Growing up in a well-known family, Celeste Aragon always lived in unending rules. And among all of the rules, there's one rule she should never violate: Never ever show her special ability to anyone. Her being illusionist should be a secret. But Cel...
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(CELESTE'S POINT OF VIEW)
THEY were right.
After a period of extreme happiness, there would come tragic events.
I stood here in the third floor of this apartment, leaning on the railings and looking at the field and the establishments surrounding it. I was here at Parapsychology Institute Center, stuck in these walls.
After the van arrived here, it was already dawn and I was greeted by the piercing gazes of some of the staffs here. They looked at me with all those hidden judgments. I was thankful I arrived here at dawn, less people would see me entering the institution.
Since I arrived, I couldn't sleep. I felt the exhaustion, the eagerness to sleep and to just put my mind in a relax state, but my mind was always so clouded. There was this thing in my chest that kept my eyes open.
Ilang beses kong tiningnan 'yong phone ko, waiting for any calls or messages. Pero ni isang text galing kina mom ay wala. Although pinuntahan ako ni mom kanina pagkarating ko rito, hindi kami agad nakapag-usap dahil umalis agad siya.
I had the urge to open my social media pero lagi akong pinipigilan ng isang side ng utak ko dahil alam kong puro negative lang naman ang makikita ko. Kahit nga ang pagtayo ko rito sa apartment building na 'to, pakiramdam ko lahat sila pinag-uusapan ako.
Who would've thought that I would experience standing here in this exact same place where my brother lived his life? Ito na naman ang pamilya namin, nagiging number one na naman sa mga isyu. Babalik na naman lahat ng isyu ni kuya dati. Uungkatin na naman ng mga tao ang ginawa niya.
Hindi ko maiwasang isipin, how did I actually end up here? Dahil ba imbes na manatili na lang sa bahay ay nagawa ko pang lumabas ng gabi kahit na kumalat na sa internet ang tungkol sa pagiging gifted ko? Or was it because of that one night where I used my ability against Mr. Melchor Asuncion? Did it start from there?
"Tumawag si Matthew kanina, pabyahe raw siya mamaya rito sa Enfanta." Kevin's voice interrupted my thoughts. Magkatabi lang kami ni Aria ng apartment habang sa taas naman nila dinala si Kevin.
Tumayo siya sa tabi ko at tinanaw din ang field na nasa harap namin.
"Really?" The only word that came out of my mouth.
"Hmm," he responded. There came few moments of silence until he spoke again. "Kamusta 'yang tainga mo?"
"It still hurts a little." Pagkarating namin dito, nilagyan agad nila ng benda itong tainga ko.
"For sure, alam na ng pamilya mo na nahuli ka. I saw your mom earlier. Binisita ka?"
I nodded. Just as I want to talk with him about what happened, I didn't feel like talking. Wala akong gana makipag-usap.
"Oh sige, akyat na ako sa taas." He tapped my shoulder. "Binisita ko lang si ate. She's still sleeping. Ikaw rin, pahinga ka na muna. You need it."
I gave him a sincere smile before he left. My smile faded in an instant. Muli akong humarap sa may field at napabuntong hininga. My life is really fucked up.
Napagdesisyunan kong lumabas ng building at maglakad-lakad. I was only wearing this plain shirt and a pajama. I was too lazy to even change. Before I could leave the apartment building, they made me wear this electronic bracelet. Parte na yata ng buhay ng mga gifted na nakatira rito sa Institute Center ang magsuot ng ganito. Unlike when living at the outside world, you would be freed from wearing this bracelet. E dito, kahit magpapahangin ka lang yata sa labas ng apartment building mo, pagsusuotin ka nila ng ganito.
As I walked, I couldn't help but stare at the gifted people around me. May mga naglalakaran din, may mga nakatambay sa mga nadadaanan kong gilid-gilid ng mga establishment, at ang ilan ay nagmo-morning exercise. Some random girl even bumped into me when she jogged past me.
"Ay, sorry po." She turned her head towards me and gave me an apologetic smile, before she continued jogging. She was also wearing an electronic bracelet like me.
I walked past two women who were both staring at me. Napaiwas na lang ako ng tingin at pilit na hindi sila pansinin. But I heard them talking.
"Anak ni Senator Aragon 'yan."
"Nadala na pala siya rito?"
My heart skipped a beat. There came those gazes and whispers again. I pursed my lips and maintained my composure. Uneasiness slowly crept inside me. Pinilit kong bilisan ang lakad ko para makalayo sa kanila at para hindi na marinig ang sunod pa nilang sasabihin.
I stopped when I saw a garden. There were benches scattered, so I decided to stay. There were white roses and some dandelions planted, surrounding this garden. I took a deep breath as I inhaled the fresh scent of the flowers.
At least, this smell calmed me.
I kept my eyes on the gifted people, walking past this garden. Every time I would go to any institution, I would always watch the gifted people living there and I would end up with one question. How could they live their life inside these walls?
Then I would eventually think that maybe because this is how they literally lived their entire life. Kaya 'yong pagtira nila rito, normal na feeling na 'yon sa kanila.
On the other hand, for someone like me who lived her entire life having the freedom other gifteds don't have, it would be so hard to adjust.
Kung sabagay, siguro karma ko na rin 'to. Baka sa dami ng taong pinakitaan ko ng kayabangan dati dahil sa kung saang pamilya ako nanggaling, binigyan ako ng karma. And this was, probably, the karma.
Then a thought came into my mind. Maybe this was my karma for always being the black sheep.
"Don't you think it's just some temporary problem passing by?" A random woman, all of a sudden, spoke. She was sitting on the bench beside mine. Napalingon ako sa kaniya, only to see her looking at me.
I raised a brow, getting weirded out a bit.
She gently chuckled. "Don't mind me. I'm just some random telepath."
Nawala ang pagtaas ng kilay ko matapos marinig 'yon. Ah. Telepath pala. Tumingin siya sa unahan niya.
"It's not some temporary problem," I muttered.
"But it'll pass. Soon enough, all those whispers and gazes, they will all die down."
I scoff. "But it'll always leave a mark."
Mahina siyang natawa kasabay ng muling paglingon sa akin. "Well, wounds leave scars, remember? Kahit 'yang sugat sa tainga mo, it'll leave a mark."
Napahawak tuloy ako sa benda sa tainga ko.
"So, what? Do I have to wait for it until it passes?" tanong ko naman.
"Maybe, if that's what you feel doing." 'Yon ang huling sinabi noong babae bago niya ituon ang sarili sa iba.
Natahimik ako at muling binalik ang paningin sa mga taong nakikita kong naglalakaran. She had a point. Parang 'yong nangyari kay kuya dati, namatay rin naman 'yong mga news at rumors tungkol doon. But since it left a mark, for sure, may mga taong hahalungkatin 'yon lalo na't nangyari pa 'to sa akin.
I am Celeste Aragon.
I was always so proud of saying that. My surname brought the power and confidence in me. But then, I realized the Aragon that I've been bragging about is nothing but a mere name.
