Haunted Chess | ✓

EPILOGUE

Khalel Zabriel Salvacion Lee

All my life, I thought life is that unfair. That life is just good to everyone except me. Maraming katanungan, bakit kaya ako nabuhay kung ganito lang din mararanasan ko? I thought my life is full of cruelty... until I created her.

"Zabriel, ayos ka lang ba?" I asked myself while looking at my reflection on the mirror.

My reflection immediately smiled. "I'm okay, Khalel."

My reflection changed again. Now my forehead's creased. "Sinasaktan ka na naman ba ng Mommy mo?"

Umiling ako. "No, I just want to cry my heart out. Parang ang bigat-bigat na kasi."

Bigla na lamang akong tumawa. "Echoserang palaka ka, akala ko naman kung ano. I-nomi natin 'yan!"

Kumunot ang noo ko. What? Echoserang palaka? Nomi?

"What's that?" my tears suddenly stopped because of my curiosity.

Nagulat muli ako. "Luh? Hindi mo alam 'yon? Nomi! Yung inom! Tapos echosera!"

Napangiwi ako. Bakit napaka-asal kalye naman nitong si Khalel?

"Maiba nga tayo," sumeryoso ang mukha ko. "Bakit mo ako ginawa?"

Napatingin ulit ako sa repleksyon ko. "Kasi... gusto ko."

| …♡♡... |

"Daddy, I want to change my name!" I shouted as I talked to my dad.

He sighed before caressing my cheek. "Darling, your name is beautiful. Zabriel Salvacion Lee."

Umiling ako. "I want to add Khalel as my second name! Please!" I pouted even more.

Sasagot na sana siya nang may nagsalita sa likuran ko. "Khalel Zabriel, sounds good."

Lumiwanag ang mukha ko't tinakbo siya. "Lola!"

"Aww, apo ko," kinurot nito ang pisnge ko bago harapin si Daddy. "Change her name into Khalel Zabriel Salvacion Lee, I want that."

Wala nang nagawa si Daddy. "Yes, Ma."

| …♡♡... |

"Wala ka talagang kwenta! Ang sinabi ko, huwag kang makikialam sa mga gamit ko! Tignan mo 'tong ginawa mo!"

My forehead creased when I heard someone shout. Bakit parang boses ni Tito iyon?

"Let's check it," Khalel said.

Wala na akong nagawa nang pumasok siya sa office. At doon namin nadatnan si AJ na pinapalo ni Tito.

"Tito!"

I shouted as I entered. Kaagad silang napalingon sa akin na para bang nakakita ng multo. Kunot-noo akong lumapit sa kanila, mas lalong nagsalubong ang kilay ko nang makitang namumula na ang mga palad ng pinsan ko.

"What are you doing here, hija?" taliwas sa sinabi niya ang gusto kong isagot niya.

"No," matigas kong sabi. "What are you doing here?"

Napakunot ang noo niya. "That's that what our family teach you, Zabriel. You know how to calm your voice—"

I cut him off. "Shut up."

My Tito's jaw dropped. "I said—" he suddenly stop. "Wait, that's not what we really teach you. I've been with you the whole time and your attitude's not like that."