The Lost Prodigy

58. Flashback

I was expecting to fall for a long time. This might be an entrance to the underworld and I might be falling to my death already. I am powerless and crushed. My heart was void of other emotions. Hindi ko pa rin matanggap ang lahat.

Paano iyon nagawa sa akin ni Ophelia?

Napapikit ako nang biglang lumiwanag at naramdaman ko na lang ang mahina kong pagbagsak sa isang malambot na mantel. Nang imulat ko ang aking mga mata ay nasilaw ako dahil sa nakabukas na bintana. Kahit naguguluhan ay prinoseso ko ang aking nakikita.

I was now lying on a red carpet lain along a long regal hallway. There were many wooden double doors on one side while the other was covered entirely with floor to ceiling windows. Titignan ko naman sana ang ibang mga dekorasyon nang mapalingon ako dahil may nagsalita.

"Prince Zachary! Prince Killian! Tama na ang paglalaro," rinig kong hinihingal na sambit ng isang babaeng may namumuting buhok. She seemed to be in her late forties but because of the air of grace and strength that surrounded her, she looked younger.

Pero napakapamilyar ng mga pangalang binanggit niya.

Nagulat naman ako nang may makita akong dalawang batang lalaki na kumakaripas na tumatakbo papunta sa aking direksiyon. Huli na para makaiwas ako pero laking gulat ko ulit nang makitang nilampasan lang ako ng dalawa na para bang isa akong multo.

Kahit hindi ko nakikita ang aking sarili ay alam kong namumutla ako. Am I already dead? Hindi pa ako handa!

The boys were holding wooden swords. Nakasuot din sila ng mga simple pero magagarang damit. Of course, the woman earlier called them princes. Napanganga ako nang mapagtanto ko kung sino ang nakikita ko ngayon. The twins that was mentioned in the first prophecy.

"Can we play for another hour? Please Lady Fey," wika ng prinsipeng may buhok na kakulay ang araw. He looked really charming when he flashed his pale blue eyes at their guardian.

"Payagan mo na po kami, Lady Fey. We already finished our reading lessons," pahayag naman ng isa pang prinsipe. He was the exact opposite of his brother because of his raven black hair and brown eyes. But both of them were cute and handsome even at a young age.

Napabuntong hininga na lang si Lady Fey. Bumukas naman ang pintuan sa harapan namin at may lumabas doong magandang babae na nakasuot ng bestidang kakulay ng ubas. She wasn't wearing a crown but I knew that she was the queen when I first saw her. Her movements were sure and poised. She looked refined and glamorous in every angle. And even though her presence was intimidating, I can see the love and compassion that radiated from her.
Napayuko ako kahit hindi niya ako nakikita.

"Good afternoon, Your Highness," said Lady Fey before bowing. Binati rin siya pabalik ni Queen Valence. May batang babae ring biglang sumulpot mula sa likuran ni Lady Fey. The latter's white hair looked familiar.

"Magandang hapon po, Mahal na Reyna," bati ng bata at yumuko. Kumaway naman ang isang prinsipe sa babae. The dark-haired prince, on the other hand, seemed not to care about the girl.

"Oh, it's nice to see you Mirage. I hope you're fully recovered. I guess Killian already asked for an apology for accidentally hitting you with a book?"

Hindi ako makapaniwala sa aking narinig. Si Lady Mirage ba talaga ang batang babaeng ito? Mukhang totoo nga dahil sa buhok pa lang ay pareho na sila. But I found it hard to believe.

Napatingin naman si Queen Valence sa prinsipeng may itim na buhok na nakabusangot ngayon ang mukha.

"Opo, Mahal na Reyna. Wala na po kayong dapat ipag-alala," magalang na sagot ng batang babae. Napabuga naman ako ng hangin. If this was really her, she sure did change a lot.