Chapter 30
Droi
"CAN you read this?" Barys said while peeking on a small paper. Nakanguso s'ya na parang hirap na hirap basahin ang mga 'yon.
"What?" I coldly asked without glancing at him. Alam kong mangungulit nanaman siya tungkol sa mga bagong kaalaman niya na nakukuha niya sa internet o dyaryo. Pinagbibigyan ko na lang at dahil minsan ay wala naman siyang nakakausap rito.
"I found a letter in your room." My forehead creased but my heartbeat race when I saw the small paper he was talking about.
'neisyhelaeuq'
Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero alam kong pamilyar sa akin ang papel. May puti puti sa paligid ng sulat.
"In my room? Are you sure?" Tinignan ko siya nang nakakunot ang noo. Tatango tango siyang sumagot sa akin.
"Dude, before I answer you. I will defense my self." Umayos siya ng tayo at akala mo ngang mag-dedefense ng research sa harapan ko.
"Ang nakasulat lang talaga dyan ay small ang italic letter 'h' but I know there is something wrong. I thought first that it is some code that I need to dig. And I'm actually right. The paper that was used is an etyser papyrus means it has a hidden words that you need to encrypt and by decrypting it, you'll need a chalk and viola! the hidden word will show up."
"What the hell, Barys Alemania? Are you out of this world again?" Nanginginig ang kamay na pasimple kong itinago sa bulsa ang maliit na papel. Alam kong nagtataka na siya sa naging reaksyon ko at marami nang teorya ang naglalaro sa isipan niya ngunit mabilis ko na siyang tinalikuran upang hindi niya na ako imbestigahan.
"W-wait dude, we're not yet done!" Hindi ko na siya pinansin at malakas na isinara ang pinto ng kwarto ko. Narinig ko pang tinawag niya 'ko pero sadyang nanikip ang dibdib ko para magtagal pa ro'n.
Inilabas ko ang papel na nasa bulsa at muling binasa iyon.
Neisyhelaeuq? Is this a name? All this time. 8 years had passed yet I don't know that it has a hidden word that I need to encrypt it myself. Siguro malaki ang tiwala niyang malalaman ko agad na may nakatagong salita rito. Ngunit nabigo ko siya dahil iba pa ang nakaalam sa nais niyang sabihin sa akin.
I sat on the couch of my room and stared at the ceiling. She's there. Smiling happily at me like there's no problem in this world. A girl with a tantalizing emerald eyes, long black hair and chirpy smile.
Tears slowly dwelled in my right eye when I remembered our first and last conversation with each other. A tragic yet beautiful memory of my childhood life.
***
"Hello!" A cheerful voice brought me up into reality.
A very cruel reality.
I steady my gaze in front of our backyard. Not minding a 9 years old girl who's staring at me.
Yeah, I can feel her staring at me shamelessly. What a rude girl who doen't know that staring is rude.
"Ilang araw na kitang nakikita at natabi ako sayo rito sa backyard niyo pero hanggang ngayon hindi mo pa rin ako pinapansin. Galit ka ba sa'kin?" For the nth time. Again. I didn't bother her presence like she's not here beside me.
