3: Decision

Uncle Shin's family stayed more days in Emy's house. Emy never thought na makakasundo niya ang mga pinsan ng may-ari ng katawan niya ngayon. She was not that even close to her own cousins. In fact, in her old life, it was only Shereen and Diana that got into her heart.

Shereen was her only sister while Diana was her long time bestfriend. 

A long time bestfriend and yet betrayed her in the end.

Naikuyom ni Emy ang kanyang mga kamay. She couldn't stop getting hurt everytime na naaalala niya ang mga nangyari sa kanya noon. Who would expect that the more she trusted the deeper they wanted her to be miserable?

"Emy..."

Naputol lang ang iniisip niya when Shantal held her hand.

"Yes?"

"Tch. I knew that you are not listening." Tapos ay sinimangutan siya nito.

"Sorry. I just remembered some things."

"Yung mga step-siblings mo ba yan? Grabe yung higpit ng pagkakakuyom ng mga kamay mo eh."

Hindi na lang sumagot si Emy. Hindi rin naman niya masasabi dito ang totoong iniisip niya eh.

"Anyway, naisip mo na ba kung saan ka magleLevel Three?"

"Oh..." Hindi inaasahan ni Emy ang tanong na yun. Actually, she was busy pondering about the past and surviving the present that she hadn't thought about the future yet.

"Duh, Emy. Kahit na nagkaamnesia ka, you should still realize na kailangan mong mag-aral. Lalo pa at nasa Level Three ka na. Things won't get easy there. Kaya dapat mag-aral ka doon sa lugar na gusto mo."

Obviously, Shantal was already ahead of her in terms of schooling. She had been in Level Three since the previous year and this year would be her second year.

Biglang ikinawit ni Shantal ang braso niya sa kanya. "What about attending the same school as mine?"

"Malapit na ang pasukan niyo, di ba?"

"Yep. The week after this upcoming one." She said exasperated. "Honestly, I wanna stay here for more days. I never have much fun with you before." She even leaned her head on Emy's shoulder.

Emy smiled at the gestures of Shantal. It reminded her of Shereen.

"Hey... I do not want you to be sad about it."

Her sadness about her sister might have been appeared on her face. Emy just breathed deeply.

"I haven't thought about it yet. Give me until this week to decide."

"No rush, Emy. Alam ko naman na you are still trying to get calibrated with your life after your accident and amnesia."

Then Shantal shifted the topic.

***

Hindi lang si Shantal ang naging kasundo ni Emy. Even Sabrina and Samuel were very fond of her.

Napansin din iyon ng mag-asawang Shin at Shelly kaya nang dumating ang hapunan ay inalok ng mag-asawa si Emy na sa kanila na lang mag-aral. Emy told them the same thing na sinabi niya kay Shantal.

Mukha namang nalungkot si Ella dahil doon. Sa totoo lang, hindi na rin ganoon ang tiwala ng mag-asawang Shin at Shelly sa kanya ng dahil sa aksidente ni Emy. At naghihinala din sila na may kinalaman ang magkapatid na Lory at Daniel sa aksidente nito dahil na rin sa mga expressions nila nung nasa ospital pa si Emy. Kaya napagdesisyunan nila na alukin na si Emy na sa kanila na lang manatili habang nag-aaral pa siya.

Iniisip na lang ni Ella na kausapin si Emy nang mag-isa. Gustuhin man niyang payagan si Emy na mag-aral sa ibang lugar pero papaano naman silang mag-iina? Kaya lang sila nakakatanggap ng pera buwan buwan ay dahil kay Emy. Afterall, she was the only heir of her father. At kahit pa mag-asawang legal silang dalawa ni Jonas, wala rin iyong silbi dahil namatay ito ng hindi pa niya naaayos ang will and testament niya. Kung makakakuha man siya ng monthly allowance ay para sa kanya lamang at wala para sa mga anak niya.

Unfortunately for Ella, hindi na pala niya mapapakiusapan pa ang step-daughter niya.

That night, Emy thought about her future plans thoroughly. And the most essential factor for her decision was her emotion.

***

"About Level Three, I have already decided." Emy said one day habang naglalunch silang lahat sabay sabay. Agad naman silang napatingin sa dalaga.

"Oh good. It's about time na rin na magdecide ka, Emy." Auntie Shelly said with a smile.

"So san mo ba gustong maglevel three, Emy?" Tanong naman ni Uncle Shin.

"Sa Grey City po."

Natahimik silang lahat for a long time. Maybe... they didn't even know about the place.

"B-but... masyadong malayo ang Grey City, Emy." Ella was the first one to broke the silence. She was anxious dahil hindi pa nga niya nakakausap si Emy ay nakapagdecide na agad ito. Bukod pa doon, she had chosen a very far place.

"It is indeed far." Comment lang ni Uncle Shin. Mukha ring malalim ang iniisip nito.

"Ang daya, Emy." Shantal pouted. Emy expected it. But she had firm resolve about it.

"Oh well, it may be not that bad. Malayo man ang Grey City but it is not like Emy will be alone there." Auntie Shelly said positively.

This time, si Emy naman ang naguluhan. Her brows creased at napansin iyon ni Shelly.

"Why do you look confused? Your Uncle Francis and his family live in Grey City."

"Really?"

"I thought you know already that's why you have chosen the place."

Dali daling nag-isip si Emy. She didn't expected na may kamag-anak ang mga ito sa Grey City.

"I... I have read in my journals na doon ko gustong mag-aral noon pa. So I have decided to choose that instead."

Uncle Shin nodded. He was still in deep thoughts pero mukhang hindi naman siya kontra.

"What do you think, Shin?" Tanong ni Auntie Shelly sa asawa niya.

"I have no problem with that. Matagal na din naman na hindi nagkikita sila Emy at ang pamilya ni Francis. I doubt it if she can even remember her first uncle." Uncle Shin said and looked at her. "Who knows? Maybe Emy needs a change of environment. This year has been stressful for her. With Jonas' death and her accident plus amnesia, I am sure it is not easy for her."

"Thank you, Uncle."

"I am hoping you will go with us." May himig pagtatampo pa ni Shantal. "But if you've already decided then wala na akong magagawa pa."

"I appreciate it, Shantal." Emy then looked at Ella.

She knew Emy's step mother wanted a say about this too. But she was just being considerate since in terms of relationship status, di hamak na mas mataas sila Shin at Shelly sa kanya.

"Whatever you want, Emy. Ang concern ko lang ay ang layo ng Grey City. I won't be able to see you whenever I want."

"You don't have to worry that much, Ella. Maybe you haven't met Francis and his family yet but they are not that bad. They are a military family and play a great role in Grey City kaya hindi sila gaanong makaalis at makabisita sa atin."

"Wala din sila nung burol ni Uncle Jonas, di ba, Pa?" Tanong ni Shantal.

"Yes. Malaking pagsisi ni Francis dahil doon. They were on Feng's hometown at that time, defending it from the Nomads." Shin answered his daughter. Then he looked at Emy. "Lie Feng is your another aunt, asawa ng Uncle Francis mo."

Again, Emy was in deep thoughts. She knew the body's owner's father died months ago. And recalling the events from Grey City, it was the Ming Province that was threatened by the Nomads.

"Is Auntie Feng's hometown Ming Province?"

Shin was surprised.

"How did you know?"

"I have researched about Grey City these past few days. I found out that they have several subcities and one of them is always attacked by nomads which is the Ming Province."

Uncle Shin nodded. "Yes, that's right. Ming is just very small pero isa ito sa pinagkukuhanan ng Grey City ng mga crops. And Lie Feng's family has an army there para kung sakali mang may gustong manakop sa kanila."

Napatango na lang si Emy. She didn't know how this would affect her plan but she had already decided so might as well be prepared for every twists and turns.

***

Since nakapagdecide na rin naman si Emy, inayos na nila Shin ang pag-alis nila sa manor.

Kung wariin ay parang wala ng balak pang bumalik si Emy sa lugar na iyon. Halos lahat ay inempake niya. At hindi rin naman hahayaan nila Shin na mag-iwan ng mga mahahalagang gamit si Emy doon.

Anim na taon din ang gugugulin niya sa Grey City upang makapagtapos ng Level Three niya.

"Emy, hindi ka na ba mapipigilan?" Tanong ni Ella sa kanya habang tinutulungan siya nitong mag-empake.

"I really want to go there to study."

"It's just that..." Hindi na naituloy pa ni Ella ang sasabihin niya. Shelly entered Emy's room to help her pack too.

Emy had no idea that Shin and Shelly were preventing Ella to talk to her. They would rather Emy to go to Grey City than stay here in Royal City.

"Let me help you with the packing." Sabi ni Shelly. Habang nag-eempake ay kinwentuhan ng kinuwentuhan ni Shelly si Emy ng mga tungkol sa Grey City. She had been there for several times dahil binisita nila sila Francis at kahit pa hindi pa modernized ang Grey City, she immediately liked the place.

On the other hand, Emy was actually getting bored with Shelly's story. If there was anyone in that room who was very familiar with Grey City, then that would be her.

Mabuti na lang at biglang sumulpot sila Shantal at nakipagkwentuhan sa kanya.

***