Forever's End (Part 3)

By: Philip

Nagpumiglas si Philip kaya't hinawakan sya sa dalawang kamay ni Eric. He was about to kiss him on the lips but he paused when he saw Philip's eyes. Something struck him. Those eyes were very familiar. It's haunting. Mga matang nangungulila sa kanyang tunay na mga magulang. The eyes that has so much hatred for the world but also has a sorrowful streak. Nakita nya ang kanyang sarili sa umiiyak na si Philip... Nakita nya ang mga pasa nito sa katawan... He remembered that horrible experience with the man who took him in when he was sent to earth at a young age... Suddenly, tears fell from his eyes. Pumatak ito sa mukha ni Philip.

Philip realized that he went out of line kaya nagalit si Eric sa kanya. He shouldn't have said those horrible things. It's tragic to lose your parents when you grew up with them. Sya nga mismo ay nangungulila sa tunay nyang mga magulang kahit hindi nya nagisnan ang mga ito. Napalitan ang nararamdamang takot ni Philip ng awa para kay Eric at ganun din ang galit ni Eric ay napalitan ng kalungkutan. While Eric stared at him crying niyakap sya ni Philip close to him. Eric gave in and rested his head on Philip's neck. After a few minutes,  they break from that embrace then Eric sat on the edge of the bed facing against Philip. Hindi bumangon si Philip.

Philip: Sorry Eric.

Eric: ...

Philip: Hindi ko sinasadyang saktan ang damdamin mo.

Eric looked up and shut his eyes tightly... He was reminded by a horrible past. He was 10 years old when his parents were killed in front of him. It was still deeply engraved in his mind... It was that night at the throne room... Pilit syang ipinagtatanggol ng kanyang mga magulang mula kay Faust... When his mom was stabbed, she used all of her powers combined with her husband to summon a portal that sent Eric to Earth so she could save him. But the horror wasn't over. For the first year on earth, he lived as a beggar... begging for a bit of food and trying to live on his own... Then someone took him in...

Eric was a very good looking young boy, so someone got interested on keeping him. At first everything was okay... But within just a few months... One night on his bedroom... That horrible man entered...
Lumaban sya but he ended up being beaten up instead... Then that man got his way... Ginahasa nya si Eric habang ito'y umiiyak... Puro pasa... Walang magawa sa nangyayari because he's too weak... While being violated like that he's wondering, "what have I done to deserve this?". Everynight, that monster comes into his bedroom. Sometimes even when he's still asleep, nagigising sya sa pambababoy na ginagawa sa kanya ng lalaking iyon. He's become his sex slave for a month.

Then Romer came to rescue him. Romer took good care of him. Treated him like his own son... Eric got his first training as an Edger with him. Romer was one of the very first line of Edgers ever assembled. In Angaia by that time, it has already been 60 years since his parents died but he's only been on earth for a year and 3 months. Inihanda nyang mabuti si Eric. When he turned 14, after staying on earth for exactly 4 years and two months and the portal opened again, they both went back to Angaia and brought Eric to Arlisse headquarters to formally train with the most elite group of Edgers.

Eric wiped his tears then stood up.

Eric: Stay here kid. I'll be back in a bit.

Lumabas ng kwarto si Eric. Bumangon na si Philip. He propped his hands to his knees and pondered. He really wants to keep his cool. Kahit hindi nya matanggap that he'd be stuck in this world for ten long years. Na realize nya that there wasn't much going on naman when he was on earth. Sure he has a few true friends that he's surely gonna miss. Pero kahit sila, walang magawa sa sitwasyon nya araw araw with his foster family. Hindi rin sya maipagtanggol ng mga ito mula sa mga bullies at school. Ni hindi nga nila alam na bading sya. On earth, he was very lonely.

After a while bumalik si Eric sa kwarto and he brought an ointment. Philip sat on the side of the bed then Eric pulled a chair and sat in front of him.

Eric: Halika, gagamutin ko mga pasa mo.

Then he squeezed a pea sized amount of it into his index and middle finger then applied it on the bruises on Philip's face. Habang ginagawa ito ni Eric, tinititigan sya ni Philip. Sa isip nya, "this is a lot better than home..." he felt like someone really cares for him. Back at home kase, whenever he's beaten up by bullies, nobody takes care of his bruises. His foster parents don't even bother to take actions and just tells him to "man up" all the time. Lalong na iinlove si Philip kay Eric. Naramdaman ito ni Eric, kaya napatingin sya dito. He never uttered the words, but deep inside, Philip was saying "thank you" to Eric. Hindi lang kase sya sanay na nagpapasalamat dahil sinanay nya ang sarili nya noon na maging ungrateful. Eric sighed and then placed his left hand on Philip's right arm.

Eric: I just wanna say, I'm sorry about that kid.

He looked down.

Philip: Ako dapat ang humihingi ng paumanhin.

Eric suddenly cried. Nakaramdam nanaman ng awa si Philip kaya't niyakap nya ito. As he did, ikinuwento ni Eric sa kanya ang mga pangyayari noon mula sa pagkamatay ng kanyang mga magulang hanggang sa buhay na sinapit nya sa Earth. Lalong nahabag si Philip. Ngayong alam na nya ang storya ni Eric ay hinding hindi na nya ulit bibitawan ang masasakit na salita na sinabi nya kanina. Ngayon ay naiintindihan na nya kung bakit nagalit ng sobra sa kanya si Eric. Maya maya pa ipinagpatuloy na ni Eric ang pag gamot sa mga pasa ni Philip. Pagkatapos:

Eric: Magpahinga ka na bata.

Philip: Sige.

Eric: Kung may kailangan ka, just hover your hand over this.

Eric placed something like a circular mirror at the table beside the bed. Then he held another one and showed it to Philip.

Eric: That thing on the table is connected to this device. You'd be able to reach me through that.

Philip hovered his hand on it then something like a hologram showed up. Eric suddenly blushed when something embarrassing appeared on the hologram. Medyo na shock si Philip na natatawa. It was like a photo of Eric wearing only underwears and a very little and sexy piece at that. But he looked so great in that picture like he was a model or something and Philip couldn't resist looking.

Eric: Shit! You did not have to see that!

Kukunin na sana ni Eric ang device na iyon pero naunahan sya ni Philip.

Philip: Ops! Teka lang, anu 'to? Hahaha

Tinitigan ni Philip ang imahe na lumabas sa hologram ng tumatawa. He hovered and hovered some more and more of the same kind of images of Eric showed up. Pilit na inaagaw ni Eric ito sa kanya. Nang makuha ni Eric, there appeared to be something like a holographic keyboard and then he immediately seemed to have deleted those images. Iniabot nya ulit ang communication device kay Philip ngunit hindi na sya makatingin dito. Pilit na tinitingnan ni philip ang mukha ni Eric pero iniiwas nya ng iniiwas ito habang naka abot parin ang kamay nya gesturing for Philip to grab it. Kinuha na ni Philip ang device at inilagay ito sa lamesa at naupo na ng maayos sa kanyang higaan. Still not looking at him, Eric spoke:

Eric: *Clears his throat* Maiwan na kita. Magandang gabi.

Philip: Salamat. Magandang gabi rin.

Pagkalabas ni Eric sa kwarto kinuha ulit ni Philip ang communication device at humigang yakap ito sa kanyang dibdib. He smiled feeling so good for the first time. Then he closed his eyes and went to sleep.
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Nagising si Philip because there seem to be some kind of paws touching his nose. When he opened his eyes nakita nya si Rasia. Nang makita ni Rasia na gising na sya tumalikod ito at inupuan ang bibig ni Philip. Naamoy ni Philip ang mabahong pwet ni Rasia kaya't nalukot ang mukha nya at dali dali syang bumangon at itinapon sa sahig ang pusa.

Philip: *wiping is mouth* Yak! Kadiri! Hayup kang pusa ka!

Rasia: Hahaha ayos ba?

Philip: Hayop! Nakaka dissapoint na gisingin ng isang pangit, mataba at nakakadiring pusa. *still wiping his mouth*

Bumalik si Rasia sa higaan at umupo sa harap nya.

Rasia: That's the kind of wake up call befitting a prince.

Philip: Prince? Anung prince?

Rasia: Prinsipe ng mga walang modo! Wahahaha

Philip: Ikaw na pusa ka, gagawin na kitang siopao!!!

He abruptly grabbed Rasia and held her close to his face. Bigla nyang kinagat ito sa mukha.

Rasia: Aray!!! Aaaah!!!

Pinagkakalmot sya nito. Nabitawan sya ni Philip at kumaripas sya ng takbo and went through what seem to be a small door just right at the bottom of the door. Nagmadaling umalis sa higaan nya si Philip ng makita nya na maraming kalmot ang mukha nya.

Philip: Grrrr!!! Humanda ka sakin pusa ka!!!

Nagmamadali syang lumabas ng pinto para habulin si Rasia. He looked around at nakita nya sa kaliwang pasilyo si Rasia at dumidila sa kanya.

Philip: Napaka salbahe mo talaga!

Hinabol nya ito... At the next door a small girl came out holding a teddy bear and seems to be woken up by all the commotion.

Euriko: Anung nangyayari dito? *Rubbing her eyes*

Then Rasia and Philip passed by.

Rasia: Hindi mo ko kayang habulin batang uhugin!

Philip: Ipagdasal mo yan baboy na pusa!

Then they were almost at a corner. Rasia swiftly maneuvered to the other side at nung malapit na si Philip biglang may lumabas na isang lalaki at nakabangga nya ito.

Harron: Aray!

Philip: Ouch! Seriously every time I chase this cat, I  always bump into someone! *clutching his head*

Pareho silang natumba. Philip looked right in front of him to see a young and cute boy, about the same age as him.

Harron: Bakit naman kase tumatakbo ka ng ganyan ang aga aga pa?

Sabay silang tumayo.

Harron: Ikaw ba si Philip?

Philip: Ako nga.

Harron: Haayy... Medyo matigas din ang bungo mo ano? Sakit ng ulo ko sa pagkakabangga sa mukha mo eh. Parang pader.

Philip: Hmmf!

Harron: Pinapatawag ka nga pala nila master Lyndon at Eric. Sumabay ka daw samin mag breakfast.

Then the little girl from the other room passed by.

Harron: Ate Euriko! Pupuntahan din sana kita para gisingin kaso gising ka na pala.

Philip: Ate?! Sa liit nitong batang 'to ate? Anu 'to? Pandak?

Nagalit si Euriko at nanlilisik ang matang tiningnan ng masama si Philip. Binitawan nya ang kanyang teddy bear and it stood up straight on it's own then it grew and grew bigger and changed it's appearance to a real full grown bear.

Euriko: Ulitin mo ang sinabi mo bagong salta!

Philip: Eeeek! Sorry na! Sorry na! Huhuhu

Dumating si Geddoe at pinakalma si Euriko.

Geddoe: Pagpasensyahan mo na sya Euriko. Hindi sya taga rito sa mundo natin kaya't marami pa syang dapat malaman.

Tapos lumiit ulit at naging normal na teddy bear ang manika ni Euriko.

Euriko: *sigh* first of all, I'm not a child. I am already 74 years old and secondly, I am not a midget! I'm just petite and cute!

Philip arched a sly brow and mouth slightly opened.

Philip: Ha...? Ah okay sige sabi mo eh.

Euriko: I'm too hungry for this.

Tinalikuran ni Euriko silang tatlo and then proceeded. Tinanguan lang ni Geddoe ang dalawa at naglakad narin kasunod ni Euriko.

Harron: Nako Philip wag na wag mo nang tatawaging pandak si Ate Euriko kung ayaw mong masaktan.

Philip: Teka, 74 years old? So ikaw ilang taon ka na? 100?! Si Geddoe, 200?!

Harron: Hahaha! Sira! I'm still 14. Trainee ako dito. Para maging isang full pledged Edger. Si kuya Geddoe naman he's 35.

Philip: Oh, interesting. So are there many of you?

Harron: Hindi. Nag iisa lang ako. There's a total of 8 Edgers here in Arlisse headquarters, then there's me, a trainee and then all the servants and the master. At syempre, you're the new addition. Pero sabi nila hindi ka raw trainee?

Philip: Nako hindi ako interesado. Hindi ako marunong gumamit ng tinatawag nyong h-hau-hua- huawei-hauwaor... letse! Hindi ko mabanggit ng tama.

Harron: Hahaha! Nakakatawa ka pala. Tara na at naghihintay sila sa atin.

Inakbayan sya ni Harron at hinilang papunta sa dining area ng headquarters.

Pagkarating nila, he saw a beautifully decorated room and a big long table at the middle. It felt tropical inside that room kase may mga plants all over and some vines na nakapulupot sa mga pillars. There's lots of opening in all the corners that let's the light from the sun in and just by the pillars are small fountains. Nakaupo na sa hapag si Eric, Solla, Geddoe, Euriko, master Lyndon, and 2 other women and 2 other men. Two servants stand beside where master Lyndon is and there were lots and lots of food. Naupo na silang dalawa ni Harron ng magkatabi at some empty chairs.

Master Lyndon: So how was your sleep Philip?

Napalingon si Philip at parang kinoconfirm pa kung sya ang kausap. Nang ma realize nya na sya nga, sumagot sya.

Philip: Ayos lang. Nawala na sakit ng katawan ko. At salamat sa nilagay ni Eric na ointment sa mga pasa ko, parang magic nawala ang mga ito.

Kahit hindi pa namemeet ni Philip si master Lyndon, he assumed that he is talking to the master. Halata naman din kase sa itsura ni master Lyndon. His clothes looked regal. Different from all the others and he had so many jewelry. Tumingin ng masama si Solla kay Philip ng marinig nya yon. Napansin ito ni Philip so he decided to tease her even more.

Philip: You were so sweet Eric.

Eric winked at him in a flirty way which he didn't expect kase akala nya mahihiya ito. Sya tuloy ang napahiya at namumula. Si Solla naman ay lalong nagseselos.

Master Lyndon: I'd like to formally introduce you to everyone. I am who they call master Lyndon, and this is Eric, Solla, Geddoe, Euriko, Lily, Akhiyugo, Regaldis, Meghan and that boy beside you is Harron.

Then Rasia emerged from Eric's lap na para bang nang aasar kay Philip.

Master Lyndon: And this is our lovely cat Rasia. But I believe you've met her and Eric yesterday.

Philip: Oo at salbahe ang pusang iyan!

Then the handsome guy with dark blue hair, and green eyes spoke:

Regaldis: Walang modo ang batang 'to.

Rasia: True!!!

Nalukot ang mukha ni Philip. Nahiya sya kaya't sya ay nanahimik nalang at nakatingin sa lamesa.

Master Lyndon: Tama na yan. Kumain na tayong lahat at gutom narin ako. You don't have to be formal around us Philip. We're family here so be comfortable.

Rasia: Needless to say master Lyndon. Formal is not in this kid's vocabulary. Hahaha

Pikon na pikon na si Philip kay Rasia.

After they finished eating everyone stayed by the table at may announcement si master Lyndon.

Master Lyndon: As you all know, Philip will be staying with us for the next 10 years.

Then another handsome guy with red hair and dark eyes spoke:

Akhiyugo: Awe yeah! It's so nice to have more people around.

Master Lyndon: At nagtagumpay si Eric na mahanap ang Marba sa Earth.

Then a really pretty and gentle looking girl with long and golden hair replied.

Meghan: Congratulations Eric. Alam kong hindi kami madi-dissapoint.

Master Lyndon: Now that it is out of the way, ang main objective na natin ngayon ay hanapin ang itinakdang magmay ari sa kapangyarihan ng Marba.

Then a chilling and very depressing and somewhat scary but soft voice came out of a woman with purple hair and jet black eyes.

Lily: We don't have much time. Gumagawa na ng hakbang ang special forces ng mga Luican.

Master Lyndon: Alam ko. Kaya dapat mahanap na natin sya. Meanwhile...

Tumingin si master Lyndon kay Philip.

Master Lyndon: Education is important not just on earth, but also here in Angaia Philip.

Philip was thinking "Oh great... -_- I think I know where this is going..."

Master Lyndon: So you're gonna be going to school with Harron.

Harron: Ayos! Haha may makakasama na ako!

Philip: What?! *thinks* (I knew it!) Do I really have to?...

To be continued