UNANG KABANATA
Naglalakad ako pabalik sa aking apartment bitbit ang duffel bag na kinuha ko sa station kanina. Gaya ng nakaraan may tumawag na naman sa akin. Calling me every year, asking me to pickup something. I am not afraid infact I felt so thrilled. I felt something, and I need to figured it out.
Gamit ang aking kanang kamay, pinihit ko ang seradura ng pinto ng aking bahay. Luminga linga ako sa paligid at minasdan kung may nagbago pero gaya ng dati ganoon pa din naman iyon.
Hinubad ko ang aking black hoods at inilugay ang kulay ombre kong buhok. Tinanggal ko din ang aking black contact lense. I look at my vanity mirror, staring at myself.
Nilabas ko ang Daffodils na nasa duffel bag, tulad na lamang noong nakaraang taon, may nagpadala na naman sa akin ng bulaklak. Nakaipit dito ang isang white envelope, isang sulat.
Ayesha,
You need to go back, it's been a year and you've been very much ready. They are getting worst and you need to stop them. Help the Monstrosity, help the Clan. We are waiting for you, Leasnia.
Naghanap ako kung kanino nanggaling ito pero wala, walang pangalang nakalagay. Napahawak ako sa aking kwintas, may kung anong bumabalot dito. Nararamdaman kong may mangyayari sa susundod na mga araw.
Continues dreams every night, it keeps on bugging me. I've never been afraid instead I felt a raging fire on my blood. It felt so familiar and I need to find out the real story behind this unfamiliar things.
I went to my room to change my clothes because I'm still wearing my teacher's uniform. It was 2 in the afternoon when I recieved the message and after working hours, I went out to pick up the bag. How long it has been?
Three long years had gone, still finding myself, still searching for my lost soul.
Nagising ako sa isang hospital na walang kasama at hindi pamilyar na mga bagay ang nakapaligid sa akin. Katabi ang isang bag na naglalaman ng mga papeles at pera, nakilala ko kung sino ako. Isang guro at ulila.
I was wondering, paano ako nakarating sa hospital. Sa anong dahilan?
I sighed and look at myself at the mirror, staring at my blue eyes. It's rare I know, but I am not fond on sharing this to anyone that's why I always wear my contact lense to hide it.
"TAO PO? TAO PO AKO! MISS GANDA ANG TUBIG MO!?" Napa-ismid ako ng matanaw ko si Kaloy sa gate ng aking apartment.
"MISS GANDA? GANDA! AKING MAHAL!"
Napangiwi ako sa sinabi niya. Nakakahiya ang pinagsasasabi niya.
"Just put it there, here's the payment" I gave him the fifty peso bill.
"Inglesera talaga tsk"
"What?" I hissed
"Wala Miss, sabi ang ganda mo" He replied grinning that made me rollled my eyes.
"HEP HEP HEP! AALIS NA AKO PAALAM" thankfully he ran and get out. Tsk, Too irritating.
I took my phone and texted Barri that I was home. He keep on calling me earlier but I couldn't have the chance to answer him, he might be worried.
I was about to send my message when he I saw that he's calling. So I answered it.
"Ayesha" I heard his deep-baritone-
voice.
"Hey" I answered him,
"Are home? I was worried" I can say he really is
"Yes, kadarating ko lang"
"I thought something happened to you, Bigla kang nawala"
"I was out to get something"
"Oh okay, regarding to our date on Saturday it's planned okay?" now I remembered why he keep on calling me earlier, I haven't agree with his plan.
"Yeah, yeah whatever" pagsasawalang bahala ko na lang sa kaniya.
"Okay, now lock your door sleep early"
"hmm" tumago ako na tila ba nakikita niya iyon bago patayin ang tawag nya.
Barri.
Barrisfien Williams is my boyfriend. I woke up three years ago without someone by my side but the next day, he came and saying that he's my boyfriend. I am confused and not convinced. I don't even feel something for him, but for the consecutive years he's in my side. Taking care of me. He is kind and a real gentleman, wealthy and has the looks but it's just, it's too plain for me. Nothing's different.
Barri's also my work mate, my co-teacher in a university. He help me to find some job as early as I recoverd from being hospitalized. I am a professor majored in Biology.
My life was fine and going good not until I started to have dreams. They are not nightmares, they are real happenings from my past. I can sense that.
Palace. Throne. Royal. Soldier.
I always dreamed of them.
It says that I am Ayesha, a Leasnia.
I don't know why I understand some terminologies, feel connected. There are something that I can't remember and I need to know that but how?
I went to the kitchen and drink a glass of water before entering my basement. I pushed the cabinet beside the refrigerator and typed the code. It's been a week since I last entered here, the midterms examination consumed a lot of my time.
I grabbed the katana beside me and pointed it in a mannequin, bullseye.
Tinaas ko ang aking kamay at inabot ang rope na nasa taas ko lang. I waved it as if I have an opponent. I even checked the guns in my closet, putting them some bullets. I picked up a caliber and went on the shooting ground, wearing my suit and protective gears. This is how I release my stress.
No one knows about this basement, basically this should be my car park but I choose to hide it. I renovated the outside into a fine garden to cover the basement. Barri doesn't know that I am training myself. For some reasons I don't want to tell him.
I can't trust him wholeheartedly, I needed to wait. Wait until I regain my memories. But before that, I need to learn how to protect myself.
Nang nakaramdam ako ng pagod ay nagpahinga na ako, naglinis ng katawan at kumain bago gumawa ng lesson plan. Higit isang oras ko lamang iyon ginawa dahil tinapos ko lamang iyong ginagawa ko kanina sa University. Napakunot ang noo ko ng makarinig ako ng kaluskos sa likod, parang may nahulog. Kaya't dali dali akong nagpunta doon.
Hawak ang isang baseball bat, dahan dahan akong tumungo sa likod bahay. It was dark, so peaceful but I need to be alarmed. There is someone in here.
Napalingon ako ng may gumalaw sa may kaliwang bahagi ko, ganon na lamang ang gulat ko ng may humawak sa braso ko. Kaya't agad kong iniamba ang bat ko sa kanya. Sa aking oag-ikot kasabay ng hampas ng bat, siya namang pag-iwas niya.
Lalaki.
May suot siyang maskara kaya't diko makit aang mukha niya. Isama mo pa ang kadahilanang alas nuebe na ng gabi.
Muli aklng lumapit sa kaniya at inambaan ng hampas. Agad niya naman sinalaag iyon kaya't sinipa ko siya sa tuhod na hindi niya naiwasan. Muli ko sana siya sisipain pero nahuli na niya ang binti ko. Pinalupot ang kamay niya doon. Hindi ako makawala.
Wala akong ibang maisip na paraan, buti na lang at nakita ko ang bat sa tabi ko. Inabot ko iyon at hinampas sa likod niya na nagpabitaw sa pagkakahawak niya sa binti ko. I punch him and tried to kick him again because he's not attacking me! He just twist the bat and make me turn my back on him. Holding my arms, captivating me.
Hinihingal akong nakatalikod sa kaniya.
"Leasnia" I felt shivers through my spine.
Hindi ako kumibo, hinihintay kung ano ang susunod niyang gagawin.
"Aren't you afraid of me?" that deep voice, I heard it again.
"Who are you?" nanatili padin sya sa likod ko, hawak ang braso ko sa kanang kamay niya at kaliwa naman sa balikat ko. Nararamdaman ko ang init non sa balikat ko.
"I'm just checking on you, be careful everyday" he said in a calm voice. At some point, I felt secured and ignored the fear I felt earlier.
"Who are you?" He doesn't answered my question!
"Duke, call me duke" he said as he let go of my arms.
I was about to face him but he quickly ran.
"Hey!" I tried to call him but I couldn't reach him. He's so fast!
Who is he? What does he mean?
I slowly went inside my apartment and sat on the sofa. Looking at the daffodils. Thinking very deep.
This world is getting wierder everyday.
*****************
A/N:
Comment down below if you like this story! I am hoping for positive reviews! Thankyouuuu!