A Vidente

Chapter 29

NAGPASYA si Beatrix na lapitan si Romi nang makita itong nagsu-swimming. Mukhang nasira na naman niya ang mood nito—biglang sumimangot at itinigil ang paglangoy. Umahon ito, tinungo ang lounge chair, kinuha mula roon ang roba at isinuot pero hinayaan lang iyong nakabukas, nakahantad ang magandang hubog ng katawan na mas lalong pina-sexy ng suot nitong daring na metallic silver Dolce & Gabbana swimsuit.

Kinuha ang bote ng wine mula sa ice-bucket na puno ng yelo, nagsalin sa wine glass bago naupo sa lounge chair. Doon sinimulang inumin ang wine habang nakatingin sa malayo na para bang wala siya roon. Alam niyang higit pa itong naiinis sa kanya ngayon dahil sa hindi pagdating ni Romulus kaya wala ito sa dinner kanina. Kahit noon kaso kahit gaano ka-busy si Romulus kapag family time hindi iyon nawawala. Sama-samang nagdi-dinner ang pamilya.

Beatrix walked over to the other lounge chair and sat, despite Romi's refusal to invite her. Romi and she both sat silently. The night is peaceful. Only the chirping of crickets and the dropping of water from pool waterfalls can be heard. She gazed down at her hands, played with her fingers, and then inhaled deeply. She'd worked up the nerve to approach Romi a while ago, but she was still wary.

"I'm sorry," Beatrix spoke subtly. She held her breath and squeezed the index finger's tip. She waited to be scolded. He was ready to hear hurtful words from her. If that would alleviate the pain she had caused, then she'll accept it.  Pero lumipas na ang ilang sandali ay wala pa rin siyang narinig mula kay Romi kaya nag-angat siya ng tingin sa dalaga.
She was still staring into nothingness as she continued to sip the wine. Mukhang walang balak na kausapin siya kahit na bulyawan siya. Ito na siguro ang tamang pagkakataon para makapagpaliwanag. Kahit makinig lang ito.

"Our world is chock-full of wonders?" aniya na itinuon din ang tingin sa kung saan nakatuon ang paningin ni Romi.

"Everything is theoretically feasible. I've encountered creatures I never expected to see...lycans, fairies, witches, and demons. What else could I possibly come across?"

"Elves." Beatrix quickly turned her surprised attention to Romi. She didn't anticipate her response. Although she was still gazing at nothingness, Beatrix was happy that she was willing to speak with her.

"I met one...when I was young," Romi continued.

"I've never seen anything like that. But I want to. Ako naman blackrider. I saw it when he tried to abduct me. It's scary. I don't wanna encounter his kind again...and also evil spirits. I've encountered many of them when we try to take an angel's dagger from a cave in Portugal. Nakakatakot sila, ang mga iyak at sigaw nila. Napakarami."

"It's frightening," mahinang usal ni Romi.

"Yeah. Sobra. I wished it was just a nightmare," she murmured quietly.

"But you still did...iniligtas mo ang maraming Lycan dahil sa ginawa mo."

"It's Luna."

"You and Luna. Kung hindi sa dagger na ikaw ang kumuha hindi mapapatay si Seraphim," pagpilit ni Romi.

"Teamwork. Hindi ko magagawa kung hindi dahil kay Romulus. Siya ang nagpalakas ng loob ko. Kahit sobrang arte ko natiis niya." Hindi na nagkomento pa si Romi sa sinabi niya. Tahimik nitong ipinagpatuloy ang pag-inom. Siya naman ay ibinalik ang tingin sa dilim. Napapangiti pero nanghihinayang na binalikan ang mga alaalala na nabuo nila ni Romulus.

"He was broken when you left him." Ang maliit na ngiti sa labi ay nabura sa sinabi ni Romi. Napuno ng pagsisisi at damdamin ng pagkakasala ang kanyang puso.

"Hindi mo ba minahal si kuya?" Malungkot na bumaling si Beatrix kay Romi. Katulad niya ay may malungkot din itong ekspresyon. Nakatingin na ito ngayon sa kanya.