Once In a Winter - Fairy Tale Series #1 (HIATUS)

Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Arashi Tribe

Napatingin ako kay Zephyr dahil sa kaniyang sinabi.

"You know you can't... W-we can't."

Nilingon niya ako at tumitig siya sa aking mga mata. He stared at me for about three minutes. Nang mailang ako na ang pumutol sa aming titigan.

It's impossible. What he said is impossible. Really impossible. Alam kong alam niya. I know he's not dumb not to know that it's impossible. Life doesn't go the way you want to... The way I want to... Our life doesn't go the way we, Zhar and I, want to. 'Cause that's what supposed to be life is. Intractable. Funny, but that's the truth. Harsh but that's life! It's life.

We can never change the truth. We can never be able to change it. Never.

I heard him sighed.

"Maybe you're right. Yeah... you're right." He sighed again, but heavier than a while ago.

I didn't bother to speak. I just looked at the palace I've been dreaming to live at when I was still a kid. Then suddenly, he chuckled.

"Such a stupid thought of me."

This time, I looked at him. Ngumiti siya, pero may mali... Hilaw ang kaniyang ngiti. Ngumiti din ako. Gaya niya, ngumiti din ako ng hilaw.

I agree. Such an idiotic thought. Stupid.

"Yeah... What a fool." Nagkibit-balikat siya at tumawa. I can't help but to join him laugh. We laughed our shit out. Then we both looked at the palace. We stayed like that for a moment.

Yeah. We will only end up stupid if we insist on living like this forever. We can't fool the world. We can never.

Nagulat na lang ako nang may inilagay si Zephyr sa ibabaw ng aking ulo.

"There... better." I don't know why, but I felt... my cheeks heated up a bit. Ngumiwi ako ng myakita ang kurba sa kaniyang labi.

"You're making fun of me, aren't you?" Kunot-noo kong tanong. Tumaas ang kaniyang kilay.

"Why would I?" I raised my eyebrow.

Seriously?

"Tsk. Playing innocent." Umirap ako.

Kita ko ang pagtataka sa kaniyang mukha. His left eyebrow is being raised while his forehead became like a bitterguard. Naging ampalaya ang kaniyang noo.

He's totally a jerk... and he will forever be. Sana pala hindi na bumalik yung mokong na Zhar na unang nakilala ko.

"Ano ba 'to?" Tukoy ko sa inilagay niya sa ibabaw ng aking ulo. I placed my hand on my head. Tumaas ang kilay ko at kinuha ito.

Natigilan ako nang makita ang aking hawak. A flower crown.

Wait. Ito yung binigay sa'kin ni Asia kanina ah.

Itinaas ko ang aking paningin. Nanlaki ang aking mga mata nang tamaan ako ng reyalisasyon. Yumuko ako dahil sa hiya. Nag-init ang aking pisngi.

He's not making fun of me.

"I-I'm sorry." Nakagat ko ang aking pang-ibabang labi nang mautal ako.

Why the hell am I stuttering?

Inangat ko ang aking paningin sa kaniya nang marinig ko siyang tumawa. Nawala ang hiyang nararamdaman ko at napalitan ng inis. Tawang tawa ang mokong. Tamad ko siyang pinanood.

Anong tinatawa-tawa neto? As if your happiness right now will last long. Tsk.

Nang sa tingin ko ay patapos na siya sa kaniyang eksena ay nag-cross arms ako.