1966
December 21, 1966 – 8:00 AM
"Claire hurry up kid, we're going to be late, we don't like that, don't we?"
My dad said while looking at me. Naka tayo sya sa hamba ng pinto habang naka pameywang. Makikita ang lungkot sa mga mata nito kahit na parang tigre ang mga mata nito.
"Sorry dad, I just felt sad, leaving everything. My friends, this house, memories, this town..... mom"
Sabi ko habang nakatingin sakanya. Ng maramdaman ko ng tutulo ang aking mga luha ay napayuko ako. I gently wipe my tears, I don't want my dad to see how weak I am.
Pumasok sya sa aking kwarto at Naramdaman kong umupo sa aking tabi dito sa aking kama. He sigh and took my hand.
"Anak, you know why we need to leave. This place was a paradise to our family but also our nightmare. Every time I look in every corner of this house, I always saw your mother, smiling at me, saying how much she loves me, and loves you and your brothers."
"it's really hard for me, because of the memories. But....but I can't stay here any longer. We need to star a new life.....without your mom, Claire" dagdag pa nitong sabi saken. Hinawakan nito ang buhok ko at marahang idinampi ang labi sa aking buhok.
"I understand dad, sorry if I am making this hard for you."
"It's okay anak, you don't have to apology" sabi nito. Tumayo ito at inilahad ang kamay saken.
"so? Lets go kid, your brothers waiting for us" I took his hands and we walk together.
Tiningnan ko ang aking silid sa huling pagkakataon. I need to start a new life, we all need to start a new life. And staying in this house, It'll always gives us heart ache. Staying here will always remind us how their mom died.
Vanished.
*
7:00 Pm
Welcome to Bryxton Town
Basa ko ng madaanan namin ang karatulang nag sasabi na nakarating na kami sa Bryxton town. Dad want's to start here in Bryxton.
"Dad?" narinig kong tawag ni kuya kay dad, nasa passenger seat ito samantalang nasa backseat kame ng bunso kong kapatid na si clay, habang si dad naman ay sa driver seat.
"hmm?" response ni daddy kay kuya habang bahagyang lumingin sakanya si dad.
"I am just wondering, why bryxton town?" my brother ask curiously.
My dad laugh at my brother's question
"Because this is were your mom and I met" sabi nito habang makikita mo sa kanyang mata ang ning-ning na tila binabalikan ang masasaya nilang ala-ala.
"really? Why we never knew about this?" kuya asked again.
And my father laugh with amusement.
"I'ts a long story son. Long long....story" sabi nito habang parang may inaalala sa kagabanap sa kanila ni mom dati.
"we're here kids" sabi nito, habang papasok sa isang gate na luma. Mataas ito at makikita ang karangyaan ngunit napaglipasan na ito ng panahon at mukang hindi na naaalagaan dahil sa mga ugat ng nakakabit dito.
"Welcome to NightCastle" dagdag pang sabi ni dad.
Ilang minute pa ay huminto ang sasakyan, naunang lumabas si daddy, nakita ko ang mariin na titig nya sa bahay.
"I'm back" mahinang sabi nya sa kanyang sarili na hindi naman nakalagpas sa akin. I look at him, I don't know but I saw something in him that I can't name it.
I look at the house, and it is indeed a castle. Hindi sya katulad ng mga castle sa movies or Disney, para syang mansion na napaglipasan ng panahon. Kung siguro noong panahon nito ay ito ang isa sa pinaka magandang bahay ditto sa bryxton. Makikitaan mo na ito ng kalumaan ngunit halatang matitibay pa ang pundasyon nito.
Napagod ako sa byahe na umabot ng 11 hours mula sa City. Naglakad nako papasok ng bahay, ay mansion pala. Dahil pag pasok palang ay ramdan at kita mo na kung gano ito karangya.
"I only have 3 rules in this house" napalingon ako ng marinig ko ang sinabi ni dad. Nakita ko itong nakatayo sa may unang baiting ng hagdan.
Hindi na bago samen magkakapatid ang rules ni dad. He has rules kahit na sa dati naming bahay. And we're okay with that, because setting rules doesn't mean to struggle you, its just, to keep you away from harm.
Madadali lang naman ang rules nya, sa dati naming house ang mga rules nya ay basic lang, like No Running, Be Home on time something like that. Kaya I know sisiw lang ang rules nya ngayon....... Or not!
"My rules have change"
"what do you mean dad?" my brother kuya clein asked.
Dad sigh. "It'll be different rule this time clein"
"okay we can do that daddy" clay said in cheerful tone, that make us laugh. It lessen the tension I felt when daddy has a serious tone while saying he has different rule now.
"I only have 3 rules. Clein, Claire, Clay" sabi nito habang tumitingin samen isa isa habang binabangit ang aming mga pangalan.
"First, You have to be at home at exactly 10:00 PM, Not 11, not 10:30, not 10:01. Be at home at exactly 10:00 PM. Do you understand?"
"But what if I need to do something.."
"10:00 PM Clein" putol na sabi ni dad sa dapat sasabihin ni kuya.
"Fine" sabi ni kuya na alam kong labag sa loob
"Do you understand?" ulit ni dad ng walang sumagot samen
"Yes sir" we answered.
"Second" he intently look at us.
Fuck, I don't know but I am feeling different here. Something's not right.
"Second, always lock your door at night, do not open it if you hear knocks or noise outside"
Sabi nito, hindi kame sumasagot because we know something is off.
"And lastly, Do not open the black door at the end of the hallway"
Alam ko na may kakaiba sa bahay nato, pero bakit ganto? Bakit ganto ang nararamdaman ko, sa mga bagong rules ni dad?.
Something. I know there's something in this night castle.
And I would dependently find what the fuck is that.
-KAGOME
BINABASA MO ANG
Lost : Lost in Devunkory
FantasiaI know dad's never set a rule without any reason, he set it because he knows, what the best for us. And I always, WE always following his rule. But sometimes, I am a rule breaker too.
