EPILOGUE

NOTHING's new with the news this morning. Heroes saved the day again from the rummaging evil cunts who tried to terrorize the city. Great. Tumingin ako sa malaking bintana at natanaw ang kagandahan ng Eiffel Tower, nakita ko rin dito ang mga taong nagkakasiyahan dahil sa isa na namang matagumpay na araw. Age of Heroes it is, but more likely Age of Aeons, according to Yuan Shin, the newest leader of the Kahval after John Zedong's death.

The International Organization of Aeons is founded by the world leaders in order to monitor all the registered "Aeons", the newest term for human beings who possess special abilities. Minsan iniisip ko kung ano kaya ang nararamdaman ng Memoire ngayon dahil tila natupad ang kanilang mission, "To conquer the universe using the Peculiars", unfortunately, the cosmos is not in their hands anymore.

IOA has different sects around the globe, but there are still other "legal" independent organizations for Aeons, katulad na lang ng Kahvals at Order of the Black Sun, na sawakas ay hindi na nagtatago sa likod ng anino ng lumang cathedral. And me? Nah, I'm indulging myself as a researcher of more mystical subjects, but yeah paminsan-minsan I had this "superhero" side-line whenever needed, IOA made me their main agent to supervise the sect located at Paris, a job that I couldn't say no.

The whole world is still adjusting to change; no one knows what might happen for the next years in this era of Aeons. I shrugged off the peculiar things that boggling my mind, binuksan ko 'yung tablet ko at tumambad ang sangkatutak na emails.

Tinupad ko 'yung promise ko sa kanila na makikipag-communicate ako constantly, wala akong account sa social media kaya sa email nila ako niri-reach.

First email na binuksan ko ay galing kay dad. May mga naka-attach pang photos ng mga bago niyang students na background ang research center. Oh, since the announcement of IOA, dad opened again his lab, the Research Center for Paranormal Activities. Albert is helping him because you know, he got some awesome mind powers and he's now one of the instructors. Tumutulong din pala kay dad 'yung mga nakasama namin noong Peculiars na tumakas sa MIP at sa Isla Ingrata, katulad ni Ismael. Binasa ko 'yung message ni dad at ibinalita lang niya ang kasalukuyan nilang kalagayan.

Second email is from my sister Karen, she's teaching again at White Knights Academy by the way, while his jerk husband is working also for IOA sa sect ng Sentral City. Nag-send lang siya ng family photo nila with Cairo and the twins, napansin ko na may hawak silang color pink na balloons at may nakalagay na letter 'G', teka, binasa ko 'yung message, nag "Gender Reveal Party" daw sila? Ah! My sister is pregnant for their third child?! Hindi ko gusto 'yung lapad ng ngiti ni Cairo sa picture at naka-thumbs up pa siya, well, oo inis ako kay Cairo pero masaya ako na nagka-ayos na sila ng kapatid ko at mukhang masayang masaya sila.

I opened the third email, and guess what, it's from Jing! And—what?! She just got married! I almost forgot that she sent me the invitation one month ago pero dahil sa hectic ng trabaho na binibigay ng IOA ay hindi ako nakapunta. She also sent a picture with her husband, Valerio Sebastian, she looks so gorgeous in her gown and I can see that she's really happy. Si dad pala ang naghatid sa kanya sa altar and I'm really really glad for that. Pero hindi ko maiwasang matawa dahil hindi ko ma-imagine si Jing dahil finally! Finally, nahanap na rin niya 'yung lugar na para sa kanya. I can only imagine if we're all there in the ceremony, siguradong papatayin siya ni Vince sa pang-aasar.

Oh, kasama rin pala sa sinend na picture ni Jing sila Otis, Pascal at Finnix na naging wedding singers niya dahil bumuo silang tatlo ng independent band na sumisikat sa buong Sentral City, imagine that! Otis still wearing his old clown mask, at wala ring halos pinagbago si Finnix at Pascal. I'm pleased to see that they're doing fine and they chose to pursue their passion, music.

Bigla akong nalungkot nang maalala ko sila Eliza, Vince, Dean, at Palm. Ever since that day, hindi ko na sila nakita. Maliban sa sulat na pinabigay ni Eliza ay wala na akong naging balita sa kanila. I don't even have a single idea where they are but I know they'll be alright. Kung tutuusin ay maaari ko silang hanapin, lalo pa't parte ako ngayon ng isang maimpluwensyang organisasyon. Pero... mas pinili kong irespeto ang desisyon niya. For the greater good. Alam kong magkikita pa rin naman kami baling araw, hindi man ngayon o sa susunod na buhay.

Napangiti ako sa fourth email, it's from Morris, binalitaan lang niya ko at binigyan ng report sa naging activities ng order nila. What's more proud thing for him? He's the new leader of Sigrid Ibarra's Order of the Black Sun! Though I can't believe it at first, when Paladio died, he became instantly his successor. Morris was the one inspired them all to act together na pumunta sa Beijing at tumulong makipag-kampihan sa mga Kahval na mortal nilang karibal. Morris and I haven't seen each other for a long time, pero palagi kaming nagbabalitaan through emails; he's my best good guy friend na nakakaalam lahat ng frustrations ko ngayon. I secretly hope that he'll find the right girl for him because he deserves to find love.

Isang email na lang 'yung hindi ko nabubuksan...

"Excusez-moi , mademoiselle ? " biglang may kumatok sa pinto.

"Entrez."

Pumasok si Aline, 'yung secretary ko.

"Purquoi, Aline?"

"A package for you, Miss Morie. It suddenly appears at the front desk." She said in French and she put the package with a size of a shoebox on my table.

"Je vous remercie." I said then she left.

Napakunot ako nang buksan ko 'yon. Walang nakalagay kung kanino galing at katulad nang sinabi ni Aline ay bigla na lang daw ito lumitaw. Nang hawiin 'ko yung mga paper mache ay nakita ko ang isang pamilyar na bagay. This is... This is Timoteus' golden medallion! Hindi ako niloloko ng mga mata ko, ito nga 'yon. Medyo kinabahan ako at nabitawan ang medallion dahil baka may kung anong mangyari, ito ang source ng kapangyarihan niya.

Pero... muli ko 'yong pinulot at wala akong naramdamang kakaiba, it's just a normal medallion. Anong ibig sabihin nito? Kung wala ng kapangyarihan ang medallion? Wala na rin ang nagmamay-ari nito? Is my grandfather is dead?

Confused, I returned the medallion to the box. Napasandal ako sa swivel chair at tinanaw muli ang view ng Paris sa labas. Kinuha ko ulit 'yung tab at binuksan 'yung huling email. From anonymous sender with no subject.

"I never told you my real name."

Bigla akong napa-upo ng diretso. It...It can't be, the golden medallion and this message mean something. It means...

"I'm going, to be honest, pumunta ako rito para bumawi sa'yo." Those are the words of my grandfather. Did he lose his power and life in order to bring something back? Just like what Seraphina did before.

"Ma dame!" hingal na hingal na pumasok si Aline dito, halatang may masamang balita siya.

"Urgence! Ils ont besoin de toi!" I know what she meant, the IOA needs my service in urgent.

"J'y vais." tumango siya at muling lumabas.Binalik ko sa kahon 'yung medallion at muli kong tinignan ang huling email. 

It's too early to be emotional. Before anything else, I'll just save the world today.

And tomorrow, the future is ours!

xTHE ENDx

WATCH: CLOSING VIDEO OF MEMENTO MORIE

https://youtu.be/IUm9DXVBLKk

Author's Note:

December 31, 2017

Memento, Morie, the last installment of The Peculiars' Tale series is now finally ended.

To be honest, I'm a little bit of emotional when writing the ending. Kung hinihiling mo nasa hindi ito matapos, paano pa kaya ako na mismong author na gumawa nito?

I honestly don't want to end Jill's tale pero kailangan. Aside from the fact that there are more stories that I needed to write... I think it's time for me to take part ways with Jill Morie's character and the others as well.

Thank you so much for your faith, maging ako ay hindi ko expected na mararating ko ang lahat ng 'to.

Maraming salamat sa pagsubaybay ng kwentong ito, pero sa tingin ko ay oras na para magpaalam tayo kay Jill. At kung susuportahan mo pa ang iba ko pang paparating na kwento, ngayon pa lang ay nagpapasalamat ako.

Again, my dear Peculiar who is reading this right now... Always remember that the future is ours.

I love you!

With all love,

AnakniRizal