HIRAETH | COMPLETED

CHAPTER 39

"Celeste, you're insane!" Patrice bursts out after I told them that I was able to enter that freaking book and had a chance to be part of the tale.

"I'm telling the truth," I look at them sincerely.

"Noong una, ang sabi mo nakakarinig ka lang ng mga boses. Tapos ngayon naman, pinagpipilitan mong na-adapt ka ng isang libro. Oh my gosh, Cel!" Nasapo niya ang sariling mukha na parang nag-aalala na sa akin.

"It was...it was a rollercoaster ride! I got a chance to meet the four princes too, including the queen and the king! Guys, I'm telling you the truth!" depensa ko pa at tiningnan sila isa-isa.

I can't find the right words. Pero siguradong-sigurado ako. Those characters inside the book were alive! They're giving justice to their own roles. They're portraying their characters like what the author described them. I even felt something strange among those princes. Ugh, I can't tell!

Patrice looked at me with disbelief.

"I think you should get your brain together. Matinding bagok ata ang nangyari sa'yo," sambit niya at napailing-iling.

Si Truce naman na kanina pa tahimik habang nagkukwento ako ay biglang nagsalita.

"Yukue Fumei No Ei is the title of the book that means missing home," Truce said out of nowhere that made me stand from where I sitted.

"Alam mo ang tungkol doon? Kung ganoon, naniniwala ka sa akin?"

"G-guys, I can't relate. Can someone please enlighten me?" naguguluhang sabat ni Patrice pero hindi namin siya pinansin. Ang focus ko ngayon ay kay Truce na inayos muna ang eyeglasses niya bago sumagot.

"Hindi. Pero familiar ako. That was an antique book from your favourite library. And as far as I know, Madame Akako prohibited everyone to hold and read it."

"Sabi pa, it has something to do with a senior-high student. She lost inside the library. Maraming nagsasabi na baka doon napadpad. I don't know. That was four years ago. Malay ko ba, kinuwento lang sa akin ng pinsan ko," litanya niya kaya napanganga ako.

It's Hera. She's the one who lost inside the book and never returned home. Her soul was forever trapped inside the book.

Bigla akong nakaramdam ng uhaw kaya inagaw ko kay Truce ang iniinom niyang ice tea. Ubos ko na kasi ang sa akin.

"Truce, naniniwala ka ba sa akin?" tanong ko at nilagok ng dire-diretso ang ice tea. Napangiwi naman siya.

"Celeste, it was just an urban legend here in Tokyo. Bakit naman tayo maniniwala sa magic? Gawa-gawa lang 'yan ng malilikot na imagination ng tao."

Pinanghinaan ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Akala ko, may isa nang maniniwala sa akin.
"It's getting late, guys. We need to go home. Cel, ihahatid ka na namin. Baka nag-aalala na ang kuya mo sa'yo. Magpagaling ka na, ha?" aya ni Patrice kaya labag sa kalooban akong napatayo para umuwi na rin.

I have this feeling na hindi pa tapos ang lahat. I have unfinished business. Hindi pa rin ako pinatatahimik ng mga boses.

Gabi-gabi pa rin nila akong ginagambala mula nang makalabas ako ng ospital.

I need to get this through.

I need to find my way back to Gokayama.

"Ayokong magaya ka sa kanya. Ang pagkawala mo ng ilang araw at mapadpad sa lugar na iyon ay sapat na. Huwag mo nang pangarapin pang makabalik muli roon at hindi na makauwi nang tuluyan, napakaswerte mo pa at ligtas kang nakauwi."

Napabuntong-hininga ako sabay sandal sa headboard ng kama habang nakatitig sa blankong kisame. Madame Akako's voice still echoed in my head.
It's almost my week here in Tokyo after that incident. Yesterday, I got a chance to sneak out since nasa trabaho si kuya at overtime pa. I went to the school library just to consult this to the librarian. But she refused to tell me how to go back inside the book.