The Somnambulist

XXXIX. Fearless

XXXIX. Fearless

Napuno ng tawanan ang buong bahay ni Zeeya. Ang dami kasing nakakatawang kwento nina Zeeya at Lucy kaya naman kahit si Klaus na akala mo ay palaging seryoso ay napatawa nila. Nakikisama na din siya sa pagkekwento.

"Ano'ng trabaho mo, Kuya Klaus?" Dumukot si Lucy sa hawak na bag ng potato chips ni Ashton. Magkatabi silang dalawa sa one-sitter couch. Nalaman kong sinagot na pala niya si Ashton.

"I worked as a professor in Manila," Napatingin ako sa kanya. He lied smoothly. He didn't even hesistate as he speak. "But now I'm taking my leave. Gusto ko kasing magpahinga muna."

"Oh, ano'ng subject ang tinuturuan mo?" tanong ni Zeeya.

"World Literature, Algebra at Calculus," Uminom si Klaus mula sa baso ng juice na hawak niya.

"Wow, parang si Sirㅡ" Hindi naituloy ni Zeeya ang kanyang sasabihin. Napakunot ang noo niya na para bang may nakalimutan siya. "Weird. I forgot his name. But I'm sure I knew him."

Natawa si Lucy. "Ano ka ba naman, Zeeya. Napakamalilimutin mo talaga. Hindi ba si Sirㅡ" Napatigil din si Lucy. Kinamot niya ang kanyang ulo. "Oh, I guess, I can't remember his name, too."

Napairap sa kawalan si Lucy. "Now, look who's talking."

"I can't remember his name nor his face but I know I knew a professor teaching those subjects," ani Ashton. "But either way, I always didn't pay attention and maybe he wasnc't that important."

Napakuyom ang aking kamao. Bakit hindi nila maalala si Sir. Ralph? Kahit na hindi siya totoo, kahit na siya si Klaus, madami pa rin siyang naitulong sa 'min. Hindi nila pwedeng kalimutan na lang 'yon basta na parang hindi siya dumaan sa buhay nila.

"But Sir. Ralphㅡ" Hinawakan ni Klaus ang aking braso. Nagtataka akong tumingin sa kanya. Umiling lang siya sa 'kin na para bang sinasabi na 'wag ko nang ituloy ang aking sasabihin.

Mas lalong nagngitngit ang kalooban ko. Oo, naging masama siya sa 'min ni Nicolai pero hindi ko pwedeng itapon na lang ang isang bahagi niya, ang bahagi niya na may malaking malasakit sa mga tao. I know he's fond of humans. I know he wants to protect them. I can see it in his eyes.

Sa pagkakataong 'to, ako ang humawak sa braso niya. "May kailangan lang kaming pag-usapan," Hinila ko papunta sa kusina si Klaus. Nagpasalamat ako na hindi na sila nagtanong pa kung ano ang pag-uusapan naming dalawa.

"Klaus, bakit hindi ka nila maalala? Ano'ng nangyayari?" I tried to hold back my tears. Everything that he did for us will fade just like that. I can't bear seeing them moving on with their lives without a trace of memory about Sir. Ralph. Tears rolled down from my eyes.

He smiled at me. Tinapik niya ang aking ulo. Inilevel niya ang kanyang mukha sa 'kin. "This is the second time a human cried for me. I gave up on hoping that it will happen again. The happiness suddenly spread in my heart," He ruffled my hair in a soft and soothing manner, not actually ruining my hair. "Flavia, that's how my power works. Kung tutuusin, mas mabuti nang hindi nila ako maalala. Sa gayon, mapuputol na ang ugnayan ko sa kanila. Alam kong sa huli, ako lang din ang maiiwan. Human are fragile beings. They die from accident, sickness or aging. But I can live forever. I can live as long as I wanted to. I'm too tired to watch them die and fade away. I swear to myself that I will no longer engage myself with them."

"But you have your family. You have the creatures experiencing the same thing as you. You have your world. You're very lucky because you can have the both worlds if you aren't afraid to lose someone," I looked at him in the eyes. "Humans aren't fragile as you think. Even if they died, their memories will still remain in your heart and mind. Their soul will always be guiding you, watching you and protecting you."