Opposite

Chapter 31

Harlow and Tyson looked at each other when they thought of something that might be the real purpose of Memoria. If it was really for reminiscing the past and remembering their memories, what for?

Harlow told him she clearly remembered everything about her. She could still remember her family and friends, even their names. She could still remember her profession, her wants and likes. She could still remember her status in life. Most importantly, she could still remember the detective she met in the city one night.

Tyson could also remember everything about him and every person that came into his life. What was Memoria for?

"It's okay, we're still not sure of it," Harlow said. "Malay natin may iba talagang ibig sabihin 'yang Memoria."

"Yes, maybe. So the only thing we can do for now is to find its location."

She concurred with his statement. Since they knew already the symbol and found it on the map, they started walking again.

They were excited to know what they would going to do in Memoria since the mission was not clearly stated on the paper. It just told them to go there so they would know the next step of their quest.

While walking, they could not take away their eyes on the surroundings. The cold air breeze was also touching their skin that made the moment even more overwhelming.

After some long walk, they entered a cake shop and took a rest there for some time. They did not have money to buy any but they remembered they had tokens.

Tyson went to the counter and ask the woman in charged there if they were accepting tokens in exchange of cakes and drinks.

"No, Sir," the woman replied. "We are not also accepting money. There's no such thing in the world of Heallven. Everything you see inside here is for free."

He raised his eyebrows and his lip automatically formed a letter 'o'.

"Is that true?" he asked.

"Yes, Sir. You can pick anything you want and I'll serve you."

He didn't really expect the foods for free, so he was indeed amazed. After he told the crew the cakes and drinks he wanted, he went back to the table wherein Harlow was taking her seat. He told her what was the crew told him, and she was amazed as well.

After some time, the crew came back holding two plates of cakes, both flavored chocolate. They were also served with drinks— orange juice and water.

"Grabe," Harlow said as she tasted the chocolate, "sobrang sarap ng libreng 'to."

"Sinabi mo pa," Tyson chuckled.

"Paano kung gusto pa natin, puwede pa bang bumalik?"

"I guess so. Kung kulang pa 'yan para sa'yo, sabihan mo lang ako, and I'll ask her again for another piece."

She thanked him and continued eating again. Sarap na sarap siya sa pagkain hanggang sa maubos niya 'yon.

Tyson came back to the counter and as what he was expecting, the crew gave him again a piece of cake for free. Kahit ilang beses palang bumalik ay ayos lang, hindi nga lang maaaring mag-uwi.

When they were satisfied enough, they went out of the shop and continued walking.

"Ba't kaya libre ang mga pagkain dito?" tanong ni Harlow habang sila'y naglalakad.

Tyson expressed hesitations.

"Saka naalala mo sina Ate Lully at Kuya Lupio hindi rin binabayaran kahit nagtatrabaho sila kasi raw ibinibigay na ng Heallven lahat ng needs nila," dagdag pa niya. "Kaya siguro walang pera dito kasi libre lahat. Naalala mo pa sinabi nila na sa pera daw kasi nagmumula ang greediness?"

Tyson nodded. "Ah, oo, naalala ko na. Well if that's the case, it's all good."

"Pero naalala ko lang din, marami pa tayong tokens na natitira, para saan 'yon? Kung libre lahat, para saan pa 'yon?"

"I don't know as well, pero naalala ko hiningan ako nila Ate at Kuya ng tokens noong mahimatay ka, pinambili ng herbal."

"So ibig sabihin may mga hindi pa rin libre? May mga ginagamitan pa rin ng tokens?"

"Ewan ko, siguro?"

They stopped talking for awhile and thought about things. It was been a while of staying in Heallven, but there were still things that were making them confused. There were still things that they didn't know.

While on the way, they made sure they were tracking the right way. Patingin-tingin sila sa mapa nang sa gayon ay malaman nila kung nasaan na sila. After some long walk, they discovered something.

"Look at this tall gate," Harlow said in amazement.

They reached a tall gate that was known for the gate of Memoria; they were sure about it because they already landed there. The gate was taller than the trees and was colored white. Dahil sa taas n'on ay hindi rin nila tanaw kung ano ang nasa loob.

"How are we going to enter this?" Tyson asked.

Harlow shook her head.

Both of them didn't know what to do, so they looked at the map, hoping they would see some instructions, but they failed. There was no other information written on the paper about the Memoria.

"Wala bang doorbell diyan?" tanong ng dalaga.

He chuckled. "Tara doorbell sabay takbo."

She slapped his arms. "Loko ka talaga," she laughed. "Pero sa totoo lang nakaka-miss din."

"Oh tingnan mo, ginagawa mo rin pala."

"Childhood days lang, ano ba?" she glared. "Pero paano nga? Parang wala namang doorbell diyan, eh. Saka sobrang laki ng gate, mahirapan pa tayong maghanap."

"Eh, ano?"

"Katok na lang tayo."

He laughed.

"Why?"

"Are you serious?"

"A-ah, medyo?"

"As if they would hear the knocks," he said. "Tara na lang lapit tayo sa gate, baka sakaling may doorbell talaga."

The lady agreed with him, and so they walked closer to the gate. Habang palapit sila nang palapit doon ay unti-unti naman iyong bumukas.

"Woah?"

Their eyes and lips automatically grew bigger as the gate welcomed them. When it was fully opened, they were amazed of what was inside. Inside was a wide and tall kingdom that was also painted white.

"Is this Memoria?" Harlow said.

"I feel like I'm in heaven."

Time by time, they stepped in their feet and passed by the gate. Nang tuluyan naman na silang makapasok ay automatiko itong sumara. Heallven was ready full of surprises, full of magics.

"Hindi ba kaya nasa langit talaga tayo?" she said as she wandered her eyes all throughout the exterior of Memoria.

"If Heallven is heaven, then my belief just became the opposite."

"Opposite, why?"

"Because back when I was still alive, I believed I would go to hell when I die."

"Really?"

He nodded. "'Yon talaga ang akala ko."

"I also believed the same thing!"

"Oh?"

"Oo, I really thought I would also go to hell when I die," she laughed. "Now I find it so funny."

They laughed.

Afterwards, they walked again until they reached the main door of Memoria. They thought it would open again itself, but they were wrong; hindi bumukas ang pinto. They tried asking for help but no one was around. So, they have no choice but to knock. They were about to tap the door when suddenly, an unfamiliar voice came out of nowhere.

"Say your names before we open the door."

They looked at each other and raised their eyebrows. No one was around but there was a voice, so they assumed there was a mic connected at the door. So, they asked who would go first through talking with their eyes. Hindi sila makapagdesisyon nang maayos dahil pareho silang nanginginig sa kaba.

"Ikaw na mauna," Harlow said.

"Ikaw na."

"Ikaw na mauna and ikaw na are not included in the list. Sorry, but we guess you're lost."

Napatingin silang dalawa ulit sa isa't isa. Their faces turned red because of laughter, but stopped right away when they realized they could be heard or seen inside.

They fixed themselves and tried speaking again. Tyson started introducing himself, then Harlow followed. But then, there was a sound of vibration.

"Sorry, you're restricted from entering Memoria at this moment of time. Try again after 24 hours."

They looked at each other again, but this time there was disappointment on their faces.

"s**t," Tyson whispered. "We're restricted, so we're gonna wait again for 24 hours, what the fuck."

"Now it's clear for me why you believed yourself going to hell," Harlow laughed.

"Why?"

"Ah, nothing," she gasped. "Maghintay na lang ulit tayo ng isang araw pa, nakakainis ka kasi, eh."

"Why me? It isn't my fault. You talked first. Sabi mo: 'Ikaw na mauna.'"

"So parang kasalanan ko, gano'n?"

"Hindi naman, pero parang gano'n na nga."

Harlow looked at the door and realized something, so she walked away. Then, Tyson followed her, calling out her name.

When they were close already at the gate, it opened automatically. And when they finally exited, it closed.

"Wala akong kasalanan," she said.

"Wala rin akong kasalanan."

"Eh sinong may kasalanan? 'Yong may boses doon sa pinto?"

"Oo, tanga mag-recognize eh."

Harlow turned red again because of laughter. She was annoyed but at the same time happy of the Memoria's stupidity, she couldn't get over.

"Funny?"

"Tanga ka rin kasi, eh," she said.

"Bakit?"

"Wala."

Tyson tsk-tsked.

Harlow walked away of the place, still laughing. Tyson on the other hand was just looking at him. He was confused of her moods, he didn't know why.

While on the way, they have decided to spend their day back in the Lushaina Village. They planned exploring the place and eat all foods there since everything was for free.

It took them how many hours to get back at the village, it was night already. Though the skies were dark, the place was still bright because of the colorful street lights all around. The place was beautiful during the day and even more beautiful during the night. Hindi nakakasawang pagmasdan ang lugar.

"I wander if there's a funfair here," Harlow told Tyson.

"Lady," a voice from nowhere said, "there's a funfair in the right side."

The two looked for the owner of the voice, and he was just right beside Harlow. It was an old man, but still looked good and strong.

"Oh my gosh," she said. "May funfair po rito?"

"Yes," the old man answered. "Sorry for interfering by the way, I just heard you."

"No, it's okay po," she smiled. "Saan po ang funfair?"

The old man pinpointed the funfair that was just at their right side. The two thanked him and left afterwards. Masaya silang nagtungo sa perya, hawak-hawak ang kamay ng isa't isa.

The funfair was so wide. There were a lot of fun rides and mini stores that surrounded them. As they were expecting, everything was just for free. Well if that was the case, they would visit the place all day and grab snacks whenever they want.

They first ride on an octopus that really made them feel dizzy. It moved so fast, to the point that it was hard for them already to breath properly. If second death was really true, they might have died for the second time.

"Teka," Harlow said, holding her head, "nakakahilo."

Tyson didn't mind her anyways because he was also holding his head because of dizziness. Siya pa nga itong natumba, ngunit buti na lang ay may mga sumalo sa kaniyang ibang tao.

"What the hell," Harlow laughed.

They were already taking a seat while eating. It was already a half hour since they went down from the ride.

"What's funny?" he asked.

"Imagine, ikaw pa ang bumagsak sa ating dalawa. Kung 'di lang din talaga ako nahihilo kanina, baka nabaliw na ako sa kakatawa."

"Napatid lang ako sa bato n'on kaya ako natumba."

"Palusot."

"By the way, what are we going to ride next?" Tyson asked.

"Teka medyo nahihilo pa ako, saka huwag mong iliko ang usapan."

He didn't talk.

"Kahit ilang beses ka pang bumagsak sa lupa, it's okay for me," she said. "Huwag ka lang bumagsak sa ibang tao, dahil baka mapatunayan kong totoo ang second death."

"Eh paano kung nahulog talaga ako sa ibang babae?"

"Papatayin nga kita."

"Paano kapag hindi mo nagawa?"

"Edi salamat na lang sa lahat."

He chuckled. "You're so cute."

She glared. "Hindi mo ako madadaan sa ganyan, ano. Besides I knew it already, I'm cute."

"Taas ng confidence level," he chuckled. "But to tell you the truth, sa mundo nga ni minsan hindi ako nahulog sa isang babae, sa kabilang buhay pa kaya?"

"So sinasabi mong hindi ka rin hulog sa akin?"

"Yes, exactly."

"Ah, okay."

"Kiddin'," he giggled. "What I mean is it's impossible for me to fall for someone else because my attention is only focused on you."

"How would I believe you?"

"Don't believe me by words, believe me by actions."

The soft wind came and made everything seemed so romantic. The world also seemed to slowly moving when they looked at each other's eyes. The feeling of being in loved hit so different.

After some time, they have decided to ride again. Halos sinubukan na nila ang lahat, at nang magsawa sila'y naglibot muna sila sa buong perya. They didn't know what time was it, but they assumed it was close to midnight already.

"Inaantok ka na ba?" Tyson asked while they were walking.

"Hin-" Harlow was stopped from talking when she yawned.

"Hindi pa nga, eh halatang inaantok na."

"I'm a bit sleepy now, but I still wanted to ride on a ferris wheel. Baka hindi na kasi maulit since we're going back to Memoria in just few hours."

"Kung gusto mo, then c'mon, we'll ride. If that would make you happy and satisfied, I'm g!"

She displayed a wide smile before they went to the ferris wheel. There, they ride and almost spent already a half hour. Riding on it, made everything clearer. The view of the whole Lushaina Village could be seen from above. Sobrang ganda talaga ng lugar lalo na ng iba't ibang kulay ng ilaw sa paligid.

They were both enjoying the scene when suddenly, all the lights were turned off. The bright Lushaina turned so dark, that it was even hard for the two to see each other. The ride also stopped from moving.

"Tyson, I can't see you," Harlow said as she moved her hands, trying to touch him.

"Shh, I'm just here," he said. "Just don't move for awhile, you might do something wrong."

"Anong something wrong?"

"Baka 'yang pinto pa ang mahawakan mo't mabuksan. Just stay put, baka bumalik din ang mga ilaw."

As what he had told her, she fixed herself and didn't move for awhile. She was waiting for the lights to turn on again, but instead of lights, it was a loud—

BANG!