Ghost Girl

Haunt # 20

Haunt # 20

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The Last Haunt

"Nabalitaan niyo ba?"

"Ang alin? Ay, wait, parang alam ko 'yang tinutukoy mo!"

"So totoo nga?"

"Obviously!"

"Pero..."

"Fellow Ghosts, please settle down and give me a chance to speak."

Tumahimik ang lahat ng mga nagsasalita sa loob ng office ng Ghost Guild. Umubo si Frederick, pero hindi ulit siya nagsalita. Tumingin ako sa direksyon ni Vladimir, pero nagkibit-balikat lang siya, samantalang si Benedict naman ay blankong nakatingin lang sa direksyon ni Frederick. Tumingin ako sa gawi ni Wesley, pero hindi rin siya nagsasalita. Sa halip ay nakatingin lang siya sa sahig na para bang may malalim na iniisip.

Muling umubo si Frederick at nagsalita.

"Alam kong may nababalitaan kayo. The reason I called you here is to confirm the news you've heard. It's true," sabi niya.

A series of gasp erupted from the room. Siniko ko si Vladimir na naki-gasp din.

"Anong meron?" nagtatakang tanong ko.

He gave me a surprised look. "Seriously, Mandy? Wala ka ba talagang alam sa happenings around you?"

I shrugged. "Unless may kinalaman 'yan sa kababalaghan at-"

"The La Soianna Manor has been claimed by the heir of Seraphina de Saavedra," sabi ni Frederick.

Napakurap ako. Ano raw? Wait, did I hear him right? The La Soianna Manor has been... claimed?

I gasped. Everybody turned to look to my direction. Umirap si Vladimir. "Late reaction," he muttered.

"You mean... na-claim na ni Si-I mean, ng rightful heir ang manor?" tanong ko. I was glad to have caught myself before I uttered Silena's name.

Tumango si Frederick. "A woman in her early forties presented proof that she is the rightful heir of the La Soianna Manor."

"Proof? Anong proof 'yun?" tanong ni Vladimir.

"A seal bearing the heir of the de Saavedra. According to experts, the seal is authentic," sagot ni Frederick.

Napaawang ang bibig ko. So she did it. Silena de Saavedra finally claimed what is rightfully hers.

"But she wanted to preserve it, so the local government coordinated with her to turn the manor into an ancestral museum. After all, the manor has various antique paintings that would have a very high appraisal value," pagpapatuloy ni Frederick.

Nagsimulang magbulungan ang mga tao sa loob ng opisina.

"Finally, makikita na ng publiko ang loob ng manor," excited na bulong ni Vladimir sa akin.

Tumango si Benedict. Obviously eh narinig niya ang sinabi ni Vladimir. "At makikita na ng mundo ang mga obra ni Sophia de Saavedra."

"Pero... what about the diaries?" bulong ko. "Do you think those will be shared to the public?"

"It's some sort of a family secret, 'di ba?" tanong ni Vladimir.

"Oo nga, pero... don't you think it's about time for the world to appreciate the beauty of Sophia de Saavedra's paintings? I mean... you know, in spite of her being mentally-challenged..." bulong ko.

"It should," a quiet voice beside me said.

Napatingin kaming tatlo nina Vladimir at Benedict kay Wesley. "Huh?" tanong ni Vladimir.