Chapter Twenty Three
1077 Words
Chapter Twenty Three
Bluer than Blue
I TRIED to smash the metal door again but no matter how hard I try to do it, It just won't open up!
What the hell is this problem?
I withdrew the key from the key hole to check if I got the right one. Damn it, this is the right key. So why the hell can't I open it!
I closed my eyes while gritting my teeth. Thoroughly irritated and infinitely sweated, I just decided to get out of there.
I walked back to the darkened mental hallway without even trying to use my phone for flashlight. I am just deeply aggravated with what happened. Did someone locked that door before we left for Pampanga.
Well, come to think of it... the last time I went there was when my parents are still alive. So... did they somehow locked it in one way or another?
"Damn it," I just whispered under my breath while climbing up the ladder. I skilfully pulled myself from the small hole and then I was able to go back to the kitchen. I immediately covered the secret passage with the heavy tile.
"Arylle!" I heard Nanang's voice somewhere, probably finding me or what.
I tapped away the dusts that covered my pants and arms before walking out of the kitchen. I saw Nanang walking around the living area.
"I'm here," I boredly called her attention.
Her head shot at me.
"Arylle! Where have you been?" Her voice overflows with concern and mild histerics.
I rolled my eyes at her.
"I just checked and walked around the house,"
"Oh, is that so..."
I examined the house's exterior while walking," this place is really covered in dust. Well, what do I expect anyway? It has been years since...
I bit my lower lip before withdrawing my eyes from the family picture than I saw hanging on the wall.
"We should clean this place a bit. I'm planning to stay here tonight," I announce to our Nanang and Manong Ronald.
Nanang's jaw fell; shocked is evident on her face. I crossed my arms as I stared at her.
"C-Clean the house? Just the three of us? If you were planning this from the beginning, you should have at least brought Alize and Leti with us!" Nanang wailed.
I sighed.
"I did mean that we'll clean the whole house. Just the rooms that we will use and perhaps a little bit of this living room." I pointed the dusty floor where I am standing.
Nanang seems displeased with my sudden cleaning proposal and Manong Ronald also looked like he did not like the idea but in the end, they've got no say with what I said.
I check the time.
9 am.
Since it was a bit early, we decided to start the cleaning the immediately. Manong Ronald swept the floor of the living area while Nanang cleaned the two rooms that she and Manong Ronald will use. Meanwhile, I decided to go to my former room and clean it.
I glance at the key that I am holding to firmly check if what I am picking the right key. Then, I inserted it inside the knob. I a felt a wave of relief when the door effortlessly swung open when I twisted the knob.
The faded interior of my former room enveloped my eyes as I push the door further. It is almost identical to the room I have back in Pampanga; combination of cold colors: Powder Blue, Gray, and Black. Ironacally, despite the seemingly dull colors of my room, I have always felt the warmth and genuine relaxation every time I was here before. However, those moments are now nothing but a fragment of the past that faded into the blurry history.
I tightened my hold in the broom on my left hand.
It's time to clean up.
My clean up drive inside my room lasted for about an hour or two. Because as I also tried to find something valuable or relevant things as I clean. But the only thing I saw there were old clothes, old toiletries, bags, and some picture frames which that I decided to leave here before because afterall, this is the only place I have considered as my real home.
After I finished cleaning the entire room, I decided that I cannot just sit there and rrlax while waiting for Nanang and Manong Ronald to finish their task so I figured I just have to roam around and search for something interesting.
I stopped from grabbing the broom that was lying on the floor when I remembered something.
Something interesting, huh? Right, I almost forgot, there is nothing more interesting now than going to the Blue room.
I smirked. That's right, it is the perfect place to start.
I did not waste anymore time to standing there because my body just automatically moved towards a familiar place.
My parents' office.
It is located in the first floor so I have to walk down the stairs again. I saw Manong Ronald doing some cleaning stuffs there so he did not noticed me when I silently walk in the living room. I stopped in front of the office's door to get the key and open it. When I entered inside, I immediately locked the door again before proceeding to my plans.
As the whole office came into my view, I can't help but to feel the surge of anamnesis flooding into my very core. The dull gleam of the office's interior's enveloped my eyes I feast on it. The two office tables and chairs are still there and they are covered with thick blankets of dusts; unmoved and exactly the same as the last time I saw it.
I tried to ignored the potent sense of reminiscence that I felt in my heart just focused on what I have to. I turned around to see the huge book shelf inside the office. The books that in there are the only ones that are not covered with dusts and cobwebs because it is sealed with a glass window panel that protects it from outside stimuli.
I caressed the edge of the shelf before sliding it horizontally to the left; creating a rather rough creaking sound that resounded in the who room. This trapdoor mechanism became a bit rough now since it has been years since the last time I went here.
-C. N. Haven-
- Writer
