THE ADVENTURE OF AUGUST BACK TO EARTH

42. Royalties Reunion

August's POV

"My son." Naiiyak na saad ng Mama ni Cayden na si Queen Ruth.

"Son you finally came back." Maimosyonal na saad naman ni King Skylar.

"I am." Sagot naman ni Cayden and somehow there was a hint of longing and happiness.

Ilang segundong yakapan ang nangyare bago pa man natapos yun. Si Queen Ruth naman ay hinahagod ang mukha ni Cayden.

"Your hair is short." Saad nito. "But you still look better with it." Naiiyak na saad nito at halatang naninibago ito sa buhok ni Cayden. Hindi ko alam kung ilan ang taon lumipas dito sa Pandora. but I can say it was quite a while dahil na rin sa pagbabago ng kanilang mga itsura.

"Mother, this will grow back." Sagot naman ni Cayden dito. "And you should greet my companion as well."

Napatingin naman ito sa amin at naluluha pa rin. "I'm so sorry for my rudeness but I just can't help it. He was gone for so many years that I could no longer count on my fingers." Sagot nito sa amin.

Agad kong pinagtuunan ng pansin ang itsura ng Hari at Reyna, napatingin ako kay King Skylar he was no longer the young king that I am seeing. His hair is white still but I can see the visible lines on his face a sign that he's old. How long have we been gone? Bakit ganito kalaki ang pagbabago sa itsura nila? Pero hindi ko maitanong yun dahil nahihiya ako. Cayden went to earth because of me. I am sure they hated me because I took away their precious son.

"We should be the one who's sorry your majesty. We left Pandora without any notice." Sagot naman ni Kaye. "We do apologize for our behavior."

Huh? Hindi sila nagpaalam na aalis sila? The fuck?! How can they do that? Paano na lang kung hindi nila ako nahanap? Eh di hanggang ngayon nandun pa rin sila sa Earth at nagpapanggap na tao.

"It's fine as long as you're back...." sagot ni Queen Ruth. Bumalik ang tingin nito kay Cayden. "You haven't change a bit. You seem like you never aged. Unlike us, it's been 38 years since you left Pandora."

Holyshit! 38 years? Walang biro? As in? O baka naman nagjojoke lang to si Queen Ruth.

"Holy freaking shit... 38 years bes." Bulong ni Misha sa akin na ngayon ay katulad ko rin na gulat sa nalaman.

"August..... you're back..... I am glad that you did not die at the war." Maluha-luha na saad ni Queen Ruth sa akin. "You did not aged as well, though you look more beautiful.... Your sister is here."

Parang nanigas naman ako sa aking kinatatayuan. My sister? Nawala ito sa isipan ko. Right I have a sister pero ready ba akong harapin siya? I know it's been years pero hindi ko alam kung ready akong harapin siya. All I remember is I hated her.

Biglang humawi naman sila and my eyes was automatically darted to a woman who has a powder blue gown. Her hair was in bun at napakunot ako ng noo. Ito ba ang sinasabi nilang kapatid ko? Nagulat ako because the woman I am seeing right now is nothing like I've seen it before. She aged and much more older than me. She's around late 50's I think.

"August..." anas niya sakin. Even her voice changed. Sigurado ba sila na ito si August? She's beautiful but old. Hindi ko ito inasahan. I was expecting that she would look exactly like me.

"August..." saad ko rin sa kanya pero umiling ito.

"I am now named as Augusta." Sagot nito sa akin at napatingin naman ako sa gilid nito ng may sumungaw na isang batang babae and somehow, parang kamukha ko ito. There is a resemblance.

"Mama..." saan ng bata at mas humigpit ang kapit nito kay Augusta.

"Who's she?" Nagtatakang tanong ko. Kahit may ideya na ako ay gusto kong kumpirmahin ang hinala ko. I don't want to assume tapos mali din naman pala.