The Sub Rosa [Completed]

Chapter 18

Sinusubukan kong matapos ang isang musika na lagi kong naririnig during my piano lesson. Nasisiyahan ako sa tuwing tatama ang aking mga daliri sa bawat key.

Pumasok ako rito sa music room dahil parang gusto kong gumamit ng piano. Hindi ako magaling sa piano pero alam ko naman ang ilang basic.

May isang tao kasi ang laging nagtuturo sakin pagdating dito. Matyagang nanonood noon kahit parang walang pangtutunguhan ang mga kamay kong mabagal.

May kausap si Seleucus sa opisina niya at kanina pa iyon. I decided to check the music room while waiting for him to finish his call.

Nilipat ko ang pahina sa mas madali pang piece dahil medyo mahirap nga ang una kong pinipilit tugtugin sa piano.

Natigilan ako sa familiar na kanta, naiiyak dahil hindi ko maaming nangungulila ako sa taong ito.

Isang marahang pindot sa bawat piano keys ay unti unti kong nasusundan at naririnig ang lagi niyang tinuturo sakin.

Tumigil ako dahil hanggang chorus lang ang kaya.

I was about to leave but my eyes caught the cello placed beside the piano.

Ayaw ko sanang pakealaman pero ang aking kamay ay kanting kanti mahawakan ang string nito. Ang ganda, parang tunay na ginto ang strings na gamit. Hind ko napigilang hawakan. I let my fingers traced the line where it leads to a name Lysimachus.

"Amastrise." Tumalikod na ako sa cello dahil pumasok si Seleucus na kasama ang Kuya ko.

Everything happens so fast that I am now sitting here inside the white van that my Kuya Isak and mom used to come in here at my husband's house.
 
Mom hugged me tightly, but not the usual tight kind of hug because this one was different, so tight that I felt pain on my chest; it's not her hug that hurts me, but I'm in pain for some reason.
 
She wasn't smiling at me or giving an expression either; her face was blank. When she tried to form a simple smile, it only turned into a sad one. I know something is off, but I cannot tell what it is.
 
My older brother's face was worried the moment Seleucus opened the door for them. Mom quickly held my hand to move me away from Kuya, who's now talking seriously to my husband.
 
I peek through our curtains in the living room.

Our house was surrounded by my husband's security every day, though I could still count them before; today's different, and I got goosebumps seeing how high the caliber of their weapon was, plus they were multiplied a lot.

What the hell?!

I couldn't hear them, and their conversation only lasted a minute before they all rushed me inside this white van.

Confused about what's going on.

"I don't understand why I have to go with them. It's too early for dinner. Seleucus, what's happening? Mom?" I'm getting annoyed.

"Stay with them for a while; I'll be the one who'll fetch you later. Go with them, baby."

His hands were cold when they touched my face. He was worried and sad but still smiled at me and gave me kisses.

I was about to argue, but he cut me off.

"Please. " I nodded as I watched him be extremely anxious.

Before we can exit the premises of our house, a numerous amount of black vans were parked at the gate, blocking anyone from exiting.

"Okay, mom, you have to tell me now what the hell is going on. Those vans parked outside belonged to them. Azrael, Ptolemy, and Lysimachus"
 
I was trying to be calm, but my voice was shaking when I said it. 
 
She shook her head, which made me nervous.
 
"Mom? Common you gotta tell me. I deserve to know."  I pleaded.
 
Her eyes glistened with tears, and for a moment I was scared to know it.
 
Then what she told me made me so much more broken than I was.