Why the hell is Daryl here?!
"M'lady?", abot tengang ngiti niya saakin. Hindi mo aakalain na assassin ito.
"I- I would like the course A", tanging sagot ko kahit hindi ko alam kung anu-ano yung mga pagkain sa course na yun.
I panicked, okay?
Ngumiti ulit saakin si Daryl bago niya kunin ang order ni Prim. "I'll be right back", I excused myself as I headed to the lavatory.
I'm gonna need to compose myself but... what the hell is he doing here? Feeling ko aatakihin ako sa puso eh.
Naghugas ako ng kamay tsaka pinunasan pagkatapos. Infairness ang bango ng sabon nila. Nagulat ako nang mukha ni Daryl ang sumalubong saakin pagkabukas ko ng pintuan.
Creepy.
"Alexandria", I flinched. "Didn't I tell you to open your windows?" Is that why he's here?
"What are you talking about? Haha..ha", hindi ko alam kung makakampante ako or what dahil sa naka-smile pa rin siya.
"AH!", nagulat ako nang bigla siyang may inabot na maliit na bote saakin. Akala ko kasi sasaksakin na ako. Nakatitig lang ako sa hawak niya. It looks like pills but its black.
"Take it", ani ni Daryl. Kinuha ko na lang kahit na litong-lito ako sa mga nangyayari. Tinignan ko ng mabuti ang bote.
What the heck is this? Is it poison? It is okay for me to take it since I'm immune but... is this what I get for not opening my window?
"It's not poison, it's an iron supplement".
"Eh?"
"You better not forget to take one pill every day". Wait? Iron supplement? Is it because I'm anemic? Why does he know I'm anemic?
"I'll be watching you... Alexandria", ani niya bago niya ako iniwang nakanganga. What was that? Bumalik nalang ako sa pwesto namin dahil kanina pa nagva-vibrate ang tiyan ko. Sakto naman meron na yung order namin at napansin kong puro red meat ang akin.
"This is course A?"
Nagsimula na kaming kumain and my expectation did not fail me. Feeling ko maiiyak ako sa sobrang sarap. Mukhang nasarapan din yung dalawa, ang tahimik ni Prim gayundin si Charlotte. Nakalimutan ko na nga din na nakatayo malapit saamin si Daryl habang nakangiti.
Kailan pa ito nag-part time dito? I'll be watching you... Is he watching me in case I do anything to Charlotte? But... did they already meet?
In the novel, Charlotte and Daryl met here in Luminus Square. It was when the first free day so, two months ago? If they met already, it makes sense that he is here but I didn't do anything.
Binalewala ko nalang lahat ang mga naiisip ko tutal wala naman akong gagawin kay Charlotte so Daryl watching me is gonna be pointless. Kung patayin man niya ako ng walang dahilan, then he is evil.
And that's how I decided that starting now, I won't be scared of Daryl.
After namin kumain ay next na pinuntahan namin ay ang shop na gustong puntahan ni Charlotte. It's an antique shop, medyo malayo-layo sa restaurant pero napagdesisyunan naming maglakad na lang.
Charlotte mentioned that she is looking for a specific necklace. Sumama na rin kami ni Prim baka may magustuhan or makita ako doon, di ba?
After passing three streets, napapansin kong kakaunti lang ang tao dito. "We're here", sabi ni Charlotte. Napatingin ako sa store at mukha ngang antique. Luma na, ni hindi ko na nga mabasa yung pangalan ng store eh.
" Are you sure that this is the store, Charlotte?", tanong ni Prim sabay kapit saakin. "Yes, don't worry. The store may be rugged and abandoned but it is safe. I have no choice but to visit this store anyway. This is the only store I haven't checked here in Luminus Square if they have the necklace I'm looking for. Shall we?", sagot ni Charlotte saka pumasok sa store. Sumunod naman kami ni Prim.
"Charlotte, I've been meaning to ask. What kind of necklace are you looking for? You don't have to answer me if it is too personal", I asked. Baka kasi makatulong kami.
Malungkot na ngumiti saamin si Charlotte. "No, I will answer you since I brought you two here with me. It's an heirloom necklace of the Kaplan family and it has been missing for 50 years. The necklace's stone is made of mana from the first water mage of the Kaplan family. She transferred all of her mana into the stone before she passed away and was made into a necklace. It's a tradition within our family to passed it down to the next head. It was supposed to be passed down to my father but a robbery happened 50 years ago. My father wasn't able to inherit the necklace".
"I'm sorry to hear that. Well, I hope you can find the necklace. It sounds powerful", ani ni Prim.
This story is new to me. Is this a hidden story of the Kaplan brood? "Does the Marquis or your brother know that you are looking for the necklace?", ako naman ang nagtanong.
"Actually no. As soon as I heard that my father and brother stopped looking for the necklace, I secretly started looking for it so I would like to keep it a secret". Oh no. Napatingin ako kay Prim na nakahawak pa rin saakin. I can keep a secret but how about this blabbermouth here. "The necklace holds powerful mana since it's from a powerful water mage so if that lands on the wrong hands... I don't wanna think about it. Though, only the Kaplan bloodline can harness the power of the necklace", pagtutuloy ni Charlotte.
"Thank you for telling us and we promise we will not tell this to a single soul. If you need any help, we'll help you the way we can", ani ni Prim, napatango-tango naman ako.
May sasabihin pa sana ako kaso biglang lumitaw yung may-ari ng store. He also looks antique.
Something is bothering me. Am I missing something? When I get back to dorm I need to re-assess the novel again. Charlotte shared something we shouldn't know about. Kinausap ni Charlotte yung may-ari habang kami ni Prim ay nagtingin-tingin sa paligid. There are a lot of interesting and scary things here.
"I didn't know something like that happened in the Kaplan family before"ani ni Prim.
"Maybe they hide the robbery incident so that others don't get a wind of it and since it's a very important heirloom of the family". And she just shared it with us with no second thoughts. Does she trust us that much? I looked at Prim again. If this girl tattle about this I'm gonna sew her mouth.
"Alex, look at this", tawag saakin ni Prim. "It looks pretty", itinuro saakin ni Prim yung mga makukulay na gemstones.
"They are indeed pretty", sabi ko nalang. Wait? Stone? Is Charlotte referring to Areeya's stone? Areeya is a powerful water mage 700 years ago. I didn't know she was the first Kaplan. Areeya's name was mentioned in the novel a couple of times, since it was a minor detail of the story I didn't bother reading it heartedly.
Napatingin kami ni Prim kay Charlotte nang lumapit siya saamin na may malungkot na mukha.
"It seems like it's not here either", I patted Charlotte.
"Don't lose hope, Charlotte", sabi naman ni Prim. "Wait for me here, I'm gonna buy this scarlet stone", paalam ni Prim saka nagpunta sa may counter.
"Charlotte, perhaps it would be better to find for the stone instead of the necklace", bulong ko kay Charlotte.
"Are you familiar with the necklace?"
"I've read about Areeya's stone. That's the one you are looking for, right?"
"You are right, as expected of you Alexandria".
"Actually, I only learned from my Archaeology class", I lied. How can I tell her that it was from the novel.
"I see. I'm out of guesses. Where can I find the stone? Whoever stole the necklace, won't be able to use the power within. However, there is this feeling I cannot set aside. What are they gonna do with the stone?", and now that caught my interest. I think the stone is an important part of the novel. Why can't I remember it?
"I've been to different shops, I even secretly visited the black markets in case the robbers sell it secretly since it's no use of them", dagdag niya.
I hold Charlotte's hand. "I'll help you, Charlotte, and of course I'll keep this a secret".
"Thank you so much, Alexandria. How much could I repay you?"
"Don't bother. Besides, you're my friend. It's the least I can do for you". Charlotte then hugged me. So tight.
"What am I missing?", hanggang sa lumapit na rin saamin si Prim at nakiyakap kahit wala siyang alam.
Lumabas na kami ng shop at nagulat kami nang makita naming nagsisitakbuhan yung mga tao. "What's happening?", Prim.
"Isn't that Lord Chadwick?", turo ni Prim kay Chadwick na may kausap na mga knights. Mukhang napansin niya kaming tatlo na nakatayo lang dito. Nanlaki mga mata niya saka siya lumapit saamin. "What are you doing here?", singhal niya saamin.
"Shopping?", Chadwick looked at me with disbelief at what I answered. "What?"
He looked at Charlotte instead of talking to me. "Lady Charlotte, you need to get out of here. There are beasts sighted near the square. My knights will accompany you to the academy's dorm".
"Thank you, my lord", pagpapasalamat ni Charlotte at ni Prim. Akmang aalis na sana kami kasama yung isa sa mga knights ni Chadwick nang biglang may mga magsabog malapit saamin.
"Aaaahh, Alex!", rinig kong sigaw ni Prim.
"Prim! Where are you?", wala kaming makita dahil sa usok. Shit! Mukhang nagkahiwa-hiwalay kami. May nabunggo ako kaya naman agad akong humawak sakaniya hoping it's Charlotte or Prim. Nang makita kong mabuti ang mukha nung hawak ko ngayon ay agad akong napabitaw. "Ew", pinunasan ko ang kamay kong humawak kay Chadwick.
"Charlotte! Prim!", sigaw ko.
"Alexandria? Where are you? How did you end up there?", rinig kong sigaw ni Prim sa kabila. Medyo nawawala na yung mga usok. Tatakbo na sana ako kung nasaan sila Prim, Charlotte at yung mga knights ni Chadwick nang biglang may mga nagsilabasang mga malalaking palaka.
"It's the poisonous frog beasts!!"
"These are the beasts you are talking about? These giant disgusting frogs?!", ani ko kay Chadwick.
"Come forth, Phoenix", Chadwick summoned his spirit guardian, Phoenix, the high-class fire spirit type. May lumabas na malaking ibon na gawa sa apoy. "Assist me, Phoenix. Alexandria, run!", sabay alis niya at sumugod doon sa mga palaka.
Speaking of frogs, I need to get out of here. I really don't like frogs. They're icky and I think I made eye contact with one. I ran when one of the poisonous frogs starts hopping on my way.
"Why is this frog following me?! AAAHHHH", the frog tried to catch me using its long tongue".
"Phoenix, burn the frog following Alexandria".
Naramdaman ko na lang na mainit sa likuran ko. "Thanks Phoenix", pagpapasalamat ko habang hinahabol ko ang hininga ko.
I was about to make a run again when a frog suddenly popped out again. "Ugh! Give me a break!" Tinanggal ko ang sandals ko at nagtatakbo nanaman.
Feeling ko nakalayo na ako sa kanila. Hindi ko napansin yung bato kaya naman nadapa ako. Napapikit nalang ako nang makita kong papalapit na saakin yung dila nung palaka. The tongue has poison in it but it doesn't matter, I'm immune.
Ba't ang tagal ata nung dila? Idinilat ko ang mga mata ko at nagulat ako dahil may lion sa harapan ko. Don't tell me it's another beast? Napansin kong wala na yung poisonous frog.
"AH!", nagulat ako nang biglang may bumuhat saakin. He's wearing a hoodie so I peak on his face. "Daryl?"
"Yes, milady", eh? I looked at the lion. Does it mean this is Leo? His spirit guardian? Leo is a high-class earth spirit. "Go back, Leo", biglang nawala yung spirit niya. "Where are we going?", still carrying me princess-like. Daryl didn't answer instead gave me his famous smile.
That darn smile.
"Then could you put me down?"
"That I cannot do, Alexandria" Then, what am I gonna do--"AH!", bigla akong napakapit ng mabuti kay Daryl nang bigla siyang tumalon paitaas then started jumping from roofs to roofs.
"Seriously, where are we going?", napapikit nalang ako nang bigla siyang tumalon sa mataas na building. Jusko aatakahin na ata ako dito.
"Open your eyes, Alexandria", sinunod ko nalang siya. It's kinda dark.
Inupo niya ako sa malambot na upuan--no it's a bed. "Eh? Where are we exactly?", I asked again for the nth time.
"We're in my room".
Eh?!