GREAT GREAT GREAT LOVE

Jayland take a stand in the corner of the house his arms shivers while it touches the its’ wall that sets its foundation since the Spanish era. “ On my count of ten all of you hides 1,2,3,4...” he shouted as all of his playmates try to hide discretely. His voice echoes to the house bouncing from wall to wall of Bahay na Bato. The strange echoes of unfamiliar silent voice enter his sensitive ears. His hair begun to raise “Ten!!!.... haaa... goosebumps...” he said while rubbing his cold hands for he suddenly fell the fair of encountering another strange voices. His playmates are his cousins and now his regretting his idea. Why did he ever put himself in this situation again.He mumble with himself as he try lure them out of their hidings. “ Evooooooo....” he calls him like finding a victim in a horror movie. He knows that Evo would hate it, he’s such a scaredy cat by now he thought. Little did he know, Evo snick out into the attic’s window. He struggle as he tried so hard to open those old and rusted window. Seems like it never been touch fo. However, a rush of air entered the room as soon as the window break open. He almost fall into the wooden floor but he manage But as he recover magic filled the air of the old dusty attic. The wind becomes steady and a smooth breeze whispered in reverse now from the inside out of the window. Before his eyes are the welcoming presence flowers of tiny baggings hanging around the window. But its a bit higher he doubt himself for a second but try as-well. “1...2...threeeeee...” he new he could not make it but its worth a try his little arms and lame body cant even afford to carry itself. But as soon as his palm touches the window pane the gust of winds blow from the inside beneath his feet as if its trying to throw him outside the window. “ Ahhhhh....” he shouted as he tumbled down rolling into the roof near the gutter. “ My God thank you...” Lucky to have spread his legs to stop himself from falling down to the roof. “ Hala where is my specs?...” Evo panic a bit as soon as he sees his hand blurd and the surroundings uncanny.A little grasp and he found it near him and immediately wear it on. He was more than mesmerize when he saw the roof full of tiny baggings with tiny yellow sunflower. The wind is like a gentle breeze and a music in his ears as if it telling him to relax lay down and close his a eyes at this moment. “ Evoooo!!!!!....” he keep calling his name but its no use. “ Hay.... why its so hard to find them now...?” he sigh and complain but its just no used as well. “ Araaaaa!!!!” he shouted in desperation impatiently waiting for someone to just show up in whatever reason. “Ara on the other side hid to the old house library for she likes books she likes it so much that she found it amusing and challenging at the same time to make it a hiding place?. She climb into the book shelves to its top lay down to make sure shes hiding just fine so she make it sure that her body is perfectly fit and no part of her skin can be shown down the isle. And cleverly open a book she got earlier about the short story called “ THE DUMB” the book is all about friendship how it begins and how it ends. The tragedy of this story is that the who love is the one who fell out of love . “ Araaaa!!! where are you guys why is it so hard to find you all now?” he sigh so deep that his knees gave up he bacame so tired of running up and down of the two story house so he chose to sit down for a moment without noticing that one of his cousin Precilla is just hiding just beyond the thick curtain behind the piano. A moment later Jayland got curious about the dusty old piano would it be so old that it soo out of tune now the moment of truth to try it is now his mind and body joined forces that he sprint from his sit then jump to the piano. Opening it upon dusting it the sound says.. ( Do re me fa so la ti dooooo) “ Wow... oh my gulay it sound so cool and goody” he wave his fingers in his excitement. Then he remember his late grandpas’ teaching about playing a piano in the house for the first time. “ Ahaaa... this is for you grandpa” then he played doremi three times so the piano echos around the house. “ Precilla became uncomfortable in her hiding when she heard the piano echoes the room then.... “ Waaaaa....” she says in shock when the curtain opens in its own. “ Haaa!!! Boom Precilla!!!” he says in excitement but he realize that the curtain has opened on its own the smile fades in his face. “ Owwww kuya Jayland!!!!” she shouts when the wall turns with her. “ Precilla.... your hand!!!” Jayland runs towards precilla and try to grab her hand but instead Jayland joined Precilla inside the evolving flatform. In a split second and before them revealed a small room with a treasure box thats is like case. The room is only enlightened with the little shade of the sun coming from the small hole and it looks like been put in there on purpose. The ray of the sun hits the chest case its old and dusty the rooms is not in total darkness so they can have a clue of whats hanging on the wall. “ Look....” Precilla pointed on the wall and Jayland follow. “ Oh yeah is that grandma and grandpa and that is their wedding pictures?” says Jayland while so confuse of everything that is hanging on the wall. “ I wonder what is in the chess... if we can open it...” but before saying so Precilla already jump on the chess just to get blown away by the dust that is in there for maybe years or a century. “ Hachooooo!!! oh my gulay so dusty kuya Jayland so dusty” her complain but still unstopable to see what is inside of it so she wipe out the dust and tried so many times to open the chess. “ Stop it Precilla its no used its lock” Jayland told Ara and lough at her face as soon as he notice the foundation of dust on her face. “Hahaha... look at your face you silly child...” “ Oh no my pretty face....?” Precilla jokingly says and then struggle as she try so hard to wipe those dust away of her pretty young and innocent face. Then they both lough???. “ There something wierd about this wedding picture of grandma and grandpa Precilla” says Jayland as his curiousity hits him when he notice that... “ Oh yeah.....” Ara agrees to him. “ Are there suppose to be another person in this pictures????” the two dueted and they look at each other puzzled. The two did thier best to put the picture frame down from where it placed for a very long time. The dust from the frame rain down and showered them but the eagerness in them is like a caffiegn the hype of the two of them was exactly on the roof. “ Where is your phone Precilla?” Jayland ask for the little ray of the sun from the hole is not enough to spot the off thigs in the picture. “ My phone?! Oh yes my phone” as soon as she remember she has a phone and they can used it as flashlight the thought excite her. The light from her phone unvail the dark side of the pictures and in the room. “ Woooow....” the view amazed them as the paintings in room become more visible now. “ Look kuya Jayland... a lady in a sunflower field..” says Precilla in excitement for she always dreamed of painting such thing. “ Yah she looks like grandma, well maybe its grandma” the painting is beautifull but jayland got no interest in the field of arts he is more on academic science. “ Yeah why arts dont impress your not a genious too kuya Jayland even sports..., your too lazy to get involve but you study well but only in science” Precilla curiously say. “ Is that a complain? you know people are different we have our own geniouses” Jayland tried to explain. “ You mean even geniouses has it own category?” Precilla ask while she unintentionally focus the light on his face. “ Yes, but first the light...” he grab the phone from her and pointed the light to the door where they enter. “ and second we have to figure out how to get out of here” Jayland point to the door. “ Oh no!!!!” Precilla shout in horror when she realize it that they should more concerned about getting out of there first more than anything. “ Kuya!!!!” she cried “ How are we going to get out of here” she continue. Jayland how ever in the other side of his not so brillant but funnier and critical he saying “” Its time to bully her this is the day then the other side of the coin smerk of the thought for the opportunity of getting her more mad than ever is once in a lifetime. “ I dont know Ara I dont see any key or door knob” he smile on his back. “ Your the one who brought us here Ara if it wasn’t for you, I too, would not be here..” he added . “ Me?! your the one who played the piano kuya Jayland!!!...” then her crying really turns into madness? Jayland regreted it instantly for he remember the last time he got punch by her. “ Okey relax haha...” he just lough the nervousness and say “ Ara if theres a way in theres a way out too” he pointed to the door that seems like a sealed wall of hollow blocks. “ Naaaa....” Precilla run into it hoping she knock it down by some lame punching and kicking?. “ Precilla!!! stop that hahah your hurting yourself...” says Jayland. “ Then what should we do now kuyaaaa....” she finally get it so she calm down and sit on the floor to do some thinking. “ Yah lets just sit down for a moment to do some brain storming... okey?” Jayland say while he sits beside her put his arms around his cousin Ara just to comfort her. “ Okey if this door can be open outside by a piano there must be something inside here like an instrument or else some button to push to open it” he explain his thought. How ever Precilla get so negative that her tears keep running down her face “ What if the only way is....” then she remember her phone and look at Jaylands hand where his holding it. “ Are you kidding me kuya we have my phone we can message kuya Evo or Ara from outside to play the piano for us...” she excitingly say while wiping out the tears in her face. “ Ara dont have a phone remember? Tita Feby and tito king are strict about that thing do you remember?” Jayland explain. “ Oh yeah then let just message kuya Evo then?” she grab the phone from him then start dialing. “” THE NUMBER YOU HAVE DIALED IS OUT OF COVERAGE AREA PLEASE TRY YOUR CALL LATER....”” “Ahhhh.... OMG kuya Evo does not have any signal?” but she is not giving up and dialed again. TOT TOT TOT “ Kuya Jayland.... we dont have signal in here?” then she start crying and panicking again. “ Relax Precilla there must be a way out” then Jayland start to search for a clue of any way out a button a key or anything. “ Okey Precilla stand up...” Jayland told her as he wiggle his hand then bounce up and down. “ Why...” Precilla ask and confuse. “ Stand up first” he repeated. “ And how does jumping gonna help?!” Precilla stand up but still confuse. “ Prepare your self cus in my count of three shout loudly and bang that door so hard that they notice us” Jayland explain. “ That doesnt sound like a plan but we have to try as well” Precilla is hesitant but go with the plan. “ Okey One...” Precilla begin counting but Jayland cut her off.... “ Threeee....” the two of them run towards the door and with all of their might to the sealed cement door kick it and paunch it as hard as they can and then shouted to the top of thier lungs over and over again. BANG BANG BANG The sound says and the shouting become louder and louder... “I told you kids are behind it I heard the piano echoes the house hahahah” says the old lady her voice is the sweetest as it grows old like wine. “ Hey guys stop it Precilla and kuya Jayland!!!” shouted Ara as she tries to stop the two because they did not notice that the door and the flatform have already turn and they are free atlast. “ Ha.... grandmom!!!” Precilla and Jayland duet as they turn around and saw Grandmom. Grandmom Ronara is an eighty seven years old woman who has only 4 grandchildren one of them Precilla live with her since she were born now shes 11 and her mother which is a single mom is been in abroad for years though she manage to get home and visit Precilla third times only in her existence. Evo and Ara the twin live with their complete and happy family though the dad is the disciplinarian and mom is a bit strict but she make sure that she can balance everything from physical and emotional needs of both of them. Though the twin is not identical their little differences are not much a problem but instead a help the tell- tail hearts is stronger when one of them is in danger. like so many twins they have somehow strong connection in that area specially when tracking each other it becomes easy for them to find out where each other goes. Jayland somehow the oldest of them a lone child but with two parents who both working hard for his future. Living only in the next barangay He always diligently choosing to be with his cousin Precilla almost everyday except when his busy for upcoming exams and school activity. Sometimes they purposely planned a slumber party for Precilla to feel not so alone and for her to feel included to the family. Their parents make it happen though so the four children grew closer together so closed the life they live in Jaylands’ age of thirteen his cousins are the most important of all of course with his parents and grandmom more specially. “ Well whats happening here?!” a voice of a man sounds like thunder in the old house as it travel before he even gets into the room. Its Ara and Evo’s dady Kingpin. And then one moment later A woman panting and as she catch her breath while talking “ Whats the noise all about kids?... Oh my God where are you too came from?!” she is shock to see Precilla and Jayland with their faces and clothes with dirt and dust. “ You two looks like arrrr what a horror movie looks like... didnt I told you Jayland?” she is eying Jayland now but Jayland cant help but smile. “ That even when you play you should keep yourselves neath and clean always...” she continued as she wave those sandok back and forth to Jayland and Precilla. Fevlyn the twins mother always hands on despite of being busy with her three jobs online at home. She came from hardworking family and studied multimedia arts she always plans ahead and dreamed about being a hands on mom with a job so that she can live her life fully. “ Hahahah.... its not their fault Fevy” Grand Ronara call her that way. “ Looks like the kids discover first hand of the puzzle before it even begins.” she added. Then all glared at her confusingly except of daddy kingpin. Then he talk... “ Ow the treasure hunting mom...” he just say it excitingly. “ Be ready kids you just entered a f*******n dungeon!!!!” Says daddy kingpin without a que and dramatic as well. “ Not yet Kingpin it doesn’t mean that your daddy is gone the stage is yours my child..” says Grand Ronara while holding serious face then she laugh and everyone follows as she displays those annoying face. “ Oo nga dad Mama The Queen is still alive and kicking but even if, I still be here so you don’t really have chance hon... hahahahash...” then lough annoyingly after she said that. The kids are entertained already that they forget what happened a minute ago. “ Correction Ladies and gentlemen its not that I dont stand a chance its just I dont really have a choice. For this years hosting goes to Mama your grand Ronara.” after proudly saying those words he show an amazing stage presence for Grand Ronara then vow to the crowd of the room in the room that is only have five people of them well if you includes him that a six. But just when he is about to lift his head he confuse feeling finally comes into light... “ Oh my God!!!!” Daddy Kingpin is shock to finally realize to have to see what is missing inside the room. “ Oh my God what hon... Evo...” she said that plainly first till she realize that Evo is none of them. “ Evo?! Oh my God Ara where is your brother?” when finally she too realized it she talk to Ara by going down to her level so she can see clearly Aras face and eyes, to read each twins face and eyes expressions becomes her expertise and automatic reactions whenever one of them is not arround. “ It’s okey momy he’s fine...” answer Ara knowing that she only not meant where he is or is he safe or near every questions her answer some up the Fevlyn rendering fear of losing one of the twin. “ Ahhh... thanks God your brother is safe..” her breath releases every doubt that is inside her holding those breath is like one whole day without it. “ So where is he? Jayland and Precilla?” he ask them just because they are older one and the sense of responsibility of keeping the youngest safe is in their shoulder while they are together playing and bonding. “ Sorry tito but how are we suppose to know where playing...” Kingpin did not let him finish and cut him off instead. “ What do you mean... Jayland?” and his voice ascended into thunder like voice. The tension rise in the room but naive Precilla answer’s the Kingpin no fear but instead clevery say “ Yeah thats because we were playing hide and sick tito thats why...” she cross her arms instead. “ Well then thats only means that Im asking a wrong persons...” then he turned his attension to Arra. “ Yes love Maria Arra Almonte Diamante where do you think is your brother?...” Fevlyn ask her daughter again. Without a cue Arra turn arround and say “ Follow me...” then she run into the stairs the other goes down to the vasement and the other goes up to the attic. She only make it one step down then turn around as her heart becomes heavy to make it to the second steps. “ Ops wrong way Dad to the attic...” the people in her back make a way as she turn around so she can freely to go upstairs and lead them. When she finally made it to the door she knock and called her brother’s name but they received no reply from the inside not even a po. “ Let me Arra..” dady Kingpin gently open the door and call his son name. “ Our son is not here....” Feby says as she almost knock the door open when her husband gently opening it. Arra notice the other room without a door its a playroom and walk into it. Jayland and Precilla notice her so they follow her she look everywhere but when finally her eyes caught the open window she freezes. “ Tito King?, Tita Feby?! look over here!!!...” Jayland says calling the attention of the adults that still rooming and chatting at the other room hoping to find Evo there. As soon they hear his voice they sprint toward the other room and freezes as well. “ What is going on? where is your brooo...” he stop when he notice that the time in the room is slower than unusual he look at his hands and the the kids. And his over sensitive feeling says to stop Feby from coming in. “ Feby stooooop!!!!!.....” his voice succeeded but his body seems to slow motion. Feby when she saw her husband struggled a lot she stop advancing and just step one foot forward to the room. As she too struggle to retrieve her foot she called Grand Ronara. “ Mom!!! help me!!!” she pleaded. “ What is it why are you hurrying an old lady?...” she answer. “ Mom we don’t know whats hapening.... perhaps you know?!!!” Feb say. “Haaa!!!” The old lady seems to get so shock at the same time terrified as she see whats happening in the room. “We we we have to..” she never have a chance to finish what she’s saying instead she turn her back. Feby stand there confuse of grand Ronara’s reaction. Thats when she thought she really do running away she run after her and tried to stop her..... “Mama stop where are you going?..” she almost throw herself to the stairs down just to get ahead of grand Ronara. “No, Feby I am not running away just come with me instead we have to go back to piano room there we have to see something there in our own eyes..” then she hold Febys’ hand and proceed to the Piano room. “ This better to be the solution mom I don’t know whats going on anymore I am as confuse as hell and helpless mama, what is this?” she says while catching up her breath Grand Ronara is almost dragging her and the stairs seems endless and the piano room seems to be at the other side of the world. “ I understand that your confuse Feby but first we have to go to piano room and proceed to the dungeon according to your husband my son..” Grand Ronara seems tirelessly running and finally when the piano room door appear in front of them, Grand Ronara hold the door knob and freezes. “ Mama?!..” Feby panic as she thought the old lady too is trap in time warp something like that...