Kronack Crown

Prologue

"PASENSYA na iha, pero kailangan mo ng umalis sa bahay na 'to. Naipagbili ko na ang lupa sa isang businessman at pagtatayuan nila ng resort ang lugar," saad ng may-ari ng lupa na kinatatayuan ng bahay na naging tahanan na ni Kalisz sa nakalipas na tatlong taon.
 
Tumango si Kalisz.

"Naiintindihan ko po. Salamat sa maagang paalala at pagbibigay sa akin ng isang buwan na palugit para makalipat ng bagong titirahan."
 
"Kung gusto mo iha may mga kaibigan akong nagpaparenta ng apartment sa siyudad. Pwede kong iwan sayo ang numero nila para makapag tanong ka." Suhistisyon nito.
 
"Hindi na po may kaibigan po akong pwedeng hingan ng tulong sa paglipat," sagot ni Kalisz na may kasamang pag-iling.
 
"Ganon ba... Oh, siya, tawagan mo na lang ako pag-aalis ka na, huh?" Paalam nito.
 
"Opo."
 
Kalisz doesn't feel bad that the owner sold the land but part of her is sad. The house has become part of her. Leaving it and knowing it will be demolished saddens her.
 
This place is beautiful, no doubt it was sold quickly. It offered her the peace she wanted— the comfort, and it makes her sad to leave. But she can't do something about it. She doesn't have enough money to purchase the land.
 
"Hmm... What to do? What to do?" Bulong niya sa sarili.
 
Ilang sandali pa siyang nakaupo sa bangko sa tapat ng bahay niya habang pinapanood ang alon ng dagat at nag-iisip nang magpasya siyang tawagan ang kaibigan na alam niyang matutulungan siya.
 
Kalisz took her phone from her oversized jeans pocket and dialed her friend's number. It rang a few times before a soft, sweet voice answered the call.
 
"Hey, sweet Kalisz... you surprised me. This is the first time you called me first, is everything okay?" Salubong sa kanya ni Auri.
 
Napangiti si Kalisz sa sinabi ng kaibigan. Indeed, it was true that this is the first time she called Auri first. It's usually her friend who rang her first.
 
Kalisz sighed before answering, "Well, not so much..."
 
"Huh? What do you mean? What happened?" Nag-aalalang tanong nito.
 
"Well," Kalisz hesitated. ''I— I... kind of need your help to find me a new place to live. Somewhere cheap and affordable." Nahihiya niyang sagot dito. "Binenta na kasi yung lupa kung saan ako nakatira, and I have one month to abandon the place," Kalisz informed.
 
Kalisz heard Auri sigh.

"You know... you don't have to feel embarrassed about asking me if you need help. I promised you, right? I'll help you anytime," Auri said after sensing the hesitation in her voice.
 
Alam niya na tutulungan siya ng kaibigan. Para kasi dito ay malaki ang utang na loob nito sa kanya, pero sa panig ni Kalisz, wala lang yung pagtulong niya kay Auri noon. She helped her because she wanted and needed to. Subalit mukhang malaking bagay para sa babae ang pagtulong niya rito.
 
"So... you need a new place to live?"
 
"Uhm yeah..." Kalisz replied in low voice.  "Preferably outside the noisy and polluted place of Manila or other big cities around the Philippines. You know, I kind of prefer a quiet place away from populous cities." She sighed, feeling the loss of something valuable to her. "I would love a place like here."
 
Auri hummed from the other line. Probably thinking hard if she has a place to offer. Alam ni Kalisz na medyo mahihirapan itong hanapan siya dahil kilala niya ang babae bilang city girl. Hindi nga niya alam kung paano 'to nakatagal ng tatlong buwan sa bahay niya.
 
If she's not mistaken, Auri owns a few condos or apartments around the Philippines and it is all inside the busy cities. Auri also told her before that she loved the city life— that it distracts her from something she doesn't want to think about.
 
"Hmm... well, I know a place and I'm sure you'll love it there. I just have to talk first to my brother and he will have to talk to his friend." Sagot nito.
 
"Saan?"
 
"It's outside Manila ... but it's part of Luzon. Have you heard about Crown Island?" she asked.
 
Nag-isip si Kalisz kung narinig niya na ba yung lugar pero wala siyang maalala.
 
"No, never heard of it."
 
"Uh, ok. So that's the place. My brother lives there and I also stay there often. I have my own room in kuya Kron's villa— my brother's friend. We can share a room and you can stay in my room when I am away."
 
Napakagat-labi si Kalisz habang pinag-iisipan ang mungkahi ng kaibigan. Medyo kumplikado ang magiging sitwasyon niya doon. It's a villa. That could mean the place will be big and there could be many people around. But she could stay there temporarily and then find another place to stay somewhere inside that island.
 
"Hindi ba nakakahiya sa kuya mo o sa kaibigan niya?" Nag-aalala na tanong ni Kalisz.
 
Kalisz heard Auri's soft laugh.