Ever After

XLI. Victoria's (1)

Nagmamadali akong naglalakad sa isa sa mga pasilyo ng palasyo nang mahagip ng paningin ko si Ethan sa isang balkonahe.

Napangiti ako. His princely move, his handsome face, a perfect man. Oh, how did I reject him when I'm so inlove with him in the past?

Ugh, I really hate being Eerah. She have missed an opportunity I am craving for so long when she rejected Ethan's love.

"What are you doing here, Ethan?" I asked as I walked towards him.

"I just want to congratulate the new queen again."

Napangiti naman ako sa sinabi niya. I became a queen for the second time. But this is the first time he congratulated me.

When I became the queen back then, he's against it. Because he knows that I'll do some wicked things. But now, he's congratulating me because he believed that I can be a good queen.

I mentally roled my eyes. That girl who will become a good queen is just an illusion I already destroyed. Victoria's back. Care to welcome me, anyone?

Humakbang ako papalapit sa kanya at niyakap siya. Ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata upang damhin ang dating pakiramdam na nararamdaman ko sa tuwing malapit siya sa akin.

"Ethan,"

Ngunit bigo ako. My heart didn't beat so fast and the butterflies in my stomach seems to lose its wings. That blissful feeling I've felt before suddenly vanished... and I don't know why.

"I like you Victoria. But I know that your heart already belongs to Nickolas."

Napabitiw ako sa pagyakap sa kanya dahil sa kanyang winika. My heart belongs to that man? That's totally absurd! I will never fall in love with that sorcerer who cursed me.

"You look so happy whenever you're with him. Whenever you stare at him, I can see sunshines in your eyes."

Napayuko ako. That girl isn't really me. I mentally shook my head. It's me. But that's because I don't remember anything.

I mentally laughed. He also wouldn't fall in love with me if he knew everything about the past. My wickedness, my secrets.

"I'm happy for you and Nickolas," Ethan said as he tap my shoulder.

I want to open my mouth and say that he's really the one I like. Since then, he's the one.

But I can't and I don't know why. Maybe, because my feelings for him really did vanish?

* * *

There's this tower built just as this magic world was created. They even said that the creation itself is because of the tower's magic.

The light magic isn't the only powerful magic among all. It also has it's opposte, the dark magic.

But to keep the balance in this world, to prevent the dark conquering Everland, the dark magic is hidden.

And it was placed at the top of the Ever tower in a form of a crystal.

Once it is taken by a wicked hand, the whole world will be in chaos. I remember, I almost got the crystal in the past. But that sorcerer stopped and cursed me.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ang mga bantay ng tore na nakahandusay sa lupa.

"Shit, the crystal!" Sigaw ko at nagmamadaling tumakbo patungo sa tore.

Bumungad sa akin ang mga purong puti at itim na loob ng tore. Ibang-iba ito sa mga magagarbong ginto at pilak ng mga palasyo sa nasasakupan nito. It symbolizes the balance between the two forces.

Umakyat ako nang umakyat hanggang sa makapunta ako sa tuktok nito. Malawak ang kabuuan ng tuktok ng tore at sa gitna nito ay nakahimlay ang isang crystal na kasinglaki lamang ng isang mansanas na sa tuwing natatamaan ng sinag ng buwan ay kumikislap.

Napahinto ako nang makita si Vincent at Angeline kasama ang limang kawal na papalapit sa kristal. Tumigil naman sila nang makita ako at akmang susugurin ako ng mga kawal nang pigilan sila ni Vincent.

"Victoria, my queen. I'll now do the thing you failed to do in the past."

His voice sent shivers down my spine. I'm still wondering how he knew about the curse, the secret. How did he know about the past, and why does his memories aren't erased.

'Stop them,' a voice in my mind yelled as they continue walking towards the crystal. But I remain standing still, just watching them.

Vincent successfully got the crystal and before they leave, he gave me a grin.

My breathing became shallow as if I ran a miles. My heart's beating fast like it was furious that I did nothing. But what's wrong with that? I'm wicked. What am I supposed to do?

"Victoria!"

Napalingon ako kay Ashley kasama ang mga kawal na kararating pa lamang. Nanlumo siya nang ibinaling ang tingin sa wala nang lamang crystal sector.

"Victoria, did you see them?" She asked as she held both of my shoulders referring to the thieves.

"I saw them. I did stop them but... they escaped," I lied.

* * *
The sunday morning breeze touching my bare skin sent me shivers. Ang sunod-sunod na tunog ng kampana ng simbahan ay umaalingawngaw sa paligid.

Sa kabilang gilid ng kalsada kung saan ako nakatayo ay may dalawang babaeng naglalakad. Ang isa ay may kapayatan at katangkaran na nasa edad kwarenta na habang inaakay niya naman ang isang walumpung taong gulang na matanda patungo sa simbahan.

Naaalala ko noon, ako ang gumagabay sa kanya patungong simbahan tuwing linggo ng umaga.

Tumawid ako ng kalsada upang makita sila nang malapitan. Sina Aunt Lucia at Lola Esme na minsan kong itinuring na pamilya.

"Hija, ika'y magmadali na sa paglalakad at nag-uumpisa na ang misa," yaya sa akin ng matandang babae nang makasalubong nila ako.

"Hindi po ako magsisimba. May dinaanan lang ako."

"Ah, ganoon ba? 'O siya, mauna na kami," ngiti sa akin ng matanda.

Sa pagtatama ng mga mata namin ng nakilala kong lola, hindi pa rin kumukupas ang kinang nito. Ngunit tila walang pagkakakilanlan ito sa akin.

Bago pa sila tuluyang makapasok ng simbahan ay may sumalubong sa kanilang isang balingkinitan na babae na kung titingnan at kaedaran ko lang.

"Oh, Cara. Nasaan na ang Mama at Papa mo?" Tanong ni Aunt Lucia.

"Nasa loob na po sila. May inasikaso lang ako kaya nahuli po ako sa misa."

Napangiti ako nang makita sila. Katrabaho ni aunt ang Mama ni Cara kaya parati siyang bumibisita sa bahay namin at iyon din ang dahilan upang maging matalik kaming magkaibigan.

Ngunit ang lahat ng iyon ay mga ilusyon lamang sa aking isipan. Wala talagang Eerah na nabuhay sa mundo ng mga mortal.

Ang sumpa ang dahilan upang mawalan ako ng alaala at gumawa ng mga ilusyon.

Ang ilusyon ng katauhan ni Eerah ay may misyon upang iligtas ang sampung nilalang na nasaktan ko.

Ngunit ngayon na bumalik na ang mga alaala ko, may misyon din akong dapat tuparin... To bring Everland into the darkness and damnation.

And I know where I should start.

... to the man who cursed me.