Someone's POV*
Naglalakad na ako papunta sa study ng lolo ko ng maabutan ko ang pinsan ko sa may corridor. He was yawning, mukhang kulang yata ang tulog ng loko. Bumaling sa'kin ang atensyon nya at nginitian ako. "Mornin', cous!" Tamad nyang bati sa akin, binati ko rin sya. "Morning." We continued walking, we were both quite. He decided to break the silence by asking me a question.
"Why do you think they called us In?" Nagtataka pero seryosong tanong ni Austin sa'kin. Umiling ako sa kanya dahil hindi ko din alam kung bakit kami pinatawag ni lolo.
"No idea, but we'll find out very soon."
"I guess. Must be serious kasi kasama si lolo." Tumango na lang ako sa kanya. We won't be called into Lolo's study If It isn't that important.
Hindi nagtagal ay nakarating na kami sa study ni lolo. We're now in front of a big black wooden door, kumatok si Austin sa pinto. It opened at niluwa non si Stella na nagulat rin ng makita kami. Napansin ko ang pag ayos ng tindig ng katabi ko. What's with him? I smiled at Stella. "Morning, Stel! Nanjan ba si Lolo?" Tanong ko babaeng naka ngiti sa akin ngayon. Tumango-tango sya sa'kin.
"Naghihintay na sila sa loob."
"Do you know why we're here?" Sabat ni Austin kay Stella, he looked so serious. Hindi ako sanay na ganyan ang pinsan ko, he's usually a jolly kind of guy. Hindi nya kayang magseryoso kahit sa anong bagay kaya nakakagulat ang expression ng mukha nya.
Umiling-iling si Stella. "I don't know either. Pinatawag lang din kasi ako dito e." Tumango lang si Austin at pumasok na rin kami sa loob. The moment we reached Lolo's home office we heard someone crying. It was Tita Bianca, Austin's mom. But why is she crying? Akmang lalapit na sana kami ng biglang nagsalita si Daddy.
"Dad, you can't be serious about this?! You can't send the kids to that hellhole!" Galit na sigaw ni Daddy, I looked at my grandpa. He looked so serious, walang nababakas na emosyon sa mukha nya, he had a poker face on.
"Do you think we have a choice? Do you think they'll let them go so easily?!" Kalmadong tugon ni Lolo, pero mababakas ang galit sa boses nya. What the hell Is going on?! Hindi tumitigil sa pag iyak si Tita Bianca, pilit syang inaalo ni Tito Franco pero hindi parin tumitigil si Tita sa pag iyak nya.
"We can't send them there. Please, dad. Don't send my daughter to that school. I... I can't lose her too. Please..." Nakaluhod na ngayon si daddy sa harap ni Lolo, humihikbi na ito. Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko at nilapitan ko si daddy.
"Dad, stand up. Don't do this, please." Mahinang sabi ko kay daddy. Nag angat sya ng tingin sa'kin at kitang-kita sa mga mata nya ang pagkabigla. Then he hugged, tightly. Like he was about to lose me If he let me go. Niyakap ko pabalik si daddy, umiiyak parin sya at nababasa na ang damit ko dahil sa pag iyak ni daddy.
"Daddy naman, e! Stop crying na po, please." Pagmamakaawa ko kay daddy. I can't stand It when my dad cries. He's a strong man but I know he's only trying to put on a smile in front of others to hide all the pain he has inside. He and I are the same. Tatay ko talaga sya at namana ko ang pagiging mapagpanggap ko galing sa kanya.
After a few minutes, my dad finally calmed down. Then my grandpa spoke the words I wanted to avoid the most.
"Reignan Academy invited the three of you to there school."
I felt mt world stop. My life flashed before my eyes. I felt like time stopped the moment I heard what my grandfather has said. My knees felt like giving up pero pinilit kong hindi matumba sa sahig. Narinig ko ang pagbagsak ng mga tuhod sa sahig. Nilingon ko kung sino yon, at nakita ko sina Stella at Austin na parang nakakita ng multo. They were on there knees, there hands were trembling in fear. Naiintindihan ko ang nararamdaman nila, natatakot rin ako pero hindi ko yun pinahalata.
Mas lalong lumakas ang hagulhol ni tita sa mga sinabi ni lolo. Nakita ko rin ang unti-unting pag bagsak ng luha ni tito. They were all crying, except for me and Lolo, we remained emotionless. Like we've been robbed of our emotions that we can't show them In our faces anymore.
"W-Wh-what?! P-ple-se t-tell me y-your joking L-Lo?!" Nauutal na tanong ni Austin kay lolo. Stella on the other hand, started to cry unstoppanly. Tumayo si Austin pero dahil sa panginginig nya ay natumba sya. Lumapit ako sa pinsan ko at tinulungan sya sa pagtayo.
"T-Thanks, Yna." Tinangoan ko lang si Austin. He inhaled deeply and let out a loud sigh. He did that a few more times and finally composed himself. Mapait syang nguniti kay lolo.
"I guess the time did come, didn't it?"
"Yes, It did." Maikling sagot ni Lolo. Tumawa ni Austin na parang nasisiraan na. He sounded like a psychopath with that laugh of his. Pero nasanay na ako sa pinsan ko.
"Magpapagawa na ba ako ng kabaong ko, Ma?!" Wala sa sariling tanong nya kay tita Bianca na umiiyak pa rin. Then she stood up and slapped Austin across the face. "Don't you ever say that, Austin Jace!" Galit na sabi ni tita kay Austin, naka tingin na lang ngayon sa sahig ang pinsan ko. Parang natauhan yata sya sa sampal ng nanay nya.
"We can't avoid the inevitable, mom. Might as well accept it." Walang buhay na sabi ni Austin. Totoo naman ang sinabi nya, wala na kaming ibang patutunguhan kundi ang kamatayan namin. That invitation Is a double-edged sword. Pag tumanggi kami, patay. Pag pumayag kami, patay pa rin kami. There's no escape. Bilang na lang ang araw namin dahil sa inbitasyon na yon.
We don't have much time. We're going to die a gruesome death sooner or later. And we can't escape It.
-*-
I'm currently in my room, looking outside my window. Hapon na at malapit na ring magdilim. I heard someone knock on my door. Nilapitan ko yon ang pinagbuksan, It was my dad. He's eyes were all puffy and red, he must have been crying so much for his eyes to get swollen that much.
"Daddy. Are you okay?" Nag-aalalang tanong ko sa kanya.
"I'm sorry, anak. Sorry If daddy couldn't do anything to stop this." Maluha-luhang sabi ni dad sa'kin, pain was visible in his face. Niyakap ko si daddy and he hugged me back.
"Dad, promise me one thing."
"Anything for you, princess."
"Promise me you won't give up on kuya. Take care of yourself and kuya for me. Don't cry too much, okay?" Saad ki kay daddy, hindi ko na rin napigilan ang mga luha ko. My dad was crying as well.
"Daddy's sorry, anak. Yna, patawarin mo si daddy kung wala akong nagawa para pigilan to." My dad smiled at me bitterly. Lumalakas ang mga hikbi ni daddy, I rubbed his back. Hoping that It would calm him down. I don't want to hear him cry ng dahil sa'kin. I don't want that to happen again. Not again.
"Daddy, I love you po. I'll always be your princess, okay? Hinding-hindi po ako magbabago kasi ako po ang baby nyo, di ba?" Basag na ang boses ko. The time I spent with them was way too short. Pero ayokong madamay sila ng dahil sa gusto kong mabuhay.
"Daddy loves you to, princess." Mas hinigpingan ni daddy ang pagkayakap sa'kin. We cried like babies. Well, we we're bidding goodbye to each other anyway. Mahirap man ay kailangan ko tong gawin. It's for everyone's safety. It's for there own sake.
Umalis na si daddy sa kwarto ko. But before he left he tucked me into bed. Like how he did when I was still a little girl. My heart broke into pieces when I saw my dad's face.
It's already 11 pm pero hindi parin ako makatulog. Bumangon ako at kumuha ng maiinom sa mini ref dito sa kwarto ko. I sat near my window and looked at the sky.
"Malapit na tayong magkasama, Ma, kuya. Kaunting tiis na lang, makakasama ko na ulit kayo. Makakasama nyo na ulit ang baby nyo." Mapait akong napatawa.
Wala na talaga akong takas sa kamatayan. Ni hindi ko man lang natupad ang pangako sa bata sa panaginip ko. I haven't even find out about my brother's death. Hindi ko pa sila nabibigyan ng hustisya sa pagkamatay nila. Pero malabo nang mangyayari pa yon, e. I guess It's time for me to accept my fate.
Na ako, si Czarhina Emanuel Castillo-Veron, ay mamamatay na sa loob ng ilang linggo dahil naimbitahan ako sa Reignan Academy.
