Chapter VII

"Sino 'yong naghatid sa'yo, Ara?" tanong sa kaniya ng Kuya niya nang mapasok siyang bahay.

Hindi alam ni Ara kung paano nalaman ng kapatid niya. Sa kanto lang nga siya bumaba kasi ayaw niyang ma-interogate siya ng kaniyang pamilya. Pero 'eto ang kapatid niya tinatanong siya.

"Kaibigan ko, Kuya," sagot niya.

"Maganda 'yong sasakyan. Babae o lalaki?" tanong pa nito kaya natawa siya.

"Si Kuya. You act as if I am still a high schooler," napapailing niyang sabi.

"I just want to know who you were going out with, Ara." Sabi nito kaya mas lalong natawa ang dalaga.

"Kuya, nag-magandang loob lang iyong tao na ihatid ako kasi na-flat-an ako ng gulong kanina," she explained.

"Na-flat-an ka? Why didn't you call me?"

"I did. But he offered me a ride kaya um-oo na lang ako. Wala namang masama—"

"Ah ha! Huli ka. You said he. It's a guy!" sabi nitong nakaturo pa sa kaniya. Para bang nahuli siyang gumawa ng masama.

"Kuya—"

"Siya 'yong crush mong sinasabi, 'no? Umamin ka, Ara." Sabi pa nito kaya agad siyang nag-iwas ng tingin.

"I'm tired, Kuya," sabi niya sabay talikod.

"H-hoy! Ara—"

Agad na binuksan ni Ara ang pinto at isinara ito. Nakangiti lamang siya habang naririnig niya ang pagkatok ng kapatid niya.

She wanted to tease him kaya hindi muna siya magku-kuwento. And besides, wala pa naman dapat siyang i-kuwento. It's too early.

Nagbihis lamang siya bago nahiga. Maaga pa naman. Her mother will call her kapag kakain na ng dinner.

"T-thorn," she whispers as she felt her eyes closing, drifting herself to sleep.

***

"Mason, kakain na. Akin na muna si Euki, mauna ka ng kumain," Mason heard her grandmother said.

"And call you sister," dagdag ng kaniyang Ina.

Walang kibong sumunod si Mason at umakyat sa second floor ng kanilang bahay. He headed to Ara's room. He knocked three times before opening the doorknob.

"Ara? Kakain na," he said.

Naabutan niya ang kapatid na tulog. Ayaw niya sana itong gisingin but he knew she has to eat.

"Ara, wake up. Kakain na," mahinang sabi niya. Naupo pa siya sa gilid ng kama at marahang tinapik ang balikat nito.

"Ara...wake up sleepy head."

His forehead creased when there's no response from her. He eyed her breathing at parang hindi man lamang humihinga ang dalaga.

"Ara... Ara..." he started panicking. Itinapat niya ang daliri niya sa ilong nito at mas lalong kinabahan nang hindi niya maramdaman ang hininga nito.

"Ma! Pa!" mabilis siyang tumakbo palabas ng silid at pumunta sa hapagkainan. Nagtatakang tiningnan siya ng kaniyang magulang at Lola.

"Where's Ara? Kakain daw ba siya?" her mother asked.

"I-I think...I think, Ara is dead!"

***

Napabalikwas ang dalaga nang maramdaman niyang may nakapulupot na bisig sa bewang niya. Nanlalaki ang mga matang iginala niya ang mata.

"Where am I?" she asked herself.

She heard someone grunt and she immediately jump-off the bed. Halos manghina siya nang makita niyang isang manipis na bestida lamang ang suot niya.

"I see you're already awake," she heard him say.

"What am I doing here?" she asked.

Alam niyang ang lalaking kasama niya ay ang lalaking laging bumibisita sa kaniya sa panaginip. Pero iba, eh. Alam niyang hindi panaginip ang nasa paligid niya. Everything in her eyes is so vivid. She felt alive. She felt everything is real.

"I took you," he answered casually that made her eyes grew wider.

"Ano? And who gave you the right to kidnap me?" she said trying to suppress her anger.

"Because I wanted to. Don't worry, ibabalik din kita," sabi nito.

"Can you atleast...show your face?" tila naiirita niyang sabi.

"No,"

"And why?"

"Because I say so." pinal nitong pahayag.

Napabuntong-hininga ang dalaga. She tries to calm herself.

"Is this a dream?" she asks.

"Yes...and no," he answered that made her forehead creased.

"Bakit nangyayari sa akin ito? Am I not normal?"

"You are normal. That's why you're here,"

"Puwede bang sagutin mo ang mga tanong ko ng matino? Hindi mo gugustuhin na makita akong magalit!" she said raising her voice. But instead of being intimidated ay tumawa ito. Laugh like the devil himself.

"You? Angry?" he said laughing. "You're anything but an angry cat right now, Araceli. We both know you're incapable of feeling that."

Ara can't see him but she can feel him grinning. At nakakainis pa kasi alam niyang tama ito. Hindi siya basta-basta nagagalit at kung makaramdam man siya ng inis, agad naman itong lumilipas. That's why she was often called Saint Mary.

"You told me your name was Raguel. Is that true?" she asks hoping he would answer her this time.

"Yes." Seryosong sagot nito.

"Then again...is this a dream or not?" tanong niya ulit.

"This time, no," he answered. Naguguluhan na napatingin sa kaniya ang dalaga.

"What do you mean?"

"It's your astral body." He answered.

Napatingin ang dalaga sa lalaki. She knew what astral body means. And she doubts what he's saying was true. However, if she will compare her previous dream from her current state, parang gusto niyang maniwala.

"You mean...I astral project?" she asked suspicious.

"No and yes." Sagot nito dahilan para tingnan niya ito nang masama. "I personally get your astral body from your physical body...so technically, I made you astral projected."

"How could you manage to do that? Are you...a monk?" she asked that made him laugh darkly.

"The hell I am!" he said annoyed. "It's best if you know less, Araceli."

Napahalukipkip ang dalaga. She has this urge to punch him. For some reason ay napipikon siya sa lalaki. But the idea of him...being strange, suspicious, and has a devilish aura doesn't scare her. Para bang kahit alam niyang may kakaiba sa lalaki...alam niyang hindi siya nito sasaktan.

"You kidnapped my astral body, Mr. Raguel. The least thing you could do is to give me insights as to why I am here in this dark...hideous place!" she spatted.

Instead of answering her, the man walked towards her. Akala niya ay tuluyan na niyang makikita ang mukha nito pero mas lalo lamang dumilim ang paligid. Para bang nag-a-adjust ang ilaw ng buong silid para itago ang katauhan ng lalaking kaharap niya.

Umatras siya ng kaunti at siya namang pag-sunod sa kaniya ng lalaki. She keeps on walking backwards and he keeps following her forward.

"Ibalik mo na ako..." pakiusap niya.

"In time," he answered.

"Then atleast show your face!"

"No!"

"Why?!"

"Because I'm not allowed!" he burst in anger kaya napamaang ang dalaga.

Her lips parted and wanted to say something pero walang lumalabas na boses sa kaniya. Para ba siyang natameme sa pagsigaw nito. She was tamed. And yes, she admitted, natatakot na siya.

"Lalabas ako ng silid and I want you to change clothes. I expect you at the dining hall at twelve midnight!"

He went out and Ara was left speechless. Matagal bago siya nakagalaw sa kinatatayuan niya. Hindi siya makapaniwala sa nangyayari sa kaniya. Her heart started pounding loudly. Gusto na niyang umuwi. But before that...she has to change clothes because she's see-through.

Iginala niya ang mga mata and found a piece of dress hanged on a jacket. Abruptly, she walked towards it to see if it fits her.

The dress looks okay. It was a plain red dress with a long zipper on the back. The dress' skirt was flowy and looks comfortable to wear.

Napabuntong hininga na lamang ang dalaga habang tinititigan ang bestida. Compared to the see-through nighties she is wearing right now...alam niyang best choice ang red dress.

Dahan-dahan ay ibinaba niya ang strap ng night gown. Para itong madulas na tela na nagsariling nahubad sa katawan niya. Sunod niyang ginawa ay isinuot ang pulang bestida. She ironed the skirt using her hand. The dress fits her perfectly as if it was tailored only for her. Inayos niya rin ang buhok niya. She let her black straight hair cascade over her shoulders.

Kasabay nang pagharap niya sa isang life-sized mirror ay biglang may tumunog na kampana. Napalingon siya sa likod niya only to see a huge grandfather clock.

"Twelve midnight." She murmured to herself.

Nakapaang nilakad ni Ara ang silid papunta sa pintuan. Slowly, she opened the doorknob. Letting her eyes fixed on the floor, she stepped her foot outside the room.

Ara was greeted by a long dimmed hallway. The wall was made of carved wood. Every beam of the wall has a torch lit with flame. Pakiramdam tuloy ng dalaga ay nasa makalumang lugar siya.

Nilakad niya ang mahabang pasilyo hangang sa makita niya ang isang hagdanan pababa. A curve grand staircase. Walang pag-aalinlangan na bumaba siya. The sooner she face that man, the sooner she gets back.

"Are you looking for the dining hall, Miss?"

Halos mapaigtad ang dalaga nang biglang may magsalita sa gilid niya. Nilingon niya ito at isang babae na sa tingin niya ay nasa early thirties na. Her black hair was neatly tied to her nape. She is even wearing a black suit. She has this beauty of a dangerous woman.

"Ah...Y-yes," she answered timidly.

"This way. The Chief is waiting for you."

Nauna itong naglakad sa kaniya at sumunod lamang siya. Muli silang dumaan sa isang pasilyo. Marami silang dinaanan na pasiko-siko hanggang sa makarating sila sa dining hall.

"Just how big is this house?" she thought to herself.

"Chief, Miss Ara is here," the lady said as she bowed her head.

"You may go, Zanilla," she heard him say. "And tell other...not to bother me." he added.

"As you wish, Chief," sagot ng babae saka ito lumabas ng dining hall.

Ara stared down the floor when she felt him staring at her.

"Sitdown," he said laced with authority kaya agad siyang sumunod. Hinila niya ang upuan sa pinakadulo ng long table. But just as she was about to sit, she heard him intentionally clears his throat.

"Sit here." He patted the side of the table next to him.

"Ahm..." tiningnan niya ang puwesto nito. He was seated at the uppermost side of the table. Will she be able to see his face this time?

Tahimik na naupo ang dalaga. Her plate is empty but different dishes are already served in front of her. She felt her stomach grumbled with the sight of mouth-watering dishes.

"Eat," she heard him say. Tiningnan niya ito but as expected, darkness is covering him.

"H-how about you?" she asked.

"After you."

Hindi na hinintay ng dalaga na pagsilbihan siya nito. She's hungry enough to set aside her reservations. She ate with content even though she knew he is staring at her...probably counting her every spoon.

"K-kailan mo ba ako ibabalik?" she asks.

"After a week," sagot nito dahilan para mapakurap siya rito.

"A-ano?"

"A day here is equivalent to one week in your world, Araceli." He said casually that made her gasp with horror.

"What exactly is this place?" she said. Her lips were trembling with fear. Slowly, her coolness was being ate with panic.

"Literatis calls it Netherland. Normal people call it Underworld. Religious people call it Hell. You can even think this is Inferno." Lumapit ito sa kaniya at kitang-kita niya ang kadiliman sa mga mata nito. "So tell me. Are you afraid of me, Araceli?"

.net�Ы�h�