Oktofinitum

Chapter 14

Mirakov

Naglalakad kami ngayon sa isang mabatong daan. May mga nagtataasang damo pero sa paligid pero yung dinadaanan namin ay may parang pathway na gawa sa bato.

"Are you serious or just trying to prank me?" inis ko pang tanong pero nilingon niya lang ako't sinenyasan na wag maingay gamit ang hintuturo niya. Natigilan ako nang makita ang nasa harapan namin. Nasa tapat kami ng isang bangin ngunit hindi iyon ang nakakabigla. My mouth went agape and my eyes widened in disbelief as I indulged the view in front of me, "Welcome to the Hanging Gardens."

Kung ganoon ito pala yung sinasabi ni Vero kahapon? It was called hanging garden but it was more like floating. Mayroong lumulutang na malalaking tipak ng mga bato na nagsisilbing daanan tapos sa dulo ay isang malaking arch na nagsisilbing entrance ng garden na puno ng magagandang halaman. It was like something straight out of fantasy land, "Let's go?"

"Safe ba yan...?" I gulped. Nag-aalangan akong sumunod sa kanita nang makitang humakbang na siya sa unang batong nakalutang. Pataas iyon at talaga namang nakakatakot, kahit na wala naman akong aerophobia, pakiramdam ko ay 'di ko kayang umakyat dahil maaaring mahulog anumang oras. Natigilan ako nang naramdaman ko ang pagpisil niya sa aking kamay na tila ba sinasabing wag akong mag-alala. Hesitatingly I followed his every step hanggang sa makarating kami sa arko, "Pero teka 'di ba restricted area 'to?"

"For lower ranks," simpleng sagot niya at hinila lang ang kamay kong hindi ko namalayan na kanina niya pa pala hawak. Kung ganoon mataas ng rank niya? Pero bago ko pa siya matanong muli ay natigilan akong muli sa lumantad na tanawin sa aking harapan.

I was in awe, "Woah!" this place looks like a paradise! There were beautiful flowers and plants everywhere, and the afternoon sun kissed them all with grace. The golden hour magnified the beauty of the place, and eventually my fear faded as I saw how beautiful the scenery is, "Bakit naman nila 'to ginawang restricted kung ganito kaganda sa taas? Ang unfair naman kung higher ranks lang ang pwedeng pumunta dito?" I asked him at tinuro niya ako sa bandang kanan. Kung saan ngayon ko lang napansin ang isang pathway at sa dulo niyon na marahil ay gitna ng hardin nakatayo ang isang simple pero elegante na fountain, and for the nth time that day I was stunned.

The fountain was simple yet the water flowing from the tip of the statue was so enthralling as if it's sparkling with every reflection of the golden rays, "Wow," I uttered at wala sa sariling naglakad patungo doon. I sat down on the marble cylindrical foot of the fountain. Nakita ko ang kaibahan nito dahil imbes na pataas ang labas ng tubig ay pabilog, at sa sobrang linaw ng tubig ay kitang-kita ko ang repleksyon ko na tila nananalamin, "As mesmerizing this place is, how can it possibly help me answer my questions?" I looked back at my companion who's now standing behind and looking down at me.

"This is called Fountain of truth," It doesn't take a genius to know that this fountain was different but, "Fountain of Truth?" I narrowed my eyes at him and then back to the gleaming sight of the water from the fountain dancing at the foot of the immaculate statue of a woman holding an orb-like ball from which the water was flowing from, "It shows you your truth, whatever that means, all you have to do is put your hand in the water," he said in an urging tone as if he'll be there no matter what so I can just trust him. I returned my gaze at my reflection in the still water of the fountain. I was hesitant but I obliged.

Warmth. That's the first thing that came to my mind when the water came in contact with my skin. It runs continuously, giving me a somewhat comforting sensation. Parang nawala 'yung soreness at body aches ko sa torture na ginawa nila sakin kagabi. But suddenly, the water's temperature dropped to a freezing point, na tila ba naliligo ka sa dagat sa kalagitnaan ng madaling araw. I wanted to pull my hand away from the now freezing water, but something pulled me into the fountain and I found myself drowning underwater.