Melodic Breeze (Alamada Series 1)

Kabanata 21

Wala akong ibang magawa kung hindi ang panatilihin ang tingin sa larawang hawak ng kaibigan namin.

Ang alam ko, nag-iisang anak lang si Sef, iyon ang sabi niya noon. At wala rin siyang nabanggit na namatayan siya ng kapatid... o baka ay tinatago niya lang?

I wasn't expecting anything like this. What I thought was her mother just doesn't want her to go in that room because... she's hiding something from Sef but not that. We're not even sure if that's the only thing that her mother is hiding in here.

Naalala ko tuloy iyong napag-usapan namin ni Yulos noong nakaraan...

"May kapatid ka ba, Sef?" kuryusong tanong ko na dahil hindi ko na kaya ang manatilihing tahimik kahit may gusto na akong itanong.

"I am an only child," sagot niya, hindi pa rin inaaalis ang tingin sa litratong hawak niya. Seems unsatisfied with only looking at the photo, she grabbed it from Chiara's hand and look at it closely.

"Iyan ba ang dahilan kung bakit ayaw kang papasukin ng mama mo rito?" si Jianha.

"Probably. But maybe there's more in here," sagot niya sabay libot ng tingin sa paligid namin.

There are boxes and cabinets around. Lahat naman ay mukhang kaduda-duda dahil matagal na at ang iba ay parang inaanay na. Ganoon siguro katagal nang hindi 'to pinapasukan sa sobrang alikabok at dumi ng paligid.

Tumayo si Sef habang hawak pa rin iyong litratong nakuha ni Chiara para maglibot pa at tumingin-tingin sa paligid. Ako naman at si Chiara ay nagkatinginan at kalaunan, sabay naming hinalungkat ang lahat ng bagay na nilalaman ng kahon.

I am confident to say that it is really Tito Ambrocio. Yes, he looks like my father but for being with my father since my knowledge has grew, I am able to identify if it is him or not. And in the photo, I am sure that he is Sef's father.

Ang nakapagtataka lang, bakit iyon narito? Bakit iyon tinatago rito? Bakit lahat ng mag litrato ni Tito Ambrocio kasama ang dalawang bata, nakalagay sa kahon at mukhang tinago pa rito sa napakatagal na panahon?

"I can't find anything," si Sef nang bumalik siya sa amin.

Nag-angat kami ng tingin sa kaniya at sabay na tumayo.

"Maraming litrato rito, Sef," sabi ko sabay turo roon sa kahon. "Dalhin na lang natin 'to sa kwarto mo at doon mo itago–"

"I won't hide that. I'll confront my parents about it. This time, they won't have any privilege to get mad at me for sneaking in the underground."

I licked my lower lip after hearing those words with full of determination of her. I have mixed emotions for this. Scared, curious, and maybe... excited.

I am scared for us because we went in this room even if we know that Sef is prohibited here but we still tolerated her. And curious for what her parents may reveal or say, and of course, excited. I am excited to know what's behind these hidden things that we just found out.

I felt safe when we were in the underground, but when I felt the cold breeze touching my skin when we went out, I felt like I've got goosebumps. I can feel that there's something around, giving us its sharp look.

Napahawak ako sa braso si Sef na para bang sa kaniya ako nagpapaprotekta dahil ramdam na ramdam ko na ang takot sa bawat paglipas ng segundo.

"Sef," mahina kong tawag habang humihigpit ang kapit ko sa braso niya.

And when the bulbs from their big and elegant chandelier lit up, I knew that we've been caught already and there's no way to hide to.

Wala na rin kaming palusot na masasabi dahil dala namin ang kahon na naglalaman ng mga litratong nakuha namin sa loob ng storage room.