We were back in the village of Oblitus.
Nang pasadahan ko ng tingin ang pamilyar na paligid, agad kong nalaman kung saan kami dinala ng teleporter. The ancient stone pillars and burnt out torches were a dead giveaway. Noong mga sandaling 'yon, agad kong naalala ang gabi ng piyesta nila sa Oblitus. A sacrificial ritual went wrong. Matagal-tagal na rin pala mula noong tumakbo kami papalayo rito.
"N-Nasa Gobekli Temple tayo... Ibig sabihin nito, dito lahat tine-teleport ang ipinapadala nila galing sa New Eastwood?"
Nagkibit ako ng balikat. "Most probably. Kaya siguro dito rin sana gagawin ang sacrificial ritual noon."
"QUACK! QUACK!"
"Oo raw, sabi ni Gali."
"Grabe. Hahaha! My whole life feels like a lie," Nesrin added sarcastically. Sa kabila nito, naririnig ko pa rin ang "disappointment" sa kanyang tono. Nang balingan ko naman si Devika, napansin kong nakatanaw na siya sa madilim na kalangitan. It's like her eyes were searching for something beyond the star-filled sky.
When she finally found it, a sad smile graced her lips. "Naroon ang New Eastwood, hindi ba?"
Nang sundan ko ng tingin ang tinutukoy niya, doon ko napansin ang maliit na imahe ng pangalawang buwan ng Earth. Ang mini-moon at ang tahanan ng New Eastwood sa loob ng isang daang taon. Whenever I do stargazing, I like how pointless my problems seem to be compared to the vast universe laid in front of me. Pero, ni minsan, hindi ko naman inaakalang maging ang mundong kinalakihan ko ay mananatiling alipin ng misteryo ng kalawakan.
How ironic.
Because no matter how insignificant we think we are in this universe, we always find a reason to believe otherwise.
It's been hundreds of years since the astronomer, Galileo Galilei, claimed that Earth is not the center of everything. But until today, we still feel too entitled to unconsciously accept that truth.
We still feel like problems and bad luck revolve around us on a daily basis.
"Six hours."
Agad kong binalingan ang learning band ko at sinet ang timer nito. The glowing red digits flashed in warning before the screen faded to black. Muli kong pinasadahan ng tingin ang paligid. 'Nasaan ang mga tao? Faex! Don't tell me...'
"Quack! Quack!"
"Gali!"
Naagaw ang atensyon ko ng patong pagewang-gewang na tumakbo papalayo kay Nesrin. Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako. Damn. Kanino ba nagmana ng pagiging gala si Galileo? "Galileo Galilei Jr! Bumalik ka nga rito!" Pagtawag ko. But before we could even chase the duck, nabasag ang katahimikan ng isang malakas na...
"ACHOO!"
Nagkatinginan kami ni Nesrin. We shared a knowing smile before the light of a flashlight shone on us like we were criminals. Deers caught in a headlight. Maging si Devika, nasilaw sa tindi ng liwanag na sinundan ng isang baritonong boses.
"Mukhang nakalimutan mo na ang sukat ng isang metro, Lexington. Do I need to remind you?"
'Damn. Bakit ba hindi na ako nagtaka na ganyan ang bungad niya sa'min?' Mahina akong natawa at ngumisi nang nakakaloko sa lalaking walang pa ring emosyon ang mukha. His gunmetal blue eyes were even more intimidating in the dark.
"Too late, Celsius. I kissed already your sister."
Yes, I said that...
"YOU WHAT?!"
Oops.
"Dmitriiiii!" Nesrin glared at me, an evident blush on her cheeks.
Napailing na lang si Devika.
BINABASA MO ANG
✔Something Out There
Ciencia Ficción"He is never coming back, isn't he?" Several years ago, Dmitri Lexington lost his father to the unknown universe beyond their indigo skies. Growing up, he had to endure his loss and adapt to the twisted policies of their society. Isang gabi, nang tu...
