Chapter 58

"Monster Chi, you're back!" Masaya si Shanelle nang pagbukas niya ng pinto ng bahay, si Chihoon ang bumungad sakanya. Pero bigla din siyang napasimangot nang ma-realize na nasa loob pa ng bahay niya sina Gab at Troy.

Napatayo sina Gab at Troy nang Makita nilang bumalik na nga si Chihoon. Pumasok si Chihoon sa loob at umupo sa harap nilang dalawa. Katabi niya naman si Shanelle.

Nanatili naman sina Troy at Gab na tahimik at di alam ang sasabihin. Pinagpabali balik ni Shanelle ang tingin mula kay Chihoon na nanatili ding tahimik saka sa dalawang lalake na nakatingin lang kay Chihoon.

She cleared her throat saka tumingin kat Chihoon. "Saan ka nagpunta?"

Tumingin din ang lalake sakanya. "Nagpunta ako sa bahay ni Justin Hubert," sagot niya. "Nagtatago na siya at di na rin maka connect ang mga tawag ko sakanya."

"So totoo ngang kinidnap niya si Riza, sambit ni Troy." Nilingon ni Troy si Gab. "Ngayong nasa harap mo na siya, di ka parin ba naniniwala dito?"

"Is me believing or not really important?" ganting tanong naman ni Gab saka tumingin kay Chihoon. "Salamat sa pagligtas sakin."

Napatango nalang si Chihoon saka tumingin sa ibang direksiyon.

Biglang pumalakpak si Shanelle. "So now, we have you three predecessors gather together and get along peacefully. But I still must add a few words. Wag niyong tignan si Chihoon na isang halimaw. He just lived a few years longer. Although in the surface he looks so courageous, but on the inside, he is actually very fragile," aniya na bahagyang nilingon si Chihoon. "Chihoon, even though you are the baby here who is most favored, but you've lived for more than 100 years already. You must not use any violence on these two." Tinignan niya si Troy. "Jerk Troy, you have Riza already, so don't have any indecent thoughts on Gab anymore."

Nagkatinginan naman sina Troy at Gab saka biglang lumayo sa isat isa. Masyado na naman kasi silang malapit sa pagkakaupo.

Napangiti si Shanelle.

"Nasa kamay pa ng kidnapper si Riza tapos may oras ka pang mag biro?" Troy grimaced.

"Nag promise na sakin si Chihoon na ililigtas si Riza. You two have seen his skills too. So, basta andito siya, maliligtas si Riza," confident namang sagot ni Shanelle.

"Salamat," ani Troy na tinanguan lang ni Chihoon.

"nagpapasalamat din ako na pumayag ka na tumulong Mr. Chu," ani Gab. "Tomorrow is Day Three. Dun na tatawag ang mga kidnapper para sa ransom. We have to cooperate. Also, that Professor Lee and Detective Lopez. They probably are working with Justin Hubert as well di ko alam kung magpapakita sila kasama ni Justin bukas. Mr. Chu, di ko alam kung anong klaseng past meron kayo ni Justin. But I hope when you see him, you will show some restraint. You can't kill people."

"Okay,okay. Wag na natin itong pag-usapan. Ang mas mahalaga ngayon ay ang kaligtasan ni Riza," sambit ni Shanelle. "Di ko alam kung ano ng nangyayari kay Riza ngayon. Baka takot na takot na yun ngayon."

________

At the place where Riza was placed...

Nakapiring parin ang mga mata ni Riza at nakatali ang paa pati na ang kamay niya. Dumating naman sa room na iyon si Justin na may hawak na wine at dalawang wine glass.

Narinig naman ni Riza ang pagdating ng isang tao na di niya kilala dahil sa piring niya. Nanatili naman siyang kalmado. Di mo siya kakakitaan ng takot o pagpapanick man lang.

Pinatong ni Justin ang wine at wine glass sa table na nasa harap ni Riza. Pinatong niya ang isang wine glass sa harap ni Riza at nilayan ng kandila sa gitna ng table. Nilapitan niya si Riza at tinanggal ang tali sa kamay niya pati na ang piring nito.

Nilingon siya ni Riza pagkatanggal sa piring niya. Di naman siya nagulat sa pagkakakita niya sa fiancé dun. Seryoso niya lang itong tinignan na walang bakas ng takot sa mata.

"Looks like you already know its me," sambit ni Justin.

"Since I cracked your secret," sagot naman ng babae.

Tumango si Justin. "Wala naman silang ginawang masama sayo diba? I specially told them."

"So, should I thank you?" taas kilay na sambit ni Riza.

Justin chuckled. "I just love that lofty attitude of yours. I bought some wine, let's have one glass," aniya at binuksan ang wine. Nilagyan niya ang glass ni Riza saka nilagyan ang baso niya.

"Bakit ka nandito para tignan ako?" tanong ng babae dito.

"Drink the wine first," sambit ni Justin na nilahad ang glass niya for a toast.

Di naman yun pinansin ni Riza. She just drinks the wine one shot. Binawi naman ni Justin ang glass at ininom nalang yun. "Tomorrow, Im exchanging you for ransom money. We should say we do have some relationship. We might not see each other anymore. Let's see this as a farewell."

"Thanks for your farewell wine," ani Riza

"Actually, naisip ko dati na personally kong kukunin ang Kim family's money to exchange for you. And have Justin Hubert die in saving his fiancée. Then I take my money. And start a new life." Umiling siya. "But...your friend knows my secret. I don't know if its because I'm getting older. Not being Justin Hubert, without that cluster, I suddenly feel...so lonely. Kaya gusto kong maghanap ng taong makakausap." Nanatili lang namang tahimik ang babae. "Oh, right. I forgot to tell you. My name is Justin Hubert since 10 years ago. Bago yun, nagkaroon ako ng madaming pangalan. Jake Frojas. Gavin Reeke, Ri..." Nag-isip siya. "Richard Gong. Oo Richard Gong," aniya saka napatawa. "Aiyo, so many names. I even forgot them. The longest name I had was a name my mother gave me 70 years ago. Very simple. Ahmad Tsui."

_______

"Ahmad? That name does sound like from that era," sambit ni Shanelle nang ikwento sakanya ni Chihoon ang naalala na niyang nakaraan niya. "So, naaalala mo na lahat?"

Tumango si Chihoon. "oo. Di yun magandang alaala. But that's better than forgetting it."

Napabuga ng hangin si Shanelle. "Then, Justin Hubert...I mean Ahmad, was he a bad kid?"

Umiling si Chihoon at inalala ang nakaraan. The time when he took the photo of Ahmad and his mother. The time he showed the picture to his mom at kung pano napasaya ito dahil sa larawang iyon. She always thought that the picture she took with Ahmad, even though many years will pass, it will still remain as a memory and even if she dies, this will serve as a memoir for Ahmad.

Naalala din niya pano hiningi ng matanda na alagaan niya si Ahmad pag wala na ito. Naalala niya pano nag-suffer si Ahmad nang mamatay ang ina nito. How he grieved so much for his loss.

"I know, no matter if the person I met is good or bad, eventually, they will become a memory. Before I knew it, Ahmad's heart had already been consumed with desire. Desire to live forever. Desire to not die like what happened to his mother. Desire to even killed me, his mentor and guardian, in order for that desire to happen," sambit ni Chihoon na napabuntung-hininga.

"e di nung time na iyon, you must have been bitterly disappointed and hopeless," ani Shanelle na seryosong nakikinig sa mga kwento ng lalake. "This Ahmad who repaid your kindness with ungratefulness. Di mo na siya dapat niligtas pa nung una!"

"The Ahmad who I first met, the Ahmad that drained my blood, and the Ahmad who pretended to be Justin Hubert later, were definitely very different," sagot ni Chihoon. "Who you met, what you have experienced, and choosing what type of life to live, will change a person."

Napatango si Shanelle. "Tama ka diyan. Like you, if you didn't meet me, you would still be a dormant body. If you didn't fall for me, you might have already left this place."

Napangiti si Chihoon saka tumingin sa kalangitan. "I was lying in a coffin for a hundred years. Di ko alam kung anong mga ginawa ni Ahmad noong mga taong yun."

_______

"Are you not curious at all?" tanong ni Justin kay Riza dahil sa pananatili nitong tahimik sa mga kwento niya dito. "Ask whatever questions you want to ask. Sasagutin ko lahat yun. I'm here to talk to you. I won't hurt you."

Huminga ng malalim si Riza saka kinuha ang wine at nilagyan ang baso niya. She drinks it one shot again. Then she looks at Justin seriously. "You have lived for a hundred years already?"

Tumango si Justin. "But you don't have to be surprised. Your best friend, Miss Shanelle, probably didnt tell you. Her boyfriend Prince Chihoon Chu, has already lived for more than 180 years. I met him when hes 60 years old, but still looking as young as when he's 20."

Napaawang ang labi ni Riza. "You guys...dont grow old, or die?"

Umiling ang lalake. "Not growing old and not dying is only Prince Chihoon. A selfish and a narrow-minded person. He doesn't know how to share, so I took the initiative. Yung dugo na Nakita mo sa secret room ng bahay ko, is actually the blood I got from Prince Chihoon a hundred years ago. He then became a dormant body at napunta sa isang museum. Nawala din ang kanyang ala-ala."

Riza is in shocked sa mga naririnig. "So, di ka tumatanda at namamatay dahil sa dugo niya?"

"That's right. This blood was originally going to keep me alive for 200 years. Pero di ko alam kung bakit. I started needing his blood more and more frequently these past couple of years. If I can't drink it on time, my body will get older rapidly."

A realization hits Riza. "So, nasa ganon kang sitwasyon nung pinuntahan kita sa bahay mo?"

Bahagyang tumango ito. "There are no symptoms before I start turning old. Saka wala na ding masyadong dugo na natitira kaya naisip ko, kukunin ko si Prince Chihoon sa museum and look for other solutions. Pero bago ko siya maalis doon, binuhay na siya ng kaibigan mo." Napatawa siya. "Can you believe it? By just sketching his face, her tears, her earnest wish and the blood through Shanelle's veins brought him to life."

Mas napaawang na naman ang labi ni Riza. These things are hardly believable, but all happened. It's like shes immersed in a fantasy drama, but its true. All of these are true. She then leaned on the chair. She crossed legs saka ngumiti sa lalake. "That girlfriend of mine...is so unlucky that she often throws people off guard."

"Sometimes, being so unlucky is going to cost you your life," ani Justin at nilagayn ng wine ang baso niya saka niya nilagyan ang baso ni Riza.

They clicked their glasses. "Thank you for telling me all these things and for the wine. But I still have something I don't understand, sambit ni Riza. You lived in this young body for any years. Why are you not still satisfied? Di na gumagana masyado ang dugo ni Prince Chihoon sayo. Maybe, its a sign of God warning you. Telling you to know when to give up. If I was you, Id choose to give up."

Lumakad si Justin saka bahagyang tinalikuran ang babae. Napapikit siya saka nagmulat na may matalim na mata. "People like you, born with a silver spoon in your mouth will never understand. Why do you get everything you need after you are born while other children will starve to death? Why can Prince Chihoon can live forever but I have to die?!" sigaw na sambit niya. "Do you know? These years, besides staying young, I dont have the ability to fly to rooftops or walk on walls like Prince Chihoon. I'm like a rat in the sewer that needs to hide. Changing my identity constantly. Yung hirap kong nabuhay, alam mo ba yun?"

"That's your choice," sagot ni Riza.

Umiling ang lalake. "No. hindi ito ang buhay na ginusto ko." Hinarap niya ang babae. "Ang buhay na gusto ko ay ang buhay ko ngayon. I bumped into an illegitimate child named Justin Hubert a few years ago in America. He possessed a powerful financial group and was never exposed to the public. Naisip ko...gusto kong maging siya.'

"So, you tried everything you could to take his place," tinaliman na din siya ng tingin ni Riza.

"Kung siya lang yun, di rin naman mapapasakanya ang Hubert Corps. Gamit lang ang kakayahan niya."

Napangisi si Riza. "You always find a perfect reason for your faults." Bigla siyang tumayo. "Dont worry. Wala naman akong abilidad na saktan ka diba?" Naglakad siya at kinuha niya ang bag niya sa tabi saka naupo ulit. Nilabas niya ang kanyang tarot card. "According to your plan, you will be reborn tomorrow, right?" She shuffles her tarot cards saka nilapag ang mga ito. "Why not let me use tarot cards to help tell your fortune?"

Justin chuckled. "I've never believed in that. Sa sarili ko lang ako naniniwala."

"Just choose a card. It's not going to hurt," Riza coolly said. "Just see it as me thanking you for your kindness tonight."

Pumili nga ng isang card si Justin. "take your time to read it," aniya saka ngumiti. Pinatay niya ang kandila saka iniwan na ang babae.

Pinanood ni Riza kung pano nilock ni Juston ang kwartong nakakulungan niya. Saka niya binuksan ang tarot card na pinili niya. She slits eyes at what it signifies