Chapter 23
I dreamed about the woman fell off the cliff. Was it a past? From whom? Who's memory was it? Of course, it couldn't be mine.
'Yung nasa loob ako ng katawan ni Reign at ng isa pang babaeng hindi ko kilala, was it the present? How did I manage to get inside their head and listen to everything? I don't know.
I don't know which was the past, which was the present and which is the future. I've been dreaming weird things lately and I don't know if it was just an ordinary dream.
Tyler said I can see the past, present and the future. But the question is; how?
Buong gabi ay hindi na naman ako nakatulog dahil sa sinabi ni Tyler sa 'kin kanina. No'ng kumain rin kami ng hapunan, hindi na nila ako pinaghandaan ng lutong pagkain at sa halip ay puros dugo sa loob ng wineglass ang hinanda nila.
When I closed my eyes and let myself drown with darkness, I could hear a soft sob. Hindi ko alam kung naririnig ba rin 'yon ng iba. Dinilat ko ang mata ko at bumangon. I followed the noise upstairs to comfort Jesse.
Bakit naman siya umiiyak?
Paakyat na ako ng hagdan papuntang third floor nang may humawak sa siko ko. When I looked at my right side, Mario was looking upstairs while his hand's gripping my elbow.
"Hindi gusto ni Hanna na may magcomfort sa kaniya."
"Bakit naman?"
Tinanggal niya ang pagkakahawak niya sa 'kin at tiningnan ako.
"Hindi ko rin alam. Lahat kami'y sinubukang i-comfort siya sa t'wing umiiyak siya pero pinapaalis lang kami."
Umupo ako sa hagdanan at tinitigan ang bintanang nasa tapat ko lang. The moon outside illuminated the dark hallway. I wonder if everyone's asleep or was listening to Jesse's too.
"Bakit naman siya umiiyak? Anong nangyari?"
Mario sat beside me, stared at the light outside and I heard him heaved a sigh.
"She missed her parents," maikling sagot niya. Tumahimik kami ng ilang oras bago muling tumayo. "Goodnight, Luvina."
Anong nangyari sa mga magulang niya? Palagi ba siyang umiiyak? I want to comfort her. I want to hug her just this time, but I'd rather leave her tonight and wait for her to speak.
* * *
Hindi ulit ako nakatulog nang maayos. Kahit na halos tatlong oras lang ang tulog ko, pakiramdam ko gising na gising ang diwa ko nang bumaba ako sa dining hall para mag-almusal.
When I got there, Jesse and Reign's already sitting on their usual seat. Dalawang minuto ang lumipas, sabay na dumating sina Tyler, Christian at Mario. Sir Abcha served the wineglasses each of us and I realized there's someone missing at the end of the table.
Nang matapos kaming mag-almusal ay nagpaalam silang apat na sa living room lang sila habang kami naman ni Tyler ay naiwan sa dining hall, magte-training.
"Ngayon kailangan mong isarado ang isip mo at ang pagpasok sa ibang katawan nang hindi napapansin. A few vampires can actually do that—get inside someone's head and listen to their conversation. Now I have here an eye," Tyler showed me a sculpture of an eye. "Ang mga mata ang may kakayahang makita ang ginagawa ng iba, hindi ang utak. That's why when I stared at Lucianna's eyes, I didn't saw her's but somebody's."
Binaba niya ang sculpture at binuklat ang guide notebook.
"All you need to do is to concentrate. Close your mind and don't let others read it. Again, close your mind. Make a barriers, don't let anybody read your thoughts."
Binaba ko ang tingin ko sa kitchen counter at ginawa ang sinabi ni Tyler. It's hard to close your mind when you don't even know if it worked well.
After an hour of trying, Tyler clicked his tongue and that made me stop from concentrating.
"This one's hard since you have to do two things; close your mind and act like a spy when you're inside someone's head. Hindi mo lang 'to gagawin para sa kapakanan mo kundi para makita mo ang point of views ng iba nang hindi napapansin ang presensya mo."
Tumango-tango ako at muling sinubukan pero pinitik ni Tyler ang kamay niya sa harap ko.
"Remember when I told you that you have three special abilities?"
Yes, I remember it too well. "I can see the past, present and the future. Pero... paano?"
"Past. Makikita mo ang nakaraan pero hindi ang nakaraan mo kundi sa iba. You can see it in your dreams but you can also see it in their eyes. Now try to see my past and tell me what you see."
Nagtitigan kami ni Tyler. For a half an hour, we were just staring each other and didn't move—only our eyes that's blinking is moving. Hanggang sa pakiramdam ko para akong hinihigop papasok sa mga mata niya.
I saw a kid playing outside the huge house—no, a palace—with another kid. I can see them both in a perfect angle and view.
"Ty, parating na si Ama!" the other kid squealed as he grabbed their plastic toys and threw it at the pot of roses. "Tara na!"
The kid version of Tyler was thin and pale skinned, his black hair's thick and bouncy, may bangs rin siya dahil sa kahabaan nito. Ang isa pang batang lalaki ay may katangkaran kay Tyler, pale skinned at ang buhok ay hanggang leeg.
"Teka lang Luk—" Tyler's voice was cut off when the view changed and I'm inside a familiar house.
"Ma Luisa!"
Napatingin ako sa likod. I saw a little kid wearing a worn out floral dress, holding an old barbie doll and waving it.
"Maglalaro ako sa labas!"
Mula dito ay narinig ko ang pamilyar na boses na nasa kusina. "Basta bumalik ka agad sa hapunan!"
"Opo, Ma!"
The six-year old me ran outside. Tumatalon pa siya pababa ng porch at lumapit sa grupo ng mga batang naglalaro rin ng kani-kanilang mga laruan. Tumingin lang sa kaniya—sa 'kin, ang batang si Lucy—ang mga bata at lumipat sa ibang lugar na mapaglalaruan.
When I looked at the child version of myself, I saw her sad face as she followed her gaze with the other kids. Do'n na lamang siya naglaro sa porch mag-isa. Habang mag-isang naglalaro, tumigil ang batang si Lucy at nang mapatingin siya sa gawi ko, I saw her eyes turned into red with a shade of purple around the circle.
Tumayo siya at parang may inaamoy. Sinundan ko siya hanggang sa playground at nakita ang itsura niya na parang sabik na sabik na malasahan ang naaamoy niya. I watch her walk towards the little girl who fell from the swing, crying from the pain she felt with her wound.
Palapit na palapit ang batang si Lucy. She didn't care if she hit somebody, all she just wanted was to have a taste of that delicious sweet blood.
I wanted to stop her. I want to stop this... Why am I seeing this?
Ilang hakbang na lamang ang layo ng batang Lucy hanggang sa—
Pakiramdam ko bigla akong umahon mula sa tubig at hinihingal. Taas-baba ang dibdib ko dahil sa malalalim kong hininga habang mahigpit ang pagkakahawak sa dulo ng kitchen counter.
That memory, when I was five years old... That was the time I realized I wasn't normal.
I looked around and saw the familiar place where I'm currently at. Humarap ako at nakita si Tyler na nakatitig lamang sa 'kin, arms across his chest.
"Paano... Paano nangyari 'yon? Yung memorya mo ang nakikita ko tapos nag-iba—"
"'Gaya ng sinabi ko, only few people have that kind of special ability. Hindi natin alam kung sino pa ang iba pero ang alam ko, hindi aabot sa lima ang mayroon nito na kauri natin."
Napanganga ako. "Ibig sabihin nakikita mo rin?"
Tumango lamang siya at umayos ng upo. "Ang purpose ng training na 'to ay para magtagumpay ka sa plano natin. Next week ay babalik si Luisa para simulan ang ating plano. You'll wait for her to come back before you ask questions."
Pero... akala ko ba hindi ko pwedeng makita ang sarili kong nakaraan? But why am I seeing that memory I've always wanted to forget?
"It's like a self defense, Lucy. Kung ayaw mong makita ng ibang bampira na may ganitong ability ang nakaraan mo, you can use his or her memory to change what he's seeing. Para bang binato mo pabalik sa kaniya ang memorya niya para maiwasang makita ang sa 'yo. Ngayon, subukan mong ibahin ang mga makikita ko kapag nahigop ko na ang memorya mo. Ready?"
Huminga ako nang malalim at kinalma ang sarili. I can do this, I need to do this.
"Ready."
* * *
"Snack, Lucy?"
Nakangiting lumapit sa 'kin si Jesse, holding a tray with freshly baked cookies on it. Kumuha ako ng isa at nagpasalamat sa kaniya.
"Alam mo, naniniwala akong magagawa mo ang mga pinapagawa ni Tyler kahit na alam kong mahirap. Makakatulong din naman 'yon para sa 'yo, Lucy."
Nilapag niya ang tray sa gitna namin at kumuha rin, stuffed one cookie inside her mouth and chomped it.
"Nakakapagod pa."
Tumango si Jesse at nilunok ang kinakain niya, grabbed another one.
"May something kasi na espesyal sa 'yo, Lucy. It can be something that we don't have."
Napabuntong hininga ako. Why do I have to be special?
"I don't want to be special. I want to be normal like you." And why did you cried last night, Jesse?
The question inside my head seemed to got out from my mouth. Jesse stopped chomping the cookie and her eyes sparkled with tears.
"Jesse, I'm sorry!" natataranta akong tumayo at sinubukan siyang patahanin.
Umiling lamang si Jesse. She wiped her tears with her hand and stuffed another cookies inside her mouth, chewed it silently.
"Death anniversary kahapon ng mga magulang ko. Namatay sila fifty years ago nang isinagawa nila ang pinakadelikadong misyon na natanggap nila."
I don't want to ask more questions about how her parents died, but my mouth's betraying my mind.
"Anong misyon ba 'yon?"
Jesse's eyes sparkled with more tears. "Ang hanapin ang Great Ruby. Akala nila nasa kamay ng Daeva ang ruby. Daeva's a heartless clan, Lucy."
Wait, may iba pang clan? Well, of course, there are plenty of clans. But who's Locious? Who's Daeva? Who are the others?
* * *
The four of us; Jesse, Reign and Christian, stayed at the living room to stay up all night. Mario and Tyler went out for something, they said it was for their Master.
Habang pumapapak ng chichirya si Christian, kami naman ni Jesse at Reign ay nagkwentuhan.
"'Yung Lolo mo, si Don Eli, ang siyang unang namuno sa Locious. Pinamunuan niya ang clan for five millennium years—yes, that long, Lucy—and then your Mother and Father continued to rule his clan," sinabi ni Reign.
"Tapos ngayon ang Papa ko na ang namuno kasama si... Riana?"
Tumango-tango si Christian habang may chichirya pa sa loob ng bibig niya. He tried to speak but only the click of his tongue can be heard. Binatukan siya ni Reign kaya ang lahat ng kinain niya ay lumabas pabalik sa bowl.
"Yuck!" Jesse squealed, jumped off from her seat away from Christian. "Kadiri mo! Itapon mo na nga 'yan, Val!"
"Ayoko, sayang!"
Napangiwi ako nang ibabalik niya sana sa loob ng bibig niya ang nasa bowl nang muli siyang binatukan ni Reign.
"Itatapon mo 'yan o hindi?"
"Opo, boss."
Sometimes, I think of living alone and not think of someone but me. Pero sa oras ng problema, kailangan may masasandalan ka at makausap. I'm so grateful that I have them, not as a friend but as a family and a team.
I'm already part of their team.
* * *
Our training only lasted for two hours. I only practiced on how to control the past for this day though I didn't made it well. Aalis kasi si Tyler para ulit sa Master nila.
I've been with them for three weeks now, yet I still don't know who their master is. I'm already part of their team, or clan—or whatever they call it—but I still don't have a clue what we're going to do or what their plan is.
Nasa loob ako ng kwarto ni Jesse sa third floor. Her room is wide and spacious, hindi gaano karami ang mga gamit at tanging kama, cabinet, divider, drawer at study table lang ang meron. Hindi namin kasama ngayon dito si Reign dahil magkasama sila ni Tyler na umalis.
"Since wala pa si Tyler, why won't we try your ability, Lucy?"
Tumigil ang kamay ko sa pagkalkal sa drawer ni Jesse na may lamang mga personal na gamit niya. Notebook, set of color pen, albums and such.
Lumingon ako sa kaniya at sinarado ang pinaka ibabaw na drawer kung saan ko pinakielaman ang mga gamit niya.
"Subukan natin ang kakayahan mong makakita ng nakaraan. Try mo sa 'kin."
Lumapit ako sa queen sized bed niya at nang umupo ako sa harapan ni Jesse, gumalaw nang konti ang malambot na kama.
"'Diba may mga iba't ibang abilities ang mga bampira? Ano naman ang sa 'yo, Jesse?"
"Hindi naman gaano ka-cool ang sa 'kin. Nakokontrol ko lang ang mga metals."
Napanganga ako. It wasn't cool, yes, but awesome! Pero paano niya nakokontrol?
As if she heard me saying it, she answered my question, "Kaya kong galawin lahat basta metals. It's like telekinesis but more on metals. Pwede ko rin silang gawing liquid and make it as a trap to the enemy. To be honest, hindi mo pa talaga nasasarado ang isip mo, Lucy."
I chuckled. "Sorry. Pero pwede mo pa bang ipakilala sa 'kin ang mga kakayahan ng iba?"
Habang nagsasalita si Jesse, naririnig namin ang boses ni Christian at Mario na nasa living room, nagtatawanan at nagkakantyawan at kasabay sa mga boses nila ay ang tunog ng telebisyon.
When Jesse can control metals and can shapeshift into a squirrel, Reign can actually teleport and can shapeshift into a white dog. Mario can shapeshift into a bat for a very long time, even for one day. Kapag kasi ordinaryong shapeshift lang like the others, mabilis lang raw ang oras ng pagiging hayop nila, about five to seven hours.
Si Christian naman ay nakakabasa ng history sa mga objects na nahahawakan niya; bagay sa kaniyang trabaho ay investigator, pero naging hunter siya sa clan. 'Gaya ng ginawa niya sa bahay namin noong may lumusob na mga men in black cloaks, ginamit pala niya ang kakayahan niya kaya alam niya kung anong oras umalis ang mga lalaki. Tyler can only see the past and future and turn off somebody's ability or powers.
Jesse showed me how she control metals. Gamit ang kaniyang mga titig, she managed to bend the four legs of the stool just beside the study table and melted it, and turned it back to its state.
Napamangha ako dahil do'n. I even clapped my hands.
"Ikaw naman ngayon, Lucy. Read what's in my past."
Like what Tyler and I did, I stared at Jesse's eyes for a minute and I felt like I was absorbed by her gaze.
I'm here inside her head—inside her memory.
Isang batang babaeng nasa labing-limang taong gulang ang umiiyak sa gitna ng ulan, nakaluhod sa maputik na sahig at sa harapan niya ay dalawang katawan na walang buhay at pugot ang ulo.
"Mama! Papa! Huwag niyo kong iwan!"
In a snap, the two dead bodies disappeared in ashes. Mas lalong humagulgol ang batang babae at nagsisigaw.
"Mama! Papa!"
I came back to reality. The scene faded and now I can see Jesse crying. My chest squeezed to see her cry in front of me.
"J—Jesse..."
"Mama... Papa..."
Humagulgol sa harap ko si Jesse at napayakap sa 'kin. When I touched her skin, it burned from my finger tip.
"Jesse, nilalagnat ka!"
I was about to push her and ask for Christian and Mario's help when she tightened the hug.
"Huwag mo 'kong iwan... please."
Defying Geek
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