Norfolk

Chapter 12

She could've said no pero pumayag siya. Hindi dahil may tiwala si Ceesta kay Aslan nang sabihin na hindi siya nito pababayaan, pero dahil may iba siyang pinaplano.

“Syempre hindi.” Giit ni Ceesta. “Um-oo lang ako para makaalis agad. Hindi naman ako papayag na gawin nila akong pain sa halimaw na 'yon. Palibhasa hindi nila alam yung sakit nung gabi na inatake ako.”

Nang malaman ni Ceesta ang kinaroroonan ni Apollo ay agad siyang nagtungo sa isang inn na hamak ang laki kaysa sa dati nilang tinuluyan. Aslan was telling the truth when he said he kept Apollo in a nice and warm place. But Ceesta felt like this would not last long, especially if she had planned to escape.

“Kagatin mo rin sila kapag kinagat ka. Apollo commented.”

She glared at him.

“Paano ko magagawa 'yon kung patay na ako?”

Apollo chuckled and pat her head with a smile. “So, anong plano mo ngayon?”

Ceesta took out the key from her skirt's pocket. Wala na ang ilaw na pumapalibot dito, marahil nang dahil sa nailabas na niya ito sa volt.

“Cee!” Apollo burst with a mixture of shock and mad tone.  “Paanong-- saan--”

“Hindi ko nakuha yung libro pero gagawa ako nang ibang paraan.” She cut in, at ibinalik sa bulsa ang susi.

“At hindi mo man lang sinabi sa akin?!” He made a little bounce on the thick soft mattress. “Napaka pasaway mo talaga, Cee--”

She jumped out of bed, leaving Apollo on his white-silked nightgown paired with a nightcap. He seemed to enjoy the life Aslan gave him, but there was Ceesta; showing up to threaten his life of eases has come to an end.

She went back to Erna's Lost and Found. There's a blast of suppressed twinkling in Erna's eyes as if the key was something that could give her new and better life. But it quickly vanished when Ceesta stated her condition.

“Help us to get transportation. We will leave this kingdom.” She said with a steady voice.

Erna's squinted eyes scanned Ceesta's face before she flashed a smile and a laugh.

“Syempre naman. May kilala akong maaari kayong matulungan.”

“Sino at paano?”

“Naglalayag sila mula rito sa Norfolk papunta sa mga kalapit na isla ngunit sa isang araw pa ang kanilang balik.” Bumaba ang tingin ni Erna sa mga kamay nito na marahang ipinatong sa lamesa, 'tsaka muling ibinalik kay Ceesta. “Ayos na ba 'yon sa iyo?”

“Wala na bang mas mabilis na paraan?”

Erna shook her head. “Pasensya ngunit wala na.”

Lumabas siya nang center na bagsak ang balikat. Tinanggap niya ang offer pero hindi siya ma-kampante gayon na masasayang ang oras kung maghihintay pa siya ng ilang araw bago makaalis.

Huminto si Ceesta sa tapat ng tent ni Olia, hindi para subukan muling pumasok sa salamin, kundi para magtanong. Buo ang isip ni Ceesta na kung nangangalaga at may alam sa mahika si Olia, maaaring may kilala rin ito na kaya siyang matulungan.

“Someone?” Olia asked, raising her right eyebrow. “Sabihin na nating meron. Pero anong makukuha kong kapalit ng impormasyong gusto mo?”

Ceesta was stunned because she never thought Olia will ask for her payment. She didn't prepare anything she could trade, but herself. She gulped.

“Take another hour of my life.”

Olia laughed and turned her back to Ceesta. ”Ano ba ang tingin mo sa akin? I am just like you, Honey. I'm a mortal.”