The Alchemist

CHAPTER 33: Son

CHAPTER
THIRTY-THREE

Son

Veronica was used to betrayal. When Chad, the first human she trusted the most, betrayed her, all she could think was she wanted to kill him. Whe she met Sinco, she thought to play with him because there was something about him which made her so drawn to him. At the end, the game that she wanted betrayed her. She abandoned him. She felt betrayed again. Kahit pa siya ang nang-iwan. Pakiramdam niya siya ang naloko sa kung ano man ang meron sa kanila.

And then, it was her son who smiled at him when things got worse. He made her feel alive again. Na para bang kahit nasaktan siya nang paulit-ulit noon ay naroon naman ang kanyang anak para hindi na siya muling saktan. She promised that he would never be hurt by anything or by anyone.

But this happened.

"Anong nangyayari?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Sinco.

Anong nangyayari? Veronica wanted to asked, too. But she already knew what was happening or what was about to happen. And it pained her.

"Veronica!" Lumagabag ang pinto nang buksan iyon ni Susanna. Hinihingal itong tumingin sa kanila bago kay Simon na nakatayo ngayon sa ibabaw ng kama. Nanlaki ang mga mata nito. "Scott, get Ysabella out of here!"

Pero imbis na sundin siya ay hinawakan ni Scott ang braso niya. Inilipat nito sa bisig niya ang kanilang anak. Naguguluhan namang tiningnan ni Susanna ang asawa.

"You're the one who should go.." he said calmly looking at Simon over her shoulder.

"Scott.."

"Feliciah will be here. Everything is gonna be fine," he said kissing her temple.

Susanna looked at Simon one last time before running out of the room. Scott stepped inside, and Simon immediately turned his gaze to him.

"Scott.." may halong pagmamakaawang wika ni Veronica.

Hindi naman siya nilingon ng lalaki. "Maybe you should get him out of here too."

"Hindi ako aalis!" Pagmamatigas agad ni Sinco.

Bahagyang tumaas ang kilay ni Scott ang tiningnan si Sinco. Gumuhit ang kaunting ngisi sa mga labi nito.

"Perhaps, you already know what kind of beings are we," he said holding his scythe from nowhere.

Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ni Sinco. "Wait! Anong gagawin mo kay Simon?"

"What can you do Veronica?" He asked Veronica instead.

Nagtiim naman ang panga ni Veronica kasabay ng pagkuyom ng kanyang mga palad. It was the first time that she could witness someone who was becoming a Dead one. She didn't know what to do or how to stop the process.

"Feliciah.." Sabi ni Scott kasabay nang pagsulpot ng kapatid sa tabi niya.

Laking gulat naman ni Sinco na muntik nang mapasigaw at matumba sa kinatatayuan nito.

"To be a Dead one, you need to agree with it," sabi ni Feliciah hawak ang kanyang karit. "But if you don't agree, you're whole body will be eaten by the dark magic."

Nanghina ang tuhod ni Veronica sa narinig. Nagsimulang pumatak ang mga luha niya. Ang anak niya. How could he experience this kind of misfortune? Pumikit siya nang mariin nang maramdaman ang kamay ni Sinco sa balikat niya.

Sinco didn't understand what was happening, but based on Veronica's reaction it was bad. Alam niyang wala siyang maitutulong sa pagkakataong iyon, pero gusto niyang manatili roon para sa anak niya, para kay Veronica.

Humakbang nang isang beses si Feliciah. Simon immediately looked at her with his pitch black eyes. She returned his cold gaze.

"Simon.." she called him, and he didn't respond.

Scott moved forward too, and without even hesitating extended his hand to reach Simon. The young man didn't flinch or even move.

"Simon," he called him. His voice was deep laced with magic. Dark magic.

And then suddenly, Simon collapsed. Veronica quickly rushed to him.

"Simon!" Sinubukan ni Veronica na yugyugin ang anak sa pag-iisip na magigising muli ito. "Simon, anak! Simon!"

"He doesn't want to be a Dead one," Scott said to Veronica. Lalo lang naiyak ang dalaga.

"Simon.." Niyakap niya ang walang malay niyang anak. "It's okay. It's okay. You can be like Tito Scott. It's okay. You'll be a good one. It's okay."

It was not okay, but she could live with it as long as Simon would be with him.

She suddenly felt that Simon was starting to shake. Mas hinigpitan naman niya ang kapit sa anak kahit pa tila unti-unti siyang sinusunog nito.

Scott held his forehead and started chanting.

Sinco didn't know where to stand. Iyon ang unang beses nakasaksi siya ng ganoong pangyayari. Hindi siya naniniwala sa magic. Siguro sa himala pero hindi sa magic. Kahit noong bata pa siya ay alam na niyang ang mga magic tricks ay may halong daya, kaya naman hindi siya kailanman nag-enjoy sa mga magic shows o sa mga clowns.

Pero nakilala niya si Veronica.

Hindi lang ito basta marunong gumamit ng magic, napakalakas pa nito. Alam niya iyon kahit pa hindi iyon ipunto ng iba. Malakas si Veronica. Ganoon din ang kalooban nito. Nagawa nga nitong iwan si Sinco nang ganoon lamang hindi ba, paanong hindi magiging malakas ang loob ng babae.

Ngunit sa pagkakataong iyon ay parang binabasag ang puso ni Sinco habang pinapanood ang pagyakap ni Veronica sa anak nila kasabay ng pag-iyak nito. Naririnig din niya ang pabulong nitong pagmamakaawa na iligtas ang anak nila.

"Simon!" She suddenly shouted.

Pakiramdam ni Sinco ay bibigay ang puso niya sa kaba. Napatakbo siya sa anak at agad na hinawakan ang pulso nito. He then checked if he was still breathing by placing his finger near to his nose.

His pulse and breathing stopped.

Nanghina si Sinco sa kintatayuan niya at napaupo sa sahig. Veronica's cry grew louder.

And then, it happened.

His hand moved a bit, and Sinco saw that. Para siyang binuhusan nang malamig na tubig. Agad siyang napatayo at hinawakan ang kamay ng anak.

"Simon? Anak.." he tried to call him then looked at Veronica. "I saw his hand moved!"

"Simon?" Veronica held her son's face.

And then, Simon slowly opened his eyes. At first, they were pitch black then turned to dark brown. Veronica bursted into tears and hugged her son.

"Mommy.." Simon said in a small voice.