He's the Man with a Tail

Chapter 12: Connected

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Nagmadaling umalis si Elf sa abandunadong warehouse matapos siyang pakawalan ng mga dumukot sa kanya. Paika-ika siyang naglakad at naghanap ng malapit na dagat. Kailangan niyang mabalik sa kaharian nila. Kailangan niyang tulungan ang kapatid.

Sa 'di kalayuan ay naririnig na niya ang paghampas ng alon sa malalaking bato. Dali-dali niyang hinanap ang lokasyon nito at napangiti nang makita ang dagat na kanina niya pa hinahanap.

Hinubad niya ang suot na damit at agad na lumusong sa malamig na tubig. Unti-unting gumaling ang bawat sugat na nasa kanyang katawan at ang dalawang binti ay napalitan ng kulay berdeng buntot. Tumingkad din ang ilang kulay berdeng hibla ng kanyang buhok at tila ba sumasabay ang galaw nito sa agos ng dagat. Tila biglang nakilala ng karagatan ang pangalawang prinsipe.

Wala na siyang sinayang na oras at agad na lumangoy papunta sa Hacienda Serin. Kung nasaan ang kanilang kaharian. If he can't make it to their kingdom, then maybe it's the end of Saero's life.

***

“Prinsesa? Pinapatawag na po kayo ng senyorito,” mahinang sabi ng isa sa mga kasambahay nila habang kumakatok sa pintuan ni Aché.

Muli siyang napabuntong-hininga at iniwan ang laptop sa kama. She's thinking whether to tell her father about what she discovered or just left it there. Whatever it is, it'll be a big responsibility to carry.

She made sure to create a copy of everything before she left her room. Mahirap nang mawala pa ulit ang SD card lalo na't kanina pa siya hindi mapakali. Seems like something is wrong. Binuksan niya ang pinto ng kwarto at pumunta sa silid ng kanyang ama.

The cold breeze of air greeted her porcelain skin. Mababanaag ang kalungkutan sa silid. Several ancient vases are displayed on each corner of the room. There was a scarlet silk cloth hanging like a chandelier from the ceiling. Then she saw her father, sitting at his gold-plated throne. He was smiling.

“Papa.” Agad niyang niyakap ang ama. After how many years, ngayon lang niya ulit ito nakita. Only the physical appearance of his father change. Medyo mahaba na ang balbas nito ngunit hindi pa rin nababawasan ang kagwapuhang taglay. His aura was screaming with power. Too much authority to handle for a simple human. Maybe that's also the thing why her mother fell in love with her father.

“I missed you. Hindi ko akalain na babalik ka. What made you change your mind?” tanong ng ama niya. Si Aczeth.

Fear started to crawl in her heart. Nagtatalo ang isipan at puso niya sa sasabihin. “Papa, do you know where Tito is?”

Bahagyang nawala ang ngiti sa labi ni Aczeth. He was wondering why Aché made up that question. After all these years.

“Why? Honey? Is there something wrong?”

“Nakatakas siya papa.”

Doon na tuluyang nakumpirma ni Aczeth ang nangyayari. Totoo nga. His siren sense never failed him. It's screaming danger.

“And he's up to me. I... I mean, we, unconsciously found out his plans and dirty works. Marami akong hawak na ebidensiya that will surely bring him down again. But I don't know where he is now. O baka nandito na siya Papa.” Takot ang makikita sa abong mata ng dalaga.

“What do you mean by we?”

“I... I met someone and he helped me to go back here. He saved me too. Hinahabol kami ng mga tauhan ni Tito. Gusto nilang makuha ang ebidensiya and at the same time, him.”

Nabuo ang pagtataka sa mukha ni Aczeth. Aché was starting to feel nervous. “I-I know you won't believe me but Pa, please hear this out. Mermaids and mermans are real. I met one. And that's him.”

Matapos sabihin 'yon ay natigilan si Aczeth. He didn't know in just a snap, everything will be revealed. Masyadong mabilis ang pangyayari. He can't catch up.

“Papa?”

“Yes. M-mermaids and mermans are true. Because I'm one of them. We are one of them, nak.”

Napatakip ng bibig si Aché sa nalaman. Now the little pieces are slowly being connected. That's why her body didn't change the moment Vittorio removed the necklace on her. That's why she got pearl tail and golden hair.

Tears started to run down on her cheeks. “Si M-mama? Is she also a mermaid?”

Aczeth's eyes was full of agony and dismay. Hindi niya inaasahan na sa ganitong paraan malalaman ni Aché ang katotohanan.

“N-no. She's a pure human. And that made you a half-mermaid.”

“Damn. Ano pa Papa?! Ano pa bang sikreto ang hindi ko nalalaman aside from the fact that Tito killed Mama?!”

Aczeth can't find his voice. His siren sense was telling him something different. In just a split second he was already in front of Aché. Making a water barrier na kagaya ng ginawa ni Saero the moment the goons shot them.

Bumukas ang pinto ng kwarto niya at lumabas ang dalawang lalaki na sabay silang pinaulanan ng bala. The water barrier simply absorbed the bullets and turned it into ashes. Acid. Seems like the water barrier is also and acid that can burn everything down.

Aczeth deflected the other batch of bullets heading to their direction. Habang ginagawa 'yon ay hinawakan niya ang kamay ni Aché na ngayon ay naguguluhan at sabay silang naglaho sa silid.

They're both sent to the deep dungeon library of his manor. Different sizes of books were plastered on the wall. May ilaw na nagmumula sa maliit na bumbilya sa kisame. Lit enough to see what's inside it.

Pinunasan ni Aczeth ang tumutulong luha mula sa pisngi ng anak. Hoping he could find his voice to speak. Dahan-dahan siyang napalunok at nagsimulang magsalita.

“Anak, I'm sorry for not telling you everything. It wasn't your Mom's fault either. Ako ang nagdesisyon na itago sa'yo ang lahat at isiwalat ito kapag handa ka na. I just didn't expected it to be this fast. I'm sorry, my princess.”

Aché's heart was starting to feel comfortable again. Masyadong mababaw ang galit na pinagmulan ng pag burst out niya kanina. Maybe there are really reasons about everything.

“It's okay Papa. Masyado lang akong nafrustrate sa lahat ng nangyari. Biglaan kasi eh. Hindi ako nakapaghanda. Now, I'm good, and ready to accept the reality.”

***

Author's Note:

Hi! Did y'all missed me? HAJAJSKSSKSK. Three more chapters left and another story will be closed. I'm glad you are still there to read my story kahit na sobrang bagal kong mag-update. Pamasko ko na sa inyo 'to minamahal kong readers.

Don't forget to click the star below okay? And, comment your feels! Feel free to knock my messages on my fb acc and twitter too! You can use the #HesTheManWithATailWP so that I can read your tweets about it. (Or kung wala man, I'll wait pa rin. HAHAHA. Ganyan ko kayo kamahal. chOur)

Ps. Nakapagsimbang gabi na ba kayo?

I think that's all for now. Stay tuned for the last updates of this story. Magpapaalam na tayo kina Saero at Aché. HAHAHS. Mwa.

Love,
butterrrr_