This chapter is dedicated to Ms. @Llyria Sanchez.
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"A Clockwork what?"
Pride narrowed his eyes at the object Snow White brought back from Eastwood. Huminga nang malalim ang dalaga at inilapag ito sa lamesa niya. "A Clockwork baby! Nakikita mo naman, 'di ba? Don't be too hard on it, Pride."
Napasimangot si Pride.
Mahimbing nang natutulog ang sanggol--err... At least that's what Snow thinks it's doing. Mahirap alamin kung tulog o hindi ang isang baby kung wala naman itong mga mata at mukha ng orasan ang mayroon ito. Snow can't even tell the difference.
Pride adjusted his eyeglasses and leaned back on his chair. "Ni hindi natin alam kung saan nagmula ang clockwork monster na 'yan, princess---"
"Clockwork baby!" She corrected again. Nagkatinginan ang magkakapatid na kasalukuyang nakatambay sa private study ng panganay.
Inis na kinarga ulit ni Snow ang sanggol at hinele, "It's only a baby. Hindi natin siya pwedeng pabayaan."
Kasabay nito ay ang paghagalpak ng tawa ni Wrath. He chuckled and smirked, "A Clockwork baby? Psh.. What's next? A Clockwork mommy and a Clockwork daddy? This is bullcrap, Snow."
Humikab naman si Sloth na yakap-yakap pa rin ang paboritong unan. Bakas sa mukha ng kasalanan na kakabangon lang nito mula sa mahimbing na pagtulog. He stared at the baby and sighed. "Wrath's right, angel. Mahirap paniwalaang ligtas ang sanggol na 'yan. If it sleeps as much as I do, then it's dangerous."
"It's not!"
"Princess, hindi natin alam kung sinadya ba itong iwanan ni Boswell noon bago siya mamatay. He probably knew you'd find it. It might even be another trick to attack us." Kalmado at seryosong katwiran ni Pride.
Nanahimik ang lahat. Namuo ang tensyon sa loob ng private study. Snow White cursed under her breath. Mukhang habang tumatagal ang istorya, lalong dumarami ang mga problemang kakaharapin nila.
Nilapitan ni Lust ang sanggol at tinitigang maigi. "Is it a boy or a girl? Wala akong makitang lawit, wala rin akong nakikitang biyak.. how do that Boswell guy even know their gender? Hmm.."
Nagpakurap-kurap sina Snow, Pride, Wrath, Chandresh, at Sloth. Napasapo na lang ng kanyang noo ang nakatatandang kasalanan at sinamaan ng tingin ang kapatid.
"Lust, sa dinami-rami ng problema natin, bakit ba hindi na ako nagulat at 'yong kasarian ang pinoproblema mo?"
Lust held up his hands in defense. "Hey! I was just curious!"
Napapailing na lang si Snow. "Either way, I'm keeping this Clockwork baby. Ako nang mag-aalaga sa kanya."
The prince of pleasure smirked. "TAMA! Kailangan mo na ngang mag-practice, baby. Para kapag nagka-anak ka sa'min, handa ka na. Being a mother of eight sinful babies will surely make you exhausted. Pwera pa 'yan kung gusto kong sampu ang anak mo sa'kin! Pagsumikapan natin 'yon. Mwah!"
Pakiramdam ni Snow ay hihimatayin siya sa narinig. Her cheeks heated and her throat went dry. "W-What the fuck?!"
Dumilim ang ekspresyon ni Pride. "GET OUT!"
Natawa nang malakas si Lust at mabilis na hinalikan si Snow sa pisngi bago lumabas ng private study.
The door slammed shut as Snow White sat quitely, holding the Clockwork baby. Hindi niya alam kung bakit niya ito gustong alagaan. She feels somewhat attached to it for some unknown reasons. 'May kinalaman kaya ito sa pagiging tagapagmana ko ng oras?'
Heiress of time.
Ayon kay Mr. Boswell, si Snow ang mag-aalaga sa kanyang mga likha. He wanted her to take care of his clocks, so that his memory will live for eternity. Ano ba talaga ang ibig nitong sabihin? She sighed and held the baby tighter. Monster or not, it's still a baby.
"Pride, let me keep it! Kakayanin ko namang magtrabaho sa mansyon at alagaan ang batang 'to. I've had worse, and you know it." Matapang niyang sinalubong ang mga mata ng panganay.
Before Pride could even respond, Chandresh stepped beside Snow and placed a hand on her shoulder. "If Snow thinks this Clockwork baby is not dangerous, then it's not. I'm taking her side, brother. Tutulungan ko na lang siya sa pag-aalaga."
Snow White smiled thankfully at Chandresh.
Matagal na hindi umimik si Pride. Nakatitig lang siya sa sanggol na para bang sinusuri ito. Kalaunan, napabuntong-hininga siya. "Kapag inatake tayo ng halimaw na 'yan, ikaw ang may kasalanan, princess. I've already warned you."
Lumawak ang ngiti ni Snow. "Salamat, Pride."
The sin leaned his back on his chair and closed his eyes. Snow White and the others took this as a dismissal. Masayang binitbit ni Snow ang sanggol at nagsimula nang maglakad papalabas ng private study ni Pride nang mapansin ang kalat-kalat na papeles nito sa sahig. Nilingon niya ang kasalanan, "Should I clean your private study again? Magulo na naman."
A playful smirk danced on Pride's lips.
"No need. Ngayon darating ang bagong katulong ng mansyon."
Natigilan si Snow sa narinig. 'Wait.. is he serious?! Baka naman nabingi na ako?' Kumunot ang noo ng dalaga at napasimangot. She doesn't like the idea at all. Hindi na niya napigilan ang emosyon.
"Y-YOU HIRED A NEW MAID?!"
"Yes."
"BAKIT?!"
Lalong lumawak ang ngiti ng binata. "Just like what you said, you can't be a maid, a bride, and a warrior at the same time. Kaya ako naghanap ng bagong katulong sa mundo ng mga tao. This way, you'll have more time for training and taking care of that block of wood, princess." Sabay turo sa Clockwork baby sa mga braso ni Snow.
Hindi umimik si Snow. 'Akala ba ni Pride hindi ko kayang pagsabayin ang lahat?' She knows its unnecessary, but Snow White feels like Pride is underestimating her. Huminga nang malalim si Snow para mabawasan ang iritasyon.
"Okay."
At lumabas na siya ng private study.
Outside, Chandresh waited for her. Nakasandal siya sa may pader ng hallway. The black and white chessboard tiles were a magnificent contrast to his violet eyes. "What took you so long? Nagkwentuhan pa kayo ni Pride?" Hindi na pinansin ni Snow ang himig ng pagseselos sa boses nito. Adoration is his sin after all.
"May inutos lang sa'kin."
Nawalan na nang gana si Snow at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Mukhang nakabalik na rin sa kanilang mga silid ang mga kasalanan. Envy and Greed were on duty at the Segregation Office while Gluttony was eating in his Dessert Room---again. 'Hindi na talaga ako magtataka kung sumakit ang ngipin ng isang 'yon. One of these days, he's gonna have a major toothache and his brothers would probably just bully him.'
Hindi na halos maintindihan ni Snow ang dinadaldal sa kanya ni Chandresh. Her mind as still replaying her conversation with Pride earlier. Binabagabag pa rin siya kapag naiisip niyang magkakaroon ng ibang katulong sa mansyong ito.
'Damn it! You're acting immature, Snow. Hindi ba dapat matuwa ka?' her mind argued.
Then again, may reputasyon ang mansyong ito. Walang nakakatagal sa mansyong ito bukod sa kanya. Snow White is the only maid to survive this long and live another day to face the madness.
Pero bakit hindi siya kampante?
"Oh, and the twins were talking about a new maid. Mukhang may makakatulong ka na dito sa paglili---"
Ding-dong!
Snow White froze on the spot.
Adoration smiled. "That must be her." At mabilis na itong naglakad papunta sa main entrance ng mansyon. Walang nagawa si Snow kundi sundan ang kasalanan hanggang sa marating nila ang pinto. The mahogany double doors suddenly opened as Chandresh invited the new maid.
Twilight seeped in from the open doors as the girl stood wearing a black knee-length dress. Her short hair framed her face as warm eyes greeted them with a friendly smile.
A suitcase beside her.
"Hello! I'm Llyria. Tinawagan ako ni Pride kanina.. I'll be the new maid of this mansion."
---
If madness were contagious,
then it'd be a better world, you see!
You wouldn't need to apologize for little things;
Not for who you are,
and never for who you cannot be.
---"If Madness Were Contagious", Nox Vociferans