Ile Magique

Chapter 24

This is it. The final obstacle and destination. Masaya sila dahil nahanap na nila ang susi. Ibig sabihin ay sigurado na silang makakauwi. Wala nang atrasan. Bawal ang delay, as in ngayon na. Noong pagliko nila ay napahinto si Cath. "Eto na yung obstacle." sabi nito.

Napatingin naman ang lahat sa harap, ngunit mukha lang itong normal na daanan gaya ng mga dinadaanan nila. "Sigurado ka bang eto yun, Cath?" tanong ni Jr. Muling pumikit si Cath at tumango. "I'm a hundred percent sure, eto na." Nagkatinginan muna sila bago magpatuloy. "Guys, mamimiss ko kayo." ani ni Kun. Napayakap naman si Hilary sa braso nito. Naiiyak na.

Tinginan nilang mabuti ang isa't isa. Parang kailan lang ay nagbabangayan pa sila at hindi magkasundo pero ngayon, sila ang nakahanap ng paraan para makaalis sa lugar na hindi naman nila kinabibilangan. Nagkumpol sila at nag yakap-yakap. "Alam niyo, sobrang saya ko kasi nagkakilala tayong lahat." sabi ni Yujin. Hindi na sila makaimik, hindi nila alam ang sasabihin.

Pinipigilan ng mga nagbabadyang luha ang mga salita nila. "Basta ha! Sabay-sabay tayong aalis dito! Pangako?" tanong ni Yujin sa lahat. Tumango ang mga ito at nagsimulang maglakad.   Naghagis pa sila ng mga bato para malaman kung may trap, pero wala.

Nauna si Jb at Reya sa paglalakad, nasundan nila Cath at Jr. Jay at Prey, Kun at Hilary, Jack at Sheng habang nasa huli sina Mark, Ali at Yujin. Nagpatuloy lang sila sa paglalakad at wala talaga silang napansin na kakaiba. Walang obstacle o panganib na dumadating. Nakalampas na sila sa route at natatanaw na ni Reya ang portal.

"Guys! Eto na!" galak na galak na sigaw ni Reya. Bago pa makalapit sa portal ay napapikit si Cath. She's seeing visions again, it was way back the first generation. J.R Fangon's bestfriend died because he has the kindest heart and the most understanding mind. The portal needed something, a sacrifice. Napadilat si Cath at napalingon kay Yujin.

He was trapped inside a glass box. Paglingon niya ay agad na nagsitinginan ang lahat, pati si Reya na kakabukas lamang sa portal ay napalapit din. "Yujin!" they yelled as we kicked and smacked the glass. Hindi malaman ni Yujin ang gagawin niya, he was also trying to knock it down from the inside.

They kept on thumping and breaking the glass when Yujin stopped and smiled at them with that usual smile that keeps them going. "Yujin? Ano bang ginagawa mo?! Sirain mo!" Ali yelled while still thumping on the glass. He was speaking but they can't hear a word. They all cried and tried to break the barrier with all their might, but it won't budge.

"Yujin please!" Ali is sobbing, "Please... I love you..." she added. Their weeping intensified when he started knocking on the glasses infront of each of them. 

First, he knocked on Jb's. He was pumping his hands in the air, like saying fight! Next, Jack's. He acted like a body builder, like saying be strong! Then, Jay's. He put a thumbs up, like saying keep up the good work! Then, Kun's. wiping his tears away through the glass. Then Mark's, he pointed at Ali, like saying take good care of her! Then Jr, putting two thumbs up, like saying he's the best!

Napansin nilang unti-unti na napupuno ng tubig ang glass box kaya't nagmadali si Yujin. He knocked on Reya's, he patted her head through the glass, like saying always be a good girl! Then Hilary's, he drew a curve on the glass, like saying always be happy! Next on Sheng's who is beside Jack, he formed a heart-shape between them. Then Cath's, he's smiling sincerely at her like she's his favorite. Then Prey's, hindi na siya makagalaw dahil sa tubig na sumasakal sa leeg niya, but he managed to mouth the word 'Jay.'

And then lastly, Ali. He stared at her eyes, not minding how painful the water is. He mouthed the words, 'I love you.' Lahat sila ay umiyak, ayaw nilang maiwan ang kaibigan. Ito pa ang nagsabi na sabay-sabay silang aalis, ngunit ito pa ang naiwan.

"The portal is closing!" bulalas ni Reya, ayaw nilang iwanan si Yujin. Ngunit wala na silang pagpipilian pa. Hindi nila sasayangin ang buhay na isinakripisyo ni Yujin, para makaalis sila. As they went through the portal, they say how Yujin smiled for the last time, they saw how he closed his eyes. Just like how the portal closed.