The Contract Signing

• • • QUEEN • • •

"Beasts refer to those creatures who are more than humans."

"My mother was fascinated with them that she studied and interfered into their world. Gumawa siya ng paraan para makatulong sa mga ito. She built and ran her own funeral home that was giving services to the beasts. Nabiyayaan siya dahil dito. Ang funeral home niya ay hindi pangkaraniwan. Sinlaki ito ng isang hotel and it houses the souls of her beastly clients hanggang sa matapos ang funeral ceremony nila at makatawid sila sa kabilang buhay upang ipanganak muli."

"Now, my mother cannot move on to the afterlife. Her soul was still stuck here. Kaso hindi namin siya nakikita. Kailangan niyang patawirin pa sa kabilang buhay ang mga naiwang kliyente niya sa funeral home. Saka pa lamang siya makakatawid."

"We had given a special examination for gifted students here in UP. It was actually a test to determine the future successors of the funeral home. Sadly, hindi kami nakapasa ng kapatid kong si Goliath. Only the five of you made it that's why since then my mother had been keeping her eyes on you. Ang sabi niya sing-espesyal ng funeral home ang dapat na magpatakbo nito at kayo iyon."

"Ms. Marquesa, I'm very sorry but you are not enrolled and cannot be enrolled yet."

"What?" I asked with etching irritation.

"How's that happened?"

"It's an order from the boss. Bilin ni Yorme."

Who the actual hell is that Yorme?

"Yorme?"

"Dr. David Portofino. He wants to be addressed that way." Oh. That midget.

"Fine," I said and walked my way out of the registrar.

I don't like attending my classes anyway, so why bother?

I took my sunglasses out of my Hermes handbag and put it on. I'll just be going home.

I stopped on my tracks when my new phone started ringing. I took it out from my bag also and answered Rum's call.

"Nasaan ka?"

"I'm going home. I won't still be able to enroll myself today because of the midget's order."

I heard him sigh on the other line.

"Ikaw din pala. Puntahan mo kami sa canteen. Gagawa tayo ng paraan."

"What? Wait, I said I'm going h-" And then he hung up. Great.

I'm really going home after this. I spun around and marched my way to the canteen.

When I got there, Rum was wearing his glasses while reading a paper. Tutti looked disappointed sitting in front of him. Nakasubsob ang mukha niya sa lamesa at naka-uniporme pa.

I smirked. What a nerd.

Perhaps she's disappointed because she won't be able to attend her first day of school.

Ibinaba ko ang handbag ko sa lamesa at tinanggal ang shades ko. I sat beside Rum. I peeped on the paper he was holding.

PORTOFINO'S FUNERAL HOME TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. The Portofino's Funeral Home offers services only for beasts.

2. The Funeral Crew must be with special abilities and must be at least composed of five members with designated job each.

3. From Portofino's Funeral Home, it will be renamed into the new owner's desired name.

4. They must stay in the funeral home for a year and continue assisting beastly souls to move on to the afterlife with grandeur.

5. The new owner's terms will be granted and be taken care of by Dr. David Portofino in exchange for their service.

Hindi ko na natapos ang pagbabasa nang biglang dumating si Dean tulak-tulak si Snow na naiiyak.

Why do I like this scene?

Tutti stirred from her position and Rum brought his paper down.

Naupo si Snow sa kabisera ng lamesa, near Rum and Tutti. Si Dean naman sa tabi ni Tutti at sa harap ko.

Palihim kong nilayo ang bago kong phone at baka itapon na naman ni Dean. Tutti chuckled when she noticed it. Nawawala ang mga mata niya sa tuwa. Mayamaya pa'y binalingan na niya ang dalawa.

"Nag-away na naman kayo?" Tutti asked.

"Bakit 'di niyo siya tanungin kung anong pumasok sa utak niya at nanigas sa gitna ng daan kahit pa may paparating nang sasakyan," masungit na sagot ni Dean.

"Hands shaking, teeth rattling, coldly sweating, dilated pupils, and rapid heartbeat," Rum whispered while looking at Snow with his glasses hanging low on his nose.

Rum must have heard her heartbeats. He can enhance his senses anytime he wants.

Tinanggal ni Rum ang salamin sa kanyang mata at ibinaba iyon sa ibabaw ng lamesa.

"Hindi niya ginusto 'yon. Anong nangyari, Snow?"

"Tatawid na sana ako papasok ng gate kaso... kaso may natitigan ako. Alam kong hindi siya tao kasi 'yong hugis at sukat ng mga bahagi ng katawan niya iba-iba saka... saka parang tinahi para magkadugtong lang ang mga 'yon...tapos hinawakan niya ako nang mahigpit para hindi ako makatakas. Nagpumiglas ako kasi may sasakyan nang parating pero ayaw niya akong bitawan. Mabu... mabuti na lang at dumating si... D-Dean."

I don't actually want to listen to her.

Kinuha ko ang lip tint sa loob ng bag ko. Maglalagay na lang ako nito. Just to kill time.

Naglagay ako sa lips, pisngi, at eyelids ko. Just when I was done, Tutti looked at me and smiled, the kind that was asking for permission.

I gave her the lip tint so she put some on her eyelids and cheeks. I silently told her that I already like her matte lipstick.

"Queen, Dean, samahan niyo ako sa labas. Pupuntahan natin ang sinasabi ni Snow," Rum ordered.

I silently hissed. I don't want to be ordered around.

Well, except him.

"Teka, paano ako?" Tutti butted in.

"Maiwan ka na lang muna. Console Snow."

Walang nagawa si Tutti kundi ang pumayag.

Kinuha ko ang bag ko at naglakad na kasunod nila.

When we were at the university main gate, we stood there outside waiting for the creature that was mentioned by Snow to materialize.

"Okay, boys. I'm done here. I'm going home," I said, giving up after almost an hour standing there.

Dean turned to look at me with irk etched on his ruggedly handsome features.

"Limang minuto pa lang tayong nakatayo rito."

"Well, it feels like hours to me," I responded with an equal tone of mockery.

"Tingnan niyo 'yon."

We immediately poured our attention at the pedestrian in front. There stood a woman with sewn body parts.

It was really sewn because her parts weren't proportionate. Malaki iyong kaliwang braso niya samantalang kulay itim naman ang kanan.

I looked away. She was grotesque.

Pagtingin ko sa gate ay bumukas iyon at kumunot ang noo ko nang dali-daling lumabas mula roon ang isang onano na naka-barong. Nadapa pa siya kaya mabilis siyang inangat ng kasama niyang higante. It's Prof. David and his brother, Goliath.

Impit pang natawa si Dean nang magsimula nang tumakbo si Prof. David papunta sa amin.

"Nawawala ata 'yong bata," tukso niya.

Kinunutan siya ng noo ni Rum at pinagsabihan. "Dean, may-ari siya ng school na pinapasukan mo."

Dean held his both hands on his chest level, surrendering. "Fine, fine."

Napailing na lang si Rum. Tumungo ako sa maliit na lalaki. He padded his way in front of us. Bigla kaming may narinig na malakas na busina ng sasakyan at sigaw kaya napabaling agad kami sa daan. May isang estudyante na namang hindi makagalaw dahil pinipigilan siya no'ng babae sa pamamagitan nang pagyakap sa kanya mula sa likuran.

"Dean," Rum called and the latter nodded.

Dean moved quickly and took the female student to the other side of the street. I wasn't able to keep track because all happened in just a split second. Sobrang bilis niyang gumalaw na naabutan ko na lang silang nakatayo sa kabilang bahagi ng kalsada. Nawala na rin iyong babaeng multo.

Yorme, it's easy to address him this way, spun to look at us.

"Follow me to my office." He then walked away together with Goliath.

Rum sighed and looked at me apologetically.

"Sorry, hindi ka muna makakauwi."

Tumango lang ako. Hindi ko kayang mainis sa kanya. Rum took his phone out from his pocket and dialed Tutti to tell her and Snow to join us to Yorme's office. Hinintay din naming makatawid ulit si Dean pabalik saka namin tinungo ang opisina ni Yorme.

Nang makarating kami sa campus station ay naroroon na sina Snow at Tutti na kausap naman si Lee. The guy obviously likes my friend. It makes me wonder if it was him she's with on that video clip. Tumayo na si Lee at iginiya kami papasok ng opisina ni Yorme. We settled on the couch and waited for Yorme to speak up.

"I don't know what to do anymore. Please, I really need your help now," he started.

"Ang kaluluwang nakita niyo kanina ay malapit nang mag-expire. She's from the funeral home. Naramdaman niya sigurong mawawala na siya kaya nagsimula na siyang maging Rogue. Iyon ang tawag ni Dr. Mal sa mga kaluluwang nanggugulo na dahil hindi pa sila nabibigyan nang maayos na funeral."

"Why is there an expiration date when they were already dead in the first place?" Snow asked and I was almost surprised that she finally talked.

"Ang mga patay or let's say beasts na matagal nang patay pero hindi pa rin nabibigyan ng funeral, ang mga kaluluwa nila ay napupunta sa isa sa mga kwarto ng third floor ng funeral home namin o 'di naman kaya ay nagpapalaboy-laboy sila. When these souls turned Rogue, you don't know what they can do even when they're already dead because they're beasts and not just average mortal souls. They can harm or worst, kill the living."

"Ano namang mangyayari sa kanila kung nag-expire na sila?" Tutti queried.

"They will be sent to the Darkness and will lost their chance of being reborn."

"Then why don't we just let them? I mean, let them vanish into the Darkness," I stated and they all gasped.

"Stop being so insensitive, Queen," si Tutti and I just rolled my eyes.

"Bago sila maglaho ay paniguradong marami na silang nasaktan o napatay na mga nabubuhay. Rogues are very vengeful. Wala rin silang pakialam kung sinong madadamay sa gagawin nila. Giving them the funeral service will help them move on to the afterlife, see the light, have the chance to be reborn, and prevent them from becoming Rogues," Yorme explained.

"What do I give so that you'll accept the job?" he asked, almost pleading.

"Akala ko po tungkol 'to kay Dr. Mal kaya gusto niyo kaming magtrabaho sa inyo?" si Rum.

"Well, partly, but this is the main reason why. Now that my mom's gone, we feel the need to continue it because of the unpleasant consequences that will likely ensue."

"Tell me, what do you want?" Yorme asked while intertwining his hands and while leaning on his mini table.

Nahihiyang nagtaas ng kamay si Snow.

"Kailangan ko po ng scholarship," she said.

"I'll arrange the scholarships for the five of you later. Anyone else?"

"I'm now in my fourth year in Civil Engineering, gusto ko sanang maka-graduate on time pero baka matagalan ako dahil dito." It's Dean.

"You don't have to worry. I'll help you work on that. We will be the one providing excuse letters when you have something important to attend to with regards to the funeral. Also, all the expenses, from water, electricity, food, and many more will be taken care of by me and the funeral home since it's earning."

Tutti's ears twitched at the mention of earning.

"How much?" she asked eagerly and I saw Rum gently shaking his head.

"500,000-700,000 pesos but that still depends on the casket desi-"

"Deal! Where do I sign?!" Tutti exclaimed, jumping from her seat and enthusiastically shaking Yorme's right hand.

"Tutti, sit down," Rum warned.

"At least, I'll be working on a decent job," Tutti mumbled before sitting down.

Rum stood up in front of us, bearing that maternal aura.

"Hindi pwedeng basta-basta na lang tayong sasabak sa ganito. Dapat pinag-iisipang maigi 'to."

He turned to look at Yorme.

"Matutupad niyo po ba lahat ng mga pinangako niyo? Hindi niyo po ba kami pababayaan kung sakaling may mangyari sa aming lima?" he asked.

"I assure you, Mr. Sandros. There's no need to worry after all."

"How about our videos?" I asked and both Snow and Tutti nodded in agreement.

My parents should not get a hold of it.

"It will be kept forever. I promise," Yorme responded.

"How long do we have to work there?" asked Rum.

"Work for me for a year and after that it's all up to you if you continue running it or not."

Napabuntong-hininga si Rum and took the contract that was laid out on Yorme's table.

"Where do we sign?"

Yorme smiled and assisted us with the signing of contract.

"See me tomorrow and I'll take you to the funeral home. Charmings, it's been waiting for you," Yorme said smilingly.

•|• Illinoisdewriter •|•

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