Scorching Crown of Aldys

Chapter 05

Chapter 5: Disciple

Maximus discussed anything with her mother while anyone in our house was looking at me as who was secretly trying to float some small metal from the crushed stones. I can control them well, like how I breathe under the water. But only the things that are within my range, pagsinubukan ko ang mga malalaki sobrang nanghihina ako. I felt nausea and hematemesis. That's why I have questioned my life choices ever since I tried them.

"Are you telling na ang mga mayayamang iyon ay inutusan ang batang ito na lumabas para kumuha ng makakain? Bakit hindi na lang sila ang gumawa, idagdag pa na may gamit naman sila na pwedeng ipanlaban sa mga halimaw sa labas kaysa itutok sa mga inosenteng kinukutya nila." Ma'am Lady stated habang nakaturo kay Arrow na pinapakain ng tirang kanin ang ibon niya na si Horatia na isang uwak ngayon.

"Zephyr also insisted on it, Mom. And they even want her to go with those they suspected to transform into a zombie, too." Pagsusumbong pa ni Maximus, nakita ko tuloy kumibot ang kilay ni Arrow.

Napahawak sa ulo si Madam Lady at tila ba tumataas ang presyon niya. Maximus and Caleb try to calm her. My mother who was just looking at me intently and silently sighed and shake his head.

"Vaughn, Can you gather everyone tomorrow? We will discuss this issue with them." His mother told him. Maliit na tumango ang binata. 

"Sa tingin mo ba ay makikinig sila sa iyo, Lady?" 

"They should," Lady said with a final tone. 

In the afternoon, Maximus gathered everyone. Nakihalubilo ako sa mga taong nagsama-sama na sa gitna. Nasa harapan naman sina Mama at si Miss Lady. They are seriously looking at everyone. They hold such an aura that no one can comprehend. Ah, I remember my Mom was in the army with Miss Lady. And Miss Lady's husband and my father used to be their superior, and their story goes on. I even remember how my father told me a story of them being in a war, but Mom and Miss Lady don't remember. And my father said they are experiencing such mental disorders as they suppressed those memories.

Agad ko namang hinanap si Alectrona na tila isip batang kasama sila Cash at Lysa at nakangising nakatingin sa akin habang nginunguso ang katabi ko.

Now thinking, I am in between with big guys—Maximus and Caleb. I wanted to transfer to other places not in their middle dahil sobrang nanliliit ako sa katangkaran nila. Kaso may naniko kay Maximus upang umusod siya at nakisiksik si Arrow.

"Buhatin mo ako." napatingin kaming tatlo sa kanya na tila may maawtoridad na nag-uutos.

"Hindi niyo sinabing may duwende nasama rito." May ngisi sa labi na sabi ni Maximus. 

Now, I keep seeing a lot of emotion when she mocks Arrow. But seeing them together feels wrong. They are somehow similar to each other.

"Should I carry you?" Caleb asked her. Nagsalubong ang kilay niya kay Caleb, "Guwapo ka pero ayoko sa'yo." Sagot niya saka lumingon kay Maximus at tinitigan siya ng mataimtim parang nagsasabi na buhatin siya. 

Ngumisi ulit ang binata saka nagsabi, "Guwapo rin ako kaya ayoko sa'yo." sagot niya dalaga.

Nagtitigan muli silang dalawa bago may ngiting sumupil sa labi ni Arrow. Kahit ako kinabahan roon dahil tumingin ba naman sa akin ang bata.

"Gwapo talaga si Maximus. Tama, Zephyr?" She asked me, emphasizing the name of Maximus.

I feel the three pairs of eyes looking at me. As if they are waiting for me to answer, naramdaman ko namang umakyat ang dugo ko pataas sa mukha bago tumingin sa mukha ni Maximus at kay Arrow.