PRESENT
"SINABI ko na sa inyo noon na walang mauulit," may gigil na sabi ni Balti, walang pasensiya nitong binuklat ang pahina ng hawak nitong journal. "Each missing items has distinct powers. I just have to find the right item... to...to figure these things out—Mathieu's missing item."
Thad knew it was the other journal of Balti of his black book translations. Nasa library sila ngayon ng mansion ni Iesus. Jude is with them right now. Sumama si Vier sa ambulansiya kung saan isinakay sina Juan, Andrew, at Simon. Only Vier could pass through the medical interrogations and he has connections in that hospital. Having him there would make things easier for all of them. Sumunod naman sina Sep at Jam sa ospital.
Hayme and Tor are on their way here. Tumawag naman si Iesus na malapit na raw ito sa Faro, mag-isa itong uuwi dahil hindi maaring walang magbabantay sa dalawa sa ospital kaya nagpa-iwan si Amora. Earlier, while they were lost in the forest Mathieu's heart stopped. The doctors were able to revive him and but he's still under observation. Ang balita ay ang tatay ni Vier na ngayon ang nagbabantay, hinihintay ang anak nito.
"Hindi ba't iyong pearl?" basag ni Jude.
Nag-angat ng mukha si Balti sa kanila at tumigil sa paglilipat ng pahina ang kamay nito. "There are no mentions of specific item." Inayos nito ang salamin sa mata. "I only assumed it was a pearl—"
Biglang bumukas ang malaking pinto ng library at magkasabay na pumasok sina Hayme at Tor. Parehong seryoso ang ekspresyon ng dalawa. He didn't expect Iesus will follow soon after, mukhang nagpang-abot ang tatlo sa Faro kaya nagkasabay-sabay. Iesus looks calmer than the two, but he had always been calm in most situations. But Thad doubts it, Iesus may look calm in the outside, but his mind is trying to still a storm.
"What part did we miss?" basag ni Tor.
"We haven't discussed it yet," sagot niya.
"Sit down everyone," kalmadong sabi ni Iesus. Doon lang napansin ni Thad na kanina pa pala siya nakatayo. Jude had the same reaction as his, he probably didn't notice it too.
"How's Math, Sus?" tanong ni Jude nang makaupo. Tor and Hayme sit beside him on the long sofa on Iesus' right. Iesus is sitting on the one-couch seat.
Naupo si Thad sa isa pang pang-isahang sofa. Nanatili namang nakatayo si Balti, hawak pa rin ang journal nito.
"He's fine, for now." Tipid itong ngumiti.
"Walang cause kung bakit biglang tumigil sa pagtibok ang puso ni Math?" he asks.
Umiling si Iesus. "They couldn't determine the reason. They did some tests and everything seemed normal. The moment Mathieu started breathing again, he seemed peacefully asleep—again."
"I don't think Science can help him now," dagdag ni Hayme, tila may ipinahihiwatig.
"We were wrong with our assumptions," segunda ni Tor. "I don't think it's another time travel phenomenon."
"Iyon din ang sabi ni Ser," salita ni Jude. "Although, he did mention before that no missing item will share the same power. What is happening now is already beyond our knowledge and understanding."
"And Niño." Natuon ang atensyon ng lahat kay Thad. "We saw him in 1935 and here in our time."
"The kid Niño," Balti confirms.
"The kid?" Kumunot ang noo ni Jude. "You mean the kid in Mari's childhood? Ang inalagaan ng Mama niya noon sa Liloan?" Tumango silang dalawa ni Balti. "May kinalaman na naman siya rito?"
"He might have involved himself again or he might have not," sagot ni Thad. "But he helped us this time." Hindi mapigilan ni Thad na pansinin ang pagbakas ng kuryusidad sa mukha ni Iesus sa sinabi niya. Iesus' seem amused at the idea Niño is helping them this time.
