Excelium [Editing]

▫ Kabanata 9

Zai's Point of View

Nakatitig ako sa libro at pasimple kong sinusulyapan ang tao na kausap ni Yan sa may pintuan. Hindi ito ganoong katangkaran na parang si Yan na sobra ang tangkad.  Marahil ang kaniyang tangkad ay nasa 5'5 o 5'6. Hindi rin ganoong kalakihan ang kaniyang pangangatawan. Nakasuot siya ng isang pormal na kasuotan.

Sa kaniyang ulo ay nakasuot roon ang isang top hat na nagpapamisteryoso sa kanya. May suot rin siyang mga puting gwantes at tila galing siya sa isang sobrang mayamang pamilya. Sa aking pagkakatantya, magkasing edad lamang sila ni Yan.

Inanyayahan siya ni Yan na pumasok. Ipinatong ko ang libro sa kandungan ko at pinagmasdan siya. Umupo siya sa upuan na nasa aking harapan habang si Yan ay sa gilid.

"Good day, my lady." puno ng class ang kaniyang pananalita. "I am called by the name of Levine. It's a pleasure to meet you." anito at inangat ang suot niyang top hat ngunit ibinalik rin pagkatapos niyang magsalita.

"Zai." aniko at tumango.

"It's such a surprise for Yan to have a guest. I mean, this cabin is in the middle of nowhere." he laughed softly. He's acting quite formal.

"Levine, what brought you here?" pagtatanong ni Yan.

"Hmm... can't I visit my former partner? Nakakatampo ka talaga Yan." nagbibirong saad nito.

Habang tinititigan ko siya, hindi ko magawang makampante. He's too calm and composed. Sinasabi rin ng katawan ko na lumayo ako sa kaniya. I can sense a fearsome sensation from him. He's giving off a bad feeling. Ikinuyom ko ang mga kamay ko at inilapag ang libro sa lamesita na nasa aking harapan at tumayo.

"I'll make some tea." aniko at aalis na sana ngunit hindi pa ako nakakahakbang ay mabilis siyang nagsalita.

"No need, Zai. Please sit down and have a chat with us." tumalim ang mata ko habang nakatingin sa kanya. There's something in him that I don't like. Pinawi ko ang talim ng mga mata ko at tumango pagkatapos ay naupo. Muli kong binuklat ang libro at hinayaan silang mag-usap. I don't want to speak with him. I'm reading the book per ang buong atensyon ko ay nasa kanila lamang.

"So, what brought you here?" pagtatanong ulit ni Yan.

"The council sent me." tila medyo nabigla pa si Yan noong binanggit ito ng kaniyang bisita.

"The Union...?" tumango naman si Levine at naroon pa rin ang maliit na ngiti sa kaniyang mga labi.

"They sent me to inform you about your three months suspension, General." general?

"Three months?! Sobrang tagal naman!" reklamo ni Yan. Napangiwi naman si Levine habang nakatingin sa kaniya.

"Of course the head of the council will suspend you that long. Sinong matinong tao ang tatawanan ang pinakanagpapatakbo ng konseho while having a public conference?" pagkatapos niyang sabihin ay tila natatawa naman si Yan. It seems he also does some stupid things despite his age.

"Hindi lang 'yon ang pinunta ko," natigilan si Yan sa pagtawa at napatingin kay Levine noong mahimigan ang pagkaseryoso sa boses nito. "Have you notice the magic circle in the sky?" sumeryoso ang mga mata ni Yan na ngayon ko lang nakita.

Tumango siya at isinandal ang likod sa kaniyang upuan. Hindi ko pinahalata ang pagkatalim ng mga mata ko noong marinig ang sinabi niya. Sa aking pagkakatanda ay bumagsak daw ako mula sa kalangitan na nababalot ng bilog na liwanag. Marahil iyon ang kaniyang tinutukoy.

"I'm leading the investigation and the only clue we have is that it happened in Bermania, a town at the southern part of Centrio." saad ni Levine. Is it okay for me to be here when they are talking about an investigation?

"Why would a huge magic circle occur in a town full of Slave Marketing?" Slave Marketing?

"No one knows. We just hang on to the conclusion of maybe one of those people has an extreme excelium to be able to make a magic circle that big. That is why we are proceeding with the operation." pagkatapos sabihin ay tumingin sakin si Levine.

"I was wondering, Zai. Where did you come from?"

I looked at him in the eye and I can see that he's suspicious of me. His piercing violet eyes, and that playful smile is making him intimidating. You don't exactly know what's playing in his mind. And that made him more terrifying. But I won't back down. I'll kill his suspicions.

"I'm from Bermania." I straightforwardly said.

"Oh how lucky. Can I ask you about things regarding your village?" tumango naman ako. There's no way I'll refuse. He'll only be more suspicious. "In your own perspective, how many are the slaves and the common people from there?"

"70% of slaves and 30% of common people."

"And what are you?"

"I'm a slave." mukhang naging interesado siya sa sagot ko dahil sa kaniyang pagtaas ng gilid ng labi.

"How fantastic. A slave who can speak our language." sarkastikong saad niya. I knew it. My knowledge was also one of the things that made him thought of his suspicions towards me.

"Yes. Slaves are banned from learning and education but that won't stop me from learning all the things that I want to know. Will you report me then?" I asked as I stare into his eyes. He's intimidating indeed but I can withstand him.

"No no. I'm not one of those who thinks that slaves should not have the rights to learn. As a headmaster of a school, it is my duty to give education to everyone but as you know, the council is building a wall to prevent the slaves from their own rights." May kabaitan rin pala itong taglay. Ang ayaw ko lang talaga sa kaniya ay ang pagiging unpredictable niya. Unpredictable people can always cause trouble.

"Next question, have you notice the big light from your town?" Umiling naman ako.

"My last memory from Bermania was the day that men came and gathered women from houses to sell them in an auction kapalit ng mga utang nila." I lied. Napatango-tango naman ito. Convinced that I'm telling the truth.

"Slave marketing. That's where I met her." saad naman ni Yan. Tumango naman ako.

"To learn our language, you must be a bright child." aniya at tumayo na. Tumayo rin kami ni Yan. "Then I'll be going. Take care you two." I was confused when he went near me.

Itinaas niya ang kamay niya at palapit ito ng palapit sa akin. It was like moving so slow and my heart is pumping hard because of the nervousness. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin niya. Should I step back? No, that will bring back his suspicions. What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? Papalapit na ng papalapit na ang mga kamay niya.

I close my eyes when his hand was just inches away from me. Pero napadilat ako when I felt that he is patting my head. Tinignan ko siya at doon ko nakita ang ngiti niya.

"Be good, okay?" totoo ang ngiti nito. Tumalikod na siya at naglakad na patungo sa pinto. Hinawakan ko ang ulo ko habang nakatitig sa likod niya. The feeling was familiar and warm.

As if someone just told you that you've been acknowledged after a long time of negligence.