"Ouch!"

"Sorry. Does it hurt?"

"Obviously it does."

"My apologies. Akala ko kasi sanay ka nang masaktan."

Natigilan si Red Ridinghood sa sinabi ni Helisson. Bakit ba parang may double meaning na naman ito? Panandaliang nawala ang atensyon niya sa pagdampi ng bulak sa kanyng sugat. Upon noticing her reaction, mahinang natawa ang manggagamot.

"Why? I just thought humans are more immune to pain by now."

Kumunot ang noo ng prinsesa. "At paano mo naman naisip 'yan?"

"For mortals, pain is a never-ending cycle, Miss Red. Kalakip ng mortalidad ang sakit---whether physically, spiritually, or emotionally. Hindi ito nawawala. Hindi mo rin ito matatakasan. Even if you bury that 'pain' six feet under ground, it will always crawl out of its grave just to demand your attention."

Napabuntong-hininga na lang si Red. Minsan talaga nakakalimutan niyang iba nga pala ang ideolohiya ng mga lalaking ito. Despite their differences the Big Bad Werewolves seem to have one trait in common: the lack empathy for humans. Nakakagulat lang na pati ang mala-"anghel" na si Helisson, may natatago ring ganitong ugali (though, it's relatively less "hostile" compared to the others').

Maybe being stuck inside a gothic castle messed with their heads?

But then again, it's understandable. Mahirap nga naman kasing magpakita ng "empathy" sa paghihirap ng iba kung isa ka namang imortal na hindi kayang kalabitin ni kamatayan.

"How old are you, again?" She asked out of curiosity.

"Err... You don't need to know. Sabihin na lang natin na 'age is just a number', Miss Red."

"That's the oldest excuse in the mortal books, you know."

Tipid na ngumiti si Helisson habang tinatapos nitong gamutin ang kanyang balikat. His warm and gentle fingers delicately touched her skin, making her shiver and blush. Alam niyang wala siyang dapat ikahiya, lalo na't nadiskubre pa mismo ni Helisson ang sugat niya kahapon.

After another sleepless night, Red Ridinghood was about to ignore her wound when she noticed the beginning of an infection.

Agad siyang nag-iwas ng tingin. Dumako ang kanyang mga mata sa tarot card na nasa ibabaw ng center table.

'At mukhang nang-aasar talaga ang kapalaran dahil si Helisson rin ang tour guide ko ngayon,' isip-isip niya.

THE HIEROPHANT.

Just like The Hanged Man, The Lovers, and The Chariot, The Hierophant is part of the Major Arcana. Itinatampok ng barahang ito ang lalaking nakaupo sa pagitan ng mga sagradong haligi. He wears a three-tiered crown and three layers of robes representing the three worlds he rules over---the subconscious, conscious and super-conscious minds. The hierophant holds a Papal cross while his other hand is raised up to signify a religious blessing.

Hanggang ngayon, naguguluhan pa rin si Red sa ibig sabihin ng barahang ito.

Kung hindi siya nagkakamali, ang dating pangalan ng barahang ito ay "The Pope". Isang relihiyosong baraha. Pero ano naman ang kinalaman nito kay Helisson? He doesn't even look like a priest or a religious man to begin with!

Nang mapansin ng binata kung saan siya nakatingin, agad niyang inabot ang baraha at inilahad ito sa kanyang harapan.

"The Hierophant is also a teacher."

She raised an eyebrow. "So, you're a priest, a doctor, and a teacher? Mas gumulo, Helisson. Baka sa susunod maging komedyante ka na rin."

Aliw naman itong napailing, "A priest? No. But yes, I was a town teacher before I was transformed into a werewolf."

Red blinked in surprise. Helisson as a teacher? Well, that never crossed her mind.

"Kung ganoon, iyon lang ang ibig sabihin ng The Hierophant?"

"Tarot cards are driven by symbolism, Miss Red... The Hierophant's illustration features someone with religious authority, pero mas malalim ang sinisimbolo ng barahang ito. The hierophant symbolizes someone with spiritual wisdom who can teach us to stand by our beliefs. Madalas, kapag lumalabas ang barahang ito sa isang tarot reading, ibig sabihin lang 'non ay kailangan mo ng gabay dahil naliligaw ka ng landas." Pasimpleng tiningnan ni Helisson ang kanyang sugat sa balikat. May malungkot na ngiti sa kanyang mga labi.

"Sometimes, I just wish you could be honest with me, Miss Red."

Napalunok na lang ang prinsesa.

Hindi niya pa rin kasi sinasabi sa kanya kung saan nanggaling ang sugat na 'to. She couldn't tell him about that weird dream---err...nightmare. Paano na lang kung isipin nilang nababaliw siya?

A nightmare couldn't possibly injure her, right?

Or maybe it can.

"Tapos na ba tayo rito? I-I'm not feeling well. Gusto ko na lang magpahinga."

That was a lie, of course. Wala pa rin siyang maayos na tulog mula noong isang araw dahil natatakot pa rin siyang maulit ang bangungot. Ayaw na lang niyang makonsensiya dahil kay Helisson. Sa kanilang magkakapatid, si Helisson nga lang yata ang medyo "maayos" ang pakikitungo sa kanya.

Makalipas ang ilang sandali, huminga nang malalim si Helisson, tumayo, at inilahad ang kamay sa kanya.

"Not yet, Miss Red. Para maiwasan ang impeksyon sa sugat mo, kailangan mo na munang uminom ng gamot," The gentleman calmly said.

"Huh? May antibiotics pala kayo dito?"

"Even better."

Why does she have a bad feeling about this?

*
Matagal na niyang naririnig ang tungkol sa "infirmary" ng kastilyo.

Nakakatawang isipin na sa kabila ng lahat ng kamalasang inabot niya sa lugar na ito, ngayon pa lang siya mapapadpad dito. Natatanaw na niya ang double doors sa pinakadulo ng nilalakaran nilang pasilyo. Umalingawngaw sa paligid ang tunog ng kanilang mga sapatos sa makintab na sahig. Sa kintab ng itim na bato, mistulang isang salamin ang nilalakaran nila.

Red swore she even saw her reflection wink at her!

Humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa braso ni Helisson. Kailan ba matatapos ang mga kababalaghan sa kastilyong ito?

On the other hand, Helisson placed his free hand over hers. His touch immediately calmed her down. Parang isang tranquilizer ang hawak nitong agad na nakapagpakalma sa sinumang nilalang.

"Don't worry, Miss Red... Wala kang dapat katakutan. They're just harmless reflections."

Harmless.

How ironic to think that there's anything "harmless" inside this creepy place.

Nang makarating na sila sa tapat ng nagtataasang double doors, agad na nakapukaw sa atensyon ni Red ang ginintuang hawakan nito. Golden handles twisted into wolves with bared teeth. They had opals for black eyes that stared into her very soul. Napasimangot na lang ang prinsesa.

'Kung may pilak lang sana sa lugar na 'to, madali kong magagamit laban sa kanila.'

Sayang.

"This place looks too grandiose for an infirmary, don't you think?"

Hindi pa rin nawawala ang kalmadong ngiti sa mga labi ni Helisson. Since he was tallest among his brothers, mas nahihirapan siyang tumingala habang kausap ito.

"Ako mismo ang nag-request kay Acontes na gawing infirmary ang silid na ito. A place for medical and heath care needs a special room, after all..."

When the doors finally opened, Red Ridinghood realized she was being sucked into another bizarre place inside the castle of the Big Bad Werewolves. Higit pa ito sa inaasahan niyang "infirmary" ng mga palasyong naririnig niya sa mga kwento ng kanilang mga kawal. Sa kasamaang-palad, walang ganito sa kanilang palasyo. Ever since the queen died after giving birth to her, everybody treated the palace infirmary as a forbidden place. Kaya hindi na nakakapagtakang palaging dinudumog ang bahay ng mga healers sa kanilang kaharian.

Nonetheless, despite having little knowledge of an infirmary's appearance, the princess knew an infimary doesn't normally look like this.

'Dahil kailan pa nagkaroon ng maliit na village sa loob ng isang infirmary?'

Yes, a small village!

Nagpakurap-kurap ang prinsesa. Hindi makapaniwala sa kanyang nakikita. Tuluyan na yata niyang nakalimutan ang sugat niya sa braso.

The inside of the spacious room looked like a miniatiure landscape. May mga bahay na gawa sa tagi-tagping kahoy at maliliit na burol sa di-kalayuan. Luntian ang damo at mga halamang herbal na tumutubo sa sentro ng silid. The place was buzzling with noise and energy from the little elves doing their work. Work. Work. Work. Mistulang maliliit na mga taong may matutulis na mga sumbrero at tainga. Their colorful clothes were mostly a patchwork of different fabrics. Kinailangan pang tingnan ni Red ang kanyang paanan at baka may aksidente pala siyang natapakan. The last thing she wants is to kill a poor elf. Bakit ba kasi kasing-laki lang yata sila ng kanyang kamay?

"Helisson, sabihin mo nga ang totoo. Kastilyo ba 'to o extension ng Eastwood? This place is crazy!"

Kusang nagsara ang pinto.

Sa kanyang tabi, mahinang natawa ang binata at kinawayan ang isang elf na may dala-dalang maliit na sako ng herbal hydrangea.

"G'day, Hel!"

"Hello, Mr. Sniffles. Kamusta ang inventory?"

"Ayos naman. May delay lang sa paggawa ng hair growth serum dahil late nang nai-ship ni Big Foot ang bote ng luha niya, but we'll be able to restock 'em in no time, mate!"

Helisson smiled in appreciation. "Good job! Sabihan niyo na lang ako kung ano pang kailangang i-restock."

"Noted, Hel!"

Red Ridinghood watched the elf briefly wave at her before heading towards another street. Hindi pa rin makakilos ang dalaga. Bukod sa natatakot siyang baka aksidente siyang makatapak ng elf (which she hopes she doesn't), nahihirapan pa rin siyang i-absorb ang kanyang kapaligiran.

"Seryoso. Wala ka bang tinurok sa'king droga? Baka nagha-hallucinate lang pala ako ngayon," she didn't mean to say that out loud.

But even if she was hallucinating, Red doubts her imagination will make up something this creative.

Napangiti na lang si Helisson sa kanya sabay hawi nito sa buhok ng prinsesa. He tucked a few strands of her raven hair behind her ear as he asked, "And why would I do that, Miss Red? I'm the pack doctor. Wala akong rason para ipahamak ka."

"I don't know. Maybe you're just a bit of a sadist like your other brothers? Sa dami ng nangyayari, hindi na ako magugulat kung nagha-hallucinate lang pala ako noong umpisa pa lang."

"Probably. But most of the time, hallucinations aren't caused by drugs, Miss Red. They're caused by a lonely heart," he said.

"A lonely heart?"

Huminga nang malalim si Helisson at sumulyap sa kabuuan ng maliit na pamayanan. There was a distant look in his eyes, as if he was thinking about this for a long time now.

"To many people, life is just another hallucination. Katulad ng mga dwendeng naninirahan dito, nawiwili ang mga taong paniwalain ang kanilang mga sarili sa mga bagay na walang kasiguraduhan. It's in human nature to shut out the things that makes you feel miserable, that's why our hearts learn adapt. The heart isolates itself by believing things that go against reality...in a hopeless attempt to be happy. Ang lokohin ang ating mga sarili ang tanging paraang ginagawa ng mga puso natin para hindi tayo masaktan."

Napaisip si Red. "Pero posible ba 'yon? Ang hindi masaktan? Pain is a part of life, too."

"Indeed. But some creatures just can't accept that.. Kaya nga pilit na lang nilang tinatapalan ang sugat na dulot ng reyalidad gamit ang ilusyong binubuo nila para sa kanilang mga sarili. It's a defense mechanism and a temporary band-aid to stop the bleeding. We are all desperate to heal our own wounds, don't you agree?"

Napatingin na rin sa village ang prinsesa. Noon niya lang napansing walang ibang ginawa ang mga dwende kung hindi magtrabaho nang magtrabaho. Wala tigil. Walang pahinga. Walang katapusan. Ni hindi sila pinapansin ng mga ito!

But the odd thing is, they seem to be happy with it.

'Trappped in their own little reality.'

And somehow, she wonders if she's still trapped in hers.

---

Else I my state should much mistake
To harbour a divided thought
From all my kind--that, for my sake,
There should a miracle be wrought.

No, I do know that I was born
To age, misfortune, sickness, grief:
But I will bear these with that scorn
As shall not need thy false relief.

Nor for my peace will I go far,
As wanderers do, that still do roam;
But make my strengths, such as they are,
Here in my bosom, and at home.

---"A Farewell to the World", Ben Jonson