She Was Bitten

40: Goodbye

Orpheus's face was serious but I could see a glint of amusement in his eyes. He really was enjoying our misery.

"Have a seat, you two," aniya kapagkuwan.

Hinila na ako ni Titus at pinaupo n'ya ako sa tabi ni Nadine na seryosong nakatingin sa amin. Sa kaliwa ko naman pumuwesto ang kasama ko.

"How is he?" pabulong na tanong ni Matteo ngunit malakas naman. Nasa kabilang side siya ni Nadine at magulo ang buhok n'ya.

Umiling ako para malaman nilang hindi okay ang kaibigan nila.

"The first thing we're going to discuss is Lucinda's place in this town," sabi ni Orpheus kaya napatingin ako sa babae na ngayon ay nakangiti.

Her smile was starting to unsettle me.

At isang bagay pa na nakakapagpalito sa akin ay ang presensya ni Florence Bishop, ang asawa ni Alistair.

Anong ginagawa n'ya rito? Bakit buhay s'ya gayong patay na ang asawa n'ya?

Hinawakan ni Titus ang kamay ko mula sa ilalim ng mesa kaya nawala kay Florence ang atensyon ko.

"You okay?" bulong ko sa katabi at tumango naman siya.

Naaawa na ako sa kanya. He looked so broken. Broken didn't fit Titus well.

"As the head of this town, I will appoint Lucinda Montgomery as the new mayor of Hellville," ani Orpheus at agad na umingay ang buong silid.

"You can't do that, President. Bago pa lamang siya sa bayan na 'to. We don't trust her yet," palag ni Mr. Brigham na mukhang pagod na pagod rin.

Actually, all of us were tired.

"You cannot argue with me. You cannot go against what I want as long as your town falls under my jurisdiction. Do you understand that?"

"T, do something," ani Mrs. Horton.

"He can't do anything. He doesn't want his little witch to go, so he'd rather let his town burn to hell," sabi naman ni Ambrosia saka ako tiningnan ng masama.

"You're right, Brooke. Blame me. This is what I want. As a Bloodworth, I am the next leader of this town. And as the new leader I'd say, let's obey whatever the President says," matigas na sagot ni Titus na mahigpit ang hawak sa kamay ko.

"You're kidding, right? So you will compromise everyone just for this useless witch?" galit nang sabi ni Mrs. Horton.

"Mom!"

"Shut up, Nadine! Isa ka pa!"

"Ano ba'ng masama kung under tayo ng ISOP? Hindi naman tayo nila inaano ah. Tingnan n'yo ang ibang bayan na under nila. They're prosperous samantalang tayo dito, marami ang naghihirap" ani Matteo.

"We have our own rules and laws here," sa wakas ay nagsalita si Mr. Brigham. "Our town is unique for having only two kinds of citizens, Purebloods and witches. Ang ibang bayan, halo-halo na sila."

"So? Is that a big deal?" sabi pa ni Nadine.

"It is, as a matter of fact. We've been like this for centuries, Nadine. Hindi natin 'yun sisirain ngayon o sa susunod pang mga taon."

"But Dad..." aangal pa sana si Matteo ngunit isang tingin lang mula sa kanyang ina ay natahimik siya.

"I'm still the leader of this town. You do your responsibilities and I will do mine. Ms. Simmons will stay here with her family."

Matiim akong napatitig kay Titus. Seryoso talaga siya sa ginagawa n'ya para sa akin?

Ang daming nasasakripisyo para sa akin.