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1221 Words
SOMEONE says you will not know pain until you are staring at yourself in the mirror with tears streaming down your face while you're begging yourself to just hold on and be strong. Pero si Ara, ayaw na ayaw niyang makita ang repleksyon niyang mapanlinlang sa tuwing pinagmamasdan niya ang kanyang mukha sa salamin. Nakikita niya kung gaano siya kagaling magpanggap... na animo'y wala siyang dinaramdam na kahit na anong sakit.
They have just returned from a mission. Ara immediately went to her room and is now facing the mirror while bandaging the wound she sustained. She had a gunshot wound but it was superficial. She was treating herself because she didn't want anyone else to know. She didn't want to feel pity or anything else to make her look weak.
Ara took a deep breath before removing the bullet from her thigh. She bit her lip to keep from groaning in pain, then slowly poured wound cleanser on her bleeding wound. She herself sewed and wrapped gauze around her wound.
She glanced in the mirror in front of her where she could see herself. Ara still sees anger in her eyes, no matter how much kindness is shown to her by the first Archon, she still wouldn't change her mind. Her hair was in a mess and her bloody clothes were strewn on the floor along with the cleansers she used on her wounds. She immediately picked them up and put them in the trash can and burned them.
Ara sat on the floor and leaned on the bed as she watched the fire blaze. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Now she felt tired. She is tired mentally, physically, and emotionally as well as spiritually.
Ara is also tired of pretending and holding back her emotions. With each passing day, she finds it more difficult to stay next to her perceived opponent. Kating-kati na ang mga kamay niya, but it's not the right time yet. Not only does Archon want to overthrow him, but the entire organization. It was hard and bearable but she had to endure and wait.
"You should lock the door if you don't want to be disturbed, hindi kasi ako marunong kumatok eh" si Salem iyon na nasa loob na pala ng kanyang kwarto. "You look like a mess, Ghad." Ara kept her eyes closed and ignored Salem.
"I'm sorry if I bother you...."
"Yes, you did," Ara said sparingly.
"Whatever... Pinapunta ako ni Lord Miller dito para gamutin ang sugat mo... Why have you locked yourself up here, treating your wounds alone? We have a clinic downstairs."
"I'm fine, I want to rest so get out of my room-" ani Ara.
"Do you still need a pain reliever? You look numb already..." pang-aasar ni Salem kay Ara.
"Ilapag mo na lang diyan kung gusto mong ibigay" Ara replied.
"Ang lamig mo na naman..." Salem frowned and put down the pain reliever, then left Ara's room. She immediately picked up her phone and called her Papa Regan. "I can't go, but I'll just call you to report."
"Are you alright? One of my staff said you were shot?" ani Papa Regan.
"You're worried about my life?... You don't have to, I'm gonna die soon" she said bitterly.
"Agatha!!"
"What!? Ilang dugo na ng tao ang bumahid sa mga kamay ko, so I'm gonna ask you... do I still deserve to live after this?."
"It's really tiring to live, but we can only live once... So if you can, you better abuse it" her Papa Regan uttered. When she ended the call, she threw the phone away from her.
ZANDRO was sitting in a swivel chair when Salem entered his office.
"Your Sandra is getting weird again" ani Salem na padaskol na umupo sa visitors chair.
"Why?" he asked.
"I don't know if she's numb or what, she treated herself alone...."
"And?" dagdag pa na tanong ni Zandro.
"FYI, kung hindi mo na itatanong ako ang sniper ng team mo at nakikita ko ang lahat... and I knew and I saw that she was shot but she's acted like it's just nothing."
Suddenly, Zandro stood up and left Salem. While Salem frowned, even more, when the First Archon just left her in his office. "Why is he even acting weird when it comes to Ara... Dang!! This mansion is full of weird people."
Zandro was in front of Ara's door. He wanted to know her condition but he hesitated to knock. A woman has saved him several times, so he is indebted to her. He is worried about her condition lalo na kung patuloy nitong kinikimkim ang lahat mag-isa. Although Ara was quiet and cold, he knew that there was a story behind her emotionless face and puffy eyes and he wanted to know that when the time came. Kaya kahit na madalas na malamig ito at tahimik ay hinahayaan na lamang niya.
He slowly opened the door and peeked to see if she was asleep. Nadatnan niya itong nakasandal sa paanan ng kama at natutulog. Dahan dahan siyang naglakad papasok pagkatapos ay yumuko hanggang magtapat ang kanilang mukha. Napalunok laway si Zandro habang dahan-dahang hinawi ang buhok ni Ara na nakatabon sa mukha nito.
He felt her hot temperature so he touched Ara's neck to find out if she had a fever. Ara was shocked when she opened her eyes, she thought he would hurt her, so she quickly grabbed his wrist and pushed with full force until she came over him.
"Calm down, it's me," Zandro exclaimed.
When Ara woke up to her senses, she immediately let go of the first Archon and left on top of him. "Akala ko kalaban, p-pasensya na" Ara said.
Zandro caressed his wrist, he didn't think she was that strong. "I'm sorry, I just want to see your condition. I didn't mean to enter, but I saw you sleeping on the floor, so I entered."
Napakamot sa ulo si Ara pagkatapos ay dahan dahang umupo sa kama. "You look so pale, nilalagnat ka din" ani Zandro.
"Ayos lang ako, kailangan ko lang ng pahinga" sagot ni Ara.
"No, you're not. Maligo ka muna para mawala iyang dugo sa katawan mo. Kukuha lang ako ng gamot. Wait for me here." Zandro left the room to take medicine while Ara was left alone and silent while staring at the mirror. "Huwag kang papalinlang", Ara murmured.
When Zandro returned, he was carrying medicine and water for him. "Here, take it."
"Thanks..." Ara took the medicine and water and then drank it. "Next time you don't have to do that. I must be the one who does and protects you because that is my job" malamig na tugon ni Ara.
"You are inside my mansion, so I care. I don't want any of my staff to be harmed. So be as careful as possible... if you don't want my concern." Zandro sat next to Ara, but Ara moved slightly away.
" I know you're not fine. Even if you pretend, your eyes don't lie. Hindi ko tatanungin kung ano ang dahilan ng malungkot at miserable mong mga mata. Pero kung kailangan mo ng kausap, nandito lang ako.... You have saved me many times, so I trusted you and I hope you trust me too, the way I trust you.
- Writer
