Embracing Chaos (#1)

01 | Demigods

DEIA'S POV

"Nightingale..."

"Nightingale..."

"This is for you... my nightingale."

Napaupo ako sa aking higaan pagkatapos kong magkaroon ng panaginip. Paulit-ulit nalang ang boses 'na yon sa isip ko.

Sino ba kasi yung nightingale na yan? Nakakasakit ng ulo.

I glanced at the clock placed on my bedside table. My eyebrows furrowed as I realized it was morning. I guess I won't be able to sleep anymore.

I was always afraid to sleep. At first, it was my escape from reality, but as time passed by, I hated sleeping because of the nightmares it brought me.

Napabangon nalang ako sa higaan ko at bumaba para kumain. Pupunta lang sana ako sa kusina nang mapadapa agad ako sa sahig dahil may nagtapon sa direksyon ko ng isang-

Kutsilyo?!

Curse the gods. Agang-aga, namamato. If I were not in my right mind, I would've dropped dead. 

"Who threw that?" tanong ko nang makatayo na. Pinagpag ko ang dumi sa damit na suot ko at napatigil nang makakita ng pamilyar na mukha. Sinamaan ko ng tingin ang lalakeng bumato ng kutsilyo.

"Ali naman eh," reklamo ko. Napangisi siya nang makita ako at tumigil sa pagtulong niya kay Mira.

He playfully put his arm around my shoulder and though I kept glaring at him, he still managed to display a playful grin. "Ikaw na naman," sambit ko pero binalewala niya lang yon.

"Can the two of you stop bickering all the time?" pagbabanta sa'min ni Mira bigla. She walked towards us with a heavy aura while carrying a plate full of bread.

"Mira... it's you." Napakunot ang noo ko nang sabihin ko yon. Parang may sariling buhay ang bibig ko at gumalaw na lamang.

Pati siya ay nalito dahil tumaas nang bahagya ang kilay niya. "Yes... it's me, Deia," saad niya bago ibinaba ang platong hawak.

Though she adopted me since before, Mira doesn't want me to acknowledge her as my mother since she didn't give birth to me. Kahit ganon ay nagpapasalamat ako sa kanya.

I owe my whole life to her.

Mukhang hindi na naman niya pinansin ang sinabi ko. "Since you're here, I have a favor to ask you," aniya nang makaupo sa silya. Nasa dining room na kami. Nakiupo na rin ako at pumwesto sa harapan niya.

Unfortunately, Ali had to sit beside me.

"What is it?" tanong ko naman habang kumakagat sa isang tinapay. Afterwards, I glared at the man who tried stealing my piece of bread.

"Can you stop it?" nakasimangot na tanong ko sa kanya. He stuck out his tongue at me. The man beside me is Ali, someone who shares the same origins as me.

"I want you to accompany Ali to the mall today. He has to buy the required supplies for his new school," sabat ni Mira sa aming dalawa ng katabi ko. My eyebrows furrowed.

"Kailangan ko sumama? Bakit naman?"

"Why not?" tanong niya pabalik. Palihim na lumaki ang simangot sa mukha ko sa sinabi niya pero kalaunan ay tumango na rin ako.

I really can't do anything against her words.

Tumingin nalang ako kay Ali na nang-iinis sa'kin. "I guess you'll be stuck with me the whole day, Deia."