Conor POV
“Son, Levy is here. She’s looking for you.” bungad sa akin ng aking ama, si Gregorio Cambridge. Ang ministro ng Lindus.
Levy is a childhood friend. She is the daughter of Mayor of Lindus and they are a family friend. I just came home to get Louise and escort her to the academy the next day. It’s her first day tomorrow and my mother wants me to look for her.
“Hey, Conor. I miss you.” She hugged me. “I heard you're going home today, that's why I’m here.”
“Yeah. I’m going to fetch Louise for tomorrow. It’s her first day in the academy.” I said. I led her to the living room. Naka angkla ang kanyang kamay sa aking braso habang naglalakad kami papasok.
“I heard that too. Gusto ko din sana pumasok ngayong taon sa academy but papa don’t want me to.” Malungkot na saad nito.
Mula kase ng maaksidente ang panganay nitong kapatid sa isang activity sa academy ay minabuti ng kanyang ama hindi na ito papasukin dito. At ganun din ang desisyon sa kanya. Sa kangayon ay parehong sa bahay lang sila nag aaral na magkapatid.
“Anyway, I’m here because magpapasama nga pala ako sa’yo sa downtown.”
Tulad ng sabi niya ay sinamahan ko nga ito sa downtown para mabili ang mga kailangan nito. We just saw each other after a few months, that's why I can’t say no to her. Bukas ay paalis na ulit ako kasama pa si Louise.
She happily looked around the stall here in agora. “Conor, come here. Look.”
I was just following her behind when someone bumped into me. “Shit.” She cursed under her breath.
She looked at me with annoyance but when I stared back, her eyes became gloomy and dreamy. She has a slender body with long black hair. Her height was just above my shoulder. She locked her eyes on me and I did the same. I don't know what was happening but I found her eyes fascinating. It’s like her eyes were penetrating my soul. Like we have a connection to each other. I just got back on my senses when Levy called me.
Since then I always dream of her eyes. I always saw her face whenever I closed my eyes. It kept bothering me until I saw her again.
“Damn it!” She flipped me when I’m about to approach her in an old garden in the academy. I never expected her to be that strong. Damn!
“Get off me.” I said dangerously. He’s on my chest while I’m lying on the ground. I just caught off guard that’s why. He punched me. Not so fast, woman. I grabbed her hands but she kept on resisting.
She immediately ran as I freed her hands. You’re a dead meat, woman. I know she’s new in the academy because I just saw her now. What’s with you and your eyes and you keep bothering me for night. Mas nakadagdag sa isipin ko nang nabasa ko ang kanyang nasa isip. We can communicate through our mind. But she’s pretending not to hear me. I know she knows.
“Sino ka ba talaga?” I asked her through our mind. I don’t remember having this kind of power but I clearly know what she’s thinking.
Naging palaisipan sa akin kung paanong nababasa ko ang kanyang isip. I already searched about this power but this is not part of any attribute. Damn it!
Lumipas ang araw at patuloy kong nababasa ang lahat ng kanyang nasa isip. She can read what’s on my mind too but I’m blocking it. I’m trying to keep it to myself. Hindi ako nito pinapatulog tuwing gabi dahil sa daming bagay na tumatakbo sa kanyang isip.
“Fvck it!” I groaned in frustration. I can’t sleep. She keeps on thinking random things.
The next day, I was tasked to help her with her attributes. She’s holding one of the rare attributes- haos. Like mine, I am the only one in the academy who uses darkus. It took me a lot of years before I completely mastered it.
Back when I was a kid. This power scared a lot of children back then. I never had any friends because I don’t have control over my attributes and it scares them a lot. Only Levy was there to be with me all the time.
“Hey, Conor. Let’s go to the hill. I will show you my attributes. I learn new techniques.” She excitedly approached me while sitting in front of our house.
I look at her unbelievably. “Are you sure? Are you not scared of me?” I asked.
She smiled at me. “No. Why would I?”
When losing control over my power causes serious disturbance my father strictly put me on the training. At a young age, I was forced to do critical training to have full control over my attributes. That’s why I was ahead to any of the students in the academy.
“Your attribute,” she blurted out. Hesitant and afraid.
“What about it?” I asked cooly.
She’s afraid. I know. I can feel it. Darkus was known to be a dangerous attribute. Whoever uses this kind of attribute was believed to be swallowed by darkness. But not me, I have full control over my attributes as I grow up.
“Come here." I smiled at her.
We're in casa eruditio. I was tasked by Headmaster Avalon to look after her using her attributes. She nervously looked at me, not moving from her place.
Woman! Don't lose my patience. She's scared. I know, of course.
"I said come here." I narrowed my eyes.
She's spacing out. Monster, huh. I read her mind. Damn it.
I grabbed her hands. Hinila ko siya palapit sa aking pwesto. Hindi niya na nagawang man laban nang hawakan ko ang kanyang braso. She was shocked when I'm in front of her.
"Better."
Para akong nalulunod sa kanyang mga mata. Beyond those captivating eyes was her soul. Beautiful soul. She's beautiful.
She's always had the reason to pissed me off. And I know, she doesn't like me either. She hates us. She despised us. I can read her mind if I want to. I don't know how and why. I don't even know her.
Sino ka ba talaga Charlotte Grandidge? Why can I hear your thoughts? Why can't I get you off my mind? You're slowly entering my system. Damn!
When I felt her breath on my face and saw how we were near to each other. I lost myself. I lost control. I brushed my lips against her. I saw her face shocked and nervous. Her lips were soft and sweet. I could kiss her all day.
I want to punch myself out of what I was thinking. Damn. I closed my eyes again when our lips parted. Since then, I always dreamed of her sweet lips. Our mind connection became stronger. I can even feel her emotions. I think it's the same way for her.
I was so fuming mad with Kanro when he tried to talk with Charlotte. I know what he's thinking. He's trying to pissed me off. Big time. He's asking her on a date. I lost my cool when she agreed with him. Damn! I am not jealous. Am I?
I never liked anyone before. These feelings were new to me. I am not doing any good. She always accused me of many things. She's scared of me. She doesn't like me. Or yes? Her emotions were different from her actions. Her body reacts to me. Unbelievable. And Kanro doesn't help. He's now close to her. After their date they became more affectionate to each other. Damn it.
I was so mad at her when she suddenly disappeared on the field during the Hunting quest.
"What happened?" Everyone was panicking when the screen suddenly disappeared.
"Conor, where are you going?" Ken shouted when he saw me moving quickly.
"She's in danger." Iyon lang ang aking nasabi bago tumakbo papunta si kinaroroonan niya.
I felt this before this started. I know she's in danger. I immediately called my spirit animal…
"Lupus."
Damnit. Woman. You should listen to me.
Mabilis na tumakbo ang aking spirit animal sa direksyon ni Charlotte. Through our senses I can pinpoint her whereabouts.
"Man, what is happening?" Then I just realized that Ken and Chase were behind me with their spirit animals.
"I need to find her." I said hoarsely.
"Are you sure this is the right way?" Tanong ni Chase na hindi sigurado sa tinatahak naming daan.
Tumango lamang ako dito. Sigurado ako. Pagdating sa kanya sigurado ako.
I am right. She's here. Puno ng sugat ang katawan at sira ang kanyang damit. I immediately ran to her when she's about to fall. I wrapped my arms around her waist to prevent her from falling on the ground.
"You're so stubborn, woman." May diin na sabi ko sa kanya. She never learns her lesson. She's always reckless. Damn.
We leave the place and let Ken and Chase handle the situation there. This has to be reported to the Investigation Division. They should pay the price for hurting this woman.
Hindi lang isang beses napahamak ang babaeng ito. She's always prone to accidents.
"Man," pigil sa akin ni Kanro habang buhat ko siya. Damn! I don't care if you're a Prince. This woman is mine.
"She needs to rest. I'll bring her to her room."
That day, I saw her weak side. She's vulnerable. I wipe her tears using my hands. I comfort her the best I can. I hugged her and let her feel my warmth. I never saw her this weak. She's always strong in front of everyone. I just want to protect her from any harm. Whoever wants to get her, they should surpass me first.
We just stayed in that position until she fell asleep. Her face was on my chest while I hugged her. Those were the most comfortable moments I ever had. I can't explain the exact feelings I have for her. Or I am just denying my feelings to myself. Because this woman just defies my every rule. But one thing is for sure I will never leave her. I will protect her no matter what.
"How are you feeling?" I asked her. We were in the old garden inside the academy. The place where we both felt peace and serene.
"Uh-I'm fine. I have already recovered. I am just worried about my mother." She's playing with her fingers while looking down on the ground.
She's nervous. I can feel it. She's losing her control again. That always happens when she can't contain her feelings and emotions.
I reached for her hands to make her stop with what she was doing. Nag angat siya ng tingin sa akin.
"You're nervous?" I said, hoarsely.
Nag iwas siya ng tingin na parang hindi alam ang dapat sabihin. I sighed. I pulled her on my chest and hugged her.
"W-what are you doing?" She stuttered. I can feel her heart beating fast.
"Hmm…" I groaned.
"Conor Cambridge."
"Just let me…"
Tumigil siya sa pagrereklamo. Unti unti kong naramdaman ang banayad na pagtibok ng kanyang puso. She deeply sighed.
"I can't stop myself anymore ." I started. "I am new to these feelings. At first, I just hated you because you affected me so much. But those hates turn into something as time flies. I can't name my feelings. Until one day, I wake up being jealous. I hated your Prince Kanro for doing such things to you. You make me nervous every time your life is at risk. Damn! Woman. You make my heart beat so fast. That it almost takes my breath away. How can you do that? How can you affect me so much with your actions?" I chuckled with my last sentence.
"I don't know how you feel about me. But I am taking my chance here. I know it's funny that I always know what you feel and what you are thinking. But I can't find it in your mind if you feel the same way too. You're always nervous when I am around and you hate me so much for that."
Naramdam ko ang basa sa aking damit sa aking dibdib. Is she crying? I held her chin up and wiped her tears.
"I hate you so much, Conor Cambridge." She said while her tears were falling.
"I know. I know, baby."
"But you are the one who is always there for me when I am in danger. I don't how things happen but you always see through me. You always know what I am thinking. We shared our thoughts and emotions. I hate you for that because I feel so weak when it comes to you. Your darkness always overpowered my light. I can never win against you. Your presence makes me nervous. I always cannot contain my feelings and emotions. I am attracted to you. But I denied that to myself because I hate you."
Napanganga ako sa kanyang sinabi. Did I hear it right? She's attracted to me? She likes me?
"But like what you said, I can't stop myself either. I like you, Conor Cambridge. I hate you. But I like you more than that."
I cannot contain my feelings that I crushed my lips to her. She was shocked at first but she gave in when she recovered. She kissed me back. I held her face and deepened the kiss. She encircled his arms on my neck. We almost lose our breath when our lips part.
I chucked. Damn. I hugged her tight. Woman. You're mine. You're not for a Prince. You're mine alone.
We stayed in that position for several minutes. Walang nagsasalita sa amin. Tanging ang banayad na paghinga at simoy ng hangin ang tanging naririnig.
"About our thoughts and emotions. How can you explain that? Why can we read each other's minds and feel each other's emotions?" She asked when she raised her head. She looked at me, confused.
I can't answer her question. Because like her I don't have any knowledge about it yet.
"I don't care about it anymore. But we will find it out together if you want to know about it. Whatever you like." I hugged her again.
She's the new light I found in my darkest world. I always consider myself cursed because of my darkus attribute. My action should always be calculated to spare others from harm. With the attribute I have I felt like my whole existence was surrounded by darkness. But when she came she ruined the dark wall around me. She smashed it. With our thoughts and emotions connected. I found a light.
This must be something dark but this is also beautiful. I found her and became my light.