NYXIE: THE LONG LOST EMPRESS (COMPLETED)

Chapter 22

Sunod ko namang binuksan ang cellphone. As soon as I activate it, the gallery icon is the one and only app I notice. I'm shivering as I press the icon.

Bumungad sa akin ang mga video na kinuha ni Claude.

And I played them one by one.

"Do not overfry it, Aidan!" Sita ni Tía Althea dito.

"Bakit mo ba kasi naisipang mag-aral sa pagluluto?" Tanong ni Claude.

Humarap ito sa camera. "I want to cook for her—for my queen. She told me she likes men who know how to cook and do household chores." He answered with a smile plastered on his handsome face.

Napatakip ako sa bibig dahil sa sinabi niya.

This means he really studied how to cook just for me. 

Napaiyak pa ako lalo nang pinahiran nito ang noo at nagkauling ito.

"Naks naman! Napaka greenflag naman ng kaibigan ko na iyan." Pang-aasar ni Claude. "Pa kiss nga." His face was beaming with disgust as he cast a quick glance at his friend.

Binatukan nito si Claude, kaya muntikan ng malaglag ang phone. Minsan lumalayo pa s'ya habang nagmumura kasi natatalsikan ng mantika. Habang si Claude ay tinatawanan lang ito.

He cooks catastrophically! He nearly set fire to the kitchen. Despite his apparent struggles, he still has an open mind and a desire to learn.

Napasapo ako sa dibdib ko nang mapanood ang isang video kung saan nagbabasa s'ya ng mga libro tungkol sa pagluluto at paglilinis. He truly made every possible effort. Even though he already exceeds my standards, he puts a lot of dedication into learning in order to live up to them.

Nabitawan ko ang cellphone at nanginginig na umiiyak. Nilapitan ako ng grand priest at niyakap ng mahigpit.

I can hear the anguish in his voice as he said, "Aidan will not be pleased to see you like this, Alora. I understand how it hurts you dearly and that it is extremely difficult to embrace. However, this is the reality of life."

Instead of responding, I broke down even more. Although I am aware that the truth is painful, it can be remarkably scary to accept!

"C-can I borrow that magic robe again?" I asked, still weeping.

He flinched for a moment, but later on summoned the robe. "I want to stop you, but I know you are dying to see and touch him."

Niyakap ko ulit s'ya at nagpasalamat. I wore the magic robe again and created a Solare dimension to teleport in the Crimson Empire.

Nang makarating ako sa loob ng palasyo ay agad na nagtungo ako sa grand hall. At doon nakita ko s'yang nakahiga ng mapayapa.

I roared into grief as soon as I saw him completely. He is breathtakingly handsome and at peace.

"T-three days...t-tatlong araw na kitang h-hindi nakakausap, Aidan. A-ang sakit-sakit k-kasi....kasi wala ka na talaga. Bakit mo kasi g-ginawa 'yon? Hindi ko pa nasasabi sa'yo na may a-anak tayo, eh! T-takot na takot ako sa m-magiging buhay ko dahil iniwan mo na ako! Ang daya-daya mo naman mahal, h-hinayaan mo ulit akong madurog ng ganito."

How am I going to keep moving on? When you're gone and I'm bleeding, will I possibly be able to cease suffering from aches and pains?

I hugged him tight. "B-bumalik ka na pakiusap. P-para mo ng awa. Bumalik ka na. U-umiiyak na ako, oh, kaya bumalik ka na." Paulit-ulit na pagmamakaawa ko.

I kissed his cheeks. "H-hindi na nga t-tayo pinagtagpo ng m-maaga tapos hindi rin tayo s-sabay na tatanda."

Mas matatanggap ko pa na sa iba s'ya ikakasal. Pero ito? Hindi ko talaga kaya.