Life vs Death (4)

I glance at Rolex and puckered my lips. She's been quiet lately. "It's already 12 pm. Malapit na Tayo." Walter announced. I cross my legs and take off my watch and place it on my lap. What's wrong with Rolex? Parati naman itong Umi-ingay tuwing tinatangal ko siya sa kamay ko. But now, she's quiet. "Bakit, Ren?"

"Wala naman. Ang tahimik kasi ni Rolex. Hindi ko alam kung anong problema" Sagot ko sa kanya at ngumiti. "Tingnan mo kung nakamute siya- Wait. Is that a pearl on your wrist?" Sinunod ko ang sinabi ni Walter at sinuri kaagad kung naka-mute ba si Rolex. "Hehehe naka-mute pala siya! Salamat! Akala ko kasi may nangyari na sa Rolex ko." Inihanda ko na ang tenga ko sa malakas na sigaw ni Rolex.

I unmuted her and yeah, just like what I expected. She screamed loudly. "FUCK FUCK FUCK! YOU FINALLY UNMUTED ME YOU FUCKER!" Napakamot ako sa ulo ko. Ito na naman po 'tong relos ko. Nagmumura na naman. "Sorry, naman! Naging busy lang."

"FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU HAZEL MANSINADES GAMALO!" Hininaan ko ang volume ni Rolex kasi Baka may makarinig pa sa mga mura niya sa akin. Napatingin ako sa pearl na binigay ni Head, Pearl at ngumiti. "Ah! Oo! Bigay to ng Head sa Blanche. Regalo niya daw." I lean to them to whisper. "Not as loud as Rolex." Nakangiting bulong ko sa kanila bago umupo ng maayos. "It can also sense danger. It'll turn into white if there's a danger around us."

"Awesome!!" I winked and chuckles.

--

Loud cheering of people, crowded place, I saw a lot of immortals in this land. Some are elves and some are fairies. "excuses excuse!" Napalingon ako sa paligid dahil sa narinig ko at kaagad na tumabi nang maaninag ko ang cute fairy na may dala-dalang maliit na basket. "Tara na, sam!" Maliit na sigaw nito sa kanyang Kasama. Napangiti ako and out of curiosity, I just poke them.

"Hey human! Don't poke us!" I was shocked when Victor held my hand and pulled me closer to them. "Don't do it again. They hated it when we laid our fingers on them." I gently nodded my head and bowed to the fairies. "Tara na!" Kinikilig na sigaw ni Walter. Sumunod naman ako sa kanila. Ayokong magpa-iwan!

We went to the open ground. Walter places his fingers inside his mouth and whistles. Napa-atras ako at napahawak sa braso ni Victor. A griffin appears in front of us at kitang-Kita ko, Kung Paano tinamed ni Walter ang griffin. Due to the nervousness, I swallowed the lump on my throat and leaned closer to Victor.

"Calm down! Destiny can sense your nervousness. He's a good griffin, don't worry." The griffin tried to walk towards me so I stepped back again. "Touch him~ Nag-iintay siya sa'yo, Hazel." I whinnied and shook my head. I am afraid of birds. I can't bear to touch them nor pet them. The griffin moves towards me again and looks deeply into my eyes. I did the same. Victor took my shaking hand and placed it gently on the griffin's head.

"Just calm down." Bulong ni Victor sa akin. I took a deep breath before I started stroking the head of the griffin. I gulped when it turned in my direction so I hurriedly hid on Victor's back. Tinawanan lang nila ako. "He's telling you to hop in!"

"Stop lying, Jamora!"

"It's true! Halika tulungan kita. This is our family griffin kaya sanay siyang may sumasakay sa kanyang mga kaibigan ko." He said. Aayaw sana ako pero kinuha na niya ang kamay ko. The griffin bend down a bit. Nagdadalawang isip pa ako kung sasakay ba ako. The griffin puffs air on his nose. "Did I piss him off?"

"Yes, Ang tagal mo daw sumakay!" Ang arte naman pala nitong griffin na ito. Kitang naga-adjust pa 'yung tao. Huminga ako ng malalim bago ako sumakay sa likod ng griffin. I sat in a lady position and manner. "Uh, Walter. Where should I hold- AHHH!!"

Napahawak ako sa ulo ko pagkatapos ng malupitang lipad sa langit. Hindi ko man lang masulit ang nangyari dahil sa kadahilanang nakapikit ako sa buong lipad. I can't dare to open my eyes. My body is calm but inside me is a wild emotion hovering. Walter and Victor are just laughing at my reaction. Hindi man lang nila naisip na e comfort Muna bago pagtawanan. Inayos ko ang gulo-gulo kong buhok at hinawakan ng mahigpit ang bag ko. Tinapunan ko ng matalim na tingin si Walter at Victor.

"Tawang-tawa ah. Nakakatawa 'yon?" Inirapan ko sila bago ko iginala ang paningin ko sa malawak na field na nasa harapan namin. "Sorry. We're almost." Kahit nasa malayo ay rinig narinig ko pa rin ang hagikhik ni Walter. Napakross nalang ako ng braso at sinabayan sila.

We reached a small house. I roamed my eyes to the place and left my lips in awe. "Welcome, to my humble house, Hazel." I smiled because of the formal introduction Walter did. Kung i-isiping mabuti ay, para lang siyang rest house in a mortal term. "We called this our small gothic house." Nakangiting Sabi ni Walter. Binuksan niya ang pinto at agad na pumasok. "WE ARE HERE!"

Lumabas sa bahay si Mrs. Jamora. She smiled at me. "Hazel!" I smiled when ran to me and gave me a tight hug. Nagulat pa ako nung una. Niyakap ko din si Mrs. Jamora atsaka bumuwag sa yakap. "Pumasok muna kayo~ You guys must be tired." Ika nito. Sumunod kami sa Kanya sa loob and my eyes roamed around Walter's place.

My jaw dropped when my mind registered in their living room. It is literally wide! So different from the outside. Mrs. Jamora told us to take a seat on their couch in which we did. He gave us a meal and I smiled. "Oh kumain muna kayo. Tatawagin ko lang si Rico." He plants a kiss on Walter's forehead before she vanishes in front of us.

I took one corn and lured my eyes to the walls. There's a family photo attached there and I smiled when I saw Walter with a little girl. I stood up from seating on the couch and headed to the wall where most of their photos are attached. I chuckled when I saw a young boy, biting an ice cream. They are wearing a coat and another young boy is reaching for the ice cream. The other boy is smiling on the camera with the girl beside her. "cuties." I mutter.

"That's us." It is indeed them. "This is Victor, the one who's biting the ice cream, this is me, Axl, and Emerita." Sinundan ko ng tingin ang mga itinuro ni Walter atsaka ngumiti. "So this what Axl Ancient looks like," I whispered. Tuminagala ako kay Walter atsaka ngumiti. "We are just 10 years old, worry-free, problem-free." He whispered. I can hear the sadness in his tone so I caress his back.

"You guys are a good friend." I complimented. Tumingin ito sa akin atsaka ngumiti. Ibinalik ko ang tingin ko sa picture frame and squints my eyes. Axl Ancient... He resembles someone but I am not yet sure. I can't be sure.

"Hazel Gamalo." I snapped to reality when I heard a familiar voice and turned my head to where the voice was coming from. "Good afternoon, Mr. Rico U Jamora" I greeted and bowed my head politely. "Napaka-formal naman. Uncle nalang." Napangiti ako atsaka tumango.

"Let's go." Hinawakan ni Walter ang kamay ko at sabay kaming naglalakad papunta sa couch Kung nasaan ang Tatay niya. "Sa tuwing nakikita kita, parati kong naalala ang tatay mo. Oh, ito nga pala. Gamit ng tatay mo." Walter, Victor, and Ms. Jamora excused themselves from our conversation. Ms. Jamora said that he'll be needing the boy's help and so, I and Uncle can have a proper conversation.

I took the sweater that he gave to me and placed it on my lap. I remained quiet since I can't compose an exact word of response to what he said. "Your dad is generous, yielding, considerate, intelligent, skillful, self-sacrificing, good-natured, and loves his family so much." I smiled. Napatingin ako sa sweater na hawak ko and dad's name was written there. 'Robert Gamalo' Nakita ni Uncle ang ginawa ko kaya ngumiti siya.

"Kailan niyo po nakilala ang tatay ko?" I asked in a curious tone. Uncle Rico places his forefinger on his finger. I guess to recall the moment of them together. "Ano pa ako noon eh, First year College ata? Kasi, ako nag-aaral ako sa Rogue College habang ang tatay mo ay nag-aaral sa Valmer University." Oh! Just like Oishi. No wonder they are brothers. They graduated from the same school.

"Nakita ko siya sa open ground doon sa Roscoe. Roscoe is an open place. Kahit saan ka galing lugar ay welcome na welcome ka dito. Actually, I and your mom are friends! Ako pa nga ang naging tulay sa kanilang dalawa." Nakangiting kwento nito. I smiled and rubs the tip of my nose. "Yang hugis ng Mukha mo, 'yang hugis ng labi mo, ang kilay at mga Mata mo pati yang maliit mong katawan. Nakuha mo sa Nanay mo. Klarong-klaro oh! Napaka-ganda mong bata" I feel flattered. Even though parati ko na 'yang naririnig kay Tiyo Mark at Aunt Jane.

"Habang yang katalinuhan mo naman, 'yang retentive memory mo, ang husay mo sa pag-iisip ng mga plano at kung ano-ano ay nakuha mo sa tatay mo. Kung, Hindi lang dahil kay Hideux ay baka buhay pa sila ngayon." Gusto kong itanong sa kanya, Kung, Sino si Hideux pero minabuti ko nalang na tumahimik at makinig kay Uncle Rico.

"Winston Hideux is the most skillful god in the name of the wizard." He said, leaning his back on the backrest. "Kung, Hindi dahil sa nanay at tatay mo ay Baka wala na kami dito." He recalled.

"Sino po ang Kasama niya Nung kinalaban niyo si Hideux?" I asked out of curiosity. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko kaya naitanong ko na. "Si Mark, Robert, Rowena, Ferdinand, I, and of course your Auntie Diane. Pero, Hindi ko pinasama si Diane." Diane? Sino si Diane? "My wife." Napangiti ako nang sagutin niya ang tanong sa utak ko. Tumingin si Uncle Rico sa gawi ni Ms. Jamora, Walter at Victor na nagluluto.

Bumuntong hininga si Uncle Rico atsaka tumingin sa akin. "Your mom is the rank one of Rogue College. Bago pa lang itinayo ang Rogue College, Kilalang kilala na siya dahil sa husay niyang magcast ng spells at mag summon ng mga bagay-bagay. Bago pa man umalis is Spencer Ancient sa Parallel World, nandoon na siya."

"Naging saksi ang nanay mo sa, Kung gaano ka gulo ang Pamilya Ancient. 2001 nang ipinanganak ka ni Rowena, At sa ganoon ding taon, ipinanganak ni Auntie Diane mo si Walter." He said. May kinuha siya sa ilalim ng center table atsaka ito binigay sa akin. Kinuha ko naman iyon at tiningnan ng mabuti. "Sino sa tingin mo ang tatlong 'yan?" I smiled when I recognize my parents. Hindi kaya sila 'to?

"My parents." Mahinang bulong ko. Tumango si Uncle Rico at umupo ulit ng maayos. "This is us, and, The great Joy Ancient and Lloyd Cabanilla and their son."

"Axl Ancient..." Uncle Rico nodded his head. Wait. If this is me, the little girl my parents are holding. Does this make me close to the late Axl Ancient? Cause, frankly, His parents and my parents are close! Wow. What a twist. I thought Axl Ancient had nothing to do with me!

"I remember, telling your mother and father to let you study in Parallel World but they insist. They want you to have a normal life. Away from the wizards, Away from Hideux." He said. "Joy even told your mom in which a friend of hers to stay in the wizarding world with her. But your father keeps on insisting. At the end of the day, they left with you. They left this world." He added. "Alam niyo po ba Kung bakit?"

"Of course. To get away from Hideux. At dahil si Rowena ang nakatalo kay Hideux sa unang laban, nalaman ni Hideux that your mother gave birth to a baby girl and escaped this world that makes him furious."

I squint my eyes and remember the moment when my mom is packing my things up in a fast manner and she is looking around the place. She said we are going to meet my grandparents. Did she say that to whitewash their enemy? To protect me?

"Hideux is the one behind your parent's death. Not the car, not the brakes. It's all Hideux's plans. And he succeeded." I secretly turned my hand into a fist while I am staring at my parent's smiling look while carrying me in their arms in the photo.

"When we heard the news and knew that you were still alive and kicking, We contact Jane Ferdinand to take good care of you. We can't entrust you with Teresa and Your grandmother. So we pick Jane."

"And I am happy that Jane takes good care of you." He added. Nakatingin lang ako sa larawan habang may bumu-buong luha sa mga mata ko. Walang kahit anong explanation o Salita ang lumabas sa mga bibig ko. Napansin naman ni Uncle Rico ang pananahimik ko kaya marahan niyang hinaplos ang ulo ko. "Your parents love you so much, Hazel. Even though they already left the world of mortals and spent time in heaven, they are still guiding and protecting you through all this time. " Bulong niya sa akin. Nag-uunahan nang pumatak ang mga luha ko at kaagad ko naman iyong pinunasan.

"Is that the reason why dad gave me a wand?"

"Actually no, Your father's side gave it to you with the help of Benjamin." Uncle Benj? "How?" I asked confusedly. Ngumiti si Uncle Rico at tumingala sa kisame. "Sabihin na nating, Mahal na mahal ka ni Benjamin kaya niya naisipang gawan ka ng wand. He made it especially for you. He spent many years just to perfect the wand."

"It was written there 'A mharú' What does it mean?"

"It means to ki--- LOVIE! COME NA, TAPOS NA KAMING MAG-LUTO!" Uncle Rico got cut off when Auntie Diane shout from the kitchen. "Your father's side are hu-- LOVIE!" Napanguso nalang si Uncle Rico at tumayo na sa upuan niya. "Tara na, Hazel. Kumain na tayo~ Punta kayong downtown mamaya para malibang ka."

"Sige po, pero ano po ang gusto niyong sabihin?"

"Nako! Haha Wala! Halika na!"

--

"Two Jinxes for three drinks!"

"Give me two." An ogre came our way so we made a way. Hawak hawak ko ang braso ni Victor habang naglalakad kaming tatlo dito sa downtown ng Roscoe. It's almost 6 pm at nandito kami. "Walter, who's the girl in the family photo?" Tanong ko kay Walter.

"Ah! kapatid ko 'yon! Si Mayhem!" He replied. We are picking vegetables and fruits as well. I pick a watermelon and passion fruit then Walter pays them. "Anong sinabi ng tatay ko?" Tanong niya sa akin habang pa baba kami sa hagdanan. Should I tell them? But it's about my family and that wizard named Hideux though. "Wala naman. Kinuwento lang niya kung paano niya nakilala ang pamilya ko." Pagsisinungaling ko. Tumango naman sila. Mukhang nakombinsi ko sila kahit alam naman nilang hindi ko kayang mag-sinungaling.

"You are lying."

"Ha?" Napatingala ako kay Victor atsaka umiwas ng tingin. "But it's alright. We understand you. It must be confidential." I smiled before I nodded my head. "It is." Nakangiting sagot ko.

Pagkatapos naming mamalengke, bumalik kami sa open field. I blinked my eyes when a female figure stepped in. She's rubbing another griffin before she turns her face to us. "Mayhem!!" Walter ran to her sister and gave her a tight hug. "Namiss Kita, bubwit!" I smiled while watching them and crossed my arms.

"Victor!" She greeted after parting his hug on Walter and patted Victor's shoulder. "Yo. It's been a year."

"I've got busy with school work. Alam mo naman, Campus Belle. And you must be?" When she turns her head to me that's just where I found a goddess in front of me. "Hazel Gamalo." She reached her hands to me and I stared at it for a good while before I accepted her hands and gave her a handshake. "I've heard so much about you and your family! Parating kinu kwento ni papie sa akin ang nangyari sa kanila dati." I smiled. Well, no wonder why he told the story with his kids. They look close to each other though.

"Anyways, uuwi na ba kayo?"

"Oo, May pinabili lang si mamie dito sa downtown. Babalik naman din kami. Actually, pauwi na kami ngayon." I frowned before turning my head to Walter. Seriously. Inuulit lang niya ang sinasabi at tinanong ng ate niya. Napabuntong hininga nalang ako bago tumingin ulit sa ate ni Walter. "Gusto niyo bang sabayan nalang ako?" Nakangiting tanong nito. Agad-agad naman silang tumango at sumakay kay destiny. Tiningnan ako ni Destiny at sasakay na din sana pero pinalipad na siya ni Walter.

Now, I am left with Mayhem. "Hahahaha he didn't change. Hop into Kismet." Nagdadalawang isip pa ako nung una pero mukhang ma-amo itong griffin niya kaya sumakay na lang din ako. She hops in after me and told the griffin to fly. "You are the second girl, I rode with Kismet." Napalingon ako kay Mayhem atsaka ngumiti. "Sino ang Unang babae?" She looked down at me and flashed a smile. "Emerita."

"Emerita love Kismet than, Destiny. But that was way back before. Actually, I am happy that Walter brings another female friend to Roscoe. It's been many years." She added. Nakatingin lang ako sa mga ulap na halos mahawakan ko na sa sobrang lapit. Hindi ko kayang tumingin sa ibaba, Dahil takot ako sa mataas. "Wala na ba kayong balitang natanggap sa pagkawala ni Emerita?"

Mayhem shakes her head while she's holding her griffin. "Wala na. A week after the judges in Nardith plead Axl guilty for poisoning her mother, She went missing. I don't believe in the news published in Parallel World, especially here in Roscoe. Some claimed that they saw her dead body but no identification if the body belongs to her. I strongly believe that she's still alive. But she's not here. Kumabaga, umalis siya sa lugar na ito."

"Where do you think she is now?"

Mayhem smiled bitterly and threw a sigh. "On your world. The mortal world. We immortals can't cross the mortal world unless we are with a mortal. Only the highest supreme students, not the president, vice, sec, and treasurer, someone higher than them, had the privilege of casting the gateway. We regular immortals can't traverse the barriers." Kaya naman pala Ganon ka saya si Walter at Victor nung pumayag si Ms. Fiona na samahan ako. They are not allowed to go to the mortal world.

I nodded my head. "How about, Axl Ancient? Ano po ang Alam niyo sa Kanya?"

"Hmm... Just like Emerita. I don't believe that the judiciary of Nardith pleads him guilty. There's no enough evidence aside from he's been with his mom when the poisoning happens." She said. Napaisip naman ako sa sinabi niya. Naalala ko Yung notebook. Kung Yung notebook na 'yon ay tungkol kay Axl Ancient. Ano kaya ang mga posibleng Laman nun? Posible kayang, nandoon nakalagay ang totoo?

"But it's almost decades...." Ngumiti si Mayhem sa akin atsaka napa-isip.

"Simula noong ipinanganak ako ni mamie, at sumunod si Walter, Tapos ikaw at si Axl. Hanggang sa umalis ang pamilya niyo dito sa Parallel World, nasundan ko ang mga galaw ni Axl at Walter. As for Walter, parati niyang tinataboy si Axl kasi gusto nitong makipaglaro kay Victor." She recall. "Tapos dati, naisipan ni Axl na para mapalapit siya kay Walter ulit at para hindi siya nito pagtulakan paalis, minabuti ni Axl na kaibiganin na lang din si Victor. That makes them trio. That was before Emerita" Dugtong nito.

"I strongly believe that Axl can't live without Walter, Victor, and Emerita. Hanggang ngayon na Bali-balita na patay na siya at wala na din si Emerita. Malakas ang kutob ko na buhay pa si Axl. He's around. We can't identify him but he can identify us."