Chapter 55: Leaving

                                    

                                          
Chapter 55: Leaving
Alexander and I both sat on a bench while watching the little lights surrounding the plants like tiny fairies. The breeze swept all over the garden, rustling the leaves of the trees.
Alexander took his coat off and placed it on my shoulder. Hindi na ako nag-abala pang magdala ng panangga sa malamig na hangin nang magmadali akong puntahan siya.
"Alam kong madami kang gustong itanong sa'kin."
Tumango ako sa kanyang sinabi. Pero hindi ko alam kung saan magsisimula. Punong-puno ako ng tanong and it took me a moment before I could voice them out.
"How long did you know?" I asked. "Alam mo na ba ang totoo mula noong tumapak ako sa Van Zanth?"
"Ah." I heard a low curse from Alexander. "Not really. I even threatened you, remember? In my eyes, you were only the girl Zackary brought in Van Zanth and took interest in."
He ruffled his own hair with his fingers as if he remained frustrated  about it kahit pa matagal na itong nangyari. "So I made my own research about you."
"Because you worry about Zackary," I said. "You wanted to know who I am."
Umiling si Alexander. "Nagtitiwala ako sa desisyon ni Zackary. Alam kong hindi siya basta-basta magdadala ng sino man sa Van Zanth," Alexander sighed. "It was your skill that I took interest in. Narinig ko  ang tungkol dito mula sa dating beta."
"Sir Sebastian?" I asked.
Alexander nodded. "He knew your skill was similar to the skill of the person I've been searching for my entire life. At noong nalaman ko ang pangalan mo, nagkaroon ako ng pag-asa." Umarko ang sulok ng  kanyang labi sa isang ngiti. "They let you retain your name."
"My name..." I mumbled. "But I thought it was given by my first owner... kahit ang mga sumunod kong naging amo ay ganoon din ang inisip."
Umiling si Alexander sa tabi ko. "When you were younger, you  wouldn't respond to anyone who wouldn't call your name. Kaya siguro hindi nila naalis 'yan sa'yo."
Natulala ako sa kanyang sinabi. "It's... my real name?"
Eleanor. For some reason I always take my name for granted. Because just like the things that once surrounded me while serving owners, I thought it wasn't mine to begin with. So any name would suffice for me. Any insult I was certain to answer to my owners' commands and unending whim.
But I have a name. I gingerly placed a hand over my beating chest. Eleanor.
Pinagmasdan ako ni Alexander. In his face was an expression I rarely  see from him. A smile small, a fond gaze. Pero unti-unti itong nabura nang muli siyang magsalita.
"I seek the help of the former beta to confirm things about you," he resumed. "Noong nalaman ko ang mga pinagdaanan mo, gusto kong isa-isahing gilitan sa leeg ang mga among nanakit sa'yo." He leaned against the bench and craned his head up to the night sky above. "Hindi mo pagdadaanan ang lahat ng ito kung naging malakas lang ako at naipagtanggol kita noon."
I watched him and I could still see the guilt lacing his face. But the past no longer mattered to me.
"Why didn't you tell me." I mumbled. "If you knew all along, why didn't you tell me?"
Nanatili siyang nakatitig sa langit, tila hindi niya ako kayang harapin. "Madaming dahilan," sagot niya. "Nalaman ko na dahil sa mga nangyari sa'yo, malaking parte ng memorya mo ang nawala. Nasa Van Zanth ka para magsimulang muli at hindi ko gustong makasagabal doon. Higit sa lahat, noong dumating ka, wala akong magandang reputasyong maihaharap sa'yo."