Angevil's Portrait of Portals

Chapter 18. Sinag

A month had passed since the strange visions that I had. Isla and I have gone back to my grandma's house after bidding Uncle Destino and his wife goodbye. During our last night of stay in their house, we enjoyed a scrumptuous feast prepared by Aunt Emi as a form of farewell party for Isla and I as we celebrated it together with Alon and Bisig. Ever since that day, I made it a habit to visit my hometown at least once a week to climb the hilltop by myself. I did not forget to bring the key that Sinag gave me which I later on turned into a necklace. Whenever I would go to the hilltop, Sinag never ceases to inspire me with his admirable presence. He constantly educates me about being a good role model such as himself. I started to actually consider him as my best friend because I'd tell him about certain situations I had been through and he would give me hefty advices. It may sound as if I was daydreaming but he is real. At least in my eyes he is real. He only shows up for a few minutes because he has important duties to finish just as he told me. Duties that I knew nothing about. But I did not mind that and I never questioned him about it for as long as this enchanted feeling stays present whenever I am with him. We would usually spend our time sitting under the shade of tree next to each other while enjoying the view of the beautiful nature from the hilltop. I would then wake up from a nap as my head rested on his lap and by that time he would say goodbye. Another week had passed again. I was excited to see Sinag for the fourth time but the moment I reached the hilltop, he was nowhere to be found. I wondered what had happened to him. I then put my right hand on my chest and realized that I wasn't wearing the key necklace that he had given me. Was it the reason why I wasn't able to see him today? Where could I have lost my key? I spaced out for a while and remembered that the last time I wore it was two days ago when I visited Baby Maya. But before that, I had a quick chit chat with Aunt Emi at her house. Wait. I must have dropped the key in one of those places. And so I hurriedly ventured to Mang Destino's house first and talked to Aunt Emi about my missing necklace however according to her she hasn't seen it. She assured me that once she finds it she will let me know about it. I then went to the museum and had some time to bond with Ginang Marso and Baby Maya in the garden. So far according to Ginang Marso, their family hasn't seen any sort of key but will inform me once it is found. I then proceeded to the museum to see my painting and to my surprise, Mang Destino was standing right infront of it and beside him was Ginoong Marso. I was curious as to why they were both looking at my painting. I stepped a foot and then another inside the museum and my footsteps were suddenly heard echoing inside the room and with that Ginoong Marso turned around and greeted me. "Well, Hello my dear. How have you been?" I then replied while walking towards them, "I am fine. Thank you for asking. How about you?" He responded with a huge smile on his face and said, "Never been better. What brings you here? Let me guess, it's because of Baby Maya." I answered, "Well, yes of course. I mean I actually have another reason. I was wondering whether you have seen my key necklace? I believe I have lost it somewhere here or maybe at Mang Destino's place. Have you seen it though?" Mang Destino turned around and looked at me after viewing my painting. I was shocked to see him wearing a key necklace. Mang Destino then said to me, "An old friend of mine gave this to me a long time ago. Does it look similar to the one you have?" I answered, "It does actually. Even the choice of string that I used to create the necklace looked exactly the same as yours. Wait. May I please have a word with you in private?" Ginoong Marso, a gentleman that he always was then excused himself in order to give us some time to talk. Mang Destino asked, "What is it that you wanted to talk about, Diwa?" I was hesitant to tell him at first but then I gathered the courage and said, "I saw you were looking at my painting along with Ginoong Marso. It made me curious specially that we both have the same looking key. And I am talking about a not-so-ordinary key. The keys' shape looked like they weren't intended to open a normal door. Actually, the person I painted in this portrait was the one who gave me that key. So if I may ask, Does your friend look similar to him?" Mang Destino looked confused and he frowned by my sudden random question. He looked at me straight in the eye with great worry. I was expecting a sense of connection that we were both on the same page. I mean he probably knew something that I know about which is none other than, Sinag. Or if I was wrong, he might get upset and find my question silly. He kept silent for awhile until he uttered the words in broken phrases saying, "Diwa, the answer is yes. Just like you, I have been longing for an answer myself." I was left dumbfounded. Suddenly the atmosphere turned dark with roaring sounds of thunder as it started to rain outside and so Ginoong Marso closed the open doors of the museum. I unknowingly backed off a couple of steps and accidentally grabbed onto a miniature sculpture on top of a tall stoned stand. A familiar sound started clicking when my hand touched it. I slowly turned around to it's direction and my eyes suddenly widened after realizing what it was. My jaw dropped at the sight of the key necklace worn by the miniature statue. I also realized that the statue looked just like Sinag. I covered my mouth with both hands in astonishment. I then looked back at Mang Destino and noticed that his key necklace was gone. My eyebrows suddenly narrowed in confusion. He then asked me a question which left me stunned, "Diwa, Are you okay? Is there something wrong?" I wasn't able to answer back and then he added, "What was it again that you wanted to ask me?" I looked at him once more trying to figure out what had just happened. I then concluded that he did not seem to remember what happened seconds ago. I then wondered why I was the only one seeing all of these visions. Are they even visions? A normal person would probably tell me that I am hallucinating or that I am a crazy. In disbelief, I could only answer while looking at my painting, "For me this painting is so special. What do you think about it?" I looked down in embarrasment. He then smiled and said, "It is aesthetically pleasing in the eye. You are a gifted artist. The portrait of this man definitely reminds me of my good old friend. Though I could not see his face in your portrait, it surely brings back good old memories." With that I felt grateful because he appreciated my work of art. Also, I got curious about his good old friend. As I remember, he mentioned before that his friend's name was Lexton. Is he another one of Sinag or Liyab's alliance? I wondered heavily but still I put up a smile on my face since he complimented my painting. And so I asked him a follow up question, "How come my portrait reminded you of your good old friend?" Mang Destino then replied, "I do recall meeting someone a very long time ago dressing exactly like the person in your portrait however I did not know exactly who he was in person. He helped me during a complicated time in my life and with that I considered him as a good old friend. With regards to the key, there was a time when a stranger handed me a key just like the one you are wearing, but I don't remember much about it right now. I inquired the key to my friend Lexton who was a dealer of antique stuff. He then told me it was a key from an old house in his area." My smile then turned into horror upon hearing his statement. "Wearing?" I murmured to myself realizing that I was actually wearing the key necklace I was looking for. My left hand held it tightly in fear that I might lose it again. I wanted to ask more questions about the house he was referring to but I was afraid he might find me nosy of being very interested in his past life. I then thought of a better ending question and so I asked him, "Will it be possible for me to meet your good old friend Lexton? It would be nice if he could identify the origin of the key for me and tell me more information about it. It has great sentimental value to me." Mang Destino then replied and said, "As of now I am quite busy with work but I will find time for you to meet him. I will let you know through Alon once my workload is not too hectic anymore so I can guide you there." I felt a sense of relief but at the same time I felt sad that I won't be able to meet Lexton anytime soon. Even though that was the case, I was still grateful to Mang Destino for such a helpful information. I then replied to him, "I highly appreciate you coming here to see my painting, Mang Destino. Thank you so much for providing me answers to my questions." He smiled as he put one hand on my head and replied, "You are more than welcome. I just made sure that Baby Maya is having her best life here since we entrusted her to Ginoong Marso's care. Well then, I shall be heading home now. It was nice seeing you again, Diwa." Mang Destino replied. He then went to the gates and bid us all farewell. I then had a quick chit chat with Ginang Marso and played with Baby Maya before heading back home. During my travel back home, I couldn't stop thinking about my vision today. I thought that my visions have all gone away after the burial of Baby Maya's mother but I was wrong. I really thought that my life was in peace because Sinag was with me. What am I suppose to do now? I regretted not asking Sinag about it. I wanted to hate him for leaving me all of a sudden without saying goodbye. I halted my horse to a stop as I viewed the rocky mountains from afar while the sun sets. I then put my hand on my middle chest part and held the key necklace I was wearing. I wondered if it was a sign for me to continue my journey in looking for Sinag. "Sinag, please come see me." I said to myself. Also wanting to see the actual meaning of his name which is the sun's bright rays.