Selah Alira Wears Despair Like A Rosary [ R-18 ]

V

Life flies, and never stays an hour, and death comes on behind with its dark day

   Dahan-dahan akong nalunod sa ilog. Sa pinakamadilim na kawalan.

   Isang pangitain ang unti-unting sumasakop sa diwa ko.

   Tinahak ko ang daan patungo sa isang makahulugang panaginip. Lumusong ako sa kakaibang dimensyon at marahang lumangoy ang aking kaluluwa.

   Hanggang sa may narinig akong mahiwagang boses ng isang babae.

~~•••~~

   "Greetings, ladies. I would like to thank you all for gathering here during this witching hour."

   Ibinuklat ko ang aking mga mata.

Natagpuan ko ang sarili na nakaupo sa isang malambot na silya.

   Iginala ko ang paningin sa paligid. The room was dimly lit, but I wasn't home, wasn't in my bed. I was comfortable, for one thing.

   I was inside the literary salon in our all-girls Catholic school.

   May mga iba't ibang babae na kasing edad ko ang nakapaligid sa isang marmol na hugis oval na lamesa. Isa na ako roon. Lahat kami ay nakasuot ng magandang uniporme.

   Iginawi ko ang paningin sa paligid. There was a black crystal Baccarat chandelier hanging from the ceiling, but the light had been dimmed as if it was mourning the dead. I heard a crackling fire gave off cheery pops and hisses in a beautiful travertine fireplace. The flames danced merrily.

And to top it all off, a library that stretched across the entire wall. There was a huge collection of foreign books, which looked like fine art along that wall.

   The room was lit by candles, shadows flickering across oil paintings hanging on the walls.

   Nahagip ng mga mata ko ang malaking grandfather clock na nakatayo sa dulo. The sword-like hand struck at 3 AM.

   "Oh my, you're now awake, Alicia. We've been waiting for you to open your eyes." anas ng isang dalaga na may nakakabighaning ganda. The sound of her voice was captivating to hear, her eyes twinkled endlessly and a tireless smile was etched on her rosy lips. Siya si Veronica, ang bise presidente ng literary salon.

   Lumingon sa akin ang ibang mga babae. Sabay silang ngumiti sa akin na mistulang mga mekanikong manika.

"Finally, hinihintay ka namin kanina pa." This was spoken by an attractive and dignified girl with a short-length hair. Nakita ko si Riliane na nakahalukipkip ang mga braso at nakadekwatro ang mga binti.

"How are you, Alicia?" said a pretty but timid, meek-looking girl whose eyes tried to be free from her bangs. May hawak na libro si Noelle.

"Perhaps you need tea?" told by a girl wearing a headband, lovely and graceful as the morning mist. Dinampot ni Henrietta ang teapot at nagsalin ng tsaa sa babasaging teacup.

"Or are you looking for a massage? I can give you a hand," said the last girl, a mystical fairy from Europe with deeply chiseled facial features. Banayad na humigop ng tsaa si Eleanor habang nakapikit, agaw-pansin ang mahahabang pilik mata niya.

Kumurap ang mga mata ko.

"Thank you. I'm fine after all." Bumaba ang paningin ko, blangko ang mga mata at nakapaibabaw ang mga palad ko sa aking kandungan.

Natatandaan ko na isa akong presidente ng Literature Club ng literary salon. I remembered that this salon was like a Victorian boutique when I was first invited here by the seniors.
At first glance, it was all harmonious elegance and feminine delicacy. Yet upon closer inspection, little grotesqueries were hidden therein. I shuddered.