GENESIS of Z

CHAPTER 14: The Beginning of the End

Maxe's Point of View

MEDYO hinihingal na ako sa paglalakad, ilang oras na rin kasi kaming nagtre-treking ni Ana dito sa Mount Isarog. Ang Mt. Isarog ay isang bundok na matatagpuan dito sa Bicol, popular ito sa mga hikers at adventurers na katulad ko. I used to hike here with Tito Felix 2 years ago but now I'm a little bit tired since I'm lacking in exercise these past weeks, ang totoo niyan ay matagal na akong hindi nakakabisita sa gym. Beginners and tourists are required to hire guides but I had climbed this mountain 4 times already. I'm pretty sure that I can manage on my own since I'm familiar with the trails.

These past few days ay gulong-gulo ang isip ko, thinking kung ano ba ang pinaka-mabuting gawin sa sitwasyon naming ito. Finally I decided na lilipat kami ni Ana sa Vigan, Ilocos Sur ngayong disyembre, doon nakatira ang pinsan kong si Marvin na willing namang tumulong sa amin. Baka next week ay bumiyahe na kami papunta roon. It's a hard decision for me dahil napamahal na sa akin ang Naga City at ang U.S.E, but for Ana's sake I am willing to leave this place and start a new life there. I know that she's not anymore safe to stay here and I'll do everything to protect her.

"Kuya malayo pa ba tayo sa camping site natin?" She asked, kaya pansamantala muna akong tumigil sa paglalakad.

"Medyo malapit na rin, bakit pagod ka na ba?" tanong ko.

"No, just asking. Sorry kung pinilit kita na mag mountain hiking tayo ha! Thank you for doing this for me!" tugon niya.

"Don't worry about it medyo na-miss ko rin ito and it's your first time so just enjoy this experience!" I said.

My ghad! Pagod na talaga ako, halos 5 na oras na kaming naglalakad, samantalang hindi man lang hinihingal itong si Ana. I guess superhuman stamina is really something.

"A-hhm... kuya can I ask you a question?" she asked suddenly.

"Huh? Ano yun?" I said.

"About doon sa last will and testament ni Mama. You still haven't said anything about it." bangit niya.

Pinagpawisan ako bigla, I'm not in the mood to talk about it.

"Ahh... look! May malaking puting ibon doon sa may puno!" sabay turo ko sa ibon.

"Hmmpp... don't change the topic kuya. I just wanna hear if it's a yes or a no, yun lang ang gusto kong marinig!" masungit na sabi nito.

"Ahmm... well, ikaw ano sa palagay mo? How do you feel about it? Sa tingin mo bakit kaya ginawa ng Mama mo ang ganoong klase ng last will and testament? I asked her back.

"To be honest, I know about it from the very beginning and I didn't protest agains't it. Siguro gusto lang ni Mama na may mag-alaga sa akin kahit na lumaki na'ko and there's no better person capable of doing that than you. Kung naaalala mo, you have dated my mother before and masayang-masaya siya after ng date ninyong dalawa! You're probably the ideal man in her dreams, but unfortunately alam niya na di na siya magtatagal ng mga panahong iyon. I think because I'm her clone, she wants to fulfil that dream in me." Saad niya.

I paused for a bit. I'm not really sure what to tell her. She's basically a 13 year old girl and I'm already a 23 year old dude, ayokong isipin na papatol ako sa isang bata. We've spent these past 3 months like we're real siblings, it would be like an incest kung sakaling tutuparin namin ang nakasulat sa last will.

"Are you still listening Kuya?"

"Ha? Ahhm... Oo."

"So what's you're answer?" She asked again.

Tingin ko ay di na ko makakaiwas na sagutin ito.

"Para sa akin ay mas mahalaga ang nararamdaman mo kaysa sa pera o sa last will and testament ni Dianne. At tsaka okay lang naman sa akin na patuloy pa ring maging Kuya mo kahit mag 18 ka na at matapos na ang guardianship ko sa'yo. Kahit pa hanggang sa mag-asawa ka at magkaroon na ng sariling pamilya ay babantayan pa rin kita so you don't have to worry about me." Sagot ko.