Nefarious

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Birthday

Hinatid ako ni Konstantine pauwi sa bahay nang hapong iyon. Naglalakad pa lang kami ay nalalasahan ko na ang kaniyang pagpipigil sa kabila ng katahimikan. Hinarap ko ito pagkatapos buksan ang pinto pero hindi pa rin siya nagsasalita. Isang pagyuko lang bilang paalam at tumalikod na. Tanging si Alejandro lang ang kumaway.

I spent the next days inside my home to cool down. Only after I woke up on a certain morning did I act on my urge to finally go out and run into the heart of the forest. The castle stood mighty and proud like its master but the loneliness coming from deep within remained.

"Magandang gabi, binibini! Napadalaw ka ulit! Ang buong akala namin ay hindi ka na dadalaw!"

Ngumiti ako kay Therese na bumungad sa malaking pintuan. Hinatid niya ako papasok. Kahit ilang araw akong hindi nakapunta ay parang nakaukit na sa akin ang mga pinto at palapag nito.

"Oo naman, Therese!" Ilang segundo pa akong nag-isip bago nagpasyang magtanong. "Kamusta si Konstantine?"

"Walang pinagbago ang kamahalan. Nakakulong lang sa silid-aklatan o sa kaniyang kwarto, binibini."

"At lagi niya itong ginagawa?"

Tumango ang taga-silbi. "Simula nang mamatay ang pinakamamahal na asawa ay kinulong na lang ang sarili sa loob ng kastilyo. Matagal na panahon itong nagtago. Sa tagal niyang pagkakahimlay ay alam kong malungkot pa rin ang kamahalan."

Napatingin ako sa nilalakaran naming mga baitang ng hagdan. Hindi ko alam kung para saan ang mainit na kamaong bumabalot sa buong puso ko.

I could picture him in this castle, alone and mourning for all eternity. He might've had the extravagant home and immeasurable treasures, all these servants waiting for his word and probably all the best things in the world but like his castle, he was still alone. He was still a man who lost his woman but it wasn't the loss that affected him the most. It was the endless hate that he had to face every day and knowing he would do so until his last breath.

"Mabuti na lang dahil dumating ka, Celeste! Gumising ulit ang kamahalan! Unang beses ko itong nakitang muling lumabas para makihalubilo sa bayan ng Legada. Isa ka mang mangkukulam ay alam kong mas mabuti ka pa sa mga tao sa labas."

I could only walk in silence. I didn't bother telling her that I wasn't a witch. I didn't bother speaking at all.

Iniwan ako ni Therese sa harapan ng isang malaking pintuan. Hindi ito papuntang silid-aklatan o sa malaking bulwagan kung saan kami kumakain. Mas mataas dahil sa mas maraming bilang ng baitang. Hindi katulad sa ibaba, malamig ang ere sa mga pasilyo ng palapag na ito marahil ay ilang tungtong na lang ay aabutin na ang langit.

I touched the silver handle, noticing the intricate details of a wolf carved in it. Slowly, I turned it and heard the door creaking loudly. The room was dark and cold. It was only utter darkness but I was already half-way through the room, following the little breaths that seemed so familiar to me nowadays.

My eyes fell on two, glowing, red orbs following my every step. A cold wind brushed my cheek. I looked down on the floor, walking closer and closer until I could feel his breath on my neck.

"Konstantine..." I whispered, softly cupping his jaw that seemed to relax under my touch.

He released a heavy breath.

Kahit mabigat aking mga balikat ay pinilit kong ngumiti. Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto akong nakatayo sa kaniyang harapan, hawak ang kaniyang panga na marahang dinadampian ng aking mga daliri. Hindi ko rin alam kung kailan niya pinagsalikop ang aming mga kamay at unti-unting dinala sa kaniyang mga labi.

"Nagpahanda ako ng hapunan sa ibaba. Samahan mo ako," bulong ko.

Only did his head move when he nodded. He let go of my hand and let me led him outside of the dark confines of his room.

The dinner did improve Konstantine's mood. He was teasing me again with the evil glint in his eyes so I assumed that he was already fine. But only for tonight because I would be lying even to myself if I ever said that he was. He wasn't. He was a sad man no matter how noble and honorable he carried himself. He was as sad as I was. The only difference was, I was mourning for the life I didn't have while he was doing so because of the life he already lost.

"Bakit nga pala wala si Alejandro?" tanong ko sa hapag.

"I sent him out to patrol the borders of the castle."

"Why? Is something wrong?" I stopped eating.

Konstantine played with his glass of wine, his hand moving in light circular motions that was hypnotizing. Disgust was written in his face.

"Some of the townspeople decided it was a good idea to cut the trees in that certain region. It is the part of the forest where the soil is most fertile. Those type of trees are far healthier and sturdier rather than the average ones near their homes."

"Hindi ba pwedeng kausapin ang mga taong huwag magputol ng mga puno?"

"Kausapin?" mabangis niyang pag-uulit.

The low laugh that echoed didn't sound like him.

"They run at mere sight of evil like they aren't doing it in the first place. They crucified me and my home as if they didn't force us to live like this. Men are the world's first thieves and hypocrites."

"Konstantine..." mahina kong tawag.

Tumaas lamang ang kilay nito. Sa labas ay naririnig ko na ang malakas na pagbuhos ng ulan.

"They cut trees. They bomb lakes. They mine the ground, the very ground that holds their city together. Yet they are the ones who act so innocent that they think God is on their side." Konstantine looked at the lightning marring the charcoal sky. "If the devil is saying that your God has already abandoned you, then you truly are worse than the devil himself and you're going to hell for it."

Wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang palipasin ang mga kulog at kidlat. Tinapos ko na lang ang pagkain. Nang mag-angat ako ng tingin ay ang nag-aabang na mga mata ni Konstantine ang aking nakita.

"Maghahanda ako bukas at bubuksan ko ang bahay kung sino ang may gustong kumain," dahan-dahan kong sinabi.

Kumunot kaagad ang kaniyang noo.

"Iimbitahin ko rin sina Therese at Alejandro. Ikaw rin, Konstantine, kung gusto mo."

"Why are you doing this? Why do you want so much of their approval?"

"I don't want their approval. I just don't want my life to be viewed insignificant like it had always been. I want to leave something behind when I die." Napaiwas ako ng tingin. "I also want that for you."

His eyes raged, anger seeping out of him like his control. He looked so pissed that he might as well beat the s**t out of me. His neck corded, the veins on its side pulsing wildly. I remained looking at him. Only did he calm down when he realized he was only with me and not with the people, forcing down the anger that he was carrying for a long time.

"Spend the rest of your life here. With me and with everyone that will never look at you the same way as everybody does. Live and die here, Celeste. With me."

His eyes didn't leave mine as much as I didn't leave his. It was like a duel but neither won because losing was far more important. After all, it was the surrendering that makes it paramount.

Umiling ako at ngumiti. Tuluyan na akong tumayo, iniiwan ulit siyang mag-isa.

"It's my last birthday tomorrow, Konstantine. I hope you can come..." I nodded at him before leaving.

Kinabukasan ay maaga akong nagising kahit na madaling-araw na nang dalawin ng tulog. Kagaya ng plano ko ay gusto kong buksan ang bahay. Bukod sa maaaring makakilala pa ako ng mga tao sa Legada, magagawa ko na rin ang dati pang pangarap na maghanda tuwing birthday. Ang mga kaarawan kasi sa orphanage ay feeding ng lugaw at pansit. Masaya naman pero kahit isang birthday ay hindi pa ako nakaranas nang may mga iba't ibang mga handa lalo ang cake.

Inimbita ko sina Gianna at Benny. Pati na rin ang mga bata noon sa plaza at ang may-ari ng karinderya kahit pa creepy ito minsan. Pasado alas-dos na nang matapos akong magluto. Una kong nakita si Gianna na paparating, may dalang isang basket.

"Happy Birthday, Celeste! Regalo ko!" Pinasa niya sa mga kamay ko ang isang pasong may maliit na tangkay.

Sunod namang dumating ay ang iilang batang gusgusin. Ito ang mga pulubi at walang mapuntahan sa Legada. Hindi ko naman sila kilala pero pinapasok ko pa rin sa bahay at pinagsilbihan. Akala ko ay wala ng darating pero nadagdagan pa nang dumating si Benny.

"Saan ang pagkain? May ice cream? Masarap?" silip niya.

Natawa ako ngunit hinila na rin ang mataba nitong braso sa loob.

Kumpleto na ang celebration ko dahil dumating din sina Alejandro at Therese. Balot na balot ang balat ng dalawa. Bukod sa mga bata ay sila ang pinakamagulo sa lahat dahil manghang-mangha sa kung anong nakikitang mga bagay sa loob.

I didn't know I was waiting for someone to come over but I was. Every time I refill the trays or welcome gatecrashers, I would crane my neck like a giraffe but only went back inside the house in disappointment.

"Maligayang Kaarawan!" bati ng iilang mga tao sa aking maliit na kusina pagkatapos kong hipan ang kandila.

Bilang lang sa mga daliri ko kung ilan at sinu-sino ba ang aking mga kilala pero ayos lang. Kung hindi mga batang naghahanap ng meryenda ay mga pulubi naman. Siguradong mauubos ang kaunti kong hinanda at hindi masasayang katulad ng aking inaasahan.

"Kamusta kayong dalawa? Inaya ka ni Alejandro?" tanong ko kay Therese na ayaw galawin ang pagkain.

Sa tabi niya ay si Alejandro na lumaki kaagad ang mga mata sa akin. Bumubuka ang bibig niya na animo'y may pilit na sinasabi pero matuloy-tuloy.

Suddenly, a loud sound erupted from the outside. I immediately checked it out and found that the townspeople had found the small gathering at my house, pointing their torches and pitchfork at me. People from the house came out like washed away ants.

"Mangkukulam ka! Nilalason mo pa ang mga tao!"

"Mga bata, huwag na huwag kayong lalapit sa babaeng ito! Lalasunin kayo at papatayin sa gabi! Dios ko! Isalba niyo ang mga sarili niyo sa maligno!"