One Shots Anthology

Science Greek

"Mom, who is he? Why do we keep visiting him every week?" she just smiled, laughing on my irritated reaction.

Weʼre at the Science Museum. Lagi kaming nandito every week dahil binibisita ni Mommy ang isang larawan, larawan ng isang lalaki, sa baba ng larawang ito ay may nakalagay na Science Greek. If heʼs the Science Greek, bakit hindi namin siya kilala?

She caressed my face, "He is the unknown Science Greek. Higher IQ than any scientists. More inventions and knowledge than the other scientists. People tortured him because they donʼt want him to be included in the Scientists list."

Ang sama naman ng mga tao noon. I looked at the picture. How can they torture and kill this kind of guy? He is so perfect... And fine, handsome!

"Until one girl discovered him in that hospital. He showed his inventions to her and she was amazed. They fell in love, they loved each other in many years, before that girl died because country people discovered again that the man was alive, she told him something," ngumiti siya at tumingin saʼkin na para bang may ipinapahiwatig.

"She told him that sheʼll come back for him, using another girlʼs body but looked like her. Then she wrote 'My Science Greek' in a paper and gave it to him. The end." I was amazed. Para bang may naramdaman akong kakaiba dahil doon. Itʼs like that Iʼve heard that story before.

Pero bakit hindi niya pa rin sinasagot kung sino ito?

"Mom, again, who is that guy?" she smiled.

"Heʼs Revendor Glein DʼVindri," she paused, "Sweetie, remember that name, okay?"

-

I visited my momʼs grave after one week. She died after we visited the museum. Dalawang oras siyang nasa kwarto niya samantalang nasa baba naman ako, nanonood. Ilang minuto ang nakalipas noʼn at bigla akong nakarinig ng isang malakas na sigaw mula sa kaniyang kwarto. Walang pagdadalawang-isip akong pumunta doon at nang makita ko siyang nakahandusay sa sahig? Parang gumuho ang mundo ko.

Namatay siya sa hindi malamang dahilan. Kahit ang mga doktor ay hindi masabi kung bakit siya namatay ng ganoon. Hindi ko natanggap na sa edad niyang cuarenta y cinco ay mawawala na kaagad siya sa amin.

Umupo ako sa tapat ng puntod niya at sinindihan ang kandila.

"Bakit ganito, mom? Why are you all dying in the age of 45? Is it a curse, mother? Bakit ganito? Ibig sabihin ba nito pati rin ako ay mamamatay sa edad na apat na puʼt lima?" naguguluhan kong tanong dahil sa aking napagtanto.

Oo, tama ang nabasa ninyo, lahat ng kamag-anak ko. Kaya pala, kaya pala sabi ni Mommy na ang edad kung kailan namatay ang grandparents ko ay 45. Pero bakit 45?

Hindi rin naman sasagot si Mommy eh, haha. I kissed her grave then walked away. Napag-desisyunan kong dumiretso sa Science Museum. Dumiretso ako sa puwesto kung saan naka-pwesto ang larawan ni Revendor Glein D'Vindri..

Walang masyadong tao sa banda dito kaya naman kinausap ko ang larawan na para bang isang nageexist na tao ito sa paningin ko.

"Revendor... Your name rings a bell to me. Why does it feel like that I know you? Ever since my mother mention you to me, I canʼt stop thinking kung anong katauhan mo. Ni hindi nga niya nabanggit saʼkin 'yong babaeng minahal mo eh. At alam mo 'yon? Nakakaramdam ako ng pagkagusto sa isang taong hindi ko naman kilala at hindi ko pa nakikita, and worst, patay na." tiningnan kong mabuti ang larawan. Picture niya ito ng pagka-binata, and man, heʼs a real greek, heʼs so damn hot and handsome in that photo. I wonder kung saan nila nakuha ito?