The Orphic Secret

Epilogue

LIFE

"Why are you crying, Kuya?" tanong ko. Hindi ako mapakali. He squeezed my hand as he caressed the back of my hand.

I knelt down to look at him better. "Kuya?" Please, tell me those are tears of joy.

"Do you know why I took care of you?" tanong niya. "Why I, among all ten, took the role of taking care of you?"

"Huh? Syempre kahit naman noon, bilang si Rory, inaalagaan mo na ak-" umiling naman siya kaya hindi ko na natuloy ang sasabihin ko.

He smiled sadly, "I'm glad I still witnessed you talk to your friends."

I scoffed. "Pa'no mo mawiwiwtness, eh bulag ka nga?" Asar ko.

Mas lalo naman siyang ngumiti, "I can feel your happiness, Exiquel. I can feel it overflowing around you. It was the best decision to unseal them."

"Syempre! Sino ba namang hindi sasaya na sa wakas, tapos na! Isang step nalang at magagawa na ang dimension. Turuan mo na ako, Kuya. Para matapos na."

He shook his head and whispered, "I don't want this to end yet."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin, Kuya?" tanong ko.

"Seraphin had put all his powers creating the ten of us back then, and the mortal realm. Kagaya ng sinabi sa'yo noon, Seraphin had no powers to create another realm or dimension, or else, he'll be omniscient. Someone that exists everywhere, anywhere, and however," kuwento niya.

Napataas-kilay naman ako, "Okay... so? Bakit mo kinukwento sa'kin? 'Di ba nga tayo na ang gagawa ng dimension? Tsaka alam ko na 'yan, ano ba."

He sighed loudly, "He also didn't have the power to create you again."

Natigilan naman ako dahil d'on. If it wasn't Seraphin that created me, then...

"Ako ang gumawa at bumuo sa'yo ulit, Exiquel Four. 'Yan din ang rason kung bakit ako ang nag-alaga sa'yo. Because I have to look out for you, and make sure you are well."

Napasinghap naman ako.

"Zero knows about this- your secret identity." Bigla ko namang naalala ang sinabi sa'kin ni Zero noon... "Even Nine knows your secret identity, Four."

So this was it?

"What about it, Kuya? Ano naman kung ikaw ang gumawa sa'kin?" tanong ko.

"Just like Seraphin... my body can't handle it. The moment I created you, I became blind," sabi niya. Napasinghap naman ako dahil d'on. I felt gulit creep into my heart.

"The more you live, the less I do, Exiquel." Napapikit naman ako dahil d'on. Tinungo ko ang ulo ko, at hindi mapaniwalaan ang mga sinasabi niya. "The more power you have, the less I have. We have a paradoxical relationship, Exiquel."

"Then what do I have to do? Tatapusin ko na ang dimension, and you'll be fine, right?" tanong ko. Hinaplos niya naman ang buhok ko, at naramdaman kong cino-comfort niya ako when I should be the one comforting him.

He doesn't deserve this. He's gone through pain because of me.

"I'm sorry, Four," he said as his voice croaked. Nanlaki naman ang mata ko nang hilahin niya ako palapit sa kaniya. His face buried in my shoulders, and I can feel his tears cascade.

"K-kuya?"

"I'm sorry... that I am not strong and powerful enough," dagdag pa niya. "I'm sorry." Paulit-ulit siyang nagsorry. I pat his back.

"Ako dapat ang nagso-sorry. You're going through this because of me. You don't deserve this, Kuya," sabi niya. "Huwag kang mag-alala. After I complete the dimension, you can live, right? We will both live."