Sarang

Chapter 26

"I---"

"I know what you're thinking. Don’t try to tell me that," she cut me off.

"Rose..."

"Sia, ayan ka nanaman. You're being impulsive again. Basta-basta ka nanamang gumagawa ng desisyon. I told you to avoid doing that."

"I know, okay? But at least this time it's for my family. Please. I am willing to pay---"

"Don't you dare say that in front of me. I am warning you," may diing sabi niya.

"Please," I pleaded. "I'm doing this for Aeris. This will be the last. Huli na 'to, I promise," I begged her.

"Alam ba ng kapatid mo 'to? Alam ba ni Asher?"

"They don't have to know."

"Sia," she sighed. "This will be the last I'm letting you do the things you want."

She hold my hand and in just a blink of an eye, naglalakad na kami papasok sa isang mansion. It's been how many years since I go here. At ngayon, babalik nanaman ako.

"Alessia," she greeted us when we entered her office. She's Athena, one of the most powerful deity. "Sabi na nga ba dahil nakaramdaman ako ng hindi maganda."

"Si Rose 'yon," sagot ko before sitting on the couch.

"Ano nanamang ginawa ng alaga mo? Ano nanamang kailangan niyan?"

"She wants his brother's memories of the past to come back."

"Are you aware of what---"

"Of course," I cut him off.

"Wala ka pa ring pinagbago," she commented.

"Well, duh?"

She laughs a little at me before going back to her seat.

"I won't discuss it with you anymore since you seem to know everything."

"Send me somewhere warm if you can," I told her before I stood up and moved in front of her. "I get cold easily," I added pero mukhang walang siyang naririnig. "I said I get cold easily."

"Alessia Mackenzie Markle, the moody immortal being."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin because of the words she used to describe me.

"Based on what you wished to have, your payment will be..." she stopped to read what is written on the next page. "... to be sent to the First Underground World. However, we take into consideration all the lives you've saved and help."

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ko sa narinig. May advantage rin pala ang mga ginagawa ko.

"So, you will be able to put on probation for one week."

"What? Wait a minute," I stopped her from talking. "A week? That's too long," I complained but she ignored me.

"And during that week, you will live inside a human body and feel the pain of life, sickness, and death. Are you still willing to back out?"

"No."

"Great. That's the way to the Snow Forest Prison."

"What?" I asked. "Snow Forest Prison? I said I get old easily."

"Then you're free to back out. Any objection?"

"Any other option?"

"Bridge of Suffer."

Mas lalo akong ngumuso when I heard the other option. "Okay."

I was about to walk when my phone suddenly rang. Napatingin ako sa kaniya at nakitang tinanguan niya lang ako.

"What?" I asked when I answered the call. It was Asher.

"Were you sleeping?" he asked.

"No. I was watching," I lied.

"But I can't hear anything?"

"I stopped it when you called," pagrarason ko. "How was it? Is he having fun?"

"Oo. Naglalaro sila ngayon. Do you want to come over? Para sabay-sabay na tayong kumain."

"No, I'm fine," I told him. "Hey, I'm going somewhere for a few days."

"Huh? Akala ko ba pagod ka?"

"Yeah. Babalik din ako kaagad."

"Hindi kita pwedeng samahan? Ilang araw?"

"It's outside Manila. And I'm not sure yet."

"Okay. Don't turn off your phone and always update me," he said. Marami pa siyang binilin bago ako tuluyang nagpaalam. Seryoso akong tumingin sa pintuan bago huminga ng malalim. For some strange reason, I can't seem to leave. I wonder if it's okay to leave him all by himself.

"Sia," Rose called me. "Alam mong maraming susubok sa 'yo sa loob, hindi pa? Alam mong hindi lang 'yon ang mangyayari."

"I know," I told her. "Look for Asher on behalf of me. I'll kill you if something happens to him," I threatened her. Tumalikod na ako at dali-daling pumasok sa pintuan.

"Time in the prison moves at a different pace than in the real world. In this world, one day is equivalent to ten years. You don't eat anything. You don't sleep at all. And lastly, you're not even allowed to die."

Third Person's POV

Matiyagang naghihintay si Asher sa mga bata at kay Aeris na kasalukuyang naglalaro ngayon habang panay ang tingin sa cellphone niya. Nang hindi na siya makapaghintay ay muli niyang dinial ang phone nito only to find out that the phone was turned off.

"What's wrong with this woman? I told her not to turn off her phone and update me from time to time. Isang oras palang ang nakalipas pero nakapatay na kaagad ang cellphone niya," reklamo niya habang nakasimangot.

"Okay ka lang?" tanong ni Aeris. Ni hindi niya man lang napansin na nasa harap na pala niya sila.

"Are you done playing?" he asked them.

"Oo. Gutom na raw sila, eh. Pakainin na muna natin," she said. "Si Ate ba? Hindi ba sumunod para sabay-sabay tayong kumain?"

"She said she was going somewhere."

"Saan daw?"

"Outside Manila. Hindi niya sinabi kung ilang araw."

"Babalik din 'yon. Ang isang araw sa kaniya ay isang oras."

Nakahinga naman ng maluwag si Asher dahil sa narinig mula sa kapatid nito. Mabuti naman pala kung gano'n.

They let the children choose where to eat at katulad ng inaasahan sa Jollibee ang tinuro nila. Aeris was so happy to see his brother enjoying the day, hindi nga lang dahil sa kaniya pero at least magkasama sila.

Samantala, si Asher naman ay pinipilit nlang tumawa at makipagkulitan kahit na ang totoo ay gustong-gusto na niyang umuwi para tingnan kug nakauwi na ba si Sia. He tried calling her again pero naka-off pa rin ang cellphone niya.

They were just eating when Waki suddenly fainted.

"Oh my God," nanlalaki ang mga matang sabi Aeris. Dali-daling tumayo si Asher para buhatin ang bata at isakay sa sasakyan. Alam niyang magagalit si Sia kapag nalaman niyang may nangyarng masama sa kaptid niya.

Nagmamadali siyang magmaneho at eksaktong pagkarating nila sa tapat ng hospital ay nagising na muli siya.

"Ami? Okay ka lang ba? Anong nararamdaman mo? May masakit ba sa 'yo?" sunod-sunod na tanong niya but the little boy was too stunned to speak. "Ami, ano? Sabihin mo kay Ate---"

"Ate Aeris," he suddenly cried before hugging her sister tightly. Parehong nagulat si Asher at Aeris dahil sa ginawa niya. "I missed you. Te extrañé hermana mayor."

"W-what?" mas lalong gulat na tanong ni Aeris sa kapatid. "What did you just said?"

"Naaalala na po kita. Naaalala ko na po kayo ni Ate Sia," he said while still crying.

"Oh my God," hindi makapaniwalang sabi niya. "Oh my God," she repeated. "Paanong... oh my God," she didn't know what to say. Tumingin siya kay Asher na ngayon ay mukhang hindi rin makapaniwala sa nangyayari habang ang dalawang kapatid nito ay nagtataka lang na nakatingin sa kanila.

"Please tell Ate that---" she stopped talking when she realized something. "What did she told you again? Saan siya pupunta?"

"Outside Manila. Bakit?"

"Mierda," malutong na mura niya. "Start the engine. Idadala muna natin sila sa orphanage bago tayo uuwi. Biisan mo."

At ganoon nalang ka-frustrated si Aeris nang wala silang madatnan sa bahay nila. "s**t, s**t, s**t," paulit-ulit na sabi niya.

"Can you explain to me what's happening?"

"'Yong pagbaik ng memorya ni Ami. Alam kong may kinalaman ang pag-alis niya dahil doon."

"What?"

"Stay here. Don't go somewhere else. I'll try to look for a way to find her. Give me a call when she came back."

But as soon as Aeris left the house, Asher was abducted by someone.

Alessia's POV

He's in danger. Was this still part of the payment?

"Athena. I need to talk to you," nanghihinang sabi ko. "Rose, you better find him now or I'll put you here with me. I know you can hear me. Let me out. Athena. Please. Let me out! Faster! Let me out already! Darn it. Darn it, Athena!"

"How dare you say that to me? Why are you being so loud?"

"Athena. I need to get out here. Let me out. Please!"

"Shut up!" she shouted. "Don't you know where you are right now?"

"I'll go to the Bridge of Suffer. Then I can get out within a day."

"Or you may never get out in that body," she seriously told me.

Ilang beses akong huminga ng malalim dahil sa sinabi niya. "I don't care," seryosong sagot ko.

"You better stay alive, Alessia. Kung hindi, masasayang ang ilang libong taong pinaghirapan mo. Because of that man, your life will be in danger the moment you take your step on the Bridge of Suffer."

Walang pag-aalinlangan akong tumapak. I can't waste more time anymore. Wala ng oras. Unang tapak ko palang ay ramdam ko na ang hirap na dadanasin ko. I need to fight with the strong wind na magtutulak sa akin pabalik, I need to avoid the knives kasama na rin ang paggalaw ng tulay habang unti-unting nagtatanggalan ang mga daadaanan ko papunta sa kabilang dulo ng tulay.

"Ahhh!!!" I shouted in pain lalo na nang maramdaman kong may tumamang kutsilyo sa balikat ko. "I hate you, Asher! I really hate you! I told you to stay away from danger! Kapag may nangayring masama sa 'yo, ako mismo ang papatay sa 'yo!"

Dinaan ko ang sakit at hirap na nararamdaman ko sa pagsigaw. My body wanted to quit but my mind says otherwise. Malapit na. Kaunti nalang.

Muli akong napasigaw ng malakas nang may tumama nanaman kutsilyo sa bandang tagiliran ko. Nanlalabo na ang paningin ko but my parents didn't raise a quitter. I know they're watching me right at ipapakita kong kaya ko. Kayang-kaya ko.

"Ahh!" malakas na sigaw ko ng sa wakas ay makarating na ako sa dulo. Napapikit ako sa liwanag at pagdilat ng mga mata ko ay nasa harap na ako ng abandonadong bulding.

"Huwag kayong lalapit!"

Mula sa pwesto ko ay narinig koang boses ng lalaking hinahanap ko. Pinilit kong idilat ng mabuti ang mga mata ko at sinubukang hanapin kung saan nanggagaling ang boses na 'yon. Nang wala akong makita sa unang palapag ay dali-dali akong tumingala.

"Huwag kayong lalapit sa akin! Huwag na huwag!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang palapit na siya ng palapit sa gilid. At sa oras na mawalan na siya ng balanse at mahulog ay buong lakas na akong bumangon saka dali-daling tumakbo para saluhin siya.

Napasigaw ako ng maramdaman ko ang bigat niya pero wala na akong maramdamang kahit na anong sakit sa katawan ko. I can't even feel my body.

"Sia!" I heard him shouted my name. "Are you okay? What happened to you?!" nag-aalalang tanong niya. I wanted so bad to hit him dahil ako pa ang tinanong niya gayong siya itong muntik ng mamatay pero wala na akong lakad para magsalita pa.

Naramdaman ko nalang na binuhat niiya ako at kung paano kami nakarating sa bahay? 'Yon ang hindi ako alam.

"Oh my God!" gulat na sabi ni Aeris nang makita ang lagay ko. "Idala mo siya sa kwarto niya. I will get the first aid kit," nagpapanic na sabi niya. Tumango naman si Asher bago maingat akong dinala sa kwarto at binaba sa kama ko.

"I knew it," sabi ni Aeris habang ginagamot na ang mga sugat ko. Asher remained beside me while holding my hand tightly.

"Loosen your grip. Hindi pa ako mamamatay," nanghihinang sabi ko sa kaniya.

"Stop talking," he told me.

"Where did you go? Where have you been?" seryosong tanong ni Aeris sa akin.

"Snow Forest Prison," I answered

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Don't lie to me. There are such things there for you to have these kinds of wounds."

"I was... there. But I came to the Bridge of Suffer afterward. I need to get out of there as soon as possible."

"Are you..." bigla siyang tumigil at bahagyang hinina ang boses ng ma-realize niyang bahagyang tumaas ang boses niya. "... are you out of your mind?"

"Where is Ami? Can he... can he remember us now? Naalala na ba niya tayo?" I asked her. Tumigil siya sa ginagawa at sinalubong ang mga mata ko. I saw how tears began to form on her eyes.

"You don't have to... risk your life because of this," she told me before her tears started to fall. "Hindi mo naman kailangang gawin 'to. Tingnan mo ang nangyari. Paano kapag hindi ka nagtagumpay na tumawid sa bridge na 'yon? Paano naman kami?" umiiyak na sabi niya.

"Aeris," I called her name. "You know I can't die yet."

"I know but---"

"It's fine. I guess this treatment is okay now. Go. Take a rest. Alam kong pagod ka buong araw."

"Please..."

"I'm fine," I assured her. Tumingin siya kay Asher bago dahan-dahang tumayo at lumabas ng kwarto ko. Binitiwan na niya ang kamay ko bago kinuha ang bandage at pinagpatuloy ang ginagawa ni Aeris kanina.

"Am I still beautiful?" I asked him.

"You..." his voice broke. "How can you ask that to me?"

"Why are you crying? Hindi naman nakakaiyak ang tanong ko," natatawang sabi ko. "Am I still beautiful? O hindi na?"

"You're beautiful," he told me.

"Really? How much?"

"Your beauty is incomparable," seryosong sabi niya. "Looking at you is like listening to angels sing."

Tuluyan na akong natawa dahil sa sinabi niya. I didn't expect him to say that.

"Were you scared earlier?" I asked him. Nakita kong bahagang humipit ang pagkakahawak niya a betadine kaya inabot ko ang isang kamay niya. "See? I told you. As long as I'm existing, I will not let anything bad happen to you. I won't let you die."