Her Eternity

[Chapter 61: Without Her]

*Hugerson's Point of View

Napataas naman ang kilay ko nang pumasok ako sa Hall of Reign at nakitang nandoon si Zace na nakatulala sa walang laman na display case kung saan nakalagay dati ang heirloom ng Dyad Empire na ngayon ay suot-suot na niya.

I silently sighed as I approached him and tapped his shoulder. Agad naman siyang napatingin sa akin.

"The doctor says you're allowed to go out, but not this long."Sambit ko naman sa kaniya na agad niya namang ikinaismid.

"I can handle myself."He bluntly said and suddenly diverted his attention towards to where the picture frames are.

As expected, he stared at the one where Aphrodite is being shown. Hinawakan niya naman 'yon gamit yung kamay niya kung nasaan yung singsing.

"She'll wake up soon, Zace."

It's been almost 2 and a half weeks without Aphrodite, and we've been waiting for her to wake up. Her condition is almost stable, and that's going to be determined once she open her eyes.

For the meantime, Zace has been staying up all night to look after her. Minsan nga ay halos titigan niya na si Aphrodite tuwing papasok kami sa kwarto nilang dalawa.

"I want that soon to happen, already."He suddenly clenched his fist while his hand is still on Aphrodite's frame.

Napailing nalang ako kasabay nang pagtalikod ko sa kaniya at balak na sanang iwan muna siya nang makita ko yung nanay ni Aphrodite na kakapasok palang ng Hall of Reign.

I immediately gaze back towards Zace and quickly called him out.

"Zace."Tumingin naman siya sa akin hanggang sa sundan niya kung saan tumungo ang atensyon ko.

He immediately get rid of his hand from the picture frame as soon as he saw Aphrodite's mom. Sabay namn kaming nagkatinginan nang makita namin siyang naglakad papalapit sa amin at ngumiti na parang isang anghel.

"Mrs. Zima."We called her out at the same time.

Kumunot naman ang noo namin nang bigla siyang tumawa pagkatapos namin siyang tawagin.

She slightly covered her mouth for a moment, before speaking up with a smile plastered in her face.

"Please, call me Tita Dione. And for you, Zack..."

Lumihis naman ang atensyon niya papunta kay Zace na hindi ko alam kung bakit nakatitig sa kaniya.

I mentally scoffed. Mrs. Zi—I mean Tita Dione can actually pass as Aphrodite's sister and not as her mom.

I slightly dodged Zace on the elbow that made him regain his attention back to reality. Muli naman naming narinig ang pagtawa ni Tita Dione, kaya sandali naman akong napangiwi nang mangyari 'yon.

God Zace, get a hold of yourself.

"Please Zack, call me Mom."Halos maubo naman si Zace nang marinig ang sinabi sa kaniya ni Tita Dione na naging dahilan naman para patago akong mapangisi.

Sandali naman ulit na tumawa ng mahina si Tita Dione bago lumapit kay Zace at hawakan ang kamay niya kung nasaan yung singsing.

"Because this ring is supposed to be passed down when a Zima or a Raven is going to get married."Ngiti niyang pagkasambit habang pinagmamasdan yung singsing.

"But, seems like my daughter loves you so much to the point she couldn't just leave you without a piece of reminder."Napatingin naman sa kaniya si Zace nang marinig niya 'yon.

"Even without her by your side, she'll still always be with you because of that ring."

Tita Dione diverted her attention towards the picture frames on the wall as soon as she's done saying that to Zace who just suddenly ran off.

Dahil doon ay napabaling ulit ang tingin sa amin ni Tita Dione.

But instead of getting confuse why he did that, she just smiled.

* * *

"Seriously, kapag natamaan ka ba sa isang tao, ganyan ka na kung makatitig? Goodness, parang hinuhubaran niya na si Aphro!"

Saglit ko namang sinarado yung libro ko at blangkong tinignan si Axe na todo kung maging affected sa itsura ni Zace ngayon nang balikan ko siya dito nung manggaling kami sa Hall of Reign.

"Leave him be. It's been almost weeks without her, anong gustong mong gawin niyan, mag-party? Baka gusto mong patayin ka ni Aphro pagkagising niya."Rye mocked at him as he raised a brow towards Axe.

Napailing nalang ako sa kanilang dalawa at nilapitan nalang si Zace na nakatungo at hawak-hawak yung kamay ni Aphrodite.

"Please wake up..."

Matamlay naman akong napangiti nang marinig ang binulong niya. I suddenly gaze my attention towards Aphrodie and half-smiled.

He wants you back, Aphrodite.

"What's with him?"

Napatingin naman kami sa may pinto nang biglang pumasok doon sina Vi kasama si Trixie na nakataas ang kilay na nakatingin kay Zace.

Tumawa naman ako ng mahina na naging dahilan para mapatingin silang lahat sa akin.

"I think it's because of Tita Dione."Trixie's forehead immediately creased.

"Why?"She raised a brow. Lumingon naman ulit ako pabalik kay Zace at dumiretso ang tingin ko doon sa singsing.

"Tita Dione mentioned something about the rings."

Mas lalo namang tumaas ang kilay ni Trixie nang marinig ang sinabi ko, pero agad naman siyang napangisi nang makuha niya yung gusto kong sabihin.

Umupo muna si Trixie sa tabi ni Rye bago diretsong tumingin kay Zace na hanggang ngayon ay nakayuko parin. She eventually crossed her legs before speaking up.

"I hear wedding bells, already."She scoffed and from that moment, Zace immediately look ahead.

Nagkatinginan naman sina Rye at Axe bago mapailing sa naging reaksyon ni Zace sa sinabi ni Trixie. Vi on the other hand suddenly approached her brother as soon as it happened.

"You look ridiculous, Kuya. Wag mo namang sabihing ganyan ang itsura mo kapag nagising si Aphro."Irap ni Vi at ginulo ang buhok ng kapatid niya.

Zace boredly look at his sister and just rolled his eyes heavenwards.

Napaawang naman ang bibig ni Vi nang mangyari 'yon, pero napailing nalang siya bago tumungo sa kabilang sofa at umupo.

"Man, I can't imagine he'd be like this without her."Vi shook her head right after she said that.

Napairap naman agad si Trixie nang marinig ang sinabi niya kasabay nang pagtayo niya mula sa kinauupuan niya at tumungo sa may gilid ng kama ni Aphrodite.

"He already felt like he lost her when she left him, that's why."

Nagkatinginan naman kami at sabay na nagkibit-balikat. So please, wake up.

* * *