21st Century Goddess

Chapter 52: Insignia

Zypher's POV

"Me?"

Tinuro ko ang sarili ko at tumingin sa nakangising si Ariella na nakaturo ang kamay sa akin. She laughed at my reaction. Napakunot naman ang noo ko sa reaksyon niya.

"Is she a direct descendant of Arabella?" Tanong ni Nate.

"It—"

"Ah! Is that the reason why a lot happened when she touched that paper with her bare hands? Is she Ariella? Is she a direct descendant?" Mabilis na tanong ni Steph kay Ariella at pinutol pa niya ang sasabihin sana ng sorceress.

Kinabahan naman ako sa sinabi ni Steph. They're still curious, and now, they're suspecting.

Ariella looked at me in the eye and turn her head a little, as if scrutinizing a specimen. I raised my eyebrow at her as if asking something. "Well, are you?" Tanong niya habang nakangisi sa akin.

"Am I?" Balik tanong ko sa kaniya. She laughed out loud at napahawak pa sa tiyan niya. Pagtataka ang makikita sa mga mukha naming anim habang nakatingin sa kaniya. Why is she laughing? This is serious matter! I don't know why I'm feeling this, but I'm actually nervous.

Patuloy parin siya sa pagtawa makailang minuto ang dumaan. Tumikhim naman bigla si Zach kaya napatingin sa kaniya si Ariella. "We were asking you something that might help us. Will you answer?" Seryoso nitong usal. Woah. He's frigging serious.

"Ok. Chill! I was just making the most of having a visitor. It's super seldom to have visitors in here." She chuckled. At pinagpatuloy ang sinasabi niya. "Regarding your question, well, siya nga hindi alam," tumingin siya sa akin, "ako pa kaya na hindi siya. Well I was not pointing at her anyway. You dummies! It's that notebook at her back." She giggled when our faces turned to see the notebook behind me.

"Oh. Ano pala 'to?" Tanong ni Matt na pinaka unang nakapunta sa direksyon ng notebook. Tiningnan ko ito at isa lamang itong pangkaraniwan na notebook tingnan. Kulay abo ang kulay at mapaghahalataang napaka luma.

"That might help you in finding the direct descendant. It's Arabella's journal when she was still young, while she was still making that stone and untill she died. I bet that would be very helpful for you." Nakangiti nitong sabi. Gumaan naman ang mga pakiramdam namin dahil sa tyansang mahanap ang paraan para mahanap ang batong hinahanap namin. The direct descendant of Arabella.

"Salamat!— but, you're also making a research right? Baka kakailanganin mo rin ito." Tanong ni Ed sa kaniya. "Yeah, but nabasa ko na 'yan. Wala naman akong napala, halos buhay niya lang kasi ang nakasulat diyan. But since about sa family tree niya naman kayo curious, that might be helpful." Sagot nito. "You also keep the paper. It might get in handy." She added.

"Hindi mo na ba ito kakailanganin?" Tanong ni Zach sa kaniya. "Diba two weeks ka palang nakapunta dito, at sabi mong nahirapan ka sa pag-aaral sa papel na ito." Pagpapatuloy pa nito. Ariella just gave a knowing smile. "Well, thank you for the concern Your Highness, but I don't think I still need it. And I guess I'm done in here." She clapped her hands and twirled then giggled.

"What's your mission? Why are you here anyway?" Tanong ko. May kakaiba talaga akong nararamdaman sa kaniya, at may nararamdaman din ako sa mga tingin at kilos niya sa akin. She smiled at me. "Oh, let me use that very cliche statement then," lumapit siya sa akin at hinawi ang buhok ko at ikinawit sa tenga ko. "It's for me to know and for you to find out. Though I already know it! Yes!" She jumped and punch her fist in the air in joy.

"Oh. Ngayon mo lang nalaman?" Tumango si Ariella na nakangiti parin at nagpaikot-ikot sa tuwa. "But how?" Takang tanong ni Steph. Tumingin muna sa akin ito bago sumagot. "Hmmm. Let's just say... that I can see through anything." She giggled and started twirling again.