Two years later...

"Malapit na tayo Igo." Naibulong ko sa hangin. Ilang sandali pa ay naging pamilyar na ang lugar na aking natatanaw sa gawing kapatagan.

Mula sa malalagong puno, hanggang sa pamilyar na talon, at maging sa munting bahay sa gawing gitna. God! How I missed this place.

Sa paglapag ni Igo, ay nagawa pa muna nitong magpugay bago muling lumipad paitaas sa himpapawid. We've been through a lot, and I'm glad we both survived.

We both fought our most horrifying foe. Mga nilalang na hindi mo aakalaing katatakutan mo ng lubusan.

Just thinking of the things we've been through, I cannot help but to feel blessed, the Person up there was on our side through those days.

"I'm home." The words just slip off my lips.

Ilang buwan ding hindi ko nagawang gamitin ang wikang engles sa lugar na iyon. The people was old fashion and cultured. They're using a native language as their medium.

Nangungulilang kong pinagmasan ang lugar. Hindi ko parin lubos akalaing magiging tahanan ko rin ito. I was about to go inside, when I heard a rustle behind.

I quickly look behind me and wasn't surprise anymore to see who caused the noise. Alam ko namang nagiintay talaga siya sa aking pagdating.

I bridged the distance between us, and gave her a longing kiss. She was taken aback by my action and hurriedly took a step back right after our lips parted. Tila hindi ito makapaniwala. Gayon pa man, hinalikan kong muli ito, sabik na sabik.

I pulled her closer, biting her lower lip, activating my access. Nang muli ako nitong itulak.

Saglit akong natigilan, baka hindi parin ito makapaniwala, kaya’t ganoon nalang ang inakto. This time I pulled her for a hug. "I missed you, Sweetheart." Tanging naibulong. "I'm back."

But then, I got nothing in return.

She didn't hug me back, like on how she didn’t respond on my kisses.

I look at her, pinakatitigan ko siyang mabuti. Aside from those familiar knitted eyebrows, pointed nose, rosy cheeks and inviting lips, are foreign eyes.

I did not get to recognize those emerald orbs once evident of an oozing glow, and now's a dispassionate one.

Hindi maaari.

To ease off the unwelcoming ambience, I excitedly drop my desire. "And our little one, I wanna see her, hmm wait, Is it a little Zannah or Mallory? I'm dying to meet--"

"Nandito ka lang pala, kanina pa kita hinahanap." Dinig kong ani ng sino man sa gawing likuran ko.

Naligalig lang ako ng kumilos si Zannah at nagtungo doon, but before she could pass beside me. I grabbed her right arm, stopping her.

"Zegolas, bumalik ka nalang sa ibang araw, we have too much stuffs to catch up and do---"

"Zannah, let's go." He cut me off.

At nang muling kumilos si Zannah, doon muli akong nalito.

"I don't understand." I whispered, enough for her to hear it.

Sa halip na sumagot ay nanatili itong tahimik. Hindi ko na napansin pa ang paglapit ni Zegolas at ang pagdantay ng kamay nito sa hawak kong kamay ni Zannah.

"Let go." He uttered. I remained firm.

Ang tingin ko ay nanatili kay Zannah. Hindi nagawang pagbigyan ang ani ni Zegolas. "And where do you think, you're going, taking my woman with you?!"

He smirked upon hearing what I’ve said. It's like he's saying, he has all the right to lay up a claim.

"I said get your hand off, my wife."

"W-wife?" Tuliro kong naitugon. Ngunit sa loob-loob ko'y nangangamba na.

At nang hindi sila umimik. "Wife?" Naisambit kong muli before I burst in laughter.

I look at Zannah but she stood there, still not doing anything. She's been like that, simula kanina. Hindi ko magawang maintindihan. I took a deep breath, nasapo ko ang noo, nang magsimulang manikip ang dibdib ko.

Kauuwi ko lang, tapos bibiruin nila ako ng ganito?

"Come on Sweetheart, did Zegolas lost his mind? Why would you be his wife?" Muli akong tumawa. I can feel that there's something wrong. I knew there is, it’s just that I could not accept, though it's a fact.

At nang madinig na ang naging tugon niya, tila itong lmuliyab na palasong tumama sa kaliwang dibdib ko.

"Simply because...we're married…"

Napayuko ako sa nadinig, kusang bumitiw ang kamay ko sa pagkakahawak sa kaniya. Ngunit bago sila umalis, I bursted out laughing, once again.

Natigilan ang mga ito. I look at Zannah. And then my vision suddenly drops to their hands. It’s perfectly intertwined.

I composed myself before looking at her eyes. But she blankly stares back at me. Umasa ako...umasa akong mali lahat ng nadinig ko...but then, it didn’t happen.

They fooled me. She fooled me...

It was a trap.

Walang Azzen City'ng nangangailangan ng tulong. Hindi sa pag-iisa ng buwan at ng araw ang siyang magtatakda ng bukas.

At lalong hindi ang lahi ng mga lobo at bambira ang naglaho. Kundi, ang Azzen mismo. Lahat ng inilahad nila sa akin ay pawang kabulaanan.

Lumaban akong siniguro ang pagkapanalo, ngunit hindi pala ako nagtagumpay sa misyon ko. Saang anggulo man tignan, talo ako.

I am one of those chess pieces, being controlled by my manipulator.

"Tama sila, I was been manipulated."

~~~