01: Once Upon A Theft

⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆

"KEENA, ALOHI, TAVLEEN, gising na!"

Kaagad akong bumangon kahit na inaantok pa dahil si Papa na mismo ang gumising sa aming tatlo gamit iyong maliit niyang megaphone. He often used it to get the attention of noisy visitors in the library.

Paglabas namin ng mga kapatid ko sa kanya-kanyang mga kwarto namin ay dumiretso na kami sa library kung saan naghihintay si Papa na kahit ang aga-aga pa ay stressed na.

Agad na nagpahalukipkip si Ate Keena paghinto naming tatlo sa tapat ni Papa. Ako naman ay nagkakamot pa ng magulong buhok habang pumipikit-pikit pa. Si Tavleen naman ay nahuhulog pa ang ulo sa balikat ko dahil inaantok din.

Papa did not waste any more time and asked, "Nasaan na ang Monsters Playbook?"

"Nand'yan lang sa may shelf, Pa. Binalik naman namin ni Tavleen iyon kagabi nang maayos at sigurado," I explained.

Papa tapped the empty space where the Monsters Playbook used to be and where I left it exactly yesterday. "Wala rito at kanina pa ako naghahanap. Nakailang libot na ako sa bawat shelf pero wala pa rin."

Tila nahimasmasan naman ako dahil doon at kaagad na nilapitan iyon at nagsimulang maghanap.

"Dito ko lang po talaga iniwan iyon kahapon," giit ko naman. "Hindi ba, Tav?"

"Opo, nagsasabi po nang totoo si Ate Alohi. Diyan po namin nilagay ang libro kagabi," pagsaklolo pa sa akin ng bunsong kapatid at tinulungan akong maghanap no'n.

Paano mawawala 'yon? Sigurado akong dito ko lang iyon nilagay kagabi. Sigurado rin akong hindi iyon nakuha ng demonyong nakapasok dito kahapon.

"Pa, why don't we check the CCTV footage of last night?" Ate Keen suggested.

We all headed to Papa's desk in the counter to check the CCTV footage. Tutok na tutok kaming apat sa screen ng computer at nawindang nang mapanood namin kung paano kusang lumutang sa pwesto nito ang libro at biglang naglaho na parang bula.

"What the..." hindi makapaniwalang sambit ko. "Anong nangyari?"

Pinanood ulit namin ng tatlong beses pa ang footage, and every single time, the same thing played. The Monsters Playbook floated on its own before it magically disappeared.

"The Book Thief wasn't caught on the CCTV. Hindi kaya bampira 'to?" suhestiyong muli ni Ate Keena.

"Vampires or any Ayakashi with invisibility still couldn't come inside uninvited," Papa debunked. "Isa pa, maging ang Library ay hindi naramdaman ang pagpasok nito at pagnanakaw ng libro. I am certain that whoever the thief was, he's no ordinary being."

Napabuntong-hininga si Papa bago kami binalingang tatlo. "Mag-almusal na muna kayo sa loob ng bahay at maghanda para pumasok. Tatawagan ko muna si Tita Carmen."

Before we left for school and work, Mamita Carmen, the current supernatural priestess of the Sagrado clan, arrived. Everyone in the clan, from supernatural hunters to exorcists and psychics, sought her help and advice, as she was the most powerful among us, especially when it came to her mysterious art.

"Hello, Mamita!" nakangiting bati ni Ate Keena na inunahan kami ni Tavleen sa paglalakad upang ibeso ang ginang.

"Hello, my beautiful apo!" sagot naman ni Mamita sabay beso at hawak sa mga siko ni Ate. "Kumustang love life?"

Although we consider Mamita our grandmother, she has no direct family as the chosen priestess in our family must always remain pure and isolated from the rest of the world. Muntik na ngang hindi siya mapili dahil kaiba sa madalas na personalidad ng mga priestess ay bibong matanda ito, mahilig pumustora, at sunod sa kung anong trending.

She effortlessly bridged the gap between generations of Sagrados and integrated traditional values with modern shifts. Her liberal outlook on life was reflected in her unwavering support for coexistence and progressive change. Ang daming nabago sa sistema ng angkan dahil sa kanya. Siya iyong tinatawag naming pioneer ng maraming bagay.

"Heto po, collect and collect and then select," proud na tugon naman ni Ate Keena.

Mamita chuckled and exclaimed, "Korik! Hay, manang-mana ka talaga sa akin, apo."

Nagkatinginan tuloy kami ni Tavleen at tahimik na naghagikhikan sa may tabi nila. Napangiti si Mamita nang mapansin kaming dalawa saka kami tinawag para lumapit sa kanya at yumakap.

Papa shared everything with Mamita and even showed her last night's CCTV footage. We listened as they discussed the possibilities and steps to take before Mamita began a ritual.

Mamita lit the incense, its smoky scent filling the room. She closed her eyes, focused, and began her search for the mysterious Book Thief. Her movements were deliberate, her concentration unwavering for nearly fifteen minutes. But the search proved fruitless. She quickly opened her eyes because she struggled to catch her breath. We then rushed to her side for assistance.

"Levi, pawang kadiliman. Wala akong ibang nakikita kundi pawang kadiliman," paliwanag ni Mamita nang siya ay tuluyang makabawi. "To think that the Library did not even feel its presence, this Book Thief is incredibly powerful. We cannot find him right now, but we must prepare. Use your ability to reproduce the Monsters Playbook."

"Kakaonti lang po ang mga Bibliokinetic sa mundo. Suwerte na lang no'ng Book Thief kung makatagpo siya no'n sa siyudad na 'to," I voiced out. "Those urban legends will remain mere scary stories if they couldn't find Bibliokinetics or similar beings. Those monsters will remain trapped inside that book, so you shouldn't worry."

Totoo naman kasi, those monsters will remain urban legends inside the book if they do not have beings with abilities equal to my family's.

"Ano ngayon kung konti na lang tayo?" biglang tanong ni Ate Keena at seryoso akong binalingan. "What if that Book Thief finds a few Bibliokinetics and forces them to do his bidding? They will unleash not just one but a hundred freaking urban legends. Who knows what nightmares will follow?"

Natahimik ako dahil may punto naman talaga si Ate Keena. Kahit isang Bibliokinetic lang ang makita nila, bangungot na ang isang daang urban legends na mapapakawalan nito mula sa Monsters Playbook.

Papa and Ate Keena have agreed to rewrite the Monsters Playbook. Papa will write the first half, and Ate Keena will work on the second half. This will allow the library to reproduce the book, but it does not mean that we should just let the Book Thief have the original one. Both books will possess the same power, but the original one is more valuable due to its historical significance.

Our clan's strongest supernatural hunter originally wrote the text with the assistance of an unknown Bibliokinetic. Hindi namin pwedeng hayaang mapunta iyon kani-kaninuman.

TININGNAN KO MUNA ang sarili ko sa glass door saka inayos ang bangs ko habang naghihintay akong matawag sa loob ng opisina ng marketing head namin. I was suddenly summoned to his office for an important message. Feeling ko ay ito na ang hinihintay kong promotion. I have been working like crazy for two years at this company. Now is my moment to shine.

"Ms. Sagrado, please come in."

Huminga akong malalim bago nakangiting pumasok sa loob ng opisina ng boss namin. "Good morning, sir."

"Please have a seat," alok niyang tinanggap ko naman agad at naupo. "Thank you for working hard for this company."

"It's an honor to contribute to the company, sir."

"You are truly an asset to us. I think that with your talent and hard work..." My smile widened as I nodded my head at his every word. Ito na nga, gosh! "You deserve a huge severance pay. Thank you for your servic-"

"Po?" putol ko sa kanya, halos hindi makapaniwala sa narinig.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Sagrado, but we need to let you go."

Binuka ko ang bibig upang magsalita ngunit sinarang muli nang wala akong masabi dahil parehong naguguluhan pa ako at nawiwindang sa nangyayari.

"Are you... Are you firing me, sir?" I asked when I finally recovered from the shock.

"Ms. Sagrado, na-acquire na ng kalabang kompanya ang kompanya natin. They want to change everything, from the management down to all the ordinary employees. Walang ititira sa atin."

"You can't do this to me, sir," giit ko, hindi matanggap at sobrang sama ng loob sa nalaman. "I worked tirelessly for two long years in this company. I missed my mother's death anniversary for two consecutive years because you said that you weren't even able to visit your dying mother at the hospital because we had to meet deadlines! I never took a day off, even when I was unwell, and refused to go home to rest when my nose bled due to stress! After all the sacrifices I've made for this company, I cannot believe that you are just firing me!"

"Kaya nga nagsisisi na ako ngayon!" Natigilan ako nang biglang humagulgol ang marketing head namin. "Natuto na ako, Ms. Sagrado. Kaya nga dapat hindi natin ginagawang buong mundo natin ang trabaho natin. Kahit anong galing, sipag, at dedikasyon natin, napapalitan at napapalitan tayo. Pero iyong mga sinakripisyo natin, hinding-hindi na natin mababawi pa. Hindi ko na maibabalik pa iyong mga panahon kung saan pwede ko pang bisitahin ang ina kong may sakit sa ospital kasi wala na siya! Wala na siya, Ms. Sagrado..."

Tinakpan niya ang mukha niya ng mga palad saka siya mas humagulgol. "Sorry, Ma... I'm so sorry..."

Napayuko ako at hinayaang pumatak nang tahimik ang mga luha ko sa sahig.

Natamaan ako nang matindi sa mga sinabi niya.

Umikot iyong dalawang taon ko sa trabahong ito at kagustuhan kong ma-promote. All I believed was that if I gave my best, I would climb the corporate ladder. I never realized that I wasn't that special and that I, just like anybody else, was also replaceable.

I walked back home carrying all of my belongings from the office. My colleagues stared in disbelief as I effortlessly carried the three heavy boxes as if they weighed nothing. However, despite the physical strain of my load, it paled in comparison to the crushing weight that I felt inside my heart. They say that the heaviest weights we carry are often those of our own emotional baggage, and I couldn't agree more.

"Ate Alohi!"

Napabaling ako kay Tavleen na naglalakad na pala sa tabi ko. "Ang aga mo ngayon, ah?"

"Ganitong oras po ang uwian namin," she replied and fixated her attention on the boxes I was carrying. "Ate, para saan po ang mga 'yan?"

Bago pa man ako makasagot ay huminto sa paglalakad ang kapatid ko at hinawakan ako upang pigilan din sa paglalakad.

"Ate, daan muna tayo sa Lone Wolf Café, please? Magmerienda po muna tayo bago tayo umuwi?" pakiusap niya na sinamahan niya pa ng puppy eyes niya.

Napangiwi ako pero sa huli ay sumagot ding, "Okay."

Tuwang-tuwa naman na pumasok sa loob ng paborito niyang café ang kapatid ko.

"Magandang hapon po, Kuya Griffin!" masayang bati ni Tavleen sa may-ari na si Griffin.

Magkasing-edad lang sila ni Ate Keena, but he told me not to call him 'kuya' and treat him just like how I normally treat my friends.

Griffin, a young man, built this cozy café near our library five years ago. His exceptional business acumen, culinary expertise, and barista skills contributed to the cafe's success in no small measure. But it was his charming personality that truly set him apart. He stood tall, even taller than me, despite my height being above average among women. His curly black hair cascaded down his nape and framed his thick eyebrows and always-smiling lips. It is no wonder Tavleen and many of his café's patrons developed a huge crush on him.

He had a penchant for white or black dress shirts, which he would often roll up the sleeves and neatly tuck in his trousers. He also donned a brown apron like his employees, but that did not diminish his striking appearance; rather, it added to his unspoken charms.

"Good afternoon, Tavleen, Alohi. Tuloy kayo," he greeted back with his usual charming smile. "Your usual order?"

"Opo, Kuya, pero iced coffee po sa akin," Tavleen smilingly retorted.

"Coming right up. Have a seat."

Naupo kaming pareho ni Tavleen sa mga high stool na nasa may counter. Nilapag ko rin ang dala kong mga kahon sa ibaba ng sahig bago pa ako ma-KMJS. Windang na windang kasi ang itsura ng mga customer doon pagkakita sa aking buhat-buhat ang naglalakihang mga kahon na iyon na walang kahirap-hirap.

Pagbalik ni Griffin ay dala na niya iyong mga order namin at isa-isang inilapag sa tapat namin ni Tavleen.

"Iced caramel macchiato for you," he said as he gave me mine and then to Tavleen, "and chocolate chip float for you."

"But I want the iced coffee po," Tavleen complained, cutely.

Griffin smiled and gently ruffled her hair. "Like I told you before, I'll keep serving you non-caffeinated drinks until you reach college. Malapit ka nang grumaduate kaya konting tiis na lang."

Sinulyapan ko ang kapatid kong nahihiyang ngumiti naman at marahang tumango bago yumuko upang itago ang namumulang mga pisngi.

Napangiwi ako at sumimsim na sa inumin ko. Impluwensiya ito ng pagbabasa ni Tavleen ng mga romance novel, lalo na 'yong tungkol sa malaki ang age gap ng mga bida.

"Here, try my new pastry," alok ni Griffin sa kapatid ko pagkatapos niyang ilapag ang platito na naglalaman ng sinasabi niya. "It's a creamy cassava cake. If you like it, I'll make it available in the menu."

"Oy, iyong akin, nasaan na?" sabat ko naman nang mapansing si Tavleen lang ang binigyan niya.

"I thought you don't like sweets."

"Sugatan iyong pride ko ngayon, so I need some sweets," I told him. "Tsaka kailanman ay hindi ko tinanggihan ang mga alok mong pastry-testing dahil alam kong walang bayad ang mga 'yon. Kaya akin na, dali."

He pulled out another small plate, which he had obviously prepared earlier, along with the one he had given to Tavleen.

"Just kidding. Enjoy," aniya at inilapag iyon sa harap ko. "Anyway, what are those boxes for?"

"I got fired today. Binili ng kalabang kompanya iyong amin. Gustong palitan lahat ng mga empleyado. Bakit gano'n sila? Kapag may alitan sa negosyo o pulitika, laging iyong mga ordinaryong tao at kawani ang nadadamay at higit na naaapektuhan?"

Inis na sinubo ko ang slice ng creamy cassava cake. Humupa lang iyong inis ko sa sarap no'n nang malasahan ko na. "Wow, ang sarap nito..."

Hinawakan ni Tavleen ang braso ko kaya napabaling ako sa kanya. Magkahalong lungkot, pag-aalala, at awa ang tinging ipinupukol niya sa akin.

"Ate..." ang malungkot niyang panimula. "Paano na 'yong baon ko? Lagi pa naman akong nirarakrakan ni Ate Keena kapag ka sa kanya ako nanghihingi."

Wow... "Thanks for the concern, sis. Huwag kang mag-alala. May savings pa naman ako at malaki rin 'yong severance pay ko kaya may baon ka pa mula sa akin."

Tavleen's face lit up. "Yehey!" aniya at muling binalingan si Griffin. "The best po itong creamy cassava cake niyo, Kuya Griffin."

Pagkatapos naming mabusog ng kapatid ko sa Lone Wolf Café ay umuwi na kami ng bahay. Naabutan namin sa library ang kababata ko at kapitbahay naming police officer na ngayon na nakaupo at tila ba ay may hinihintay.

"Oy, Raegan, si Ate Keena ba ang hinihintay mo? Mamaya pa 'yon kasama ang bagong bebe boy niya," pang-aasar ko sabay lapag no'ng mga dalang kahon sa sahig.

Marahan ko pa iyong itinulak patago sa mga shelf upang hindi makita ni Papa at malaman na wala na akong trabaho. Kinuntsaba ko na sina Tavleen at Griffin kanina na huwag munang ipaalam iyon kina Papa at Ate Keena hanggang sa hindi pa ako nakakahanap ng bagong trabaho.

Huli-huli kong napangiwi naman si Raegan sa narinig. "Nandito ako para sa ibang mas importanteng bagay. Bakit... nand'yan na ba siya?"

I stopped myself from chuckling. Mas importanteng bagay, my ass. Mukha niya, inlababo pa rin kahit three years na silang hiwalay ni Ate Keena. Siya rin kasi ang pinakamatagal na naging karelasyon nito.

"Raegan, pasensya na sa paghihintay," paumanhin ni Papa paglapit niya sa pwesto namin. Lumapit kami ni Tavleen kay Papa upang magmano.

Magalang na yumuko naman si Reagan. "Walang problema po, Tito Levi. May mahalagang isasangguni lang po sana ako sa inyo."

Naupo silang dalawa sa isang table kaya sumunod na rin kami ni Tavleen doon upang makinig.

"Tungkol saan ba ito, hijo?"

"The special crime division forwarded two mysterious cases of murder to the supernatural crime unit. These murders happened last night."

Raegan leads the supernatural crime unit in the city. The unit investigates inexplicable and unsolved cases that have a potential supernatural connection.

Raegan also belongs to an influential family of exorcists, who are known for their impressive abilities, such as pyrokinesis.

Binuksan ni Raegan ang brown envelope na hawak niya at inilabas mula roon ang dalawang picture. Ramdam kong hindi lang ako ang natigilan nang makita ang kabuuan ng mga larawan na inilapag nito sa ibabaw ng lamesa, maging si Tavleen din at lalong-lalo na si Papa.

"The first man was killed in a dark alley and found early in the morning at 5:37," Raegan started to explain. "The second victim died in his sleep and was discovered at 6:23 a.m. Strangely, both of them had the same mouth disfigurement - a large slit inflicted by an unknown killer."

He added, "The night before he was found dead, the second victim was shaking in fear while telling his family about encountering a frightening woman on his way home, who asked him if she was pretty. It reminded me of an urban legend I once read here, so I was wondering if you have any-"

This cannot be true.

Nangyari na nga ang kinatatakutan namin.

"Kuchisake-onna..." Papa said in a low voice, sounding sure, sad, and scared all at once. "It's the Slit-Mouthed Woman, the very same urban legend you read here."

「 ✦ 𝓛𝓸𝔀𝓵𝓪 𝓟𝓲𝓷𝓴𝓸 ✦ 」

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