ALIYAH POV
Agad akong lumingon nang maramdamang may malamig na kamay na humawak sa aking braso. Nahampas ko siya sa sobrang takot at tumakbo palayo sa kanya. I was so scared.
It was an old man. He was wearing dirty and tattered clothes. He has a long white hair at mukhang wala siyang nakikita. Is he blind?
“Tulungan mo ako, binulag ako ng demonyo. Impyerno ang lugar na ito. Ito ang lugar ng pagdurusa. Pinapahiran niya ang mga may sala,” aniya habang kumakapa sa hangin.
“Anong pong ibig ninyong sabihin? Sino pong demonyo?” tanong ko sa kanya.
“Demonyo, ang demonyo ay narito!” parang siyang baliw habang sumisigaw.
Natanaw ng mga mata ko ang nasa apat na katulong na paparating. Agad nilang pinuntahan ang matanda at hinila ito palayo sa akin. Naiwan akong mag-isa sa aking kinaroroonan.
Isang palaisipan para sa akin ang sinabi ng matanda. Binulag daw siya ng demonyo. Ano kayang ibig nyang sabihin doon?
Napahawak ako sa aking dibdib. Agad akong lumingon nang may narinig na sasakyang paparating. Nakita kong bumukas ng mag-isa ang gate at pumasok ang isang itim na kotse. Labis na takot ang aking nararamdaman ngayon. Pumara ang sasakyan sa harapan ko. Gusto kong tumakas at tumakbo. Hindi ko alam kung sino ang bababa sa sasakyan.
Bumukas ang pinto ng kotse at ako’y napasinghap. Naririnig ko ang lakas ng pintig ng aking puso sa sobrang takot.
To my surprise, it was a beautiful woman who went out of the car. She was wearing a navy blue dress and black high heels. Naka- ponytailed ang kanyang buhok at kahit wala siyang masyadong make-up sa mukha ay masasabi kong napaka-ganda. I think she was in her late 30s and she is wearing a very friendly smile.
Lumapit siya sa akin, animo’y ang saya-saya nyang makita ako. I wonder if she knows me, or she is expecting me today.
“Hi Aliyah, why are you here outside?” sambit ng babae.
I was so shocked, she called me Aliyah. Is that my name?
I was left speechless. Hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin. He hold my hands and invited me to come in to the mansion. Dahil sa hindi ko alam kung anong nangyayari, I just followed her.
She brought me again sa kwarto kung saan ako nagising kanina. Pinaupo nya ako sa kama and told me to wait for her. She went outside and after a while, bumalik siya nang may dalang tubig at pagkain.
“Here Aliyah, please drink and eat,” alok nya sa akin.
I was hesitant to accept her offer. First, hindi ko siya kilala so I should not trust her.
Bumuntong hininga siya at nilapag ang tubig at pagkain sa mesa. Tinabihan nya ako sa kama and touched my hand.
“You can trust me Aliyah. Please, huwag kang matakot sa akin. I’m Teresa De Luna. Kapatid ako ng may-ari nitong bahay,” sabi ng babae.
“Aliyah ang pangalan ko?” I think may alam siya tungkol sa akin.
I saw her swallow and she gave me a worried look.
“Yes, Aliyah is your name, so he erased your memory,” habang pinagmamasdan niya ang mukha ko.
“Binura niya ang alaala ko? Sinong siya?” I felt confused. Sinong tao ang kayang bumura ng alaala ng iba. At bakit niya ito ginawa?
“I’m sorry Aliyah. I am not in the position to tell you.” She wears a sad face now.
“How did you know my name, Teresa,” I need to know everything and I know this woman in front of me can give clarity.
“I heard it from one of his men that he will bring a woman in this mansion named Aliyah.” She revealed.
“Ito bang lalaking sinasabi mo ay ang kapatid mo Teresa. Siya ba ang bumura ng alaala ko?” I asked her again.
“Yes Aliyah,” sagot ni Teresa.
“Bakit niya ito ginawa sa akin? Anong kailangan ng kapatid mo sa akin?” I need answers. Hindi ako matatahimik hangga’t hindi nabibigyang sagot ang lahat ng katanungan ko.
Teresa was about to say something nang biglang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok ang isang matandang naka-black suit. Nasa mga 60-anyos na ang matanda at ngumiti siya sa akin.
Dumiretso siya kay Teresa at may binulong. I saw how her face changed expression. Tumango si Teresa sa matanda at bumaling sa akin.
“I promise Aliyah, I will be back to check on you one of these days. I need to talk to my brother. Dumating na raw siya.” she squeezed my hands.
Deep inside me, I know Teresa is a good person, I can feel it.
Ngunit isa pa ring palaisipan kung bakit ako nandito. Bakit kinailangang burahin ng kapatid niya ang aking alaala. Ano kayang kailangan niya sa akin?
At anong klaseng tao ang kapatid niya na kayang burahin ang alaala ng isang tao. Isa ba siyang doctor and I am one of his experiment?
Napabuntong hininga ako at naisipang kunin ang dinalang mga pagkain ni Teresa. Sa totoo lang, gutom na talaga ako, hindi ko matandaan kung ilang oras akong natulog. May sandwich, hotdog, fried egg at juice. Mukhang napakasarap nito.
While enjoying the food, may narining akong ingay mula sa malapit na kwarto. Ininom ko muna ang orange juice bago lumabas ng kwarto. Sa hallway, narinig kong muli ang ingay. Parang boses ng babaeng sumisigaw. Naglakad ako patungo sa ingay hanggang narating ko ang isang kwarto. Medyo nakabukas ito kaya dahan-dahan akong lumapit.
Mula sa kinatatayuan ko ay nakita ko ang isang babaeng nakahiga at nakatali sa kama.
“Let me go! Let me go!” sigaw ng babae. Mula sa gilid ng kama ay may nasa apat na katulong ang nakatayo. Ang isa sa kanila ay lumapit sa babae at may hawak itong iniksyon. Tinurok ito ng katulong sa babae. Pilit na lumalaban ang babae kaya nagtulungan ang iba na hawakan ang kanyang braso at katawan. Matapos siyang maturukan nakapagsalita pa ang babae.
“Minahal ko siya, akala ko mahal niya ako ngunit ginamit lamang niya ako. He is a demon,” sambit ng babae hanggang sa unti-unti na itong nanghina at natulog.
Agad akong umalis sa harap ng kwartong iyon, at bumalik na sa aking kwarto. Ayokong madatnan ako ng mga katulong sa labas.
Nang makapasok muli sa aking kwarto, napaupo ako sa kama habang naaalala ang sinabi ng babae. Sino kaya ang tinutukoy niya?
Bakit nandito ang babaeng yon? At bakit nandito ako?
ALIYAH POVA cold wind welcomed me as I rushed outside to find Alaric. Time flies so fast. This 6-year-old boy turned out to be extremely handsome and naughty at the same time. I felt the energy that drew the corners of my lips to lift toward my eyes. I smiled as he approached to show me a red medium rock that he had found somewhere.I kneel to look at his eyes, smile, and nose. Everything about him perfectly resembles his father. It has been six years, but those memories still paint so clearly to me. I am not scared anymore; that nightmare made me the strongest.Sa buhay natin, we have our fear and darkness to overcome. But God always gives us trials to help us grow stronger and wiser. This world is full of mystery. Goodness and evil always serve as a balancing force. It will depend on the individual which force he or she will welcome. I looked around, ang ganda ng panahon. The sun shines so bright and the blue sky is always captivating. May mga puting ibong malayang lumilipad. I was
ALIYAH POVMy throat feels like it is burning with flames. I can’t erase the fact that I almost died in that deep water that feels like an eternity of suffering. Despite the darkness, a prince of darkness arrived, but not to spread evil. This time he became my light. His eyes were like a fire of hope, his voice served as my strength. Lorenzo gave me the power to fight this fear. I composed myself and pushed open the car door. A smell of metallic blood welcomed me. I looked around to see lifeless bodies scattered like trash. I felt two cold hands grabbed me from behind.“Aaliyah, it’s me!” I looked at her, I almost didn’t recognize her. Si Kate pala. She looked pale and had blood all over her body. I hugged her tight. I feel happy to see her safe.“What happened to you Kate?” parang sasabog ang puso ko while looking at her.“They betrayed me Aaliyah, hindi ko alam na ito pala plano nila,” she sobbed.“Please Kate, stop crying,” wala siyang kasalanan, we are both a victim here. Akala k
LORENZO POVDumilim ang aking paningin nang makita kong tinapon nila si Aaliyah sa malalim na tubig. I felt a surge of power in my whole body and all I want to do is to kill everyone in front of me. I place my hands beside each other, my left hand facing up, and my right hand facing down and then I conjure my dark magic. Hindi na nakasigaw ang limang lalaki, dahil nauna na nilang isuka ang dugo mula sa kanilang mga bibig. Sa ilang segundo, agad na silang binawian ng buhay. I destroyed all their organs, I want instant death for them.Hindi na ako nagdalawang isip pa, I jumped into the water. I need to save Aaliyah. I pulled her hands and helped her out of the water. “Aaliyah, please be strong. I’m here now!” I hugged her tight and kissed her forehead. Nakaahon kami sa tubig at dinala ko siya sa taas ng tulay. She was not responding. I held her wrist and I realized that she was in a state of paralysis. Gamit ang aking itim na mahika, sinubukan kong gisingin muli ang kanyang natutulog na
ALIYAH POVMaaga akong nagising ngayong araw. I had my breakfast outside the mansion. The weather is perfect today. Habang kumakain, naalala ko ang Snake dagger na nakita ko sa kwartong iyon. It was my first time to see a dagger that was as mysterious as that one. But beside that dagger, mas naiintriga ako kay Benedict. Hindi siya mawala sa isip ko, may kutob akong hindi maganda. Lumingon ako sa napaka-laking mansyon niya. Napakaganda ng disenyo nito, mukhang itinayo mula noong unang panahon. Ngayong araw si Kate muna ang magbabantay sa baby ko. She wants me take a rest and enjoy this place. While roaming my eyes around, witnessing the majestic view of this land, dumating ang isang katulong para tawagan ako.“Ma’am, iniimbitahan ko po kayo ni sir Benedict sa kanyang opisina,” wika nito. I nodded and followed behind her. Habang papunta sa kanyang opisina, hindi mawala sa akin ang isang masamang kutob. Ngunit pilit ko itong binabaliwala. I try to convince myself that we are here in Bene
ALIYAH POVDumaan ang mga buwan, I remained in the custody of the Guardians. I t wasn’t easy for me to accept that my father was gone. Despite of everything that had happened, I am still lucky to have Kate with me. Papalit-palit kami ng lugar hanggang sa nanganak ako. It was too painful to give birth. Ramdam ko na ang isa kong paa ay nasa hukay. Akala ko hindi ko kaya, akala ko hindi ko maisisilang sa mundo ang aking anak. While I struggled during my labor, all I can imagine was Lorenzo’s face. Huling impormasyong nakuha ko ay noong sinabi ni Kate na narito sa mundo namin si Lorenzo and that she took Teresa away. From that time, wala na akong nakuhang impormasyon pa. Alam ko na ang dahilan kung bakit papalit-palit kami ng tirahan ay dahil gusto akong protektahan ng guardians mula kay Lorenzo.I gave birth to a healthy baby boy. I named him Alaric. He has his father’s eyes, nose and mouth. Magkamukha sila. I treat my son as the most precious thing I have in this life. Mula nang oras na
CHAPTER 52LORENZO POVI felt the warmth of my fingers as I tightened my grip on this glass of wine. Every drop has a lingering effect on me as always. I want to sink a good half-bottle right now as I remember that day when I thought that I could have lost her forever.Hindi ko mapapatawad ang aking sarili kung may mangyaring masama kay Aaliyah. Lalo na ngayon na alam kong magkaka-anak na kami. Kahit isang minuto ayaw kong mawala sila sa isipan ko. Hindi ko makakalimutan kung paano nanginig ang buo kong katawan habang tumatakbo upang tingnan kung sino ang nahulog sa building. My eyes widened in fear when I saw Aaliyah’s father lying dead. Blood crawls around him. I turned around to see my sister standing, her eyes full of anger. She killed Aaliyah’s father, my vision turned red and all I can remember was me attacking my sister. She fought back but her strength depleted. I can see her skin suffered from burns. I smelled holy water around. I knew it, someone used holy water against her.