Casa Castellano: Hues Through the Abyss

Nightfall 21

NIGHTFALL 21
Night Time Visitor

I was in 4th grade nang dumating sina Rena sa mansyon. It's not my father who adopted them from the orphanage, it's the agency. They were taken in to be soldiers, and it's my dad who would directly handle them.

Masyado pa silang bata, ngunit mararamdaman at makikita mong kakaiba sila. It turned out that they had already undergone basic training in the orphanage they came from, which was a part of the organization. They give orphans shelter, clothes, food, proper education, and everything they need in exchange for service once these kids reach the legal age.

Ganoon ang buhay nina Rena.

Mailap sila noong una silang dumating, pero unti-unti ko rin silang nakasundo dahil sa mansyon na rin sila naglalagi. I considered them as my siblings, kahit na minsan ay naiisip kong mabait lang sila sa akin dahil anak ako ng kanilang Commander. Still, I was happy because I thought I wouldn't be alone at home anymore, kahit na tuwing gabi ko lang sila nakikita dahil busy sila sa kanilang training sa umaga. But it's better than not seeing them at all.

However, the time came when they reached fifteen and they had to go to a training camp. They left me. Being pulled out of school made it all worse.

Sa mahigit apat na taon na, namuhay akong mag-isa sa malamig na sulok ng aming mansyon. It didn't feel home anymore. With my mother gone, my father forever busy searching for my mom's assassin, and everyone dealing with their own lives and responsibilities, the cold blades of neglect wounded my young heart.

When they returned, ibang-iba na sila sa natatandaan ko. They're not the kids I used to adore anymore. They've become well-shaped soldiers with steel hearts, sharp minds, and deadly combat capabilities. I was eighteen and they were in their twenties, all busy with their dangerous missions.

Meanwhile, I was just there, caged in the mansion, and waiting for them to come back home. Praying for their safety, wishing for them to return to me alive. Sila nalang ang mayroon ako, e. Ayaw kong dumating sa punto na malamig na katawan nila ang hihintayin kong bumalik.

Nagdaan pa ang ilang taon na gano'n ang buhay ko. It was a never-ending cycle of black, white, and red. Hanggang sa tuluyan akong napagod.

“I'll…leave the mansion,” mahinang sabi ko kay Lance. Kaming dalawa lang ng gabing iyon sa garden at siya ang pinakahuling nilapitan ko.

I had already told the others about my decision, and they all reacted the same. Base sa blankong ekspresyon ni Lance, mukhang tulad din siya ng iba.

“What did you say?”

“Pagod na ako. I've always been all alone in what supposed to be called as my home. You are all out there, playing with death! Habang ako, ano? Maghihintay kung sino sa inyo ang sunod na paglalamayan?”

Hindi man lang ba nila naisip ang nararamdaman ko sa tuwing uuwi silang duguan? I've begged them to leave their job before, but they just couldn't.

“Kaya ba lalabas ka rin? Ipapahamak mo ang sarili mo, Diana?”

“Hindi iyon ang ibig kong sabihin. Gusto ko lang ng payapang buhay. Iyong walang iniisip na…” Hindi ko maituloy. Terrifying image of them on the brink of death flashed in my head. “Since we were kids, iyon na ang pangarap ko—ang makaalis dito. I'd rather live alone in a small apartment with a normal life, than stay here in a mansion full of worries and anxiety.”