WMS7: Chapter 7

I'm here on the balcony of my room. Looking at the stunning picturesque of the vineyard as the sun is about to set. The hue of yellowish-red is scattered efficiently adding a more dense atmosphere as the evening is approaching. I gently rubbed my arm when I felt the cold breeze touch my skin.

I took a deep breath and let out a deep sigh while thinking of the decision I came up with after talking to my cousin Elliot. He has a point though, if I accept my grandpa's offer to be the successor of his group, I will gain the power I need to avenge my Mom's death. But how and where would I start? I don't even know these people aside from my grandpa.

Marahas akong muling bumuntonghininga dahil para akong naghahanap ng karayom sa dayamihan. Hindi matumbok ng aking utak kung saan mag-uumpisa ng aking mga plano.

"A penny of your thoughts, apo?"

I swiftly turned toward where I heard Grandpa's voice come from. He is standing by my bed, seriously staring at me.

"You didn't even notice I came in. Care to tell me what you are thinking?" He slowly walked closer to me while his hand was in his pocket and the other on his staff.

"I am accepting your offer, Grandpa!" I answered with conviction.

"Seriously?"

"Yes!" I said looking directly into his eyes, showing him how certain I am with my decision.

"That's good to hear, but I won't buy it for now. You just arrived and I wanted you to stay for a few more days. Then tell me about your final decision. I don't want you to decide just because you want to avenge your mother. I want you to decide because it is what your heart desires." Mariing wika ni Grandpa na ngayo'y nakaharap na sa papalubog na araw.

Silence engulfed me as I slowly turned facing back to the setting sun. I couldn't grasp any words to say. I purse my lips simultaneously as I take a deep breath and sigh. Grandpa is right, I need to think about it a million times as my mind is in chaos.

Magulo, nalilito, at hindi maarok ng utak ko ang dapat gawin.

"I'll send someone to help you so you will know where to start everything," Grandpa said which seems he read what's in my mind.

"Do you think, your people will accept me as their new leader?" I asked cynically.

"Well, from the start, they already know that you are my successor so they don't have any choice once you lead them," he answered.

"Besides, you have the charisma that can be your convincing power, especially to women members. Vivacious! Your energy will bring positivity to your people and drive them to do their tasks actively," Grandpa added.

Matagal kaming nakatayo sa balkonahe at nag-usap. Dito ko nalaman ang mga detalye ng kulto o grupo ng lolo ko. He insisted that it wasn't but as far as I know, being deviant from the authorities, having its zealots that follow the rules fanatically is a cult. He is not claiming that he is a god, but every word of his mouth is a law and no one can defy otherwise, they will be dead.

Ah! Whatever it is!

"Go to rest early tonight as you will start tomorrow," Grandpa said as he moved, leaving me on the balcony.

I am left hanging. Grandpa seemed to hypnotize me so that I wasn't able to utter a word nor ask him what he meant to start tomorrow.

I went to bed early not because that's what Grandpa had told me but because I felt a sudden exhaustion from thinking about everything that bothered me.

Kinabukasan, naalimpungatan ako sa mga kaluskos sa tabi ko. I jumped out of bed when I felt someone tugging on the duvet that covered me. I was about to attack them when one of the guys spoke.

"Monsieur Atlas, we are told to accompany you to Hortus."

"Hortus?"

"Yes!"

"It is still three in the morning. I'm not going," I told them and threw myself back on the bed.

"Monsieur Atlas, we will force to take you there if you refuse to get up and go on your own," the same guy said and came close to me.

"What?" halos lumuwa ang mga mata ko nang marinig ang tugon niya kasabay nang marahas na pag-alis ng duvet na nakatakip sa aking mukha.

"Whatever!" wika ko sabay talukbong ulit ng duvet. Imposibleng buhatin nila ako at dalhin kung saan man ang Hortus na 'yon but I am wrong. Namalayan ko na lang ang pag-angat ng katawan ko mula sa pagkakahiga sa kama.

"Fuck! What the hell is this? Put me down!'

I shouted and cursed the guys but to no avail. Malaking bulas ako but my body build is not as strong as these guys whom I think were hired to specially use their strength for such a scenario. Gamitan ng lakas para sa kagaya kong nagpupumiglas habang karga-karga nila palabas.

I used to sleep in my boxers kaya hinayaan ko nang mahulog ang duvet at hinayaan ko na silang buhatin kung saan man nila ako balak dalhin. Ramdam ko pa ang dampi ng malamig na hanging nagmumula sa air-conditioner sa aking balat. Ilang pasilyo din ang nilakad nila habang magkatulong nila akong karga bago namin narating ang isang pintuan. Dito ay nilapag na nila ako sa hinuha kong harap ng pintuan.

"He is waiting for you, Monsieur Atlas," muling wika ng lalaki at magkasabay silang umatras pagilid ng pintuan.

I stand there for a couple of minutes, thinking about going inside or run away and continuing my rest but I know, these guys are determined to stop me so I choose the former. I held the door handle and gently pushed it open.

Nagising ang buo kong diwa nang tumambad sa akin ang looban. Napasinghap ako sa paghanga. Tila isa itong paraiso sa loob ng building na 'to. Naglakad ako nang dahan-dahan papasok. Nakalimutang tanging kapiranggot na saplot lang ang suot.

I was so fascinated and stunned by the place that I didn't even notice the two women who were following my gentle steps toward the middle. They put on a yukata on me as soon as I stopped in front of manmade waterfalls. 

Yukata is a Japanese costume that is made of cotton and hemp fabric for faster drying which most Japanese wear. 

I don't know why I have to wear this costume but I didn't bother to ask those ladies for reasons. I stood there in the middle and let the water from the waterfalls splash on my feet as I felt it refreshing. I forgot that it's the earliest in the morning.

"You came!"

I jolted when I heard an unfamiliar voice. I turned to look where it came from and I saw a man, if I'm not mistaken, in his sixties. Obviously, with his small, slanted eyes, he is Japanese.

"Who are you? Why I am here?"

"Watashi wa Kaito desu," pagpapakilala nito na ikinairita ko.  I understand what he said but I don't have that much knowledge of the language for him to speak to me. 

"Can we talk in English? We are in a country where we're both strangers so I guess you know the language to communicate," tugon ko na ibinalewala ang kanyang pagpapakilala. Hindi na ako nag-abala pang magpakilala sa kanya kasi alam kong kilala na niya kung sino ako. 

He chuckled. "I'm sorry Monsieur Atlas." He bowed his head.

So, this guy will be one of my followers, if Grandpa passes his leadership to me? I grinned.  Parang ang sarap sa pakiramdam na may mga magiging tauhan ako or sa mas angkop na salita, utusan! Kasi ganoon naman eh, ayon sa sinabi ni Grandpa, kamatayan ang kapalit ng sinumang susuway sa kanyang kautusan. Sounds powerful, right?

"What do we do now? And why I am here. You haven't answered me, yet."

Instead of answering me, he turned and walked steadily away from me.

"Follow me!"

"Oh, come on! Why I am here?" Naiirita kong tanong sa kanya sa pangatlong pagkakataon.

"This place is called Hortus. Your Grandpa loves this place. This is where he stays when he tries to detach himself from all the chaos outside for a moment," he said instead of answering me.

I took a deep breath, calming myself down in annoyance with Kaito. Who wouldn't annoyed if he answered you far from what you asked? I'm enough so I chose not to talk anymore, but continue to follow him wherever he would take me inside this place.

A few meters later, he stopped. I scanned the place. It's like an open temple where there were statues of gods of I don't know what sect. I don't care. I am a free thinker and don't believe in any gods.

"I'm here to help you clear your mind," he said as he laid down a mat that had been there when we arrived.

'So, mag-yo-yoga kami?'

"What the hell!"

I clenched my hands and gnashed my teeth as I became enraged. One of the things that irritates me is when people don't tell me explicitly what they want or intend to do.

"Kaito!"

**************

***Hortus means garden.