Imprint Keeper

Chpater 36

I thought last night was just a dream. A place where there is happiness and peace. But it's nothing like a dream. Akala ko nababaliw na ako, I kept hearing her voice inside my head, dictating what I should and what I shouldn't do. Trusting her is not my priority but she can help me regain my lost memories.

Sa loob ng isang gabi, naipakita niya sa 'kin ang maraming bagay na hindi ko na maalala. A deja vu.

I know, I just know I was there at that time, I know I saw those before. The missing pieces of my puzzle are now coming back and the picture of my past is finally regaining. The places I've been, people I've met and the person I love are slowly being remembered by heart.

I dream of the first time I've met Cason and the first time I fell in love. It was extraordinary because all of a sudden, I fell in love all over again.

Malamig pa ang palagid at halos kasisikat palang ng araw nang imulat ko ang mata sa pagkatok na narinig ko mula sa pintuan ng kwarto. Hindi ako lumingon at hinayaan ko lang na buksan nila iyon.

"Gising na po ba kayo, Miss Althea?"

Hindi ko mabatid kung kanino boses ang nagsalita. Bahagya akong gumalaw sa pagkakahiga at sumilip sa bandang pintuan. Isang matandang lalake ang nakita ko, at sa palagay ko siya iyong sumalubong sa 'min pagdating dito.

"Handa na po ang almusal, handa na rin po sa kwarto ang pampalit ninyong damit at iba pang kakailanganin ninyo. Hinihintay na po kayo ni Master Trent sa labas."

Bago pa man ako makatayo sa kama ay naisara na ng matanda ang pinto. Tumingin ako sa paligid at hinanap ang sinasabi niyang pampalit. Nakahanda ang tuwalya sa harap ng vanity mirror na katabi lamang ng magarang aparador. I opened it and saw different clothes for different occasion. Kahit ata tumira ako rito hindi ako mawawalan ng damit na isusuot.

As the warm water pours from the top of the head down the drain. I secretly hope I hear her voice again. Makikita ko na naman si Trent, hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang dapat kong gawin. I was hoping to hear her instructions.

Ngayong may dalawang tao na akong kilala na maaring makapagbibigay liwanag sa mga iba ko pang tanong, hindi ko pa rin alam kung sino nga ba sa kanila ang paniniwalaan ko. I want to know what lies beyond this imprint. I want to know if the treasure behind it is true. I feel like I need to know to make me feel complete.

I slid on the white kimono sleeve dress and wore golden lace sandals. Ito na ang pinili ko sa mga damit dahil nakuha nito ang atensyon ko pagtingin ko pa lang sa loob ng aparador.

As I opened the bedroom door, the old man was standing there, firmly waiting for me for almost an hour. He smiled at me and led my way out to where Trent is.

The whole place is breathtaking, mas malinaw na ito ngayon kaysa kagabi. Covered in white and ash color decorations, while the wind freely paves its way in and out the wooden sliding doors.

Trent sat on the accent table and chair for two, sipping his morning cup.

"Master patiently waited for you. Please join him." Magalang na wika ng matanda.

Tumanggo nalang ako at marahang naglakad sa manilaw-nilaw na buhangin patungo kay Trent.

"Good morning," Masayang bati ni Trent sa 'kin habang ibinababa ang tasang hawak niya. Bahagya akong ngumiti bilang sagot. "Please sit down."

"How was your sleep?" Pag-uusisa niya.

"O-okay naman, komportable naman ako."

"Good. Nakatulog ka naman ba ulit after mong magising kaninang madaling araw?"

Tumango nalang ako. His weird stare send me signal that he was about to ask something I wouldn't want to answer.

"You are frightened of me."

I was caught off guard. Sa kaunting minutong dumaan, naramdaman niya agad ang takot ko. I tried hard to look away but it seems like my body stiffened and I can't control it the way I want to.

He stood up and lean on, making our gaze meet up close. He smells cinnamon coffee keeping my fear heat up.

"Hindi dapat ako ang katakutan mo. Kung 'di ang bagay na hindi mo pa nalalaman."

"I - I'm not s-scared." I denied. "I just want to know everything." I cleared my throat in preparation for words I really want to say. "and by everything I mean, your reason for abducting me."

Pabagsak siyang umupo at hinimas-himas ang sentido. Alam kong may iba siyang gusto sa 'kin maliban pa sa kakaibang markha sa katawan ko. I know, he wants me.

"Since you can't wait." Iretable niyang wika habang kinukuha ang folder sa ilalim ng mesa. "Here, this is my proposal."

I looked at him before finally taking the folder. Sa unang pahina agad kong nakita ang larawan ng markha na katulad nang nasa katawan ko. Nakasulat sa tabi nito ang salitang 'Imprint', katulad iyon ng sinabi nang babae sa isip ko.

Malaking halaga nga ang nakatago sa likod nang Imprint na ito. Tinignan ko muna si Trent bago ko nilipat sa susunod na pahina. Walang kahit na anong bahid nang pag-aalala sa kanyang mukha. Mukhang sigurado siya na tatanggapin ko ang alok niya.

Sa sumunod na pahina nakasalaysay ang mga paraan upang ibalik ang mga alaala ko. Kabog ang naging sagot nang puso ko sa nakita. Tila ba alam nito na hindi maganda ang pamamaraan upang maibalik lang ang memorya ko.

"We have highly advance technology equipment and I can assure that the process will be painless." Ani Trent.

I flip the pages to seek answer to my questions. Ngunit nakuha ko nang natapos ang laman ng folder ay hindi ko iyon nahanap.

"You need to sign the last page to confirm that you agreed with the contract. It states that you cannot leave me err. . .the premises not until the extraction of the code is finished. Your safety is our priority next to reclaiming your memory. Kaya wala kang dapat ipag-alala."

I know he wants this. Malaking pera at kayamanan ang maaangkin niya. Wala akong pakialam sa perang iyon, that's not even mine. And I don't care if they want this. Hindi ko man nga alam kung paano ito eksaktong napunta sa katawan ko at iyon ang gusto ko pang malaman.

"How did I got this 'Imprint', alam mo ba?"

Inayos ni Trent ang upo nito. He brought his hand on his chin. "Alam ko and you’re not gonna like it."

"Just tell it to me Trent."

"Ang nanay mo ang naglagay ng Imprint sa katawan mo when you were just an infant. She works for the government at dahil nakasalalay sa kanya ang isa sa mga itinatagong ilegal na kayamanan ng bansa, kailangan niya iyong alagaan." He started.

"Importante ang lokasyon ng kayaman kaysa sa nag-iisa niyang anak." His words struck like thousand blade on my chest. Being neglected by your own mother, I can't think of anything worse.

"Giving the coords to me is your only revenge to everyone who hurt you. Who betrayed you. Who neglected you." He grinned.

The appointment, the anger came to me. My body and mind knows what he is saying is real that my hands shakes uncontrollably.

I'm sorry anak, I have to do what I have to do.

I heard her again in my mind, is this a confirmation?

Huwag kang pumayag. Gagamitin lang nila ang kayamanan sa ilegal na paraan.

"Ipinataw ng sarili mong ina ang sumpang ito nang wala kang kalaban-laban. Hindi mo magawang magkaroon ng normal na buhay dahil sa imprint. Just give it to me Althea, and you'll be free."

Their voices continued filling my head, stopping me from having my own thoughts. Her voice, crying inside my head. Trent's voice pushing my feelings deeper like a knife on my heart. My eyes starts to swell in tears. I cannot take this anymore!

"I want this to stop!"

I quickly grabbed the pen that Trent was holding. Hindi ako nagpadala sa boses na pumipigil sa utak ko. I signed the last page where my name is written.

Kunot-noo kong tinignan si Trent, malakas pa rin ang pagkabog ng puso ko. I look up to him, he smiled maliciously.

For a second, I felt like I'm gonna regret agreeing to him. But the thought of the misery that this curse had given me is making me believe that what I did is right.

"Perfect!" He exhaled joy. "You won't regret this." Hinablot niya ang papel sa 'kin at tinignan muli ang pinirmahan ko.

Tinignan niya ako at kitang-kita ko na nasiyahan siya sa ginawa ko. Ngunit may hindi tama sa ekspresyon nang mukha niya.

"You're mine now, miss Althea."