⚜ CHAPTER 27 ⚜
"HOLD your breath, we're almost there." Bulong niya.
Doon ko lang napagtanto na malapit na kaming bumagsak sa tubig. Kaagad ko namang pinuno ng hangin ang aking baga upang ihanda ang sarili. Hindi nagtagal ay tuluyan na kaming bumagsak sa tubig.
Coldness immediately enveloped my system as our bodies sank into the deep water.
Vaximus started swimming right away. Tila alam niya ang direksyon na pinupuntahan. Dahil do'n ay walang pag-aalinlangan ko siyang sinundan.
Thank god for my ability to swim, I was able to follow along. Sana lang ay hindi malayo ang aming destinasyon dahil hindi ko naman kayang pigilan ang paghinga ko sa mahabang oras.
Hindi naman nagtagal ay may namataan ako sa hindi kalayuan. Napakunot ang noo ko at bahagya pang napatigil sa paglangoy.
Para iyong isang maliit na gusaling lumubog?
I looked at Vaximus and he seems unbothered... tila ba matagal niya nang alam ang lugar na iyon.
Pinagpatuloy ko na lang ang pagsunod sa kanya. Habang papalapit kami nang papalapit ay mas natitigan ko iyon nang mabuti. Gawa sa marmol ang gusali, pero hindi na maayos ang kondisyon no'n. It appears to be ruins of a chapel... a sunken chapel.
Vaximus entered through a small entrance, I followed. Pero pagkapasok na pagkapasok ko, bumagsak ako sa sahig!
Napadaing ako. Walang tubig dito sa loob! How is that possible?
"Tanga-tanga,"
Napatingin ako sa lalakeng nakatayo sa tabi ko. Naiiling nito akong nilampasan.
Inis naman akong bumangon. Akala niya ba ay nakalimutan ko na ang ginawa niya kanina?! He casted a spell on me! Tapos ngayon ay nandito kami sa chapel na 'to gayong ang plano ko naman ay hanapin si Sylvester!
"Ikaw! Nakakailan ka na ah! I swear to the gods I would kill you if—-"
"You know it's disrespectful swearing to the gods especially when you're in their temple."
Natigil ang bibig ko.
We're in a what? A temple?
I looked around. Napakurap ako sa pagkabigla nang mapagtantong totoo nga ang kanyang sinabi. We really are in a temple.
Gawa sa puting marmol ang lahat. Sa gitna ay may isang puno. Oo, puno, hindi naman iyon kalakihan, sapat lang para magkasya sa loob ng maliit na templong 'to. Pero nakakapagtaka, paanong may buhay na puno rito? Ang lago pa ng mga kulay puting dahon nito na wari mo ay alagang-alaga.
Hinanap ng mata ko si Vaximus. Natigilan ako nang mamataang nakatayo ito sa tapat ng isang estatwa ng babae. Nakasuot ng mahabang kasuotan ang estatwa. Ang magkabilang palad niya ay magkapatong sa harap ng kanyang dibdib, at sa pagitan ng kanyang dalawang palad na iyon ay may lumulutang na... planeta? Hindi ko alam, hindi ako sigurado... Mukha rin iyong buwan. Basta isa iyong bilog na napapalibutan ng mga bato, or more like, ng mga asteroids.
"This temple used to stand above the clouds, it was ruined due to the chaos 18 years ago." Wika niya habang nakatitig pa rin sa estatwa.
Nangunot ang noo ko. "What chaos?"
His eyes diverted on me. "The fall of darkness, the moonchildren."
Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko.
I have heard of that. Alam kong may laban sa pagitan ng dalawang panig, na kinikitil ang mga alagad ng buwan hanggang ngayon, pruweba no'n ang natagpuan kong wilfor, pero hindi ko alam kung bakit. Why did they result to violence and countless massacres?
"Enlighten me," utos ko.
His right eyebrow raised in return. "How come you didn't know? Saang planeta ka ba galing?"
Nanlaki ang mata ko. Shit.
"I mean--"
"You're a Sun Latreían, you're supposed to know our history. Pero bakit parang wala kang alam sa kasaysayan natin?"
He eyed me suspiciously.
My chest started pounding. I'm being suspicious in his eyes and I don't know how I would slip my way out. Kailangan kong mag-isip ng kapani-paniwalang palusot.
"Look, it's not what you think--"
"Only a dumbass would forget that part of our history..." Muntik na akong mapaatras nang lumapit siya sa akin.
I seem like a criminal under his gaze. Nonetheless, I tried fighting his strong stares. Avoiding his eyes would just contribute to his idea that I really am guilty.
"So, either you're a dumbass… o sadyang hindi ka lang talaga nagmula sa planetang ito."
Hindi ako nagpaapekto sa mga salita niya. This man is not easy to fool, I have to be careful with my words when around him.
Huminga ako nang malalim. I then raised my right hand and showed him my wrist. "I wouldn't have this if I'm not from here." I spoke, pertaining to my power notch. "I lived in isolation. That's the reason why I'm clueless about certain things."
"For someone who lived in isolation, you seem to know a lot in terms of fighting."
He really won't stop, huh?
"I prepared myself if ever I encounter people like you." Walang tono kong sagot. "At mukhang tama naman ang desisyon kong maghanda, magagamit ko 'yon sayo."
"Oh really?"
My breathing almost stopped when he nonchalantly drew his face near mine. "Is that so, Alora?" Even the way his tongue rolled to pronounce my name is giving me goosebumps.
Napatiim-bagang na lang ako kasabay ng pagsama ng tingin ko sa kanya. "Fuck you, Vaximus."
His eyes glowed a tint of wickedness. "Right now?" He looked around, as if checking our surroundings. "I mean, I don't mind, but we're in a temple, are you sure—-"
"Don't even go there."
That's when I gained all my courage to push him away. Malaya siyang nagpatulak na lihim kong pinagpasalamat. I know he could refrain himself from doing so if he wanted to.
"I am this clueless because I lived far from civilization. Hindi ako nag-aral. You know how fucked up our system is. Ang edukasyon ay para lang sa makapangyarihan."
"It's basic history, Alora. Kahit mga hindi nakapag-aral ay dapat alam ang kasaysayan ng lupang sinilangan mo."
"Fine, whatever. I'm sorry I didn't know anything, okay? Maybe I just didn't care enough for me to be aware."
His right eyebrow raised in amusement. "You were so caught up in your own world that you didn't notice our world collapsing?"
"Siguro nga, pero wala talaga akong alam maliban sa patuloy na pinupuksa ang mga alagad ng buwan. Hindi ko alam kung saan nagsimula ang lahat."
His shoulders shrugged. "Understandable... considering that only few knows the truth, while the rest only believes in what the majority says." Tumalikod siya at naglakad patungo sa kung saan.
Ako naman ay naiwang nakakunot ang noo. He's talking in riddles!
Only few knows the truth... while the rest believes... in what the majority says...
He's saying plenty of people are sheeps. Mga sunod-sunuran sa pinapaniwalaan ng karamihan... kahit hindi naman iyon ang katotohanan?
May alam ba siya?
Naalala ko tuloy iyong sinabi sa akin noong klase ng Mystic Arts. "I am often denied and hated. Often pushed upon for causing pain to people. But accept me, and I will set you free... I am the truth."
Kumabog ang dibdib ko. May alam ba ang lalakeng 'to tungkol doon?
"Vaximus!" Kaagad ko siyang sinundan nang magtungo siya sa gitna ng templo kung nasaan ang puno. He's scrutinizing every bit of the tree when I faced him. "Anong ibig mong sabihin? Linawin mo."
Without giving me a glance, he spoke. "People don't believe in truth, they believe in what the society tells them to believe in. They don't really assess their beliefs, they just accept what belief they're being fed on, then proceed on calling it... faith."
My forehead is in knot the whole time. Sa mga sinabi niya, isa lang ang kanyang pinapahiwatig... hindi lahat ng iyong pinaniniwalaan ay katotohanan.
Napatiim-bagang ako. Bakit pa nga ba ako sumubok pagsalitain siya? Hangga't siya'y nasa tamang katinuan, paniguradong hindi niya sasabihin nang diretso ang nalalaman niya. If that's the case, then I would have to distract his mind.
Kailangan kong pausbungin ang emosyon niya.
"What are you, a prophet?" Mahina akong tumawa para asarin siya. Hindi naman ako nabigo nang tumingin siya sa akin ng may kunot-noo. I smirked at him. "Let me guess, you have no childhood."
He looked quite taken aback with that statement. That fueled my theory. Napailing ako.
"I'm also guessing you had no friends because you were that kid who always talked like a prophet of some shit." I stated as a-matter-of-factly. "I mean, I wouldn't be friends with you either."
I looked at him and he's got this offended poker face. Pa-inosente akong ngumiti. Seems like I hit a spot there.
"Well," he spoke. "I tried to burn a village once."
Bumagsak ang ngiti ko.
"You—huh?" Namali yata ang dinig ko. Did I hear that right? "Anong sabi mo?"
He shrugged. "I tried to set a village on fire. Well, I was six years old." He explained as if his age justifies his action, when it just made it worse! Sinong gagawa no'n sa gano'ng edad?! "Maybe that indicates why I had no friends."
"Baliw ka ba?!" Nang makabawi ay hindi ko makapaniwalang tanong. Siya dapat ang pinupuno ko pero bakit ako na ang napupuno ngayon? "Bakit mo binalak gawin 'yon?!"
He just admitted commiting arson!
"Uh," napatingin sa itaas, tila napaisip din sa tanong ko. "For research purposes?" He looked at me and plastered an innocent smile.
I was left looking at him in utter shock and disbelief.
"You're a psychopath." I concluded almost breathlessly.
Imbis na itanggi ay natawa lang siya. "I'm not." Tanggi niya.
That's how psychopaths would react!
"Knowing that you tried to commit arson is more than enough evidence that you are indeed a psychopath."
Nagkibit-balikat siya. "At least I'm not suicidal…" bulong niya bago naglakad palayo. Nanlaki ang mata ko.
"Hoy! Narinig ko 'yon!" Kaagad ko siyang sinundan. "I am not suicidal!"
"Oh yeah?" Napatigil ako nang bigla siyang humarap sa akin. Muntik pa akong bumangga sa kanya. "Whose mind is in the right state would purposely jump at the edge of the cliff, knowing there's no way back?"
"I was just trying something!"
"Trying what? Jumping and then singing the I-believe-I-can-fly bullshit?"
"What—-No! Hindi pa ako baliw katulad mo!"
"Talaga ba?" Napaatras ako nang umabante siya. "Sige nga," yumuko siya para matitigan ako nang mas malapitan, "paano ka makakabalik ngayon?" tanong niya sa nanghahamong tono.
Natigilan naman ako ro'n.
"Paano, Alora?" His voice was teasing, and it's annoying the hell out of me.
Hindi ako nakasagot.
"My, my," napailing siya. "Don't tell me you're depending your safe return on me?" He smirked, mischief was playing in his eyes as he stared at me. "Are you, darling?"
Nagngitngit ang ngipin ko. As if, I don't rely on anyone. Never.
"Kaya kong bumalik ng sarili ko."
"Oh well, if you say so." Umayos na ito ng tayo. He even tilted his head backwards to massage his neck. "I remember I still got some errands to attend. I gotta go, see you when I see you." He declared before walking away. Pero ngayon, patungo na siya sa lagusan kung saan kami pumasok kanina.
Napako ako sa kinatatayuan. Don't tell me he's leaving me here?
"Vaximus!" Gigil kong sigaw sa pangalan niya.
"What?" He looked back, one eyebrow raised.
"You're not leaving me here!"
"Oh? I thought you could handle yourself?"
A grin slowly creeped into his lips. I even noticed how he tried to stop it, but he failed anyway.
Napairap ako. Of course, he felt victorious.
"Do you need my help?" He offered.
Napahinga na lang ako nang malalim.
Defeated, I swallowed my pride. "Yes, I need help going back."
His grin grew wider. He faced my direction and started heading back to me. Halos hindi ako makatingin sa kanya. Pero anong magagawa ko? Wala akong ideya kung paano aakyatin ang bangin na pinaghulugan namin kanina.
If only Sylvester was here…
Napaayos ako ng tayo nang pumwesto si Vaximus sa likod ko. Halos mapakislot ako nang lumapat ang mga kamay niya sa magkabila kong balikat.
"Anong—"
"Relax," bulong niya sa aking tenga na nagpatindig sa mga balahibo ko. "This won't hurt. I promise." He tried to assure me pero mas lalo lang akong kinilabutan.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang—mula pa rin sa aking likuran—tinakpan ng kanan niyang kamay ang mga mata ko!
"Vaximus!"
"Hush," I felt his breath against my nape. "This will be quick."
Halos pigil-pigil ko ang hininga habang hinihintay ang bagay na hindi ko alam. Ano bang ginagawa niya? I can't see a thing!
"Done," he finally removed his hand from my eyes.
"Vax—" I was already prepared to beat the shit out of him when I realized something. Nasa dulo na ulit kami ng bangin!
My eyes widened. Paano kami nakabalik?! At ng ganoon kabalis?!
Did we teleport? Did he make a portal? Or was it a spell that he made? I don't know! I never saw a thing, nor heard or felt a thing!
"What did you do?" I confronted him, yet his only response was a shrug.
"Some shit you probably can't." he grinned.
Tumalim ang tingin ko sa kanya pero tila wala naman iyong naging epekto sa kanya. Pasipol-sipol pa ang lalake nang maglakad na palayo sa akin.
Sinundan ko lang siya ng tingin ngunit iba't-ibang tanong na ang nabuo sa utak ko. Noon pa man ay naghihinala na akong hindi siya ordinaryong tao, pero ngayon ko lang iyon tuluyang nakumpirma.
No ordinary Latreían can perform a spell without a wand or a chant, but he did it so effortlessly. Unless, his power is teleportation. But that's another theory.
Another thing is, I know for sure na matagal niya nang alam ang sunken temple sa dagat, halata naman iyon sa uri ng pananalita at akto niya. Ibig sabihin lang no'n ay hindi ito ang unang beses na tinalon niya ang bangin na 'to. He probably already explored this sea before, which is very unlikely for a mere Latreían who has no tamed sea creature.
Napatiim-bagang na lang ako. Hindi ko na siya matanaw pero nanatili pa rin ako sa aking pwesto.
Kung ano man ang dahilan sa likod ng mga akto niya, isa lang ang nakasisiguro ako. Marami siyang nalalamang hindi alam ng iba. Marami siyang kakayahang hindi kaya ng iba.
Hindi ko tuloy mapigilan ang mas lalong magtaka sa totoong pagkatao niya.
Sino ka ba talaga, Vaximus?