Opposite

Chapter 32

A loud screaming aroused from the wheel when there was a loud bang appeared in the funfair.

It was only Harlow who shouted after the sudden bang, parang siya lang ang nagulat, maliban na lang din kay Tyson. Afterwards, silence was with darkness again.

"Ano 'yon?" tanong ni Harlow kay Tyson.

"Parang putok ng baril," sagot niya.

She was about to speak again when in time, there was a big colorful firework that appeared in the night sky; it formed a heart shape that indeed amazed the two. When it disappeared, it was followed by many colorful fireworks.

Hindi naman maalis ang tingin ng dalawa sa mga iyon. The fireworks lasted for five minutes, then it was followed by fireworks that formed the word "Heallven."

"Wow," Harlow said in amazement.

When the show was over, the street lights were turned on again and they were able already to see each other. They both smiled as the ferris wheel continued moving again.

"Ang ganda 'di ba?" sambit ni Harlow.

"Indeed beautiful, like you."

"Bolero," she chuckled. "Pero sa totoo lang nagulat talaga ako sa putok ng baril tapos biglang may mga paputok naman na."

Since Tyson didn't also know what was the meaning of that, they asked strangers about it when they went down from the ferris wheel.

They had knew that the fireworks were always appearing when midnight comes. Ang pagpatay raw ng mga ilaw at pagputok ng baril ang hudyat sa paglitaw ng mga paputok. The fireworks were made to celebrate the success of Heallven all throughout the years. These were also dedicated for the people of Heallven who really were working hard at everything.

After knowing its real purpose, they were even more amazed. Dahil sa kanilang nalaman ay mas hiniling pa nila lalo na manatili habambuhay sa kasalukuyang mundong kanilang ginagalawan.

When the morning came, they continued walking through Memoria. They were hoping they would allow them enter the place for their second try. But of course, they promised themselves to be careful with their words, so that they could make it.

When they finally arrived there, they stayed outside of the gate for awhile since they still have some remaining hours for them to be unrestricted.

When the right time came, they entered the gate and directly went at the main door.

"Say your names before we let you enter," the voice from nowhere said.

"Harlow Parlemo."

"Tyson Faulkner."

They didn't talk until the voice spoke again. "Congratulations, you have been verified! You can now enter Memoria."

The door opened. They started wandering their eyes all throughout the place before they could even step in their feet. A big golden figure of a brain first caught their eyes; the figure was placed at the center. Above the walls were gold chandeliers; they were elegant, shining bright as the stars. Everything perfectly matched the white color of the walls.

They went to the brain figurine, but never tried touching it because they had no permission. Kaya ang tanging nagawa na lamang nila ay tingnan ang mga bagay na nakaladlad sa palasyo.

They continued walking until they reached a long stair near the brain figurine. Tumapak sila roon at habang paakyat ay manghang-mangha nilang pinagmamasdan ang mga larawan na nakadikit sa bawat gilid. The paintings were different personas, so they assumed they were the staffs of Memoria.

Medyo hinihingal na ang dalawa sa pag-akyat ngunit hindi pa rin nila nakakalahati ang hagdan. Medyo malayo pa sila sa tuktok, pero paubos na ang kanilang pasensya.

"Sobrang taas naman nito," Harlow said. "I wander what's at the top of this."

"Prepare yourself, maybe something's gonna surprise."

"Lagi namang may handang pasabog ang mundong 'to, minsan hindi na ako nagugulat," she chuckled.

They didn't talk afterwards, just continued going up. May nakakapagod kasi kapag nakisabay pa ang bunganga sa pag-akyat. Pagkalipas ng ilang minuto ay nakalahati na rin naman nila ang hagdan. Buy before they continue stepping up, they sat for awhile to take a rest. When they were done resting, they stepped up again until they reached the top.

Sa itaas ay sinalubong sila ng isang malaking pader. They were confused because there were no other ways.

"Ang taas ng inakyat natin tapos pader lang pala ang sasalubong sa atin," reklamo ni Harlow. "Wala namang ibang daanan dito, eh. So anong meron? Useless lang inakyat natin, wala naman palang naghihintay na surpresa sa itaas."

They were so disappointed that they couldn't even breath properly. Totoo nga naman, napakataas ng inakyat nila ngunit isang malaking harang lang naman pala ang nasa itaas.

"Maybe they are tricking us," Tyson said as he sat down.

Harlow sat down as well beside him. "You think?"

"Yeah, 'yon ang sabi sa atin ni Dukeh noong unang tapak pa lang natin dito. Sinabi na agad niya sa atin na kailangan nating maranasan ang paghihirap para matututo."

"So what do you think is the meaning of this?" she asked. "Kailangan ba nating bumaba ulit para maghanap ng ibang way?"

"I don't think so. I wander if there's something hidden there. Wala rin naman kasing ibang daan sa baba, eh."

"Hindi ko kasi masyadong nakita kung ano 'yong nasa baba kasi masyado akong naakit sa chandeliers at sa picture ng brain. Sure ka bang walang ibang daan doon?"

"Yes, I'm sure, I didn't see any. Maliban na lang kung may nakatagong daan doon. But since we're still up here, why don't we observe this place and find something?"

"Yes, you're right," she smiled.

So, they tried finding answers through observing the whole place. They looked at the paintings clearly, hoping they could find something on it, but there was none. They even observed the stairs, hoping there would be a secret door on it, but there was none.

"Ewan ko kung wala talagang clues dito, or sadyang mahirap lang hanapin kaya hindi natin makita," Harlow said.

"Maybe it's just really that hard, but please don't give up. Hindi ako naniniwalang walang nakatago dito."

She expressed hesitations. "What if we try observing this wall," she pointed it,"baka naman nandiyan talaga ang totoong kasagutan."

"Oo nga, baka may instructions diyan kung paano tayo makapasok dito."

So, they walked through the big wall and observed it. Tiningnan nila ang bawat sulok, gilid, baba, at itaas ng pader upang makahanap ng anumang kasagutan. They just stopped when Harlow called out Tyson's name.

"Come here," she said. "I guess I've found something."

"What?" he asked as he walked towards her.

"Look it's a brain," she pointed the very small carving on the wall.

"This is so small, buti nakita mo," Tyson said.

"Buti nga, napansin ko lang din talaga, eh. Sa tingin mo ano-" She was stopped from talking when the walls suddenly slide up. She didn't know why, maybe because she had pressed on it.

The eyes of the two automatically grew bigger when something inside surprised them.

"Wow," they both uttered.