"It's too risky!"

"That's the only ace, left." She uttered, turning down my 13th time protest.

"Do we really need to do this--"

"Mallory, I thought you're up for t-this?" She replied, massaging her temples agad ko naman itong dinaluhan nang mapansin ang kaniyang panghihina.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just a little bit dizzy."

"Is there something, I should know?"
"Wala!" She quickly replied. Saka muling nagpatuloy, preparing our things. Tumayo ito para sana abutin ang mapa, when she suddenly lost her balance. Mabilis ko siyang nasalo.

"You aren't fine."

"Kailangan ko lang ng saglit na pahinga. Can you pack my things?"

"I will, go take some rest" I answered, kissing her forehead.

Without further ado, she laid her back on the sofa. But before she fell asleep, I carry and head her up to our bedroom. And there I placed her on the soft mattress

With half closed eyes, 'Thank you.' she mouthed, before she fell into a deep slumber.

"Rest well, Sweetheart."

I stood there for awhile just watching her, memorizing every part of her face, from those knitted forehead, long lashes, pointed nose, rosy cheeks and those lips. God!

I won't be satisfied, by just staring at those, before I could think of having a taste of those inviting lips I went down, to pack my things.

This will be a long journey.

Turning our heads away from the truth, Impromptus acts, and this chamber will surely make our journey, halfway to the stars.

Tatlong araw matapos dalhin ni Igo ang mapa, we strategize, our possible actions. She was also, summoned to their kingdom. And as the heiress, she's obliged to follow orders.

She was hesitant first, at leaving me. But I assure her that I won't go out, and if it happens that someone trespassed I'd do anything to protect myself. But being Zannah, she summoned Igo, to assure my protection.

Part of me works well when I'm with her, but was lost every time she's out of my sight.

He's right. I could not protect her with that state. I needed to have a grip of my wellbeing.

Maagap kung isinisilid ang mga gamit ko, nang magawi ang tingin ko sa mga gamit niyang hindi pa naisisilid sa backpack na kaniyang gagamitin. I shook my head several times, 'I'm sorry Sweetheart, but you're not coming with me." I whispered to myself.

I need to make it fast. I put the things that I will need along my journey. Right after I finished, I put my backpack on as quick as that.

Just once glance, and I'm good to go. I was about to go upstairs when I suddenly heard a fuss outside. Igo's probably here now.

I walk my way outside, I was wrong it was not Igo but, his Majesty.

He surely arrived here with his troops, but where are they? Are they going to capture me? Or, they just wanted to make sure that...

"I don't eat my words. If that's been bothering yo--"

"Bumalik ka ng buo at buhay." He commanded.

Tunay nga siyang hari.  Magsasalita pa sana ako nang sa isang iglap ay maglaho na ito.

I get it, if fungus happened to be their ancestors. They keep on appearing on places, and later subside.

As I was to turn my back to get back inside, cheers for a new passers.

"I love her."

My hands formed in fist real quick. I faced him. "But, she loves me."

"I know, and that made me love her even more." He replied, confidently

"Fuck it! Zegolas! Could you just fuckin' leave?" I yelled, losing my temper.

How could he! Maganda bang dinggin ang mga iyon? The Fuck! I know he came to Zannah's life years before me. And I already know that he's in love with my woman. No need to blurt it out loud.

Talagang ngayon pa huh! Kung kalian paalis ako?

"I'm just reminding you," He mocked, "The possibility of you not coming back, are a possibility too, of us being together. I will do everything to make her my wife. We'll make a dozen kid-"

Agad ko siyang kinuwelyuhan, "If it's not because of Zannah, it had been a month since you've been reported missing, body's impaled on a stake, slowly eaten by a beast, hungered for years." I said between gritted teeth.

"What's happening here?"

He raises both his hands, but before I let go of him, "I. Will. Be. Back!" I muttered.

"What the hell is happening? Mallory, Zagolas?!"

I didn't respond and so as Zegolas. "And why were you wearing your backpack?" Sunod muli nitong tanong, saka agad na pumasok sa loob ngunit kalaunan ay lumabas din.

"You also didn't pack my things, I asked you to do it right? What were you thinking?!"

Still the rude woman I knew. With those, knitted forehead, and furious brows, I knew from there, that I'd do everything but she shall not be harmed.

"You are not coming." I declared.

She was taken aback, but as she processed my words.

"I am!" She whined.

There, she started panicking. That's when Igo finally arrived. "Always on time Igo!" She quickly went inside, but before she could get her things and went out, I boarded up to Igo's back.

I gazed at Zegolas, "She's bearing our child. Please, protect her at all cost, until I get back."

Saglit itong natigilan, ngunit kalaunan isang tango ang natanggap kong tugon nito. "Fuckin' wait me, Mallory!" Zannah yelled.

“I’m sorry, Sweetheart.” Tanging naibulong ko.
Agad nitong dinaluhan si Zannah, sa paglabas nito. He blocked her way out, "Mallory!" He even hugged her when she tried to escape off. 'That hug's an exemption.' I whispered, calming my inner self.

"Don't do this to me!"

"N-no! I'm coming!"

"Mallory!"

I didn't get to respond neither of those pleads.

"Come back. Trust me. I'm begging... "

Those were the last words I heard from her, before taking off.

I can clearly see her tears from afar, and it feels like I was stabbed multiple times. I'm sorry Sweetheart, but I cannot risk your life. Lalo pa ngayon that you're bearing our child.

I promise I will be back.

I promised.

"Clarity, Iha, kailan pa?"

"Higit isang buwan po, nang umuwi ako para gamutin si Zegolas. Doon ko po nalaman ang tungkol, sa pagpapahanap ni Lolo Rudolfo sa natitirang taong nagtataglay ng lahi ng bampira at lobo. Sinubukan ko naman pong lumayo, ngunit naging huli ang lahat Lolo. Umiibig na po ako."

"Panlilinlang, pagpapanggap, at ang pagiging gahaman. Iyan ang ugat nang masalimuot na nakararan."

"Nagkausap po kami ng kumopkop sa kanyang hodoo. May ibang paraan pa Lo. Ngunit, hindi niya nasabi kung ano, isang kataga lang ang nagawa niyang banggitin "Likumin ang mga talang ipinagkait mapag-isa, gawa ng mga naunang sala." Pagbalik ko sa lugar niya kinabukasan matapos ng aming naging usapan, wala na ho siya. Hindi ko na po siya nahagilap pa."

"Kaya habang pinaghahanap mo siya, pinili mong ikubli ang katotohanan? Gano’n ba Clarity?"

"Mali ho ba 'yun L-lo?." her voice cracked. "All my life, I’ve been longing for love, craving to be loved. Mali po bang naisin ang kaligtasan ng taong minamahal ko?"

"You are more than loved Clarity Jad-."

"Si Papá, lumaki akong malayo ang loob sa kaniya, paano? Ni hindi ako magawang lapitan, tanungin kong okay lang ni tignan man lang. Ganoon ba Lo, pagmamahal po ba iyon?"

"Mahal ka ng Ama mo. Mahal na mahal ka ni Gregory, alam ko 'yun. Sapagkat, isa din akong ama. Iha, magtiwala k---"

"Hindi Lo, pagkamuhi ang nararamdaman niya sa akin. Iyon ang totoo. Kasi hanggang ngayon, ako parin ang sinisisi niya sa pagkawala ni Ina. Ni 'di niya man lang napagtanto, na hindi lang siya ‘yung nawalan. May anak bang nais mawalan ng magulang?"

"Saan mo nakuha ang impormasyong iyan Clarity Jade?!"

"Importante pa po ba iyon Lo? Itinago niyo sa akin ang katotohanan."

"Kabulaanan!"

"Ngayong nakahanap ako ng pagmamahal? Sabihin niyo Lo, mali po bang pahalagahan iyon?"

"Iha, hindi mo alam ang iyong ginagawa. Huwag mong ulitin ang kasalanan ng nakaraan."

"Hindi ko kayang mawala siya. Pangako, hindi kami mauuwi roon."

"Maghunusdili ka Clarity Jade!"

"Huli na Lo, b-buntis po ako. Hindi ko kayang makitang lumaki ang anak ko ng walang kinikilalang ama. Mahal po ako Mallory lo, magtiwala ho kayo. Hinding hindi po naming kayo bibiguin."
"Apo, nalalapit na ang pagiisa ng buwan at ng araw. Hindi umaabante ng paatras ang orasan. Kinabukasang walang pagsikat ng araw, mundong nababalot ng katakot-takot na dilim. Iyon ba ang mundong nais mong kamulatan ng inyong mga magiging supling?"

I don't have concrete evidence of why I heard their conversation. But, one thing is for sure, it was caused by our bond, at least that’s what I knew.

"Will you help me survive Igo? May uuwian pa tayo." I whispered. And he replied, with a loud chirp, as he has boarded higher up the clouds.

~~~