay yugyog pa niya sa ulo ko. "Bat mo ba nasabi yan? Na overdose ka ba ng gamot?"

I quietly chuckles "Siguro nga" Sabi ko at nabigla ako ng hawakan niya ang buhok ko. Di na Ako natutuwa sa nararamdaman ko. Ano ba to? Napamahal ako sa bata. Pero alam Kong magdadalaga din siya at di rin ako matutuwa pag napasakamay siya ng ibang lalake. She gently brush my hair aside.

"Does it look bad?'

"No, mas Lalo ka nga'ng bumagay sayo e, Ang gwapo mo talaga Endemion wala akong masabi"

"Wag mo nga akong binubola Sami"

"I'm not, It's seems to me, you bloomed into something beautiful" She resembled me to a flower, from seedling to plants and growing into adults. "Your so beautiful tonight"

"You're beautiful sakumi, I'm not a girl"

"Pake mo kung tawagin kitang beautiful. Honestly you just attract me, I make myself a bee looking at the most beautiful flower in my eyes, in a million kinds of flower expanding to the horizon there's these one that caught my attention.."

"Sam your the flower one remember" you don't know how beautiful you are. I never met such flower before. A flower that unlocked the door of fate. The thing that leads many people to find their pieces. She just unlocked  it by accident or maybe I was the one who open my own door of fate. Was that even possible?

"And if you're the flower one, you'll be my favorite..." I close her mouth. Konte nalang mahahalikan ko na siya. Nauuhaw ako pigilan ko na rin ang kakaibang kalbog ng puso ko sa mga salitang binitawan niya. Her honest nature are creating a massive impact for me.

Di nga nga talaga kaibigan ang tingin ko sayo Sakumi. Mahal na nga talaga kita.  "Guren min gain lin Sakumi" I said and she tilt her head in confusion and I pinch her cheeks. Is it okay to love a 16 year old flower? [ My heart is in you hand]

"Ano paki translate?"

"Sabi ko salamat medyo maayos na ang pakiramdam ko" please take care of my heart. Maybe one day if I can finally unraveled the truth, I cant wait for the day to say that I love you more than anything.

Ahhhhhhh Ang corny ko!

"Sami paki sampal nga ng mukha ko"

I feel a cute impact on my cheek "Harder Sami! " mahina parin ang pagkasampal niya hindi siya makakapatay ng lamok sa ginagawa niya. "Lakasan mo nga..." Natahimik ako ng maramdaman ko ang impact na gusto kong magpagising sakin.  "Thank you for that, balik na ako sa kwarto ko. Tsaka Sami don't tell them about my hair okay please promise me" I threw a pinky promise and she stood there with a hint of worry, her concern apparent in her eyes "Sabihin mo may ginagawa lang ako kaya hindi ako makapunta, pero basta wag molang sabihin Ang tungkol dito, maasahan ba kita?"

Her facial expressions was the evidences of her extreme curiosity starting to boggled her mind, wanting to answer "I promise, Basta kung kailangan mo ako andito lang ako"

"You have forgotten"

"What?"

Turo ko sa pisnge ko. Ahhh ano ba tong kalokohan ko! Nakakahiya. Is this the side effect of oxytocin?! Alis na Ako nagmumukha akong katawan tawa.

"Wait lang.. " I felt her small hand on my cheeks and planted a kiss on my lips. "Hopefully you'll feel bett...."

My heart just stop beating.

Wait did I died?