Ever After

XL. Last Mission

Days passed and the dark organization became active. Parati silang sumusugod at ang nakakapagtaka pa ay tila ako ang pinupuntirya nila.

"Why do they seem to always come after me?" I once asked Nick but he just shrugged.

"I don't know. But don't worry, they can't hurt you because I'm here."

But a little part of me thinks that Nickolas knows something. I have a guess of what's really happening but I always shrugged my thoughts off.

Matapos ang nangyaring kaguluhan sa nullifying forest ay napilitan nang sumama ang head sorcerer sa amin patungong Winzellia. I saw him talking to Nickolas about something but I don't know what it is.

"I'm warning you, Nickolas. Do the right thing before it's too late."

That's all I heard from the head sorcerer.

"Ariel?"

"Sorry, ate. Nakabukas kasi ang pinto kaya pumasok na ako," napatango naman ako sa sinabi niya.

She's sitting in Victoria's study table, so, I went there. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makitang nakabukas ang notebook ko kaya agad ko itong kinuha.

Pinanliitan ko naman ng mata si Ariel kaya napatawa siya at napakamot ng ulo.

"Sorry talaga, ate. I accidentally read it," palusot niya. But I know, she intentionally enter my room to read the story I'm writing.

"Is that your entry for the Royal Book Festival?" Tanong niya kaya napatango naman ako.

"Your plot is so cool, ate! A girl who woke up inside the book and accomplishing ten missions. Ate, what's your inspiration with that?"

Napangiti ako at lumingon sa kanya. "A dream." It's my story.

"Woah, cool!" Namamangha niyang sambit. "Pero ate, the girl fell in love with the knight inside that world even she knows that they can't be together because they are different."

Mapait akong napangiti habang inilalagay sa drawer ang kwaderno. Huminto ako at lumingon kay Ariel nang magtanong ulit siya.

"Ate, what will be the ending of the story?"

Napangiti ako.

I like reading tragic stories and tragic endings. I always love how I cry when two lovers in the book ended asunder. But if I would be asked, I really wanna write a happy ending story.

Even though I know that my real story will end up tragic, I want to see it end happily even just in a book.

If reality already gave us tragedy, let us end a fictitious story happy.

* * *

The sun's shining bright but my mind is clouded. The sound of the waves in the ocean is calming but not for me. For I know that it's a sign of danger I'm trying hard not to experience.

"Please, don't leave. Stay here. Stay safe," pakiusap ko habang mahigpit na yakap ang hari at reyna ng Winzellia.

"Victoria, we will be back for few days. No need to worry, my daughter." The king said but I just shook my head.

"The ocean will bring you danger. Kakainin ng alon ang barkong sasakyan niyo. I don't want that to happen."

Bahagyang tumawa ang mga magulang ni Victoria na tila ba nagbibiro lamang ako.

"At kailan pa naging manghuhula ang anak ko?" Biro ng reyna habang ginugulo ang buhok ko.

"Please, pagbigyan niyo ako kahit ngayon lang. Huwag kayong tumuloy," pakiusap ko.