The Sixth Girl Book 2

Chapter 9

“Dozens of Tripartatian soldiers wounded while hundreds of terrorists are confirmed killed after the Siege of Laroost that lasted roughly three hours. It was thanks to a special tip of a visiting high ranking official of a certain Pacific State that helped saved countless of lives. Official Statement vowed increased security measures and border control following the surprise attack of extremetists. Meanwhile, the Aristocratic Dukedom of Riksent and the Tripartite Alliance Nations as a whole refused to further comment the status of Crown Count Travis who was reportedly injured severely. Rumors has it that he is the main target of the terrorists. The group tried unsuccessfully these past decades to neutralize the Alliance for its ongoing support on the War Against Terror. The three powerful monarchies pledged to continue their assistance and refused to be silenced to submission. They promised to increase funding of homeland defense and will donate further to other countries devastated by terror attacks. Meanwhile, fans of the sensational singing idol Winry is very worried for her wellbeing as she is one of the performers for the event before the siege begun. Wild speculations and rumors said that she fought the terrorists herself to protect the Crown Count. Is this the truth? Or a blatant marketing ploy for her much awaited comeback? All the Dukedom will confirm was that she was wounded and is now on her way to recovery. This is Holler reporting for KNN Tripartite Bureau.”

Galing ata sa isang t.v news channel ang nakinig ko.

Parang bineblender sa kawalan ang utak ko ngayon.

Hindi ako makamulat at parang nasa ere ang eyeballs ko.

Para akong pinapaypayan ng malakas at malamig na hangin na may yelo.

Nasaan ba ako?

Patay na ba ako?

Kung oo, grabe, may news pa rin sa afterlife? Anak ng pusa, patay na nga hinahabol ka pa ng balita?

Si Dex? Totoo ba nandito lang siya kanina? Panaginip lang ba ang lahat?

“Winry this is good for your career! Free advertising and marketing!”

“Shut up Drei.”

Nakakinig ako ng tawanan.

“Man, I wish your twin was here at times like this. He, unlike you, is very friendly and supportive of me. He loves me a lot.”

“Yes, because my brother cannot see anything wrong with anything you said and do. You blew up a dumpsite when we were nine just for fun and he thinks it’s all right.”

Napatawa na lang kung sino man ang nasa paligid ko.

Pamilyar ang mga boses nila.

Pinilit kong imulat ang aking mga mata.

It was the same room as before.

The same room where I’m lying earlier.

Pero wala si Drei dito.

Bagkos, ang nakita ko ay si Drei na nakaupo sa sofa sa left side ng kwarto.

Si Travis na may benda din ang katawan at nakaupo sa tabi ni Drei. May saklay sa tabi niya.

At ang babaeng nakaupo sa paanan ng aking kama.

Like me and Travis, she is covered from head to foot with bandages. But unlike us, she exudes such class and beauty on the level of Stacie and Louise even when patched up like a mummy.

Masaya silang nagkwekwentuhan at ilang saglit pa ay napagawi ang mga mata ni Winry sa direksyon ko at napansin na nila na gising na ako.

“Oh, my God! Verna!” gulat na sigaw ni Winry sa akin sabay lingon kay Drei, “You! Go to the nurse’s station!” utos niya dito bago tumayo at lumapit sa kanan ko at hinawakan ang aking kamay ng mahigpit.

“Why me?!” maktol ni Drei na lumapit sa akin at kumaway.

“You want Travis to crawl on his way there?” sumbat dito ni Winry na nagpangisi naman kay Drei.

Lumingon ito sa pinsan at tinawanan ito, “You know what Trav? I might just want to see and record you crawling,” nakakalokong sabi nito sa nakaupong si Travis na nagpailing na lang dito.

Bago pa maka angal si Winry ay tumakbo na agad ito sa pinto at lumabas ng mabilis.

Napabuntong hininga na lang si Winry at ibinalik niya ang tingin niya sa akin, “He never change. He still acts like he never grew past his nine year old self,” naiiling na sabi niya sa akin, “But never mind him. How are you? Ano ang nararamdaman mo? Nagugutom ka ba? You want something drink?” sunod sunod na tanong niya sa akin.

I don’t know what to say.

All I can do is to stare at her and Travis. They are real. They are alive.

“I’m fine. I’m just… I’m just happy to see you two here,” matipid kong sabi habang pinipigil ko ang aking mga luha.

Nagkatinginan silang dalawa bago marahang hinaplos ni Winry ang pisngi ko, “All thanks to you, Verna.”

“Ang dami ko nang utang na loob sa iyo. Paano ba ako makakabayad?” naiiling na tanong sa akin ni Travis from his seat.

Kumurap-kurap ako at seryoso ko siyang tiningnan, “Ibibigay ko sa iyo ang bank account number ko Travis. I want a billion euro, tax free, wired to it right now bago magkalimutan.”

To my surprise ay naglabas ito ng phone mula sa kanyang bulsa at nag type dito, “No need to give me your account number, Verna. I can make a new one for you right now in Switzerland. Just give me a few minutes and I will send it right away. Kung kulang pa, just give me a call and…. Wait a minute,” tigil niya sa kanyang monologue nang makita nyang natatawa na kaming dalawa ni Winry sa kanya, “Verna after all the things that happened, you still have the guts to joke around?!” galit na sagot nito sa akin at pikon na tiningnan ng masama si Winry na tuloy ang tawa.

“I pity you, idol. Imagine, makakasama mo habang buhay ang isang walang sense of humor na iyan? Thank God tinanggihan ko siya ng inalok sa akin iyan ng nanay niya!” relieved kong biro kay Winry na nagpahagalpak ng malakas dito sabay hawak sa mga sugat niya na bubukas na ata kakatawa.

“Hey! Below the belt na iyan ha?” galit na sabi niya sa akin.

Napatigil kaming dalawa ni Winry sa pagtawa ng mahalata kong nag iba ang tono ni Travis.

Itinaas ko ang aking kilay, “Are you, by any chance, getting angry at me, Travis?”

Umiling agad ito at napatingin kay Winry, “No. No. Hell no. After kong makita on my very own eyes what you did to those poor terrorists. Never na never akong magagalit sa iyo. You can make fun of me for the rest of my life in public or in private all you want. You earned the right.”

“Kinuwento sa akin ni Travis ang nangyari noong gabi na iyon sa throne room, Verna. Word by word. He told me your answer and honestly, aside from your monstrous strength, ang iyong paninindigan ang isa sa hinahangaan ko sa iyo,” seryosong sabi ni Winry sa akin.

“If I accepted then I will never see you two here in front of me. Happy, alive and full of love. How long na pinangarap kong makita ng personal ang eksenang ito na sa libro ko lang nababasa?” sagot ko sa kanya.

“I don’t know how, when or where, Verna. Pero makakabawi din ako sa iyo. Salamat, salamat ng mar---,” naputol ang sinasabi ni Travis ng umiling ako.

I looked at the two of them and shook my head in guilt, “Don’t thank me. Honestly, what I really want to save back then was my dream. Not the two of you specifically but the dream that I’m holding on since I was a kid. The dream to witness true happiness, even though it didn’t happen to me, I wished and hoped that I can help someone attain it,” tiningnan ko silang dalawa at ngumiti ako, “I will never let them take away the happiness that they took away from me decades ago from the two of you. I feel that I finally avenged my parents. So if there is someone who have to express gratitude here. Ako iyon. Salamat in a most convoluted way. You have given me a chance to prove to myself that happy endings are real and for giving me a chance to avenge my family. Thank you,” naiiyak kong sabi sa kanilang dalawa.

Napapikit ako at naramdaman kong niyakap ako ni Winry ng mahigpit.

Ilang saglit pa at iminulat ko ang aking mga mata at nakita kong payapang nakangiti sa akin ang dalawa.

“So, Travis, baka naman pwedeng lumabas ka at ikuha mo ako ng makakain. Ayoko ng nasa fridge. Gusto ko ng mainit. Pakitagalan na rin pagbalik mo,” utos ko sa kanya.

“What? Why me? I can easily ask someone!” tutol nito sa akin.

“Ok sige diyan ka lang habang tinatanong ko si idol kung ano ang bust size niya at kung regular ang menstruation niya. Diyan ka lang para malaman mo din kung paano kami nag lilinis ng private parts at kung ano ang ginagamit naming cleaner. At kung nagbubunot ba kami ng buhok sa…”

Hindi na natapos ang litanya ko at as expected ay hindi nito nasikmura ang pinagsasabi ko at mabilis niyang kinuha ang kanyang saklay at iika ikang lumabas ng kwarto.

“You are really from Vasque Faction,” hangang sabi ni Winry sa akin habang tinutulungan niya akong makaupo.

Tumango tango naman ako at huminga ng malalim bago ko tinitigan si Winry, “Well, I was the Representative Coordinator of Vasque. I have a reputation to take care of,” natatawang biro ko dito, “But enough about me. Who are you really? Or to be specific, what are you?” I asked seriously as I pointed her chest which I know is not a regular chest of a human being.

Suddenly her aura changed. From carefree, she became business-like and formal. I guess it’s not just me who wears masks.

“Verna I don’t think that…” simula niya pero hinarang ko agad siya.

“Sa tingin mo, sa lahat ng nangyari, sa lahat ng nagawa ko. Sa lahat ng naitumba kong terorista para sa harap ninyo out of desperation and madness. I, of all the people, deserves to learn the whole truth about you? Do you think I am entitled of such information? No matter how dark, confidential or gory?”

Hindi ito sumagot, bagkos ay wala sa isip na hinawakan ang kanyang sugat sa kamay bago nagsimulang mag kwento.