Everette's Return

1000 years from now, the world will change Innate powers shall awaken once again Blue sky will no longer be for darkness will prevail Neglected and abused will take revenge. Humans will fall from the pyramid Years later, common enemy shall appear Many will fight, some will take that side A hero shall rise, but will have to sacrifice Betrayal will ensue as the hero is kind He will fall, but shall always rise He will face despair, and will seek tranquity. But eternal slumber shall not be the answer The mission bestowed upon him, as well as the gift from heaven Will be his reason to live, as well as his reason to die Comrades is what he need, for him to succeed Those chosen by him, shall always support him If the hero fails, light will be swallowed by the darkness -- "Everette Konrad, 10 years ago..." Everette stared at the man sitting across him. Nakangiti ito sakanya pero walang emosyon ang mga mata. "You told me, 'The world will change'. Was that a prophecy?" He didn't answer, instead he stared at the laptop infront of him where a video is playing. The video is a news report about a stone tablet found in an old cave in a foreign country. The words on the tablet was written in an ancient languange of a certain country. It only took few days to decipher it since that language is still being used in the religion of the said country. "Everette, did you awaken, 10 years ago?" Kumunot ang noo ni Everette sa sinabi ng lalaki. Lalo namang lumawak ang ngiti nito pero ang mga mata nito ay maigi siyang pinagmamasdan. "Mr. Atlas, those are just words of a 12 year old kid. Don't tell me, 10 years ago, naniwala ka sakin?" There was no change in Everette's facial expression. Vikesh Atlas. He is a powerful awakened ability user, a guildmaster and and my former friend. He belong to the top tier among ability users hindi lang sa bansa kundi sa buong mundo. He has the ability to control darkness. Anything that is within his darkness, will be under his control. Kababalik ko lang nang matagpuan ko siya sa harap ng apartment ko. The last time I saw him was 10 years ago, bago magsimulang magbago ang mundo. Vikesh shrugged his shoulders. "Okay, if that's what you insist. I'll just pretend that those words mean nothing. " Aniya. He leaned forward. Napasandal ako sa sofa dahil masyadong malapit ang mukha niya. "But I have one last question. This is actually what I came here for. I hope you answer me truthfully." Nakangising aniya pero makikita ang inis sa mga mata niya. Humalukipkip ako. I signaled him to continue. "Where have you been for the past 10 years? You suddenly disappear after gates started to appear, after you rejected me--- "Vikesh Atlas." Tumigil siya sa pagsasalita. Pekeng umubo siya bago umayos ng upo. I secretly glanced at the woman-man pair standing behind the sofa he's sitting on. Walang pagbabago sa ekspresyon ng mga ito. "Answer me Everette. Where the hell have you been? I looked for you for the past 10 years. And I bet there's no known place on Earth I haven't visited while looking for you. You suddenly disappeared from the face of the Earth." Hindi ako sumagot. Tinitigan ko lang siya. "Everette Konrad. Answer me." I sighed. "Even if I tell you, you wouldn't know let alone understand." Nagbago ang ekspresyon niya. Nawalan ito ng emosyon at lalong nanlamig ang kanyang mga mata. I unconsciously flinched. This was the first time I saw him like that. Umiwas ako ng tingin. After a couple of minutes staring at me, i heard him sigh. Inilapag niya ang isang calling card sa table na pinagigitnaan namin. Tinignan ko lang ito at hindi kinuha. "When you're ready, contact me." Tumayo siya mula sa pag kakaupo. Namulsa at tiningnan ako mula sa taas. "Mas maganda kung dadalawin mo ko sa Guild o sa bahay ko. You know my address. Doon parin ako nakatira." Kumunot ang noo ko at itinulak sa direksyon niya ang papel. "I don't have any reason to--- "Ah! Your sister, Vivianette, and I live in the same house and part of the same guild." Gulat na nalingon ako sakanya. "Anong sinabi mo?" He once again leaned forward in my direction. "Ang sabi ko, nakatira kami ni Vivianette sa iisang bahay at parte ng iisang guild. Your lovely sister, is with me." This time, I didn't leaned backward. I was too shock to even move. "No. It can't be. Vivianette will not do that." Umiiling na sabi ko. Nginisian niya ako bago tumalikod. "Kung ayaw mong maniwala, wala na akong magagawa. Atleast I informed you beforehand para hindi ka na magulat kung makita mo kaming magsama sa hinaharap." Nakatitig lang ako sa likod niya habang naglalakad siya palabas ng apartment ko kasunod ang dalawa pa niyang kasama. Hanggang magsara ang pinto ng apartment ko ay nakatitig lang ako sa direksyon nito. Bumababa ang tingin ko sa calling card na nasa lamesa. Vikesh Atlas. He's got to be kidding me. Hindi gagawin yon ni Vivianette. I warned her before I disappear sa mangyayari if we associated ourselves with the guilds especially Vikesh's guild. That night, I wasn't able to fall a sleep. Naninibago pa ako sa atmosphere at lahat ng bagay. I actually feel nauseous mula nang bumalik ako. My body feels heavy, parang may kung anong pressure ang nararamdaman ko sa loob ng katawan ko. Maybe dahil nag iba bigla ang paligid ko. I don't know. At iniisip ko rin ang sinabi ni Vikesh tungkol sa kapatid ko. If he's telling the truth, bakit niya ginawa yun? Why would Vivianette do that? The next day, I decided to look the 'internet' about Vikesh's guild and I found out he was actually telling the truth. Ethia, Vikesh's guild indeed have Vivianette as a member, no as an official. Siya ang manager ng medical team. "Vivianette...." As per my prophecy, my little sister awakened as a Water attribute user. Nakatayo ako ngayon sa harap ng isang mataas na gate. I checked once again the address written on the paper where Vikesh's address was written on. I called him this morning para makuha ang address niya. [ Hindi mo na naaalala kung saan ako nakatira? ] "10 years na ang nakakalipas, anong inaasahan mo? Maaalala ko parin ang maliliit na detalye na kagaya ng address ng bahay mo?" Actually, for me it has been 362 years since nakapunta ako sa bahay niya but I can't actually say that. Mahabang katahimikan ang namayani sa kabilang linya. I thought naputol ito o binabaan niya ako pero connected pa naman kaya hinintay ko lang siya. He sighed. [ Okay, here's my exact address .....] Pagkatapos kong isulat yun, binabaan ko siya ng telepono. Nagpalit ako ng damit at mabilis na pumunta sa address na binigay niya. "Ito ba talaga ang bahay ni Vikesh? Bakit parang ang garbo naman nito? It's been a while since I last visited but I doubt it makakalimutan ko ang ganito kagarbong bahay even if another hundred of years ang lumipas." But this place is kind of familiar. The hill and the forest surrounding the area. Even the single tree at the top of the hill with a swing seems familiar. I sighed. If magkamali man ako, I should just apologize. Pinindot ko ang doorbell. After a minute or two, the intercom made some noise. It's like sound of rustling. Pinindot ko ulit ang doorbell this time, narinig ko ang boses ng isang lalaking naghahabol ng hininga. [ Sino sila? ] "Uhm, hello. I'm Everette Konrad. Pumunta ako rito para makita ang kapatid ko, Vivianette Konrad." Saad ko. [ Ahh.. Okay. You may enter. ] Maya maya pa ay unti unting nagbukas ang gate. Pumasok ako. "Goodmorning Sir Konrad, I'm Leon, Mr. Atlas' personal aide. The Guildmaster is waiting for you inside. Let me guide you." Pagkapasok ko ay may lalaking nakatayo sa harap ng double door ng bahay. Tinanguhan ko siya. Kahit nakakagulat ang laki ng bahay, hindi nagbago ang ekspresyon ko. Sa halos 300 taon na nabuhay ako sa lugar na yon, natutunan ko na kontrolin ang facial expression ko. Pinaupo ako saglit ni Mr. Leon sa sofa sa living room. "Please, wait a moment Sir. The Guildmaster will be with you in a minute." Hindi ako sumagot. Inilibot ko ang aking paningin sa loob ng bahay. Wala akong ni isang nakitang tao maliban kay Mr. Leon. Walang helper or bodyguards. Maging si Vivianette, who is supposedly nandito ay hindi ko makita. Nandito nga ba talaga siya? Maya maya ay nakarinig ako ng mga yabag ng paa galing sa itaas ng staircase. "I never thought I would see you in my house this soon, Eve." Pababa ng hagdan ay ang tila bagong ligong si Vikesh. May pumapatak pang kaunting tubig mula sa buhok niya. Eve .... He is calling me using the petname he himself decided. Lumapit siya saakin at umupo sa lamesa sa harapan ko. Nakangiti siya saakin na ikinakunot ng noo ko. "Goodmorning Eve." Aniya. Umiwas ako ng tingin at uminom sa juice na inihain saakin ni Mr. Leon habang naghihintay. Naiilang ako sa klase ng pagtitig niya. "Stop calling me Eve, Mr. Atlas." From my peripheral vision, nakita ang bahagyang pagtaas ng isang kilay niya. "You stop calling me Mr. Atlas, Eve. Parang wala tayong pinagsamahan." Malokong aniya. I glanced at him. "Shut up." He laughed and said okay. "So, for whom I owe this early morning visit, my muse?" I frowned but didn't say anything about what he called me. "Nasan ang kapatid ko?" "Si Vivi?" Vivi? Whose that? I faced him and was ready to ask but he stood up and turned his back on me. Kumuha siya ng baso mula sa lamesa at naglakad palayo saakin. "She can't meet you right now. Masyado siyang napagod kagabi kaya kailangan niya ng pahinga." Aniya habang nagsasalin ng tubig mula sa pitchel na nasa table hindi kalayuan sa kinauupuan ko. "Ano bang trabaho ang pinapagawa mo sa kapatid ko? Aren't you overworking her?" May halong inis na sabi ko. "Hmmm. Anong pinagawa ko sakaniya ..." Humarap siya saakin and flashed his sweetest smile. "You shoul've asked, 'Anong ginawa naming dalawa?'" Lalong kumunot ang noo ko. Why would I ask something like ---- Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at napatayo. "Vikesh Atlas!" "Hmm?" He titled his head as if mocking me. "You... What did you do to my sister?!" I shouted at him. "I didn't forced her to do anything with me. Siya ang lumapit saakin--- Before he can even finish his bullshit, I punched him in the face. "Why did you lay your hands on her?!" I shouted at him. Hindi ko na alam kung anong ekspresyon ko. I'm too angry, disappointed and sad to even care. "As I've told you, hindi ko siya pinilit. Siya ang lumapit saakin." Malamig na sabi niya. "Kahit pa siya ang lumapit sayo, you could've refused! How could you do that? She's like your sister!" He raised his hand and gently stroke my cheek. "She's your sister, not mine, Eve." He looked me at me straight on the eye while caressing my face. "Why do you think I'll pick her, huh?" I didn't answer him. He touched my shoulder length hair and gently kissed it while keeping his eyes on me. "Because she's your sister, your twin sister who look exactly like you, Eve." I froze from where I am standing. Hindi ako makagalaw. I can see my reflection on his eyes. My face is red, maybe from all the shouting earlier, but my eyes were sad. Ilang minuto kaming nasa ganoong posisyon. Ako, nakatayo habang siya ay nakahawak sa buhok ko at hinahalikan ito. Nakatitig lang kami sa isa't isa at hindi gumagalaw. "Kuya." I flinched when I heard a familiar voice. Mabilis akong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses at sa itaas ng staircase, nakatayo roon ang nakababata kong kapatid. "Vivianette..." Nang makita niya ang mukha ko, agad agad na tumakbo pababa si Vivianette. I slightly pushed Vikesh at sinalubong ang naiiyak kong kapatid. Agad ko siyang niyakap nang makababa siya. "Kuya..." Umiiyak na aniya habang nakayakap saakin ng mahigpit. Paulit ulit niya akong tinatawag. "Yes. Nandito na ulit si Kuya. I'm sorry, Vivianette." I patted her back para patahanin siya pero imbis na tumahan, lalong lumakas ang pag iyak niya. "Bakit ngayon ka lang? *hic* Kuya ... Ang sabi mo, 5 years lang tayo maghihiwalay ... Bakit ..." Hindi niya naituloy ang pagtatanong at lalo lang siyang umiyak. I huged her even more tightly. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry Vivianette." Paulit ulit akong humingi ng sorry sakanya habang yakap siya. "Okay ka na ba?" Tumango si Vivianette. I smiled at her. "If that's so, umuwi na tayo?" Nakita ko ang pagkabahala sa mata ni nang sabihin ko yun. Napalingon siya kay Vikesh na nasa isang gilid lang habang nakatingin sa direksyon namin. "Hmm?" Marahang binawi ni Vivianette ang mga kamay niyang hawak ko at yumuko. "No, Kuya. Hindi ako sasama sayo. Dito lang ako kay Vikesh." Napalingon ako kay Vikesh na nakatingin din pala saakin. Ngumiti siya. 'I told you.' He mouthed. Bumalik ang tingin ko kay Vivianette na nakayuko parin. "Vivianette, why? Why are you picking him over me? Why?" She raised her head ang looked at me but I can't focus my eyes on her. The past struggles suddenly came back to me. It flashed through my mind. Every pain, every cut, every death. Nag-replay sa utak ko lahat ng nangyari bago ako nakabalik. Not only the memories came pero maging ang sakit na naramdaman ko noon, parang bumalik din. The pain of being cut and split into two, the pain of being torn to pieces, the pain of slowling losing all my blood, the pain of dying. "Why ..? ... I struggled so much just to come back. Ginawa ko ang lahat para mabago ang hinaharap. I struggled for 300 years para mabago ang lahat. I died countless times para saating dalawa." "Kuya ..." "I repeatedly turn back time. Let my self be killed, endure the pain of being alone. I tried so hard to keep my sanity. I hold onto the fact na magkakasama tayo ulit pagkatapos na ang lahat." "Everette. What are you --- "Even when I lost all hope na mababago ko ang hinaharap at makakabalik pa ako, nilagpasan ko yon. Even when I lost my mind because it's so painful. Kahit gustong gusto ko nang sumuko at mamatay nalang, I struggled dahil nandito ka pa. Kailangan mo pa ako." "Kuya, calm down." "Why are you abandoning me? I'm I too late? Dapat ba hindi na ako buma---- "Everette!" I flinched and came back to my senses dahil sa pagsigaw ni Vikesh. Nakakunot ang noo niya and confusion is visible in his face. "Anong ibig mong sabihin, Kuya?" I immediately covered my mouth. What have I done? Nadala ako ng emosyon ko at nasabi ko ang mga bagay na hindi ko dapat sabihin. Napalingon ako sa kapatid ko. Confusion, sadness and pain. Yun ang nakikita ko sa mukha niya. Hindi ko siya sinagot at umiwas lang ng tingin. And because of that, I was fprced to face Vikesh. Unlike Vivianette, walang emosyon ang makikita sa mukha niya. Nakatitig lang siya saakin na para bang binabasa ang iniisip ko.