Episode 06: Maling Akala

                 • • • TUTTI • • •

THE WIND CHIME TINKLED as I opened the door of Nena's Diner where I will be meeting Aunt Jody.

I understand why my aunt fancied this place. It was a retro-style diner, very much to our liking. This place was channeling the '90s vibe which my aunt and I both love. Mula sa mga upuan, sa mga lamesa, sa black and white tiled-floor at maging sa mga dekorasyong karaoke sa tabi, cassette, tapes at disks, and even the songs will take you back to the yesteryears.

I smiled as I listened to the song that was playing. Maling Akala by Eraserheads.

Maliit na butas lumalaki, konting gusot dumarami
Di mo maibabaon sa limot at bahala
Kapag nabulag ka na ng maling akala...

I grew up with my funky aunt who still cannot get enough of her youthful years during 1990's. Sa tuwing may merchandise siya ng Eraserheads ay hindi niya ako nakakalimutang bigyan hanggang sa 'di nagtagal ay minahal ko na rin lahat ng mga nakahiligan niya. She's the main influencer for my old school taste.

I am donning a red and white check midi dress na hanggang siko ang puff sleeves. I paired it with my favorite white sneakers and tied my long straight hair in a half-ponytail using a big red bow barrette. I am also carrying a black mini backpack. I wanted to wear something more comfortable but Rum made us attend the first mass this morning that's why I have to comply with the dress code. They dropped me here after the mass and Rum reminded me to be home by or before afternoon.

"Tuttieana Darcy Huang Vega De Puta!"

Yes, that's my complete name pero hindi kasama roon ang huling dalawang salita.

When I spotted Aunt Jody sitting at the farthest corner, I waved gleefully at her. Her expression soured and I smiled teasingly.

"Ang paalam mo sa akin ay bibili ka lang ng saging sa palengke pero hindi ka na bumalik," aniya at pinektusan ako sa noo.

Natawa ako habang sapo-sapo ang noo ko. Her tone and speech pattern both told me the same thing. Nagtatampo at nag-aalala siya.

"Upo," she ordered and I immediately sat on the seat in front of her, placing my bag beside me.

I noticed a rectangular velvet box settled next to her. What's that?

"Umorder ka na."

My face lit up instantaneously and grabbed the menu laid atop the table. The lady server advanced nigh us to take down our orders. I scanned the menu and puffed my cheeks as I thought hard. I want to take all that's in there but Aunt Jody will surely order a glass of water for me if I do that. She did that to me many times before.

"One large cheeseburger, one large fries, and one large iced coffee," I said and smiled at the server.

She turned to Aunt Jody and the latter just ordered a regular iced coffee and a slice of mango pie. The server went off and came back a few minutes later with our orders. Kumain na kaagad ako. I know Aunt Jody will initially open the conversation.

"Kumusta ka na?" she asked.

"I'm fine," I answered while taking the spilled cheese off the side of my lips with my index finger.

"Si Gov, kumusta? E, 'yong anak niya?"

"Ayos naman sila," I replied.

"Hindi ba sila galit sa'yo?"

"Hindi naman. Rum even thanked me for saving his father's life at ganoon din si Gov nang sinama ako ni Rum pabalik sa mansyon."

That happened after we attended Dr. Mal's wake and after Yorme had given us his offer to run the funeral home. The very same day Rum and Dean found me.

"Anong balita sa kanila ng mama mo?" she pushed further.

"They'd divorced. Bago namatay si mama ay napirmahan niya ang divorce paper nila ni Gov."

Pasimpleng kong binaba ang hawak na cheeseburger at napatitig doon. Ang sarap sanang kumain kaso ay mukhang nawalan ako ng gana. Nang napansin iyon ay dahan-dahang hinila ni Aunt Jody ang plate ng fries papunta sa kanya. Hinila ko ulit iyon pabalik sa akin.

Akala niya ha.

Napahalakhak siya. "Akala ko nawalan ka na ng gana?"

"Sa pagkakatanda ko po, wala akong sinabing ganyan."

Sumeryoso ulit si Aunt Jody. "Inalok ka ba ng adoption ni Gov?"

"He tried convincing me but I said no. Ipinanganak akong Vega kaya mananatili akong Vega," I stated.

"Magiging proud niyan sa'yo ang papa mo." She smiled.

Napangiti ako roon. Kahit hindi ko nakita si papa ay alam kong mahal na mahal niya ako. Kung nandito lang siya, kung nakasama lang namin siya ni mama kahit saglit ay alam kong hindi mauuwi sa ganitong komplikasyon ang buhay namin. I do not want complications. I just want a simple life pero napasubo na ako at mukhang mahihirapan akong malusutan 'to.

"And speaking of your papa, hinabilin niya sa akin ang heirloom niya para ibigay sa'yo," she said and I became eager to know what that heirloom was.

Iyong rectangular velvet box sa tabi ba niya ang tinutukoy niya?

Hindi nga ako nagkamali dahil inabot iyon sa akin ni Aunt Jody. May laso pang nakatali sa kahon.

"Ibaba mo lang bahagya. Make sure they won't see it when you open it," she whispered while looking around and I nodded.

I undid the ribbon and opened its lid. My eyes immediately widened in surprise when I saw what's inside. Kinuha ko iyon sa box at niyakap. Napatayo si Aunt Jody at sinenyasan akong ibaba iyon at baka may makakita sa amin. Ibinaba ko iyon at manghang tinitigan uli. It's a shotgun with intricate carvings of gold on the handle in synched with its sleek black skin.

I ran my left hand through the carvings and studied it. My brows furrowed when I realized that they were hieroglyphs. I tried deciphering what the symbols were representing.

The journey and life after the afterlife.

Weird.

"Sa akin iniwan ni Darcy 'yan dahil LQ sila ng mama mo no'ng araw na umalis siya at hindi na bumalik. Alam niya sigurong wawasakin lang 'yan ng mama mo sa galit," paliwanag ni Aunt Jody.

I nodded. They said that my father was a Language Professor. Kaya pinag-aralan kong maigi ang Linguistics, hoping that would keep his memories in my head. Si mama ko naman galing sa mainland China. Mahirap sila roon kaya nga nauna nang tumakas ang bunso niyang kapatid na si Aunt Jody papunta sa Pilipinas sa pag-asang makakahanap ng magandang buhay. Kinupkop siya ng mga matinik na kawatan sa isang probinsya rito. Si mama naman tumakas din pero hindi naging madali ang buhay niya. Naging slave siya at in-auction tapos si papa ang nakabili sa kanya na naglalakbay ng mga panahong iyon sa iba't ibang panig ng mundo upang madagdagan ang kanyang kaalaman sa mga lengwahe.

Maganda ang lahi nina Aunt Jody pero mas maganda si mama sa kanilang dalawa kaya maraming buhay na ang naakit at nahulog sa dala niyang panganib. Aunt Jody told me that my mom wasn't like this before. It all started when my father left us and only his ashes were able to return to us. My mother was pregnant of me by then. He died without us knowing and without us by his side.

"Pansin mo ang dalawang button d'yan?" Aunt Jody asked, cutting my train of thoughts.

I searched for the buttons and found them settled near the trigger. One for harming and the other was for destroying.

"Ammunition cannot be loaded in there. Sinubukan ko nang tanggalan at lagyan 'yan ng bala pero ayaw talagang masira. Ang tigas. Ayoko rin namang sirain 'yan at baka multuhin pa ako ni Darcy dahil para sa'yo 'yan. Hindi ako sigurado kung may mga bala pa 'yan. Subukan mo kung may panahon ka," she told me and I nodded.

"May isa pa palang binilin si Darcy sa akin. I don't know if this works but I find it funny," pagpapatuloy niya.

"Ano po 'yon?"

"Close your eyes," she commanded and I immediately closed my eyes while still holding the shotgun.

"Imagine a closed briefcase or trunk." I did as I was told.

"Imagine its locks unlocking on their own. Then, think of your gun and close the case again. Now, open your eyes."

Sabay kaming nagmulat ng mga mata ni Aunt Jody. We looked at each other for three seconds until I noticed that I cannot feel the shotgun at my hold anymore. I lowered my eyes and was shocked to find out that I wasn't holding the shotgun anymore!

"Nawawala ang shotgun!"

Aunt Jody hushed me. Natataranta akong tumayo at ganoon din si Aunt Jody. We searched for it underneath the table and everywhere but it was nowhere to be found.

Lugmok akong napaupo nang hindi talaga namin mahanap. The servers were curious as to what we were looking for but we did not tell them that it was a shotgun despite their persistence to help.

Kabibigay pa lang sa akin ni Aunt Jody iyon, nawala agad. Naupo na rin si Aunt Jody sa harapang upuan ko. Titig na titig lang siya sa bigo kong pagmumukha nang biglang may napagtanto siya.

"Let's do it again," she urged.

"What?"

"It's not yet done. Come on, close your eyes again."

I closed my eyes and followed everything she said.

"Imagine the closed case again. Unlock them and think of your shotgun out of that case. Now, open your eyes."

Nanlaking pareho ang mga mata namin ni Aunt Jody nang lumitaw na ulit ang shotgun sa aking kamay. Aunt Jody and I both uttered some exclamatory sentence and curse in sheer disbelief and awe simultaneously.

"Oh mein Gott," I whispered.

"De puta!" she cried.

How's that happened?

I tried the trick again and again and it still gave me the same result every time.

"Paano po nangyari 'to?" I asked.

"Hindi ko rin alam." She shook her head.

"Di po kaya may sa maligno ang bibig niyo at nausog tayo?"

Natawa ako nang pektusan ulit ako ni Aunt Jody. I stared at the shotgun in my hand. Bakit kaya ang hiwaga nito?

                 • • • SNOW • • •

MAY APAT NA lalaking pumasok buhat-buhat ang isang itim na kabaong. Tumabi kami sa gilid ni Queen upang mabigyan sila ng lugar. Sila ang pangalawang kliyente namin. Mag-eexpire na ang kaluluwa ni Cara Romanov sa susunod na linggo. 

Nasuot ng tuxedo at shades ang mga lalaki. Ang puti din nila, namumutla. Biglang lumapit si Dean sa harapan namin, parang tinatago kami ni Queen.

Nakunot ang noo ni Rum nang ilapag ng mga lalaki ang kabaong kung saan nakapaloob ang remains ni Cara sa gilid ng grand staircase at binuksan iyon upang matanaw namin ang bangkay. Hindi nga talaga nabulok ang bangkay ng mga beasts. Para lang siyang natulog kahit pa dalawang buwan na siyang patay.

"Why don't we take her to the mortuary room instead?" alok ni Rum sa mga lalaki.

"It's alright, Mr. Sandros. You may take her to the mortuary room later. I want to have a word with you first."

Nabaling kami sa lalaking nakatuxedo at shades din na kakapasok lang sa lobby. Iba iyong tindig niya kompara sa apat na lalaki kanina. Mukhang siya ang amo nila.

Rum looks unconvinced but still nodded. "We can talk in my office, Mr. Romanov."

Mr. Romanov shook his head.

"Let's not do it here. Let's do it someplace private. I will discuss something very important."

Lumalim ang kunot ng noo ni Rum. Maagap namang sinabi ni Mr. Romanov na hindi komportable ang pakiramdam niya sa Overlook kaya nag-aalinlangan siya. Nagdesisyon si Dean na samahan si Rum. Nagdadalawang-isip pa si Rum na iwan kami but Dean told him that Tutti will be home in no time to be with us. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero pakiramdam ko may alam sila tungkol kay Tutti na hindi namin alam kaya pinagkakatiwalaan nila ito kasama namin.

"Do not touch the remains until we come back," Rum reminded me and Queen.

Nakabihis na sila ni Dean at aalis na kasama sina Mr. Romanov. Sinilip namin sila mula sa matayog na bintana. Naunang umandar ang kotse ng kliyente namin. Convoy naman ang Jeepney Wrangler ni Dean.

Nang makaalis sila ay kaagad na naupo si Queen sa sofa sabay kalikot nang mamahalin niyang phone. Lumapit naman ako sa kabaong. Hindi ko alam pero parang may pwersang nahatak sa akin papunta doon. I stared at Cara's remains. Maganda siyang tingnan sa suot niyang kupas na pink na bestida. Natitig ako sa may bandang puso niya saka ko napansin ang nakatusok doon na matulis na kahoy. Napalunok ako dahil nakita ko din ang dugong tila na-stuck doon sa bandang puso niya.

'Tulungan mo 'ko.'

Napalingon ako sa kanan ko nang may nabulong sa akin. Wala namang tao.

'Tulong.'

Hayan na naman pero ngayon dinig ko nang naiyak siya. Who was it?

I stared at Cara's remains. A tear escaped from her eye. Natulala ako. She's dead. Paano nangyari 'yon?

'Hugutin mo, nagmamakaawa ako.'

Nailing ako. Rum made it clear not to touch the remains until he comes back.

'Tulong. Hindi pa ako patay.'

                 • • • QUEEN • • •

"WHAT THE HELL did you do?!" I shouted as I quickly paced towards Snow.

She was holding the stake she just pulled out from the corpse's chest. Rum strictly ordered us not to get our hands on the remains.

"She's not dead."

When I looked at her, she was crying and her hands were shaking.

We immediately stepped aback when Cara's scowling soul ran towards us and lunged on her remains inside the coffin.

Napaupo sa gulat si Snow at umiyak. "Sorry, sorry."

She's not in her senses now that's why I gathered all the courage I have to walk close to the coffin. Dahan-dahan akong lumapit doon at napaatras muli nang biglang dumilat si Cara! Stronzo!

Still in her coffin, she sat from lying then her head slowly turned to us. Nag-aagaw na rin ang gabi at araw sa labas nang mapasulyap ako sa bintana. This was bad. She's a goddamn vampire!

"Stand up! We need to get out of here!"

Hinatak ko si Snow patayo at nagkanda-dapa pa siya.

Alam kong may protective barrier ang Overlook but that creature just scared the hell out of me that's why I acted on instinct. We have to run away!

I heard the lid of her coffin slammed across the hard wall but I didn't look back. I continued dragging the bitch with me as we rushed to the double doors out of the lobby. I heavily used the heels of my both feet to brake when the vampire blocked our way going to the door.

Umatras ako hila-hila pa rin sa braso si Snow. Stronzo! She's giving me a hard time! Napunta kami sa gilid kung nasaan ang elevator papunta sa basement. I tried opening it again and again but it won't budge! I pounded its door with my right fist forcibly and then I angrily kicked it. Goddammit!

"Queen, and'yan na siya!" the bitch announced, lumalapit sa akin.

Mabilis kaming umalis doon pero mabilis din niyang naharang ang kabaong niya sa daraanan namin na as if napapagalaw niya ito. Napapagitnaan kami ngayon ng kabaong at pader. I was thinking of getting out from the house through the window but if we do that we have to cross the vampire first. She was able to corner us. When she realized that we have no escape anymore, she lunged towards us. Nanginginig na tinakpan ni Snow ang mukha niya gamit ang dalawang palad niya. This was all your fault, bitch! Do not cry on me like that! Kung pwede at kaya ko lang siyang ihagis papunta sa bampira para gawing meryenda, ginawa ko na.

The vampire was only a meter away from us when she was shot on her side. The hit was so forceful that it slammed her against the tall glass window beside her, consequently breaking it and her falling out from the house.

"Mapapaaga siguro ang hapunan no'n kung hindi ako dumating."

Gulat na napabaling kami kay Tutti na may dalang shotgun na nakatutok pa sa kung saan siya tumira kanina.

Bakit may shotgun siya?!

"What the fuck?" bulong ko, summarizing my emotions to all the bullshits I've witnessed and had been through today.

Ngumisi siya at isinampay sa balikat niya ang shotgun saka nagpameywang. There was something about her small frame with that huge gun on that baffled and terrified me at the same time.

"Tutti, bakit mo siya binaril?" umiiyak pa ring tanong ng intrimitida sa tabi ko.

"So, you'd rather choose the vampire eat you?" I asked her back. She lowered her head and bit on her lips.

"Vampires don't eat humans. They just drink their blood," Tutti corrected me as she approached us.

"I'm not asking!" I hissed. Dinadagdagan pa talaga niya ang inis ko.

"Share ko lang kay Snow." She shrugged and grinned.

Sinilip niya ang baba ng labas ng Overlook kung saan bumagsak ang bampira.

"She's not here," she said.

Mabilis kaming lumapit ni Snow doon. There were droplets of blood on the cemented ground but the vampire was gone!

"Stronzo!" I exclaimed in anger and pointed Snow. "This is all your fault!"

We all turned our attention on to the glass window. Again, I had witnessed another inexplicable shit today. The window was repairing the broken pieces on its own.

WE WERE ALL gathered around the dining table adjacent to the industrial kitchen. We were all silent. Snow, Tutti, and I remained seated on the table. Nakayuko si Snow, halatang guilty.

Dean was leaning on the kitchen counter facing us while he was crossing his arms around his chest. Rum was tapping his index finger on the tabletop, probably thinking.

"What the fuck happened?" Dean had broken the silence with his profaned mouth.

I looked at Snow and arched my brow. Hindi siya makatingin sa akin. Si Tutti naman nakapatong ang dalawang siko sa lamesa at ang baba naman niya ay nakapatong sa mga palad niya.

"It's her fault." I pointed Snow. Dean grimaced but she just remained her head lowered.

"She pulled the stake out of the vampire's chest and she was just crying all the while as I made ourselves still alive," I continued.

"Hey, bitch, speak up!" I shouted at her as I slammed my hand against the tabletop.

"Queen!" saway ni Rum na siyang dumagundong sa buong kusina.

"You should be mad at her! It's her fault after all!" I insisted. This is so unfair.

"You're not just mad at her because of what happened awhile ago. You are just using that as an excuse to push me to be mad at her too," ani Rum.

Natahimik ako roon. I admitted it. I'm still mad at her. She always acts as the victim. Always.

Rum, Dean, and I had been friends since we were kids and it hurts me to know that Dean loved the wrong girl and was cheated on.

I caught on my peripherals that Tutti seated properly. Her attention was on the topic at hand now. I don't know how and where she kept her shotgun when Rum and Dean arrived.

"Wala namang ginagawang masama si Snow pero bakit ang init lagi ng ulo niyo ni Dean sa kanya?" she asked, obviously unaware.

"Akala mo lang 'yon. Wala ka kasing alam," Dean mumbled.

"Kung meron man, kausapin niyo siya nang maayos. Walang hindi naaayos sa mabuting usapan," she stated and Dean just smirked.

"Why don't you just shut the fuck up? You don't know everything. All you do is run away from your problems so don't fucking lecture me on being fucking brave to confront her!" Dean argued with Tutti while referring to Snow.

"So, this is about me now?" tanong ni Tutti balik habang itinuturo ang sarili.

"Because you are being unfair by siding only her!" I voiced out.

She hasn't heard the whole story yet but she's already siding, favoring Snow.

"How's helping a friend you both were isolating, always making feel out of place, unfair?" she reasoned.

Rum forcibly slammed the tabletop to get our attention.

"That's enough! Hindi ba talaga kayo titigil? Para kayong mga bata!"

We all went silent as he spoke.

"That won't solve our problem now. A vampire is out on the loose and she is capable of harming anyone."

"This won't happen if she didn't pull out the stake in the first place!"

"Tama na, Queen!" Natahimik ako sa saway ulit sa akin ni Rum. I crossed my arms and threw dagger looks on Snow.

"I am not siding anyone here. I just want us to set aside all the differences and issues we have. Kailangan nating lutasin 'to nang magkakasama. We need to backup each other. Lives are at risk lalo na at sabi ni Mr. Romanov na mapanganib si Cara. She's been harming people when she was alive kaya napilitan silang tapusin siya," Rum explained.

"Please, guys, stop the blaming game and let us help each other. Hindi ko 'to kaya kung wala kayo. Hindi natin 'to magagawa kung watak-watak tayo. Pamilya tayo kaya dapat nagtutulungan tayo at marunong umunawa sa isa't isa. Family members look out for each other," he added.

Nagulat kaming lahat nang tumayo si Snow at lumuhod sa harap ni Rum habang nakayuko pa rin.

"I'm sorry, Rum.... Sorry talaga. Kasalanan ko lahat... Akala ko kasi buhay pa siya... Naawa ako," humihikbing paghingi niya ng tawad.

"Snow," naaawang tawag ni Tutti habang pinapanood siya.

"Tama si Queen. Sa akin ka na lang magalit. Ako naman ang may kagagawan ng lahat... Ayos lang naman na sisihin mo ako... sisihin niyo ako... Ta-tanggapin ko lahat basta huwag na tayong mag-away..." hagulgol ni Snow.

Dean looked away. Rum softened at the sight of her crying. Umuklo si Rum at hinawakan si Snow sa magkabilang balikat saka dahan-dahan siyang pinatayo. He cupped her right cheek and wiped away her tears.

"Hindi kita sinisisi, Snow. Wala akong sinisisi ninuman." He shook his head.

"Sorry talaga..." she replied. Pulang-pula na ang mukha niya kaiiyak.

Rum hugged her as he gently caressed her hair and back, pacifying her.

"It's okay, Snow. It's okay. Hush now. We'll make everything right," he softly said as he hushed her.

This time I had to look away.

•|• Illinoisdewriter •|•

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Their second funeral service on the next update. Cheerio!