Decoding Storm

Thirty Five

Warning: Rated SPG. (For me, it's SPG. Freaking SPG.)

Soundtrack: Animal by The Cab

July 13, The puzzle's soon to be solved. Or even more scrambled.

"Sage, make sure not to do something crazy up there. Do not ruin your brother's favourite Rubik's cube."

I heard mother shout from the kitchen but I just laughed at her. I cannot play basketball inside the mansion so I managed to steal big brother's colourful Rubik's cube. It's just a three by three cube so the thrill isn't there anymore. When I first saw this freaking toy, my mind almost cracked. I know, I know. I am not that gifted while big brother's slightly a genius, but I'm more handsome than him. That's given.

It took me a week to learn how to solve this freaking thing. Tss. Now, I can even solve this with my eyes closed which makes the girls in my class love me even more. Geez. They are annoying. Tsk.

"Sage will be a good boy mom. I am not a fast learner but I am not a clumsy eight year old kid. I won't break this thing. I promise" pabalik kong sigaw sa kanya mula sa ikalawang palapag ng bahay. She just continued on telling me not to break anything and not to disturb father who's busy in his laboratory.

Father's laboratory. I've never been there.

Napatingin ako bigla sa kwartong iyon sa pinakadulo. Dalawang kwarto ang layo noon mula sa akin pero pinagbabawalan nila akong pumasok doon. Nandoon si Papa at kausap ang isang babaeng isang beses kong nakita. Mahaba ang itim niyang buhok at masyadong malamig kung makatingin ang mga mata niya. She was scary, a bit more scary than the monsters that elder brother uses to frighten me. But that scary feeling was washed away by her sweet smile.

"Hello, Sage." She smiled and greeted me hello but mom asked me to go to my room. Ayaw niyang makipaghalubilo ako sa babaeng iyon.

"Sage, do not involve yourself with her. She's a dangerous woman." halos nanginginig na sabi ni mama habang pinipilit akong pumasok sa kwarto ko. Sumilip ako sa pinto at nakitang dumiretso ang babae sa laboratory ni Papa at buong maghapon ay nandoon sila.

"Mother, is she father's friend? Is she also your friend?" I asked her.

Bigla ay ang maamong mukha ng aking ina ay nagdilim. Her fist clenched and she her dark blue eyes screamed rage. Now she looks scary.

"She is your father's friend but she isn't my friend."

That woman always comes here in our house and she'd go to that room to have private talks with father. Minsan ay naitanong ko na kay mama ang tungkol sa babaeng palaging kausap ni Papa pero hindi niya iyon sinasagot. Kung bakit palagi siyang pumupunta dito para makausap si Papa ay hindi ko alam.

I shrugged the thought of the mysterious woman and continued solving the cube. Final move. Tsk. This is so boring. Sa sobrang inis ko ay malakas kong pinaikot ang parteng iyon kaya halos lumuwa ang mga mata ko ng masira iyon. Jesus Christ! The freaking cube cracked into the tiny ones, each piece rolling on the floor. Oh shoot! I'm screwed!

Mabilis kong pinulot ang mga nagkahiwa hiwalay na parte. Argh! Nakakainis.

"Fifty two, fifty three,....no way. Where's the other one?" kinakabahan kong tanong sa sarili ko. Nagpalinga linga ako ng tingin sa sahig pero hindi ko iyon makita. Dumapa ako sa sahig at inilibot ang tingin ko ng madako iyon sa pinakadulo.

No. No.

Mukhang masyadong malakas yata ang pagkakasira ko doon kaya ang huling parte ay nakapasok sa pinakadulong kwarto. The last piece ended up sliding underneath the door of father's laboratory.