This is Vince Earl Villavicencio Montemayor's point of view. I'll be posting the final chapter after this. Enjoy reading!
I remember the day my grandfather took us to a magic show in New York. Me and my twin were ten then.
Hindi ako halos nanood. I didn't pay attention that much to what the magicians are doing. Why would I, anyway? I brought my gameboy with me.
"Why aren't you watching? Don't you like the show buddy?" Kinalabit ako ng lolo ko.
I was fixing the cartridge to play another pokemon battle.
"I do, lolo." Hindi ko siya nilingon.
Narinig ko ang kanyang halakhak kasabay ang hiyawan ng mga tao. I can see Stanley from my peripheral. He is even standing so he can see clearly what the magicians are doing.
"Look at your twin. He's enjoying it. Come on..." Kinalabit ako uli ni lolo.
I paused the game. Tamad kong ibinalik sa aking bag ang gameboy. I pursed my lips as I try to show interest in what the magicians are doing in front.
"Such a clever boy." Lolo giggled. He squeezed my right shoulder.
I sighed. Trying to just watch and do what my twin is doing.
Nasa harapan ang buong atensyon ni Stanley. Samantalang ako, iniisip ko ang nasa gameboy. Iniisip ko pa kung ipapabili ko mamaya kay lolo iyong cartridge ng Zilda. Sabi kasi ng mga kaklase ko sa akin, magandang laruin iyon.
Pagkatapos ng show, inaya kami ni lolo na maglakad sa isang park. Panay ang kwentuhan niya at ni Stanley sa mga napanood. I can't comment anything. Lumilipad talaga ang isip ko kanina.
Umupo kami sa isang bench. Lolo bought waffles for us.
My twin is busy eating while his headphones are on. He's into music.
While me... I don't know. I'm into this gameboy right now. Paano ba matatalo ni Staryu si Garoda?
"How about you, Vince? What's your most favorite? Was it the girl disappearing? Or the confetti pops?"
Natulala ako sa kawalan. Wala akong maisagot. I don't remember any part of the show. I feel so guilty now.
"I'm sorry, lolo." I pursed my lips. Napapikit ako. I looked into his direction. "It's just that I don't really believe in magic. They are too cliché."
What's bad about me is that I'm too honest. No hold backs. Now I'm sure my lolo is not happy about what I said.
Babawiin ko sana ang sinabi kong "cliché" ang magic pero bigla siyang humalakhak at umiling. He patted my head.
"You really are a smart kid. But magic is not always cliché. You may not believe right now but someday, you will. And you should watch out for it." He chuckled.
"Someday?" My eyebrows puckered.
"Wait until you see her, young boy..."
I was left even more confused that day. Hindi ko alam kung anong sinasabi ni lolo.
How can a ten year old kid read between those cryptic lines?
Was "her" another magician?
Ganoon ang inisip ko. Siguro isang madyikerong babae ang magpe-perform sa harapan ko. At siguro, siya ang magiging dahilan para paniwalaan kong totoo ang mahika.
That's what I thought when I was ten. Ang babaw, ano?
Until my grandfather died. I was fourteen then.
