Chapter Fifty

Lumipas ang dalawang araw at ang iba niyang kapamilya ay titira muna nang pansamantala sa kanilang bahay. Dito sa Faeroe City, dahil nga sa banta ng mga hindi kilalang grupo, minabuti na mag-stay muna sila dito sa bahay.

Napagkasunduan din iyon ng kaniyang mga uncle at siyempre silang dalawa ng kaniyang ama. Alam niyang magkaka-away pa rin sila, pero hindi naman ganoon katigas ang puso niya para ipahamak sila. Lalo na ang kaniyang lolo, tatay pa rin ito ng kaniyang ina, kaya responsibilidad niya rin bilang apo na pangalagaan ito at protektahan kung sakali.

Dito na rin muna si Luci, kahit na gustong-gusto nitong umuwi upang tumulong sa Lucius Kingdom, pero nanggaling na mismo kay uncle Lucifer na dito muna siya pansamantala, hanggang sa matapos na nila ang gagawin nilang proteksyon doon.

Wala rin naman siyang magagawa, kasi kung aapila pa siya, mas lalo lamang magagalit si uncle Lucifer.

"You're about to meet your other bestfriend, cousin," Luci told me. Inirapan ko lang siya at iniling ang aking ulo.

"What? I am right. You two will be a great friend," asar pa niya sa akin. Binalingan ko naman siya habang nakasimangot ako. "Seriously, Luci? Stop teasing me," inis na saad ko sa kaniya. Pero tinawanan niya lamang ako.

"What?" natatawang tanong niya sa akin. "It's really true though, Stacy might be one of your enemy now that she's here." Kumunot naman ang noo ni Lacy sa sinabi ni Luci. Pero hindi na niya ito natanong dahil bigla na lamang itong umalis.

Lumapit sa kaniya si Glenda at sinabing dumatiing na ang kaniyang ibang mga kamag-anak. Tumango siya rito at sinabihan siya na mag-aayos lamang siya nang kaunti.

Huminga nang malalim si Lacy at pinagmasdan ang kaniyang sarili sa isang malaking salamin. Napatingin siya sa buhok niya at dahan-dahan itong hinaplos. Binalingan niya ng tingin ang bracelet na binigay ni Yana sa kaniya. Hinubad niya ito at dahan-dahang nag-iba ang kulay ng kaniyang buhok.

From silver hair, it turned into silver mixed with black hair. Halos kalahati ng kaniyang buhok ay kulay itim. Hindi pa rin kasi siya sanay sa nangyayari sa kaniya. She's experiencing culture shock.

It's making her sad, knowing her hair is like this, she loves her hair so much, because it always reminds her of Lucian. Ever since she was a child, her father neglected her, without any reasons. The only thing that she's holding is her hair, because they have the same color. She's always taking care of it and she's not cutting it short. It's always long and wavy.

Kaya naman ganoon na lamang ang kaniyang lungkot nang mangyari ito sa kaniya. Hindi pa rin niya pa rin alam kung bakit ba ganito ang nangyayari sa kaniya. Ang alam niya lamang ay may black magic na nasa loob niya at hindi niya alam kung ano ang ibig sabihin noo at kung saan nanggaling o kung paano ito nag-umpisa.

One last look, then she turned her back on the mirror and wore the bracelet. She remained an expressionless face when she saw her other relatives.

Nakita siya ng kaniyang lolo na si Lucius, kaagad itong ngumiti sa kaniya.

"My grandchild, Lacy! It's been so long since we saw each other and it seems like you lose weight." Ngumiti si Lacy sa kaniya at yumuko nang bahagya upang batiin ito.

Si Luci naman ay may kausap na isang binata, kasa-kasama si Christian, ngunit hindi na niya ito pinagtuunan ng pansin.

"Welcome to our manor, Grandpa," bati niya rito, tinignan niya lamang saglit si Mother Queen Ava, pero inirapan lang siya nito ay pumewang.

"Thank you for your welcome and I also apologize that we disturb your humble house." Nginitian ni Lacy ang kaniyang lolo.

"Please don't think like that, Grandpa. You are always welcome here, you can stay here as much as you want." Lumapit si Lucius kay Lacy at hinila ito para sa isang yakap.

Wala itong sinabi sa kaniya at yinakap lamang siya nang ilang minuto. Awkward naman siyang tumingin sa mga ibang nakatingin sa kanila na siyang kamag-anak din niya. Napa-irap naman si Stacy sa kanila at bagot na bagot na nagsalita.

"Can we go to our room already? It's so hot in here, plus there's no proper ventilation," maarteng saad nito. Bumuntong hininga naman si Lucius at humiwalay sa kaniyang apo. Nginitian ni Lucius si Lacy na para bang humihingi ng tawad. Tumango lamang si Lacy roon at tinignan ang butler nilang si Jerome.

Kaagad namang lumapit si Jerome sa kaniya. "Please lead them to their respective rooms, Jerome." Tumango naman si Jerome sa kaniya, pero bago sila umalis ay may palatandaan munang sinabi ni Lacy.

"You can call Jerome or any maids in case you need something and..." Tinignan niya nang diretso si Stacy at binalingan niya rin si Mother Queen Ava.

"... I want to remind you all that all servants here are well respected and not enslaved." Tinignan ni Lacy silang lahat bago tumango kay Jerome. Kaagad naman silag in-escort ni Jerome.

Naiwan si Luci, King Lucius, Lacy, at ang isang kausap ni Luci na lalaki.

"My lady, I shall introduce myself. I am Kasper Isiah. I am Luci's friend." He extends his hand for a handshake. But Lacy just looked at his hand.

He withdraw his hand and felt embarassed. Napatawa naman si Luci rito at kaagad na inakbayan ang kaniyang kaibigan na si Kasper.

"I apologize for my cousin's rudeness, Kasper. She's just like that. Anyways, we should head out now." Tumango naman si Luci sa kanila at inirapan lang siya ni Lacy.

Iba rin ang trip ng kaniyang pinsan, para bang nakalaklak ng isang kilong asukal sa sobrang hyper. Napatingin siya sa kaniyang lolo at nilapitan ito.

"Aren't you tired?" pagtatanong ni Lacy rito. "You should rest now, the meal will be serve in an hour," dagdag ni Lacy rito.

"I am not tired or hungry. I actually wants to talk to you about something," kaagad namang nagtaka si Lacy roon at tinignan ang kaniyang lolo.

She sighed and told him to follow her.

***

Dinala niya ito sa isang library at naupo silang dalawa sa pandalawahang table na kalapit ng bintana. The sun is setting already and she told the maids to prepare a tea for them.

"Is there anything you want to know?" pagsisimula ni Lacy rito. "I know you know what might happen to Lucius and I want to tell you something important," nagtaka naman doon si Lacy at tinanong ang kaniyang lolo kung ano iyon.

"It's about the secrets of Lucius Kingdom."

Lacy creased her head. "Why am I the one who should know this and not Luci? I think Luci is more deserving to know this information you're about to tell."

"I know, but it's for the better if you are the one who will hear this than to Luci."

"I don't understand," naguguluhang saad ni Lacy rito.

"Luci might freak out if he ever heard of these secrets, so I am entrusting you this." Lacy sighed and shook her head.

"Regardless of what might his reactions are, I think it would be the best if Luci would be the one to know this and not me." Lucius smiled at her and told her to listen first.

"Luci is my only grandson that I admire and loved. I am protecting him from everything that may come, one day."

"What do you mean?"

Tumingin ito sa paligid at mas lalong lumapit kay Lacy. "Don't worry. I already told the guards not to let anyone enter or be near here," pag-assure ni Lacy rito.

"Mother Queen Ava has been poisoning me for years." Napanganga naman si Lacy sa biglang sinabi nito. Para bang nawala siya sa kaniyang sarili at napasinghap.

Naguguluhang tumingin si Lacy rito at hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi nito.

"H-How... w-what..."

"I know this is going to be your reaction and what more if Luci will be the one to know this?" Lucius said.

"H-How did you know? I mean, if you already know why are you just letting her be?" takang tanong ni Lacy sa kaniya.

"I just recently found out when I secretly seek for a doctor. He said that my hallucinations might came from the medicines that I am taking or someone put a fragrance inside my room."

"I remember that Havana went into my room and lit an incense. When I asked her what was that for, she told that, she noticed that my health has been going down."

Sabi raw ni mother queen Ava, para raw iyon sa kaniyang kalusugan upang bumalik ang dating lakas. Bigla naman itong may dinukot sa kaniyang bulsa.

"These are the flowers that she put when she's lighting the incense. At first I just ignored it, only now have I noticed its effects on my body, I was only convinced when I consulted a doctor. Havana has been doing this for a long time, the doctor also said, they can no longer treat it because it has been in my body for several years and the toxins are already increasing day by day." Hinawakan ni Lucius ang kamay ni Lacy. Na nahihintakutang nakatingin sa kaniya.

Ngayon niya lamang napansin na ang mukha nito ay biglang pumayat, may eyebags na rin ito, ang bandang dibdib nito ay para bang nangangayat na.

"So please, when Luci became the king of Lucius, tell him he can dismiss their family and they will no longer be part of the Kingdom, plus they will not receive any money or even a penny." Lucius looked at her with a sadness in its eyes.

He smiled at her, and caressed her face, gently.

"Then if one day my death day will happen, tell to your uncle and Luci that I am sorry for all the wrongdoings that I did, for not believing them and neglected them, just like what I did to your mother," madamdaming saad nito at ngumiti nang malungkot.

Walang emosyon ang mukha ni Lacy at nakatingin lamang nang diretso sa kaniyang lolo.

"I am also sorry for everything that I've done to you, my dear, Lacy. I am sorry for everything that I did that caused your mother-- my daughter to die." Yumuko naman si Lacy at pinipilit ang kaniyang sarili na hindi maiyak.

Gaano man niya tapangan ang kaniyang sarili, ang kaniyang lolo na si Lucius... pakiramdam niya namamaalam na ito.

"I can now fulfill what you wanted me to do..."

"... and that's to apologize to your mother, personally."

Biglang tumayo si Lacy habang nakayuko ang ulo nito, she also balled her hand into fists. Tumumba ang upunan na kaniyang inuupuan dahil sa biglaang pagtayo niya. Kinagat niya ang kaniyang ibabang labi at tinignan ang kaniyang lolo nang diretso sa mga mata.

"I am not going to say that to my uncle nor Luci, if you want, deliver it by yourself," untag ni Lacy rito. "I'll find a way for you to live..."

Nanginginig ang mga labi ni Lacy at nangingilid ang mga luha sa kaniyang mga mata. Huminga siya nang malalim at tinignan ulit si Lucius.

"I-I... will find a way, no matter how it was, what is is, how much-- I don't care!" singhal ni Lacy rito. "So... try your best to live until I find a way..."

"... grandpa." Unti-unting humina ag boses ni Lacy at napayuko na lamang. Mas lalo niya pang kinagat ang ibabang labi niya.

"So don't die on me... please."

Bumuntong hininga naman si Lucius at nginitian ang kaniyang apo. "Alright. if that's what my granddaughter wants. I'll try my best to live."

Hindi na sumagot pa si Lacy at lumabas na lamang nang walang paalam sa kaniyang lolo. Napabuntong hininga naman si Lucius at napatingin sa araw na papalubog. Hawak-hawak niya pa rin ang kulay lila na bulaklak.

Hinigpitan niya ang pagkakahawak rito hanggang sa nalukot na ang mga maliliit na bulaklak sa kaniyang kamay.

He's really a foolish man, he let the other woman to deceive him. He has a lot of grave sin to his children, grandchild and especially his wife, Latisha.

Lucius smiled sadly to himself. "I'm sorry, Latisha. I failed our family."