A Fairytale's Mishap

CHAPTER 35: The Tournament (Part 1)

One hour to go…

Yes, that’s it… One more hour and it’s time for her to face the unknown… How does she feel? Should she be scared or at least a little bit nervous?... Looking in the mirror right now… staring at her own reflection, she doesn’t feel anything at all… But if there could be a feeling… numbness is certainly overflowing in her veins right now…

Kanina pa siya nakatayo sa harap ng salamin. For the past few minutes, she’s certain that she’s not even blinking. Maybe, her heart has even start beating… Hell, she’s not even breathing… She’s just staring… and staring… Her mind… Her soul... They seem to have left her body… She’s not feeling anything… She’s not thinking… She’s just empty… So empty…

Pero hindi niya gusto ang nararamdaman… Dapat magalit siya… Dapat nasasaktan siya… Dapat gusto niyang sumigaw… Dapat umiiyak siya… Kanina pa niya pinipilit ang sarili… But she’s hopeless… so empty… so numb… Maybe, this is a sign… Isang senyales ng mga taong malapit ng lisanin ang mundo…

That’s a great possibility, right?... Maybe, she’ll die… No, not maybe… She will surely and certainly die…

Another figure reflects in the mirror standing behind her….

DJ: It’s time, Kath…

Yes, it’s time… It’s time, indeed… Dumating na ang takdang oras… Tumango lamang siya dito… Narinig niyang nagpakawala ito ng malalim na buntung-hininga…

DJ: Remember, Kath… Just stick with the plan… Everything will work out just fine…

Hindi pa rin siya umiimik. She’s just staring at her reflection. Nakasuot siya ng khaki pants, black jacket, combat boots, with a black backpack… Hinipo niya ang tela ng kanyang jacket… Bigay ito ng kasintahan at bagong-bago pa… Obviously, this one costs a lot…

Naalala niya noong bata pa siya… Noong mga panahon ng tag-lamig sa Aysgarth… Tuwing pumapasok siya sa klase, paulit-ulit na jacket ang kanyang sinusuot. Kupas na pink ang kulay ngunit may butas pa ito sa laylayan na pilit lamang tinahi ni DJ. Hindi ito marunong magsulsi kaya mas lalo tuloy napaghahalata na may tinakpang butas doon. Idagdag pa na kulay itim ang ginamit na sinulid…

It’s pretty ironic that she’s wearing a very expensive jacket right now… She’s wearing this… But she’s not going to school… Hindi niya ito maipagyayabang sa mga kaklase… At higit sa lahat, hindi siya natutuwa… She should be happy though for this is one of her many wishes… having a new jacket…

Naramdaman niya ang mga bisig nito na yumakap sa kanyang bewang. Humalik ito sa kanyang batok. Saka ito tumingin sa kanyang mga mata mula sa reflection sa salamin…

DJ: We’ll get through this, Kath… Okay?...

Pabulong lamang nito iyong sinabi… Muli siyang tumango… Humigpit ang yakap nito…

DJ: Hey, say something…

Huminga siya ng malalim…

Kathryn: O-Okay…

Hinawakan nito ang magkabilaan niyang braso para iharap siya nito dito. Hinaplos nito ang kanyang pisngi at muling nagtama ang kanilang mga mata…

DJ: Kath… I’m scared… I’m so scared that I’m allowing you to go there… Kung may iba pa sanang paraan para lang ‘wag kang pumunta don, gagawin ko… I don’t want you going there and taking the risk… But you have to, Kath… Because you know… you damn well know… that if this all went well, it’s going to be worth the risk… You know that, right?... Right?...