Shaud’s POV
I paced back and forth trying to form a conclusion from the bits of information that Dex gave a while ago.
“Why don’t you just sit down and wait for grandmaster” Dex suggested, na ginawa ko naman dahil sa nakakahilo na rin magpaikot-ikot dito sa office ni lolo.
He was on a conference his secretary told us when we arrived at exactly 7:05 am. Glad he’s not yet around ‘cause I arrive late or more on I say we arrive late; still it’s worth the try making Dex talk about what’s happening though it made me more bewildered. Ikaw ba naman ang itakas mula sa sarili mong pinagtratrabahunan sa hindi malaman na dahilan at pinagbintangan pang pumatay sa sariling kaibigan na parang tatay ko na kung ituring.
Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako at kinilatis ang lumang opisina ng taong nagbigay saakin ng pangalawang pagkakataon na mabuhay. Ang kulay kape na na sofa na kinauupuan ko sa ngayon ay kakikitaan na ng mga himolmol ngunit ang mga pader ay purong puti parin tulad ng dati at walang bahid ng anong dumi o crack sa pintura, wala ding kahit anong nakasabit sa mga pader nito maliban sa nag-iisang painting na nakadikit sa mismong katapat ng Mahogany desk ni lolo na hanggang ngayon ay makinis at makintab.
Tumayo ako at lumapit sa nag-iisang painting ng opisinang ito na naglalarawan ng isang maputing lalaki na may pagkasingkit ang mata, nakasuot ito ng amerikano at necktie na pula na may burdang kulay gold na “V” sa gitnang bahagi.
I was about to touch the surface of the painting when the door sprang open revealing a tall, broad man with grayish hair in dark blue suit and stick in hand. I can see signs of aging from his face but his demeanor is still the same- walking heavily, chest out, chin up and a serious face. A man of vigor and great power indeed.
“Haven’t change a bit dear?” He welcomed.
Well, I really didn’t change in appearance, still long dark brown hair, no make-up and the usual plain white shirt tucked in ripped jeans. We bowed down in front of him as he took his seat on the swivel chair.
“So do you, grandpa” I replied and went to the couch again. Dex sat opposite to mine. I glance once again to the old man, halos puti na lahat ang buhok nito ngunit sa kanyang paglalakad hanggang sa pag-upo ay makisig tingnan.
“How’s the orphanage?” He inquired.
From that question, naalala ko na
naman si manong at hindi ko talaga maintindihan kung anong motibo nya, ganun na ba kalaki ang galit nya dahil lagi kong natatalo sa checkers? Napakababaw naman nun kapag iyon lang ang dahilan.
I was snapped out from my thoughts when my grandfather called out my name,
“Shaudasci VERNET” he emphasized my last name. Hindi ito pasigaw ngunit may kalakasang boses sapat na para bumalik ako sa huwisyo.
He locked his gaze straight into my eyes as if waiting for my biggest lie.
“Look, I didn’t do it. You know me, I would never do such hideous crime besides I got no reason to do so.” I replied while raising my hands.
“Hence, the whole South border disagrees with you,” He leaned closer and placed both of his elbows on the table while locking firmly his hands like praying and the weight of his chin on top of it.
I rolled my eyes thinking of those sons of whores, greedy heads and let out a rhetorical question “It’s nothing new isn’t?”
He looked to Dex na parang walang pakealam sa mundo at saka sinenyasan ito na iwan muna kaming maglolo para siguro sa isang mahaba-habang sermon.
“Do you know why I named you ‘Shaudasci’?” he asked the moment Dex closed the door from behind.
“Galing sa salitang latin na ‘renasci’ which means to be born again that is also derived from the name my parents gave which is Reina from the golden-aged word, renaissance na lagi nilang kinukwento noong bata pa ako” Sagot ko pabalik na parang alam na ang patutunguhan ng usapan na ito.
“You’re partially right” he agreed nodding simultaneously.
I gave him a confused look na nagpangiti naman sa kanya. I miss that smile. Wrinkles showed up at parang nagging guhit na lamang ang mata nito dahil nga sa singkit ito. I am really grateful I met this man, he is my savior. He raised me well on behalf of my demised parents.
Pumasok na naman sa utak ko ang masaklap na pinagdaanan nila bago mamatay. Hindi makatao ang gumawa nun at hindi-hindi ko makakalimutan ang mukha nya hanggat hindi ko naparanas sakanya lahat ng pasakit na ginawa nya sa pamilya ko.
“The last half of your name is for you to remember your family where you came from. Villamor lineage includes a bunch of government employees, most of them were politicians like your mother. We became good friends of each other on that field not only because she is the vice mayor that time but because we share some similar principles and aspirations in life, kaya hindi na ako magtataka kung balang-araw tatakbo ka din na kandidato sa lugar na ito. I would support you all throughout your candidacy given that you make yourself a good image to everyone specially to the kids in the orphanage” he paused, scrutinizing my face if I’m listening intently.
“And the first half of my name?” I asked going back to the main topic. Kase mukhang mag-u-U turn na naman ng todo si lolo at makalimutan ang main focus ng usapan n 'to.
“ 'Shaud’ signifies a fish. American shad, its name” sagot niya.
Galeng nemen, isda pala pangalan ko , I let out a smirk na hindi naman napansin ni lolo dahil bising- busy sya sa pagbibigay ng mga bagong kaalaman na para namang walang silbi sa’kin.
“It’s the fish that fed the American nation’s founders. These type of fish is what they call Anadromous which best describes you. It came from the geek word ‘anadromos’ means running upward. Like the American shad that ascends rivers from the sea just for breeding, you my dear, ascends towards anything you want in life. Back when you’re seven, that moment you approached me to help you get what you badly want, I saw the most dangerous eyes of yours filled with ruthless determination to hunt for your dream. You reflect me Dasci, and I don’t want to see my other half fall down in vain so I would give you 168 hours to fix yourself, I’ll handle the authorities just prove your innocence in this case and be back to the field again.”
My heart thumped hardly this time as the word ‘field’ penetrate my mind. It is where I grew and now I can be there again after fixing this bullsh*t that I didn’t do. 168 hours, huh? That would be a week from now. I can surely catch that bullshit in 3 days. I let out a grin and said thank you to my grandfather.
Akala ko noong una dad, father or papa ang tatawag ko sakanya but from the moment i stepped in his house he told me to call him grandpa or lolo since that he's already 60+ something that time and I'm merely 7 years old who is still in despair of my parents death na muling pinaalala sa akin ng panahon ngayon. Hanggang kailan ba ako susubukin ng Dyos? Sa lahat na nasaksihan kong krimen ni-minsan ay hindi ko maisip na gawin iyon sa iba pero ngayon ako mismo ang pinagbibintangan nila. Siguro kung hindi lang talaga dahil kay lolo, malamang kanina pa ako pinagpyepyestahan sa prisinto.
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In the entrance gate of the orphanage, stood two men dressed in investigator suits, one with long dark brown coat and a tall man wearing just a polo- shirt and maong pants, could be the detective’s assistant or apprentice.
“Goodmorning! Detective Arias at your service” the man in long coat shook hands with the chief police
“Pleasure is mine, detective” the police replied
“This is Sol, my assistant” Arias introduced the man in polo-shirt.
He, too, shook hands with the chief police and smiled innocently. The chief police welcomed them to investigate the crime scene and took some pictures of the poor man covered in his own blood and still sitting inside the guard house.
Behind the crowd of employees and some caretakers, is the man in black hood analyzing the two men that looked unexpectedly familiar to him.
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Schema Lofu
Ficción General"Change is constant, so is morality" -Shaudasci V. Will you risk everything for revenge or just let things be? Will you hope for peace or just kill them all? _____ This is a prequel for the incoming second book of SCHEMA LOFU - South Consortium Down...
