Mabilis akong naglakad palabas. Dali-dali akong pumasok sa elevator. Kasunod ko si Jason nang pumasok din siya. Ibinaba ko ang karton sa sahig at lumuhod.
Tiningnan ko ang mga gamit ni Bok. Puro libro ang nando'n. Nakita ko pa ang iilang papel na may pangalan ni Writan. Hinawakan ko ang kwentong pinabasa sa akin niya noong nagpunta kami sa dulo ng kalsada. Niyakap ko 'yon.
"Where are you?"
"Claudia?" tawag ni Jason.
Tumayo ako at tumingin sa kanya.
"It's our fault that they weren't here anymore. I need to find them, Jason."
Lumambot ang tingin niya sa akin. Hinila niya ako palapit sa kanya at niyakap ako.
Tipid akong ngumiti sa kanya pagkatapos.
"Mahahanap din natin sila at ang kapatid mo," sambit niya.
Tumango ako. Bumalik ulit ako sa karton at ibinaba ang papel. Wala ro'n ang librong ibinigay ko kay Bok. Kinuha ko naman ang isang papel na madumi na at mukhang naapak-apakan.
"Sa aking nawalang pag-ibig,
Tayo'y sinubok ng panahon
Ngunit ika'y mananatili rito't babangonHinihiling ako'y patawarin sa aking pagyaon.Sana'y iyong tatandaan
Ikaw ay sa puso ko lamangMamahalin at hindi malilimutan.Ngunit ako sana'y burahin na sa 'yong isipanDahil ako'y hindi na makababalik.Patawad, aking nawalang pag-ibig."
My tears pooled down my cheeks. It's the poem that Grandma wrote. I sobbed harder. What have I done?
"Wow!" malakas na sigaw ni Jason nang pumasok kami sa loob ng kwarto na ibinigay sa amin ng babae kanina sa baba. It's not the room that Sofia and I stayed in when we're here. I should go back to that room later. "Do'n ka sa kabilang kwarto. Ako rito." Itinuro ko ang kwarto na malapit sa kalsada. "Hindi ba tayo magsasalo sa iisa? Mag-asawa na tayo, 'di ba?" pang-aasar niya. Binatukan ko siya. "Siraulo ka. D'yan ka!" inis kong tugon. Tinawanan lang niya ako bago ako iniwan sa sala. Huminga ako nang malalim at pumasok sa magiging kwarto ko. Hindi pa ako nakauupo nang pumasok si Jason sa kwarto. "What the heck is wrong with you?! Don't come here!" galit kong sigaw. "May itatanong laang ako." Tumahimik ako. "Paano kung hanapin ka ng Mommy mo sa bahay n'yo?" "The time stops there when we're here. Timeless dito. Kahit bumalik tayo ro'n parang hindi tayo umalis," pagpapaliwanag ko. "Nabasa mo na ba 'yon
"Salamat, Son."It was my fifth acknowledgment to him. It's our one week in this world and every early in the morning Jason and Writan would meet and talk about the plan to take Sofia.I was getting impatient as time goes by. Lalo na kapag ikinukuwento lang ni Jason sa akin ang mga pinag-uusapan nila. Binibigyan ko naman siya ng sulat para ibigay kay Writan pero hindi pa sapat 'yon. I miss Writan so much.I always lock myself up in my bedroom so I would prevent myself from meeting him. It will never be enough, I wanted to see him badly.In the middle of me writing on a piece of paper, I looked back at the time Writan and I could freely go outside, laugh without inhibitions, and talk all day long. It was a dream now.May kumatok sa pinto ng kwarto ko. Bumaling ako ro'n. Pumasok si Jason."Tapos mo na? Agad?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong sa akin ni Jason.I nodded proudly. "Read it. I put all my words and efforts into that."I sta
"They want an interview of me?" my voice cracked as I ask the woman in front of me.I was startled earlier when she knocked on the door and told me their offer."We wanted to know more of this Penna San Pedro. I know it's not your real name."Natigil ako sa sinabi niya. Kinabahan ako agad.Paano kung kunin din nila ako katulad nang pagkuha nila sa kapatid ko?"You can trust me."I clasped my hands. "I want to get my sister back," sagot ko.Tumango siya. Hinawakan niya ang balikat ko at lumapit pa sa akin lalo."I can help you get her from the Council. It's easy. You have to take my offer. We will release an article in this world, then the Council will notice of you, and I'm sure they'll reconsider judging the charges from Bok. Sofia will be back to you before you know it."I agreed with her plan. I went to my room and take my books with me. Sumama ako kay Felicisima sa labas at pumasok kami sa kabilang kwarto. Nan
Bumagsak ang pinto sa pagbukas niyon. Bumaling kami sa dalawang lalaki nang bigla silang pumasok sa kwarto. Tumayo kaagad si Writan. "Nandiyan na ang mga guwardiya," anunsyo ng lalaki. Pinanood ko ang pagtango ni Writan. Pinatayo niya ako bago ako hinila papunta sa bintana. Binuksan niya 'yon. "Bababa ako, tatalon ka. Kakayanin mo ba?" Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Tinitigan ko muna si Writan bago pumayag sa kanya. Napapikit na lang ako nang halikan niya ako sa noo bago siya lumabas sa bintana. Pakinig ko pa ang malakas na pagbagsak niya sa baba. Napasinghap ako. Tumingin ako sa kanya. Maayos na siyang nakatayo. Huminga ako nang malalim bago ipinatong ang kaliwa kong paa sa bintana bago tumalikod at inilabas din ang kanan na paa ko. "In the count of three, Claudia. One, two, three...." I let myself fall outside. Seconds after that, I felt Writan's chest. I opened my eyes and saw him concerned about me. I could feel my heartbeat
I controlled my tears when I heard Writan's knocks.I thought it would take time for him to get back. I stood up and went to the door. I opened it and saw Jason outside. I looked for Writan, but I didn't see him with Jason. "Son, where's Writan?" I could see his hesitation to answer. I gripped his arms. "Where is he?" matigas kong tanong. Lumunok siya. "Claudia, kumalma ka. Maayos lang si Writan sa kabila." Nangunot ang noo ko. "What? But he said he'll be back? Bakit ikaw na lang ang nandito?" "Ayaw niya raw magpaalam sa 'yo." Naguluhan ako sa tanong niya. "Are you hiding something from me, Jason?" Umiling siya kaagad. Isinarado niya ang pinto at pinanood ko nang kuhanin niya ang isang papel mula sa likod niya. Ibinigay niya 'yon sa akin. "Sulat sa 'yo ni Writan." Kumirot ang puso ko. Kahit na naguguluhan ay kinuha ko 'yon sa kanya. Tinalikuran ko si Jason at naupo sa silya. Nang buk
"Ma!" Nakita ko si Mommy at Grandma na naglalakad papasok ng bahay. Napasinghap ako. Nagtatakbo ako sa kanila. "Grandma!" sigaw ko. My energy escalated when I saw Grandma, standing with her rod, and smiling at me. I went towards her and hugged her tightly. "Are you okay na, Grandma?" "Oo, apo." I let go of our hug and looked at Mommy with Sofia. I messed with Sofia's hair and she giggled. "Miss you, ate." My heart melted. I missed her too. I was a bad sister to her on the other side. I didn't have the time to take care of her because I was preoccupied with Writan. Now that she's here, I think we should get along well. Pumasok kami sa bahay. Isinama ko si Sofia sa attic. "Do you want to go back there, Sof?" I asked her whole I comb her hair. She nodded. "I miss Yaya Es." I grinned. At least she has a good memory of the woman who took care of her. "When I go back there, I will thank
Dinaluhan ako ni Grandma. I could feel my chest aching so bad I wanted to make it stop.He doesn't want to see me again?So, this letter that I've been holding was his final goodbye to me."Can I wait for him here?" I asked desperately.Tumingin ako kay Grandma na parang humihingi ako ng permission sa kanya. Kahit na ayaw na akong makita ni Writan, bakit gusto ko pa rin?Bakit pinipilit ko pa ring pinawalaan na gusto pa rin niya ako?"You could. I believe he has ten years of punishment."I gasped. That's impossible. A punishment of ten years.What could that be?"Claudia," pagtawag ni Grandpa Bok.I felt like they felt sorry for me. I don't blame them that they gave him ten years of punishment. I'm mad at Writan 'cause I felt like it was easy for him to let me go."Huwag mo nang hintayin si Writan. Bumalik ka na lang sa kabila."I formed a fist. I lowered my head and looked at the
Ten years later... I would probably be nervous right now if this is my first time but it's not. Getting interviews were my day-to-day job in this world. "For ten years as a writer, we all know that you have achieved awards and praises as one of the biggest authors in our world and on the other. What do you feel about this, Ms. Claudia?" It's the same question I've been getting a lot. In a decade, there were massive changes for me in this world. Writing hundreds of novels gave me a lot of opportunities that I've never thought I would gain. Above all that, I'm still not happy. "I'm so honored to be entitled as one of the famous and biggest writers in our generation. I can't thank enough my supporters who are always there to cheer me up and buy my books. I'm so lucky." We're in this studio where the media of this world were all swarming to get my attention and interview me. It's not new to me anymore. "Ms, Claudia