Stay alive for us, for me.
What are the odds that a person's heart can beat the same rhythm as someone else's? That a heart frozen by time can actually melt within a minute of warmth?
I didn't think it was possible back then. Until now. Hindi ko inaasahang mapapalapit pala talaga ako sa kanila... sa kaniya.
Hearing those words from him reminds me of all the times I wished them death. Kinaibigan ko si kamatayan para sa kanila pero ngayon, all I can do is to hope he got home fine. Kahit 'yon lang para makabawi naman ako sa pagligtas niya sa 'kin.
"Oh, the little princess is crying."
Kaagad kong pinunasan ang luha ko. Funny. Akala ko nakalimutan na ng utak ko ang pagluha, hindi pa rin pala.
"You miss your boyfie?" pangungutya nito.
He's the guard assigned to watch me ever since they moved me to the main jail of all of Zarsothia — the Zhantla Prison. It's a series of conjoined stone towers in the middle of an ocean.
Hindi ko na maalala kung paano ako napunta rito. I passed out as soon as they pushed me inside the chariot. Pero base sa malawak na karagatang naaninag ko sa maliit na bintana, I'm definitely at the top of the tower. Iilan lamang kami sa palapag na 'to. Every cell has one prisoner only but all prisoners are free to interact, and each one of us has our own guard.
"Alam mo, sayang ka. You look beautiful. Mukha ka ring matalino. How did you end up here?"
At sadyang minalas akong makatanggap ng englishero't tsismosong guard.
"Pake mo?"
"Ah, I get it. That, that's what brought you here." Umiling-iling pa siya at nanghihinayang akong tinignan. "Matabil ang dila mo. Napaaway ka at nakapatay ka, gano'n ba?"
"Yes. Do you want to be next?"
"Really? Look at you, you're a mess. Look at me, I am perfectly abled plus you're in our turf kaya umayos ka. Kaya kitang itulak sa labas para pagpyestahan ng mga bakunawa."
Napairap ako. Kung hindi lang kami nandito sa lugar na 'to, I would think he's just a normal person. They way he speaks reminds me of Genesis's childishness.
Napabuntong hininga ako. Why am I being sentimental?
"Miss mo 'no? Miss ka rin no'n."
Napaangat ang kilay ko nang muling nagsalita ang lalaking nakaupo sa labas ng selda ko. Ano ba'ng trip ng lalaking 'to?
"Miss, I'm trying to talk to you."
"Ang ingay mo."
"Ang tahimik mo kasi. 'Yung last na binantayan ko rito naging kaibigan ko pa bago siya sinalang."
"Sinalang?" I asked.
Umarte ito na parang nagulat. "Don't tell me hindi mo alam?"
"Magtatanong ba ako kung alam ko?"
Nanlaki ang may kasingkitan niyang mata. "Lahat ng nasa top floor ng tower na 'to ay nasa death row. That means you better start counting your remaining days before the executioner comes."
Natigilan ako. I tried to find words to conceal my shock but I ended up staring at the cold floor beneath my feet.
Ngayon ko lang pinagsisihan na hindi ko pinag-aralan ng maayos ang mga librong pinahiram sa 'kin ni Rhysan. I never knew this kind of law exists.
"I know, I know. Mahirap talagang tanggapin na baka bukas deds ka na, pero that's the good thing about death you know." Sinubukan niyang tapikin ang ulo ko mula sa labas ng selda pero umiwas ako. Kumibit balikat lang siya. "The days before your death is the most wholesome yet excruciating thing you can ever experience in this lifetime. Diyan mo makikita kung sino ang totoo sa 'yo. Ang masakit lang, wala ka nang mababago."
BINABASA MO ANG
Curse of the Fallen Deity (Zarsothian Tales #1 | Volume 1 & 2)
Fantasy"She must remember the sacred rule; to fall in love is a curse." Abandoning the isle means having the life Aurora longs to live. In the prosperous kingdom of Forthmore, she will seek vengeance with the power even death can't prevail. But life is a...
