The Orphic Secret

Chapter 40

UNSEALED

We returned to the Haven immediately, but because I had no more strength left, Zero drove for me.

"Your feelings, Four...," sambit niya habang nakatingin sa daan.

"Hm?" nanghihinang tugon ko. Ano namang mayr'on sa feelings ko? Feel ko kasing matulog, but I still have to do something.

He glanced slightly at me with sad eyes, "For me. It's gone, right?"

Natigilan naman ako sa tanong niya at napatawa, "Hindi ko pa napapag-isipan 'yan, Zero. Maybe it's gone because after all, I am Exiquel Four and not Aurora Calytrix. Maaaring iisa kaming dalawa, but I lived a completely different life... without you. It's shocking for me for someone to ask that question."

Napatango naman siya habang nakatingin sa dinadaanan namin.

"Besides I was created for the Orphic dimension, not for love," sabi ko.

Napangisi siya. "Naiintindihan ko naman," he said as he tapped the stirring wheel with his fingers.

"But that doesn't mean you're rejecting me, right?" mahina niyang tanong. Sino namang tanga ang mamba-basted sa kaniya? Well, dahil makapal ang mukha ko... pag-iintayin ko siya.

Tumango naman ako, "Let's take our time slowly." Nakita kong sumilay ang ngiti sa labi niya, at napangiti na rin ako dahil d'on.

Sa wakas ay nakarating na kami sa Haven, nanlaki ang mata ko nang mapansing dumami ang tao. Wait... is the battle not over yet? But I don't see anyone fighting, though.

Bumaba na kami ng sasakyan at nagtaka ako nang makakita ng hindi pamilyar na mukha. My eyes squinted in confusion.

"Four!" Napasinghap ako nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses na 'yon. Before I could even turn, a pair of hands covered my eyes.

"Gago, sino ka? Isusumbong kita kay Zero," singhal ko. Narinig ko namang tumawa si Zero sa'kin.

"Ako lang naman ang nang-iwan sa'yo." I immediately recognized the voice. Kaiden. Nagpumiglas naman ako sa hawak niya sa mata niya. Siniko ko siya sa dibdib niya, at napahiwalay naman siya.

Nang harapin ko siya, sinuntok ko siya agad.

"Utang mo sa lahat ng ginawa mo," sabi ko. Napahawak naman siya agad sa pisngi niya at napailang. Light suntok lang naman ginawa ko.

Napatingin siya kay Zero. "Hey, Sei- oh, Zero nga pala. The others have already explained what happened. Where's Sirius anyway?" nang-aasar niyang tanong.

Nanlaki agad ang mata ko at nagtago ako sa likod ni Zero, "Itago mo ako!"
"What? Itanan mo ako?" tanong niya at tumawa. Sinuntok ko naman ang likod niya, at mas lalo siyang natawa. Trip na trip nila ako ngayon.

May kumulbit naman sa balikat ko, pero hindi ko 'yon pinansin at nanatiling naghahanap kung nas'an si Sirius. Hindi pa talaga akong ready harapin siya! Anong sasabihin ko? Thank you? Sorry?

Friendship over na kami?!

"Four." I exaggeratedly gasped when I heard Sirius' voice behind me. Pagkalingon ko kaagad akong lumuhod sa harap niya.

Hindi ko siya tiningnan, at pinikit ko nang mariin ang mga mata ko. "Sorry! Please forgive me for my sins! This girl deserves your punishment!"

Natawa naman silang lahat sa'kin. I can feel the strands of Sirius' long hair reach my cheeks, which meant that he's crouching down at me.

I suppose he finally knelt down to reach my ears. I felt his breath near my ears, "Para mapatawad kita, akin nalang si Zero."

Kaagad namang sumama ang tingin sa kaniya. Tumayo na ako, at umirap sa kawalan. I turned to Kaiden and said, "Friendship over na pala kami ni Sirius."

Sirius chuckled and shook his head. I scowled at him, and rolled my eyes again. "Galit na galit!" sambit niya habang natawa.

"Ano bang sinabi mo, Sirius?" tanong ni Kaiden.

Pinanlakhan ko naman ng mata si Sirius. Though alam ko namang hindi niya sasabihin dahil hindi naman alam nina Kaiden na gay siya.

But then, I was wrong. He finally let himself out of his shell.

He answered, "Sabi ko sa kaniya, akin nalang si Zero. Bet ko, eh." I was supposed to get mad at him for exposing myself in front of Zero- nakangisi tuloy si loko. But the truth was he didn't expose me, he exposed his true gender.

Ngumisi nalang din ako at umiling, but the truth is that I am happy that he finally had the courage.

I saw Astraeus, Willyn, and Ruelle walking toward us. Nahiya naman ako lalo, pero kumaway nalang ako at ngumiti. The Team Ophiuchus was complete.

Naiisip ko tuloy kung matutuloy kaya ang Orphic Games kapag nakompleto kong gawin ang dimension? I'm sure they'll be my team mates.

I sighed, still with a smile in my eyes. Hindi ko maalis ang saya sa mga mata ko.

"Maiwan ko na muna kayo. I'll just check on my brother," paalam ko. Ngumiti ako lalo, "Babalik din ako! Saglit lang!" I promised.

I giddily hopped towards where the other nine of ten was. Kumaway sila sa'kin, ngunit tanging si Kuya lang ang hindi kumaway pabalik. He had a sad smile plastered in his lips. Nawala na rin ang bandage sa mata niya.

Napagtanto kong nasa isang advanced wheel chair siya. Sobrang hina na ba niya?

"Kuya!" bati ko. "Let's complete the dimension now so you can finally rest."

Tumango naman siya. Nagulat ako nang gumalaw at umandar ang wheel chair niya. Tahimik ko nalang siyang sinundan.

"Did you meet your friends?" tanong niya sa'kin.

Tumango naman ako. "Yep! Babalikan ko nalang sila mamaya, or maybe see them in the Orphic dimension, right, Kuya?" masayang sambit ko.

He smiled at me, "Yes... Of course."

"So anong gagawin ko?" tanong ko.

"Teleport us back to the quarters, Exiquel," sabi niya. "I also have to tell you one more secret."

He held out his hand, "Let's go? I'm sure you can still teleport." Natikom ko ang bibig ko. Well it was true, I can still teleport pero tinatamad ako kanina.

Kahit na kinakabahan dahil sa sikretong sasabihin niya, tumango ako. I bid the others a wave and bye. Kinuha ko ang kamay ni Kuya Nine, at tineleport na naman kami pabalik sa headquarters.

Napangiti naman ako nang mapansing wala na si Callista. It's either, she moved because she finally accepted her fate, or Seraphin got her.

"Good job, Four. I am always proud of you," he said and a tear fell from his blind eyes.

The Orphic Secret
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

Thank you for reading!