Danger, Danger, Mr. Stranger

#DDMS28

Pero putangina.

Kinilabutan ang buong katawan ko. Dahil lahat ng mga naaalala ko . . . palaging kasama ang nakatatanda kong kapatid.

"I knew it. That fucking son of a bitch." Professor Xildius clenched his hand, concentrating all his anger in his fist. "All your childhood memories are with Zilvane . . . because those are the only events in your life that he has witnessed."

Tuloy-tuloy na ang pagbuhos ng mga luha ko. Naramdaman kong hinihimas ni Fift ang likuran ko.

I looked up at the professor, eager to latch on to even just a tiny glimmer of hope. "I-I do remember some instances when he wasn't there, but—"

"But nothing before 2028," Xildius interjected. He was fucking right.

Alam ko na ang susunod niyang sasabihin, pero tila ba ayaw itong tanggapin ng puso ko.

Ayaw kong maniwala na ang buong buhay na inakala ko . . .

The professor lifted up the photograph from the table and held it up in front of him, blocking me from his view and aligning the picture over my face. "Because that's the year when he took you, Folie."

Static sound filled my ears as he dropped the heartbreaking truth. "And all the childhood memories that you remember . . . are not yours. Those are the memories of Zilvane—his memories with the real Feuille Guivellnova."

Ayaw kong maniwala na ang buong buhay na inakala ko . . . ay hindi pala akin.

***

NAGTIMPLA ng tsaa si Fifteen upang tulungan akong makahinga nang maluwag. Sinabihan nila akong puwede muna akong magpahinga, ngunit naririto na ako at gusto ko nang matuklasan ang katotohanan.

"Zilvane's a really smart person," pagbahagi ni Xildius. "Lahat ng mga napili niyang biktima ay wala nang pamilyang mababalikan, their families are either dead or have been completely disconnected from their lives."

"Pero Prof," pagsingit ni Fifteen na muling nasa tabi ko. "Bakit kailangan ng maraming biktima kung iisa lang naman ang kapatid niya? And why every five years?"

I gathered every ounce of strength in my body to share with them the weird things that I've been experiencing lately.

"S-Sometimes, I recall some events . . . some memories that aren't mine," dahan-dahang pagsalaysay ko. "At first, I thought they were just dreams. But recently, they've been slipping into my mind even when I'm awake."

The scenario earlier at the music store played in my head.

"Also, I get some sort of phobia from certain things."

Napatingin ako sa paper bag na katabi ni Fift, kung saan nakatago ang regalo niya para sa propesor. "Like pocket watches."

Xildius internalized the things that I've just mentioned, but he looked like he wasn't even a bit surprised by my ridiculous revelations.

"The human mind can be very fragile, especially when it's hurting," malumanay niyang usal. "It's easy to manipulate, to control, especially at its most vulnerable point."

Kung totoo ngang ako si Folie, hindi ko alam kung ano ang kaniyang pinagdaanan. Kung paano niya nakilala si Zilvane.

"Hypnosis is something that's clinically used by psychotherapists to treat patients," he went on. "It could be used for good, such as saving people from their phobias or suffering, but it can also be used to hurt victims, or worse . . . to completely alter a person's life."

Hindi ako naging handa sa sumunod niyang sinabi.

"Such as implanting fake memories into their heads." The professor's voice was careful, but stern. "My hunch is that whoever's putting you under hypnosis, it has a certain five-year limit."

Nilabas ng propesor ang iba't ibang mga larawan ng mga nakaraang biktima, kasama na roon ang kay Flumerys. Kahit siya, iba rin ang hitsura sa aking naaalala.

"Facial surgeries are advancing rapidly these days, but there are still some things you can't change on a person—such as the natural color of their eyes and the way their hair grows."

Tama ang propesor, napansin ko rin kanina na pare-parehas ang kulay ng mga mata't buhok ng mga babaeng nasa larawan.

Napahawak ako bigla sa 'king mukha. "Y-You mean . . ."

Lumingon ako sa repleksyon ko sa salamin. Habang kinakapa ng mga nangangatog na daliri ang mukha ko ay unti-unting binalot ang buong katawan ko ng nakakabaliw na panlulumo. "Is my face also . . ."

No. No. No. Please. NO!

No one can just fuck me up like that!

"Putangina niya!" nanggagalaiti kong hiyaw. "Gago siya! Ninakaw niya ang buhay ko! N-Ninakaw niya ang mukha ko!"

"Tangina!" Nagulat ako nang magmura din si Fifteen. "Tangina ng Zilvane na 'yan!"

Lumingon siya sa propesor at nagtanong, "XV, ano'ng puwede nating gawin? Arestuhin na natin 'yan!"

"The two of you, listen carefully . . ." Xildius exhaled slowly before stating his next words. "It's not that easy. We need to get more proof. Hindi niyo magugustuhan ang sasabihin ko, pero . . ."

I heard the professor clearing his throat before saying, "Kailangang bumalik ni Feuille sa kanila."

"Ha?!" sabay naming hiyaw ni Fift.

But the professor is right. Ako lang ang tanging makakapasok sa mansyon ng mga Guivellnova.

If we need concrete proof, I do need to go back. I have to get evidences against them that we could use.

Marami pa ring mga katanungan sa utak ko. Kung nasaan ang tunay na kapatid ni Zilvane na si Feuille. Kung bakit nila kinailangang dumakip ng iba't ibang mga babae.

At kung sino . . . si Folie Gustavo. Kung sino ako.

"Alright, professor." My voice was firm and determined. "Tell me what I need to fucking do."

Ngumisi ang propesor at nagsabing, "If you meet Zilvane and he invites you to go back, say yes. Agree to him."

Fuck it. I know it's going to be risky. But if it's the only way to finally stop them from their evil deeds . . . then I'll let myself walk into the cores of hell and stop the devils myself.

***

GANOON na nga ang aming naging plano. Sinabihan ako ng propesor na palaging gamitin ang pangalang Folie Gustavo sa iba't ibang mga lugar na pinupuntahan ko tulad ng mga cafe, spa, o hotel.

It's like leaving some bread crumbs for Zilvane to follow so he could catch where I am.

"Feuille," I recalled the professor's words before I left the villa. "Since the villa is becoming unsafe . . . I may have to transfer you to a friend of mine. If your memories are unreliable, then his would be the best weapon we have."

The professor's friend . . . Would that be . . .

Naglalakad ako sa mall, pabalik sa spa na lagi kong binibisita—nang biglang may humarang sa 'kin. Dalawang guwardiya na nakasuot ng itim na amerikana.

Sa likuran nila ay isang lalaki na nakasuot ng mamahaling puting tuxedo na katerno ng kaniyang puting pantalon.

Kilalang-kilala ko ang mapanlinlang na ngiti na nakapinta sa mga labing iyon.

"Zilvane." The mere mention of his name sent my blood curdling.

"Hmm, what's this?" bungad ng aking kinilalang kapatid. "Why do you not look surprised at all? Hindi ka yata tumatakbo palayo sa akin?"

Shit!

Para akong napako sa sahig nang bigla siyang maglabas ng maliit na orasan mula sa kaniyang bulsa. Isang pocket watch na may mahaba't manipis na kadena. No, fuck. No!

"Little sister . . ." He held the pocket watch from its chain and swayed it side by side like a pendulum. "Time to sleep."

#DDMS28