“What is this place, Timo?” I asked my brother who was seated beside me inside Dad's car.
We were taking a fairytale path. Kanina ay pumasok kami sa isang mataas na gold front gate and Dad continued to drive along a fancy curb where orange particles were free-falling from a line of wide and small trees that looked like cherry blossoms in its form. Sa likod ng mga puno ay ang kulay asul na dagat and I can see the purple horizon where sunset was almost done. The sky looked so beautiful that day in its unusual regal shade.
Sa kaliwang bahagi naman ay makikita ang isang flowing river na animo'y ginto ang dumadaloy na tubig dahil sa ilusyong ibinibigay ng mga luxurious vintage lamps na nakapalibot sa lugar. It really felt like we unlocked a fairytale portal and now driving through it. Hindi matigil sa kakaawang ang aking bibig dahil sa pagkamangha.
But it's kinda weird as I sensed people lurking in the shadows.
“This is part of Aragons' Mansion, baby,” si Dad na ang sumagot sa tanong ko, trying to sound cheerful with a half smile he gave me on the rearview mirror.
Kanina ko pa iyon napapansin, despite the unreal beauty of the place, Dad, Nicholo, and Timothy didn't seem to share the same astonishment in their eyes with mine. All I could see there was sadness they're trying hard to hide. I wonder what they were thinking, what happened, at bakit kami narito sa mansyon nina Kael.
Oh wait, mansyon ito nina Kael, ibig sabihin ay makikita ko siya ngayon, pati na rin si Kei. Nakaramdam ako ng kakaibang saya sa aking puso. Ilang araw na akong malungkot dahil hindi ko na nakikita si Kael. Simula nung tumungtong siya ng highschool ay minsanan ko na lang siyang makita. Kapag sinusundo lang ako nina Nicholo at Timothy na minsan ay kasama siya at kapag bumibisita o tumatambay sila sa bahay at naglalaro kami. Yun lang.
Sa bawat pag-usad ng sasakyan ay unti-unting nawala ang mga punong parang cherry blossoms at napalitan ito ng linya ng mga coconut trees. Until Dad pulled up beside a massive hole where an elegant looking fountain stood. Technically, elevated ang lupang pinaghintuan ng kotse at ang fountain ay nakatayo sa lupang lumelebel sa ground floor nitong palasyo.
There were a lot of men and women roaming outside the palace-like house. Katulad ito ng mga men in black na nasa mansion namin except they were all casually dressed pero mas nakakatakot ang awra ng mga ito.
Bumaba si Nicholo mula sa front seat habang inaalalayan akong bumaba ni Dad.
“Anong gagawin natin dito, Dad?” tanong ko ulit dahil nagtataka na talaga ako. Ito ang unang pagkakataong dinala kami ni Daddy rito.
“Something happened to your Tito Vlad and... and Kei, Thally,” answered Dad.
Hindi ako sumagot at hinintay lang ang susunod niyang sasabihin. Dad turned to me and held my shoulders firmly, just enough not to hurt.
ESTÁS LEYENDO
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