Melancholy Night

Page 2 : Behind the Opaque

Sa pagbukas ko ng pintuan ay bumungad agad sa harapan ko ang may ari ng Book Shop. Nandito ako ngayon sa gusali kung saan matatagpuan ang bookstore na pinapasukan ko.

I am an Amorist and I used to pay this store a visit for an agreement.

Umupo ako sa tapat ng mesa upang magkaharap kami ng nagmamay ari ng shop.

"This is it?" The store owner reacted when he finished reading the story I made last night.

"Yes." I answered with bored face.

"Hell, I waited for almost two months pero ito lang pala ang maibibigay mo sa akin?" He said and pointed his finger at the folder where I put my papers.
"Bakit ba mahilig ka sa sad endings?" He emptied the cup of coffee before he nailed his attention on me.

"It's for the sake of the readers,
I don't want them to hope too much." I respond sorely that made him motionless for awhile.

"I know you're not fond of happy endings, pero kahit isang beses man lang pwede bang subukan mong gumawa ulit ng istorya?" Pakiusap niya.

"Pasensya pero hindi ko yun magagawa." Walang emosyon kong tugon at tumayo na. Dahil sa ang tigas ng ulo ng aking kausap ay tumayo siya at lumapit sa akin.
"Hellen, isa kang sikat na amorist, bakit mahirap para sayong gawin ang napakadaling bagay para sa ibang tao?" He grabbed the folder from his table and gave it back to me.

"The phrase 'happily ever after is very difficult for me to understand." Bagsak na tono kong saad. "Now if you won't accept this, the deal is over."

I added. I could trace disappointment on his face and I presumably think that he is scared right now...he must be very careful of whatever decision he's going to make. I am his author and I am certainly sure that I was behind of his overall success in selling my stories.

"All right, all right....." He finally surrendered and took the folder from my hand.

"That's more like it." I carried my bag and drove away from that f*cking building where stubborns can be found. While driving the car, I saw a smoke from the distance...it smells trouble here, I have to go back home as soon as possible. I ended up in a cross road, wondering why it is still empty. It's 7:00 am in the morning already but there's nothing could be heard and everything's inaudible except from the squelch sound made by my car because of the wetness of the ground. I was going to use the other path when the car suddenly failed to function normally because of something stuck beneath the vehicle. I climbed down the car and slammed the door because of anger.....this is sh*t! For additional, I kicked the rear part of the car then went inside and took the tools needed for fixing. This is a waste of time, I am not an expert in vehicle treatment but I kept acting like Handy Manny...I stopped for awhile and looked at the prevailing smoke few meters away from me. There must be a bunch of trolls near that smoky area...I have to ask on how to fix this big obstacle. I am now walking through the woods without making any noise. Liliko na sana ako sa kabilang direksyon nang biglang nawala ako sa balanse dahil sa matarik na daan, nahulog ko ang isang maliit na kahoy at sa pagkahulog nito pababa ay nakaramdam ako ng lamig, napakataas na pala ng nalakad ko pero wala pa rin ako sa mausok na bahagi ng lugar na ito. Wala pang segundo ay ako na pala ang susunod sa maliit na kahoy na nahulog kanina. The logs that served as the bridge began to crumble because of it's seniority I guess. I fell onto the ground and noticed that I am in a deep large pit. I couldn't see anything because of the absence of lights and the only thing that I can do was to grope rough things just to find the way out of here. Napansin kong may kaunting liwanag mula sa di kalayuan kaya pinuntahan ko ito. Umaasa akong sana daan ang liwanag na yun palabas sa lugar na ito na napapalibutan ng kadiliman. I gasped when a group of men arrived, I quickly hid behind the rubble to conceal my silhouette to prevent from calling anyone's attention. I surrepticiously took a peek at the cozy surroundings in which the men had situated earlier. One of them grabbed a seat and began to talk with the other party.

"The other party agreed with the Alpha's preference. We'll take care of the Gala." The man with red mask showed something from his pocket, a picture.

"Cassandra Odille is the main target, keep an eye on her." Said the other man with a mask concealing the half of his face. Now I realized something about this place.....this is not just a tunnel. It's a secret place underneath the ground not allowing the sun to dazzle the eyes of this unknown territory.

Hindi ako lubos makapaniwala na isa na ako sa mga saksi ng mga ganitong klaseng usapan. Sabay sabay silang nakipag hawak ng kamay at bumitaw naman kaagad hanggang magsitayuan at magsialisan na silang lahat na ang tanging naiwan lang ay ang furniture na mesa na napapaligiran ng upuan. Lumapit ako sa mesa at dito ko napagtanto ang isang picture na ipinakita ng lalaki kanina sa kabilang partido.

Isa itong letrato ng isang dalagang babae...baka ito ang tinatawag nilang 'Cassandra Odille. I put the picture inside the pocket of my pants. Dali dali akong tumakbo at sa pagtakbo ko ay bigla akong nakarinig ng mga malalakas na putok ng baril mula sa aking likod

.....they are after me now. I ran as fast as I could just not to let the death take the life out of me. Masasabi kong swerte ako ngayon dahil sa wakas ay nakahanap rin ako ng daan palabas. I followed the light wherever it came from to find the way out of this place. Natatanaw ko na ang liwanag na nanggagaling sa bukana ng tunnel, sa awa ng Diyos ay nakalabas rin ako at dali daling kumaway kaway sa taxicab na paparating. I quickly got inside the car and spoke to the driver. "Hurry!" I ordered. Mukhang nakaramdam naman siya dahil mabilis niyang pinaharurot ang cab. I inhaled deeply.....that was close.

Now, I am so f*cking dead...

This next semester would be a difficult one for me.

Pagkababa ko ay nagbayad ako kaagad na kasabay ng pagsalubong sa akin ni Aunt at ang paglisan ng cab.

"What happened? Bakit ang dumi ng damit mo?" Nagtatakang tanong niya habang nakapako ang tingin sa gusot kong damit at namantsahan kong pants.....dahil ito sa pagkahulog ko sa tunnel na yun, what am I going to do? Tell her that my stupidity led me to danger again? Ugh...I have to lie for the greater good. "There was an accident happened near the shop." Diretso kong sagot.

"And where's your car?" She asked again. She's more confused this time...Oh holy sh*t, I forgot my car!

"Car bumping?" I shrugged.
"It's not a big deal, right?" I said again.

"Hell, you know I-----"

Bago pa man niya maituloy ang kanyang sasabihin ay nauna na ako. Nilampasan ko siya at sinabing, "I'm tired." Tipid kong saad at naglakad na. Ayokong makarinig nanaman ng mga sermon niya.

"Hellen?" Pag iiba niya. Lumapit siya sa akin at tinignan ang binti ko.

"What?" -Ako. Tinignan ko rin ang aking binti at dito ko napagtanto na ito'y dumudugo...may tumama palang bala sa akin at hindi ko man lang yun naramdaman...ganito na ba talaga ako kamanhid?

My numbness saved me from my death.

"Come, let's get you treated." Untad niya at tumawag ng taxicab.