Tick-tok... Tick-tok...
Snow White can faintly hear the sound of clocks. Hindi niya maiwasan ang mga alalang bumabalik sa kanya. Ang maliit niyang kulungan sa loob ng Clockwork Shop at ang isandaang orasang para bang nakamasid sa kanya mula sa mga pader. Vintage frames, polished wood, grosteque black hands. Snow could vividly remember the feeling of being watched by those creepy wallclocks with every passing second.
Tick-tok... Tick-tok...
Palakas nang palakas ang tunog. Para siyang hinahatak pabalik sa masikip at marumi niyang kulungan. Sa hindi malamang dahilan, Snow can feel the air escaping her lungs.
Namayani ulit ang takot sa kanyang dibdib.
Her deepest and darkest fear.
It was haunting her again.
"STOP! P-Please don't... NO!"
Napabalikwas ng bangon si Snow. Cold sweat dripped down the sides of her face like a river passing through a barren land. Nang mapagtanto niyang nasa loob pa rin siya ng kwarto niya sa mansyon, bahagyang kumalma ang dalaga. 'It was all just a dream.. imposibleng hindi ito---'
"Why woud you want me to stop, baby? I'm just getting to the climax."
Snow spun around, just in time to see Lust's mischievous smile. His naughtly eyes scanned her chest area. Suddenly, Snow was aware she was only wearing her nightgown. Isang masamang tingin ang ipinukol niya sa kasalanan.
"LUST! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM?! At bakit ka may hawak na...paintbrush?" Lalong naguluhan si Snow nang mapansin ang hawak ng prinsipe ng kamanyakan. She rubbed her eyes. Baka naman nananaginip pa rin siya?
Lust chuckled sexily and inched closer to her. He raised the paintbrush and smirked, "I thought it would be good to start a new hobby. Suportahan mo na lang ako, baby. Can't you see? For once in my sexually exciting life I'm being productive!"
"Mahirap paniwalaan---"
"Na may 'sexually exciting life' ako? Want a demonstration?" His eyes twinkled in delight.
She sighed, "---na nasa bokabularyo mo ang pagiging 'productive'. No offense, but even Sloth is more productive than you are."
Lust dramatically sighed, "Oh, baby! You're hurting me! At dahil sinaktan mo ako, can I get my good morning kiss now?"
Walang emosyong tinakpan ni Snow ang dibdib niya't sinipa ang kamay ni Lust na akmang hahaplusin na sana ang hita niya.
'Hindi na talaga siya magbabago.'
Kaya't bago pa man siya mai-sexual assault ng prinsipe sa loob pa mismo ng kwarto niya, Snow White let her curiosity win. "Ano bang hobby ang sinasabi mo?"
Mukha namang na-distract si Lust sa tanong at buong pagmamalaking kinuha ang isang malaking canvass at color palette sa sahig.
"This hobby!"
Kamuntikan nang lumuwa ang mga mata ni Snow nang makita nang maigi canvass. Surprising enough, it was an oil painting. Vibrant colors professionally brushed against the expensive surface. Kamuntikan nang mapagkamalan ni Snow na ninakaw lang ito ni Lust sa mga art museum sa Eastwood kung hindi lang sa katotohanang kilala niya ang nakaguhit doon.
Kilalang-kilala.
"A-Ako 'yan...?"
Lust smiled innocently. His sharp eyes softened at her expression. Hindi na nagkumento si Snow na nakasuot lang ng boxer shorts ang kasalanan.
"Kapag nabo-bore ako noon sa mga babae at nagsasawa sa sex, I transform into a hot painter. Actually, the last time I did this, World War I was happening behind me." Lust laughed and wiggled his eyebrows, "Ang ipinipinta ko lang ay ang mga bagay na nagugustuhan ko. Consider yourself lucky, baby. Do you like it?"
Snow White rolled her eyes. "How can you expect me to say 'thank you'? Mas magugustuhan ko sana kung hindi ako hubo't hubad sa painting mo."
Isang malakas na tawa ang kumalawa sa mga labi ni Lust. "You have to admit, it's sexy!"
Napabuntong-hininga na lang si Snow White. Tinitigan niyang maigi ang painting at napangiwi. It was a painting of her sleeping---minus the nightgown. Ayaw na niya sanang titigan ang "masterpiece" ni Lust pero nang mapansin niya ang isang maliit na detalye, bigla siyang napasigaw. "Paano mo naman nalamang may nunal ako sa dibdib?!"
"Uh oh.."
Lust smiled nervously and backed away. "Umm.. lucky guess?"
"LUST!"
Tumayo ang binata. Sa isang pitik ng kanyang mga daliri, naglaho ang painting at iba pang kagamitan. He held his hands up in defense. A naughty smile on his lips. "Sabihin na lang natin na marami ka pang hindi alam sa mga kaya naming gawin. Our powers are beyond the mortal understanding."
"And?" Humalukipkip si Snow. Kahit kailan talaga, panira ng umaga ang isang 'to!
"And I just used my X-ray vision to see through your clothes...again."
'A-Again?'
Pakiramdam ng dalaga ay literal na yatang malalaglag ang panga niya sa gulat. Nagpakurap-kurap ang kanyang mga mata hanggang sa tumalim ang mga ito sa binatang mukhang aliw na aliw sa reaksyon niya. Bago pa man makasigaw sa galit si Snow, kinindatan siya ni Lust. "Baby, before you transform into a monster and murder me, sumilip ka muna sa ilalim ng kama mo."
"Bakit naman?"
"Trust me."
"No."
"Aw, come on! I swear in the name of cherry-flavored my condoms. Hahaha!"
Kasabay ng mga salitang iyon, bigla na lang umuga ang kama ni Snow. Mabilis siyang bumaling dito at sumilip sa ilalim.
Kabadong tiningnan ni Snow ang madilim na lungga. Napaubo pa siya sa kapal ng alikabok roon. She squinted her eyes and tried to make out what was creating the riot when something glimmered under her bed. Kumunot ang noo ni Snow at inabot ito. Her hands grasped something cold and sharp.
"Anong ginagawa nito rito?"
Nang ilabas ni Snow ang bagay, agad niyang napansin na isa itong patalim. It was an old knife that had gothic patterns engraved on its black hilt. Its blade glinted, sharp and deadly.
"Lust, ano bang... Lust?"
Naglaho na ang kasalanan. Snow White sighed. "This is madness! What the heck is this for?" Ibinalik ni Snow ang tingin sa patalim hanggang sa mapansin niya ang kulay pulang lasong nakatali sa dulo nito. With it is a note:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABY SNOW!
I know you'd be angry with the painting, so you can murder me with this---if you can catch me! HAHAHA!
*winks*
With lusts of love,
Prince of Sexiness.
Nabitiwan ni Snow ang patalim. Anong petsa na ba ngayon? Sinubukan niyang maghanap ng kalendaryo pero agad rin niyang naalalang hindi nga pala uso ang ganon sa mansyon ng Seven Deadly Sins. 'How on earth can they know my birthdate?' Or maybe Lust is just messing with her?
Kailangan niyang makasigurado.
But where would she find a calendar---
Snow White face-palmed. It was obvious. Where else can you find the universe and all those boring office stuff?
"Sa private study ni Pride!"
*
Madaling-araw pa lang, pero ramdam pa rin ni Snow ang panganib ng mansyon. It's actually ironic whenever she realizes she's more safer in this grosteque century-old mansion than outside the normal world. Snow White bitterly smiled at the thought. 'Minsan mas masaya pang maging iba. Mas masaya pang hindi maging katulad ng iba.'
Atleast, inside this mansion, Snow White can live and die throughout the craziest adventures---adventures like the one she's having right now.
Dahan-dahan siyang bumaba ng hagdan pababa ng ground floor. Malamig ang ginintuang railings sa ilalim ng kanyang mga palad habang dama naman niya ang init na hatid ng lampara. The light coming from the lamp gave off an eerie glow as Snow descended the grand staircase.
'I better not wake the others up. Having more sins to ruin my early morning is the last thing I need today!' isip-isip ng dalaga habang tahimik na tinatahak ang pasilyo papunta sa private study ni Pride.
Nang mapadaan siya sa isang bintana, napansin niya ang bulto ni Cerberus na mahimbing na natutulog sa may bakuran. In his mouth is a glass coffin Snow White is all too familiar with. Naalala na naman niyang bigla ang panahong ibinaon siya ng higanteng aso sa ilalim ng lupa. Kung wala lang special features ang kabaong ni Envy, malamang matagal nang natapos ang istorya niya.
'Malamang matagal nang natapos ang kabaliwan.'
She sighed and continued on her journey. The chess patterned black and white tiles gave little comfort. Nang marating niya ang pinto ng private study ni Pride, huminga siya nang malalim. "Calm down, Snow.. titingin ka lang sa kalendaryo. It's not like a monster is gonna jump out and kill you."
Though with everything that had happened, Snow knew that anything is possible when you're the maid of the Seven Deadly Sins---plus one.
Kinuha ng dalaga ang hairpin sa buhok at maingat na kinalikot ang keyhole. The mechanism inside the doorknob gave a soft "click". Snow White smiled and opened the newly polished mahogany door.
Nang makapasok siya sa private study ni Pride, agad siyang binungad ng sandamakmak na mga librong nakatambak sa lamesa ng kasalanan. 'Mukhang nakalimutang ligpitin ni Pride..but it isn't like him to leave such mess! Snow White ignored the books and silently scanned the room.
"Nasaan ba ang kalendaryo ni Pride?"
Pride's private study is an antique space filled with bookshelves, framed newspaper clippings from different mortal eras, maps, telescopes, a glass globe, several authentic paintings, and the rare initial designs of some renaissance scientists' inventions...
'Kaya imposibleng wala siyang kalendaryo.'
Ngunit lumipas ang ilang minutong pagmumuni-muni ni Snow sa silid, wala pa rin siyang mahanap. Kalaunan, mahina siyang napamura at inis na naupo sa kalapit na sopa. She placed the lamp on the Victorian center table and frowned. "Pare-parehas na talaga silang nasisiraan ng bait. May mga artifacts at Mayan scriptures dito sa private study ni Pride pero wala siyang kalendaryo! Tsk.."
Napasandal sa sopa si Snow. Bakit nga ba siya nagpapakapagod? It's not like she cares whether it's her birthday or not---nope, she doesn't care.
Dahil kahit kailan naman, hindi siya naging masaya sa kaarawan niya.
'Para saan pa ang birthdays kung puro kaplastikan lang ang maririnig mo? People only give a damn about you on your special day.'
Akmang aalis na sana si Snow nang biglang lumitaw sa harapan niya ang mukha ng isang binata. Snow White was still resting her head on the sofa when Greed's upside-down face blocked her vision. He was staring down at her, amused.
"What brings you here, mademoiselle? You look lost."
Agad na umayos ng pagkakaupo si Snow at nilingon ang lalaking nakatayo sa likod ng sopa. "Naghahanap lang ako ng kalendaryo. Do you know where to find one, by any chance?"
He grinned at her like the sin he is.
"Why would we need a calendar inside the mansion? This place defies everything, even time... Minsan, nag-iiba ang oras sa loob ng mansyon natin, mademoiselle. Even time is as crazy as we are."
She couldn't agree more. Pero hindi rin maitatago ni Snow ang pagkadismaya sa nalaman. 'Anong pakulo ang ginawa ni Lust kanina?' Baka nga niloloko lang siya ng kasalanan. They have no way to know if it's her birthday or not.
"So, walang kalendaryo dito sa private study ni Pride?"
Umiling si Greed. "Unfortunately, none. Bakit mo naman gustong malaman ang petse ng mga mortal?"
Umiwas ng tingin si Snow. "Wala naman."
But Greed only smirked at her response and tapped his chin. "Hm... Very well, but I don't think Pride would be too happy to find out you broke into his private study."
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Snow sa sinabi niya. "Are you blackmailing me?" Napansin ni Snow na imbes ang pajama niya, suot ng binata ang paborito niyang red turtle-neck sweater.
Umiling ulit si Greed, a hint of a smile on his lips. "Hindi ah. Bilang mabuting kapatid, tama lang na maging concerned ako sa mga silid ng mga kapatid ko. I might be greedy, but I know when to alert people if someone's breaking inside their rooms. Our last maid who attempted this got her head chopped off." He smirked.
'Damn you, Greed!'
Napabuntong-hininga na lang si Snow at naiinis na nagsalita, "Fine. Naghahanap ako ng kalendaryo dahil gusto kong malaman kung birthday ko na o hindi. Happy now?" She sarcastically answered.
The prince of greediness looked confused, "Bakit mo naman gustong malaman kung birthday mo na? There's nothing special about birthdays. Humans just celebrate the anniversary of when they were born into their boring world."
Exactly! Bahagyang napawi ang kaba ni Snow nang malamang pareho lang pala sila ng pananaw ni Greed. Minsan talaga mas mauunawaan ka ng mga imortal kaysa mga mortal.
"And how can you say that's not special?" She challenged.
Greed ran a hand through his brown locks and sighed. Seryoso ang kanyang ekspresyon nang sinagot niya ang dalaga. "Ipagpalagay natin na nasa mundo ka ng mga mortal at napapalibutan ng mga 'taong nagmamahal sa'yo'... On an average, there are 365 and one-fourth days in a year. Tuwing birthday mo lang sila magpaparamdam---bale, 364 and one-fourth days silang walang pakialam sa'yo. Yearly."
Well, Snow never thought of it that way, but it makes sense.
Greed outstretched his arms and motioned to the room, "Kung mahalaga ka talaga sa mga taong 'nagmamahal sa'yo', they'll show that they give a shit about you and make you feel special---whether it's your birthday or not, mademoiselle."
Ouch.
Inalalang muli ni Snow ang mga nakalipas niyang kaarawan. Pero kahit anong gawin niya, hindi niya maalalang naging masaya siya sa kahit isa sa mga 'yon. Her few childhood "friends" would pass by their house and greet her, but that's it.
So, for years, Chione "Snow" White kept asking herself---where's the happy in birthdays?
Iyon na nga siguro.
Taon-taon kang may "birthday" pero hindi ka taon-taon "masaya". True happiness is rare. Very rare.
Siguro nga niloloko lang siya ni Lust.. but whether it's her birthday or not, Snow made a mental note to thank that pervert later.
Nang mahimasmasan na si Snow, agad niyang binalingan si Greed na pasimpleng binubulsa ang golden fountain pen sa mesa ni Pride.
"Ikaw?"
"Hmm?"
"Bakit ka nandito? The last time I checked, Gluttony is the one who has trouble sleeping and midnight eating habits, not you. Siguradong nagkataon lang na nakita mo ako rito."
Greed's eyes flashed admiringly. "Good to know the madness inside this mansion hasn't affected your intelligence, mademoiselle. I was actually on my way to my special place."
"Special place?"
Now that she thinks about it, kahit kailan ay hindi niya pa nakikita ang "special room" o "special place" ni Greed. She's been to the others---Pride's empty room, Wrath's Torture Room, Envy's cemetery, Gluttony's Dessert Room, Lust's Suicide Beach/Pleasure Room, and Sloth's Observatory. Ang hindi na lang niya napupuntahan ay mga personal na special places nina Greed at Chandresh. Though, of course she's been to the twins' Game Room a hundred times already. 'Sana nga lang ay hindi na nila ako hatakin para maglaro ng chess nila.'
"Ano ba ang special place mo, Greed?" Snow asked out of curiosity.
Greed grinned wider and kissed the back of her hand, "I'll take you there."
"And where exactly is 'there'?"
"To my Treasure Island, of course. Ready or not, mademoiselle...you're about to experience the craziest adventure in this mansion."
---
That was long ago.
Today neither of them is alive,
Not the hare, nor the man who made the gesture.
O my love, where are they, where are they going
The flash of a hand, streak of movement, rustle of pebbles.
I ask not out of sorrow, but in wonder.
---"Encounter", Czeslaw Milosz