Behind that Innocent Smile (COMPLETED)

56- Metal Castle

Author's POV.

"Ito ba talaga ang gusto mo apo?" tanong ni Mrs. Fournier na katabi ni Miriana sa kama.

Sinusuklay ng matanda ang buhok nito gamit ng kanyang daliri habang ang dalaga'y nakayakap dito ng mahigpit. Walang tigil ang luhang kanina pa ayaw tumigil sa paglabas. Mahapdi na ang kanyang mata, ngunit mas mahapdi ang bawat pagkirot ng kanyang puso.

"N-no... because I don't want to see how hurt he is from what I did." Isiniksik niya ang mukha sa matanda na patuloy pa rin sa paghalpos nito sa kanyang buhok.

Bahagyang tumagilid ang matanda upang punasan ang ilan nitong luha. Itinaas niya rin ang ulo nito sa paghawak niya sa baba ng dalaga para magkita ang dalawa nilang mga mata. "Sleep. Have a rest, kailangan mo 'yon. Goodnight darling." Isang halik sa noo ang iniwan ni Mrs. Fournier na nagpapikit kay Miriana.

Kahit papaano ay naibsan ang nararamdaman nito na unti-unting nagpasakop ng antok sa kanyang buong sistema. Parang lahat na lang ng nararamdaman niya ay pansamantalang nawala dahil sa pagod nitong mata na kanina pa umiiyak.

Nang masiguro ni Mrs. Fournier na tulog na ang dalaga, umalis na siya sa pagkakahiga at inayos ang kumot nito bago naglakad palabas ng kwarto. Sa kanyang paglabas, bumungad sa kanya si Richard na mula kanina'y naghihintay, umaasang makakausap niya ito.

"Sumunod ka sa akin," mahinahong sabi ng matanda.

Gustuhin niya mang pumasok sa kwarto, tahimik na lamang siyang sumunod dito na dumiretso sa veranda ng mansyon. Pinaupo niya ito sa upuang nasa harap ng isang mesa. Katulad kanina, sinunod niya ang matanda na umupo sa kaharap nitong upuan.

"Do you want me to tell you a story?"

Kahit nagtataka, tumango si Richard at hinintay ang mga susunod na sasabihin ni Mrs. Fournier. Sumandal muna ito sa kanyang kinauupuan bago muling magsalita.

"A long time ago there was a girl who was locked inside of a metal castle where many people have been there. But not even a single person can get out of this castle. The girl who followed her mother's order is not fully happy.  She wants freedom like the birds she fed in her bedroom window. Every night she wish to the stars to give her at least a sign of hope that someday when she wakes up. She will never be inside of the metal castle that has locked her up since birth."

Tumigil muna ang matanda, tutok na tutok naman si Richard sa pakikinig sa kwento nito na mukhang kilala na niya kung sino ang kanyang sinasabi.

"Until one day there was a boy riding his horse.  His attention is on the metal castle, when he looked at the window.  He saw a beautiful girl with a full smile on her lips.  He didn't know, he fell in love with this girl who makes his heart beat so fast that he wants to know the name of the girl. He asked the villagers if they knew the name of said girl but not even a single person knew because they called the metal castle as cursed. The boy is eager to know her name as he ignored a man's warning not to go because he might not be able to return. As expected, the boy goes there alone. He used all the methods he knew just to get into the castle."

Napangiti ang matanda na tumingin sa malayo.

"When the girl's mother heard about this boy who wanted to know her daughter's name. She opened all the doors for him to enter. Not because she was happy for her daughter but to trick this boy. The boy entered the castle, only the cold air was there to welcome him. But he didn't care, he ran as fast as he could to get to the room where the girl was sitting and watching at the stars. When the boy opened the door, the girl was shocked to see a strange man standing in front of her. At first she was afraid not because it was the first time she had seen a strange man. But because of the possibilities he might not get out safely inside the castle. She stands up and pushes the boy away from her. Over and over she said, "Run. Run away from me. Run away before the demon in me can kill you without a blink," she said. He was confused about what the girl said."

Napaisip si Richard nang maalala ang sinabi ni Miriana sa kanya.

'Run Richard. Run... because the demon in me can kill you with this cold eyes.'

Ito ang paulit-ulit na bumalik sa kanyang pandinig.

"When he was about to give the girl a hug to calm her down. The girl screamed loudly, loud enough for the boy to cover both of his ears. He was stunned when the girl slowly turned into a beast. Her fingers started to get sharp as the knife, her eyes turned red, her glowing skin has scales all over her body. And her eyes are as cold as ice without any emotion. Fear runs all over this boy's body, he wants to run but he can't. Because the moment he was about to run, he saw a tear fall from the girl's eye. And before he could open his mouth, the girl's pointed finger stabbed him in the chest. Her mother watching them laughed mischievously enjoying what she saw. The boy touched the cheeks of the girl who started to cry. In his last breath, he smiles sweetly for the girl and says, "You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen." He fell into the arms of the girl who turned back to her normal state. She cries as she slowly hugs the boy who was dead but never regretted seeing the girl without knowing her name. Because seeing the girl for the last time is the best gift he can get."

Mahabang kwento ng matanda na ibinalik ang tingin kay Richard na tahimik na nakikinig dito. Tinignan niya sa mata ang binata.

"If you were the boy would you run away from her?" tanong nito na nagpailing agad sa kanya.

Sa hindi malamang dahilan, napangiti siya habang nakatingin sa matanda. "Even though she pushes me away a few times just to keep me alive. I won't run away from her," sagot nito na parang si Miriana ang tinutukoy ng matanda sa kanyang kwento.

"Will you be able to absorb all the pain it can give you with your decision?"

May kislap sa mga mata ng binata ang kusang nagpangiti sa matanda. Kita nito ang determinasiyon nito sa paraan pa lamang ng kanyang tingin kahit na hindi pa man nito nasasagot ang kanyang katanungan.

"I would be gladly to receive all the pain not because of her beauty that I saw in her. But because of who she is, whatever form she can be. Even if she is the most unlovable beast or demon, I will always stay and accept her with all my heart. Because that's all the love I have for her. That even though she can only give me pain, the smile on her face is my only cure to keep loving her more than I can even ask for."

Napatakip ng bibig si Miriana na kanina pa tahimik na nakikinig sa kanila. Mahirap para sa kanya ang marinig na lumalaban pa rin para sa kanilang dalawa ang lalaking kanyang minamahal.

Ayaw na niya itong masaktan ngunit nang dahil sa kanyang narinig, mas lumalaki ng lumalaki ang kagustuhan nitong bawiin ang lahat. Gusto niyang yakapin ito't paulit ulit na ipakita kung gaano niya ito kamahal. Kung gaano niya kayang gawin ang lahat, maalis lamang ang sakit na kanyang binibigay rito.

"Do you love her so much?" muling tanong ng matanda.

Mas napangiti si Richard sa tanong nito. "Yes. I do. I love her so much that not seeing her even in a minute makes me wanna give her everything she needs to get her back to me."

Hindi na nakayanan ni Miriana ang kanyang naririnig kaya tumakbo na ito pabalik sa kanyang silid. Dahil baka pag nagtagal pa ito, baka tuluyan na niyang hindi mapigilan na lumapit sa binata.

Alam ni Mrs. Fournier na nakikinig ang kanyang apo, hindi niya gustong nakikita ang paghihirap sa kanyang mga mata kaya niya kinausap si Richard na walang kaalam alam na nasa paligid lamang ang dalaga. Alam din nito na kahit narinig niya ang sinabi ng binata'y pipigilan niya ang kanyang sarili upang balikan ito.

Ngunit ang nasisiguro niya matapos ng gabing ito, at sa oras na maisagawa ng dalaga ang kanyang plano, pipiliin pa rin nitong bumalik sa binata na patuloy na lumalaban para sa kanilang dalawa.

"Be strong Richard. Be strong for my granddaughter. Wait for her until she comes back to you, because I know she loves you the more you can think of."

Sa huling sinabi ng matanda sa kanya bago siya nito iwan, mas nagkaroon siya ng lakas. Napatingala ito sa madilim ngunit may kumikinang na mga bituin.

“I will wait my love. I'll break the castle for you."