DISASTER

IVY REIGN CARSON'S POINT OF VIEW (14 YEARS OLD)

Summer Vacation

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"We're finally here, Ivy!" excited na sabi ni dad sabay sa paghinto at pag-park ng aming sasakyan sa isang parking lot.

I slightly opened the car's window in front of me and I peeked to see it. Sa katabi nito, ay ang isang medyo hindi kalumaan na bahay. It is somehow huge and sturdy.

Hay nako, mom and dad really like vintage or antique things and places. I hope this village won't freak me out and sana mababait ang mga tao rito.

"Welcome to our new home princess!" excited din na sabi ni mom. Lumabas siya kaagad ng sasakyan, hinay-hinay na nag-stretch, at lumanghap ng malinis na hangin.

I'm starting to feel anxious and a bit uncomfortable. Hindi ko talaga alam kung anong rason bakit kailangan pa naming lumipat ng bahay. In fact, our first house served as a perfect little world to me. I miss my room, I miss our living room, I miss my own library, and even our pool! I will also miss my friends, classmates, teachers, and my school.

"Mom, dad are you sure about this? How about our first house?" I fully opened the car's window this time. My face turned gloomy.

Napapansin ko rin na maraming kapitbahay ang nagtitinginan sa amin. I feel like all the neighbors' presence ay nakatutok lang talaga sa amin, kulang nalang ng rules and criteria for judging. Then, I quickly ran outside the car and went to my parents.

Dad put the boxes he carried on the clean green grass and looked at me with a smile on his face.

"My princess, matagal na namin 'tong plinano. Ito ang dream ng iyong mom na matagal na niyang inaasam-asam," paluhod na sinabi ni dad sa akin sabay ng pagtapik ng aking balikat.

"Malinis ang hangin dito, magandang view, maraming mga tanim din," he continued.

I looked him in his eyes for seconds and slowly change my gaze to my mom. This place isn't bad I guess?

"I don't even have a chance to say goodbye to my friends there, mom and dad. Kahit mabilisan lang wala." tears slowy falling down through my eyes.

My mom quickly gave me a tight hug and gently pat my head. I calm down for a little, yet my heart is still heavy.

"We know this is tough for you, Ivy. But, this is also my last wish. You and your dad know that my health condition isn't good for a long time. Up until now medyo lumalala na siya," mom replied and coughing.

What mom said is true. My mom was diagnosed with Stage 3 Lung Cancer. When I heard those words or terms, biglang sumisikip ang aking puso and my world shattered. I don't want to lose her, because she's important to me and she's my only mom.

"Bago ako mawala sa mundong ito, I want to enjoy and live my remaining life to the fullest in this place."

"Mom! Huwag na huwag mong sasabihin 'yan." mas lalo pang lumakas ang aking pag-iyak. I gently hugged her then, holding her hands.

"I'm just joking anak, but please grant my wish okay? Ipagluluto ka namin mamaya ng paborito mong carbonara." mom reassured me.

I let out a sigh. "Your wish is now granted, mom. I understand you because I love both of you. Salamat in advance sa carbonara po."

I pulled my dad closely and hugged each other. After that, we spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning the house and arranging our stuff. Nakakapagod since inside of the house is pretty huge, pero worth it naman. My parents kept their promises and they really cooked carbonara for merienda, we sat down on our veranda.

As I'm enjoying and eating the food with all of my heart, I noticed my mom's necklace. It has a huge rectangle pendant and it is somehow lightweight. I got curious about it and I asked her without having second thoughts.

"Mom, I never saw your necklace before. Saan niyo po nabili 'yan? Ang ganda po at bagay na bagay saiyo."

Mom and dad's reactions quickly changed. The atmosphere is more serious and the weather is getting dark.

"Ah-eh, ah ito ba? R-regalo ito ng aking mama noong 18th birthday ko anak," nauutal na sabi ni mom.

I was unsure sa mga sinabi ni mom but I don't mind. I stood up and I asked her again.

"The necklace is beautiful mom. Can I touch it? Parang similar kayo ng necklace ng teacher ko, dark version nga lang."

I was about to touch it but my dad suddenly pulled me.

"My princess I finally remembered! Ako ang nagregalo niyan para sa mama mo!" pasigaw na sabi ni dad.

"When I met your mom for the first time noong high school pa kami, I fell in love. I knew that it was love at first sight. Kaya, I courted her for years and never gave up. Noong nakuha ko na ang matamis niyang oo, I finally gave the necklace," he continue.

Mom's face turns red at parehas kaming nakaramdam ng kilig. But, I noticed that dad is kinda nervous at pawis na nagsilabasan sa kaniyang mukha. Oh well, since galing naman ang kwento kay papa, I bet those are really true. Dad really loves mom and treating her like a queen.

I nodded, clapped for them, and gave them a heart sign.

After din naming kumain ng dinner, ay kaagad akong pumunta sa aking kwarto. Every night, nagnonood kami ng mga palabas sa tv, ngunit bagong lipat lang kami ay hindi pa namin na set up ang tv at cable.

Luckily, dad only brought and bought a pocket WiFi. I'm checking my social media for a bit and chatting with my friends na neighbors ko since I was 8 years old. Not until, nakita ko ang breaking news sa Facebook.

Patay na ang adviser ko na si Miss Elly...

According to the autopsy team and news report, she was brutally killed with an unknown 2 killers. Nakikita doon na pinagsaksak siya ng limampung beses, pinagbabaril sa ulo ng sampung beses at pag-to-torture. Unusual ang mga ginamit sa pagpatay sa kaniya.

Sabi rin doon ng kaniyang ina, nagpaalam ang kaniyang anak na magbakasyon kasama ang mga co-teachers. Huling mensahe rin ng kaniyang anak na mag-isa nalang ito umuwi at sumakay lamang ng bus. Pero, pagkatapos ng ilang linggo, noong binisita niya ang rent house ni Miss Elly, mahigit dalawang linggo na itong hindi nakakauwi. Ganoon din ang sinabi ng roommate ni Miss Elly. Kaninang alas singko ng hapon, kasama ang mga pulis, medical helpers, tanod, at imbestigador, ay nakita na nila ang walang malay niyang katawan sa isang malapad na damuhan.

Hindi ako makapaniwala sa sinapit ni Miss Elly. Alam kong may mabuting puso siya at hindi niya kayang makipag-away sa ibang tao. May mga tao talaga sa mundong ito na gumagawa ng mga masasamang bagay at pinangungunahan ang galit o puot sa kanilang puso't isipan.

"Nanawagan at humihingi po ako ng tulong sainyong lahat. Sana, mahanap na po kung sino ang walang konsensya at walang pusong nagpatay sa aking nag-iisang anak na si Elly! Isa lang po ang aking hinihingi kundi katarungan!" puno ng sakit, galit, at iyak na sabi ng kaniyang ina.

Pinakita ang video clip ni Miss Elly na nakahiga sa isang puting kabaong, she sleeps there peacefully.

She's in a happy place now. She finished her mission here on Earth.

Mabilisan lang ang clip, ngunit may pumukaw sa aking atensyon. Agad kong inulit ang video, napansin ko na parehas nga talaga sila ni mom ng kuwintas! The necklace has a dark silver color. I immediately checked the necklace online at wala akong nakuhang results. The jewelries I found are a bit similar but not a hundred percent the same.

Hmm, those necklaces are really special and limited edition. Underrated.

I blinked my eyes twice, making sure na tama ang nakikita ko. I played the clip one more time ngunit biglang nag-glitch ito. Mas lalo akong nagulat noong naglaho ang kuwintas ni Miss Elly into dark red glittery-like ashes. Sobrang bilis ng clip na nakahiga si Miss Elly, kaya hindi gaanong nakikita ng mga news reporters.

I decided to show the video and tell mom and dad about the latest news. I was about to knock on their door, ngunit narinig ko na nag-uusap silang dalawa. Their voices are muffled due to the thick and wide doors. Because of my curiosity, I tried my best to listen to their conversation.

"Hon, I'm not ready to tell her about this." -mom

"Maybe at her right age? Hon?" -dad

"I don't know, Stephen." -mom

"Trust me, Merielle. Look at me, malalagpasan natin ito." -dad

"How? Elly is now dead, she's my only friend that I can trust to. Alam mo namang siya lang ang nag-iisang kaibigan ko. I first knew her na nasa orphanage palang siya at kasapi ko. She's also like my true sister noong nawala si..." mom replied and cut her conversation to dad. Ramdam ko ang takot at panginginig ng kaniyang boses.

Nagulat ako sa aking mga narinig. Kilala pala ni mom si Miss Elly ng matagal? I don't understand.

Nagpatuloy ako sa pakikinig.

"I know, this is really a hard time for us hon, but trust me. Mapapasa-atin din ang tamang oras." -dad

"Kailan pa Stephen? If only I can change the time, I can save my empire, and my parents. We also need to find those missing gems!" -mom

Excuse me, what, empire? Gems? My mom's parents?

"Aray naman!" I screamed as I accidentally bumped my left arm on a huge figurine.

Bakit kasi may mga malalaking figurines dito! Aray ang braso ko huhu!

The door opens. Ramdam ko ang malakas na tension sa gitna namin. 

"Anak! What happened to you?" tanong ni dad habang hinahaplos ang aking braso.

"Oh no anak! You have a bruise. Anong nangyari sa'yo?" nag-aalalang tanong ni mom. Lumapit siya kaagad sa akin, she closed her eyes, at dahan-dahang hinaplos ang aking braso.

Omg Ivy, think of something!

"Ah-eh, k-kumuha po kasi ako ng tubig para uminom. Nasubrahan yata ako ng panonood ng horror sa YouTube, akala ko po kasi may multo rito kaya ayon."

Omg, sana may pagkatotoo mga sinabi ko! Ma-convince ko sana sila huhu.

"Nako sinasabi ko na nga ba! Hatid ka na namin sa room mo ha," medyo patawa na sabi ni mom.

Hala, 11:00 pm na pala! Kailangan kong matulog.

"My princess, you need to sleep para tatangkad ka pa," sabi ni dad then he gently kissed my forehead.

"Okay mom and dad, matutulog na po ako. I enjoyed it a lot today mom, dad. Sweet dreams po!" I smiled and then hugged them.

"Sweet dreams anak." they smiled.

Oh, nawala ang bruise ko! Teka...oh right, I lied to them o baka antok lang talaga ako.

As I entered my room, dahan-dahan kong binagsak ang aking katawan sa malambot kong kama. Somehow, I still feel relieved because I pasted glow in the dark stars sa ceiling ng aking kwarto.

"There is always light in the midst of the darkness, even if it's only a pinpoint in the distance."

I sighed and closed my eyes for minutes. Miss Elly's face flashes through my mind. I recalled all the memories that Miss Elly and I shared together.

IVY'S FLASHBACK (9 YEARS OLD)

"Ano ba 'yan, Ivy. Division na nga lang hindi ka pa marunong."

"Bakit ka pa kasi nakasama sa group namin eh ang hina-hina mo pa naman sa Mathematics," naiinis nilang sabi.

"Pasensya na kayo groupmates, Math kasi talaga ang kahinaan ko," I replied shyly while fidgeting my pencil.

"Oh, ikaw mag-present ng answers natin. Wala ka nang magawa kundi mag-erase tsaka mag sharpen ng pencil."

"Ang unfair mo, Ivy," they added.

"Okay, class, pencils down! Alright, let's start with Group 2," sabi ni Miss Elly sa harapan and clapped her hands to get our attention.

"Ako po ang mag-pre-present Miss Elly," I said as I raised my right hand.

"Go on, dear Ivy."

"Uh, 2,500 dibaydibay 25 equals to 100 ..."

"Hahaha! Dibaydibay!"

"Dibaydibay daw guys oh!"

"May ganoon? Dibaydibay?"

My cheeks turned red because of uneasiness. Not now! I hope the ground or this room can swallow me para tumigil na sila sa kakatawa.

"Class quiet! Bakit niyo tinatawanan si Ivy? Class, hindi 'yan nakakatuwa. Mali ang ginagawa niyo." suway ni Miss Elly.

"Eh Miss Elly, divided by po 'yon not dibaydibay hahaha!" buong tapang na sinabi ng aking kaklase sa harapan ng buong klase.

"Miss Gayzon, that's enough!" suway ulit ni Miss Elly.

"Alam niyo class, marami ang takot o hindi nag-iimprove kasi tinatawanan kaagad! We must helping and guiding them, not turning them down. Paano naman kaya kung kayo magkamali? Syempre, masakit din sa part niyo na pinagtatawan kayo kaagad ng ibang tao. Tama?"

"Tama po." sabay-sabay nilang pagsasang-ayon.

"Please say sorry to Miss Carson," utos ni Miss Elly sa kanila.

"We're so sorry, Ivy. Hindi na namin uulitin." naghingi sila ng tawad.

"Okay lang classmate, I'll try my best na sa pag-so-solve ng Math problems or equations," I replied and still fidgeted with my pencil. I smiled at Miss Elly and whispered "thank you" through the air.

END OF IVY'S FLASHBACK

Tears start falling down again through my eyes. Because of Miss Elly, natuto ako mag-discover ng mga bagay at lalo pang mag-aral ng mabuti. My confidence and grades improve because of her. She's also one of my inspirations. Sadly, she's dead. I will surely miss her. I must visit her tomorrow morning and say my last goodbye to her.

As hours passed and luckily, mahimbing ang tulog ko. Akala ko may multo na magpapakita, thankfully, wala naman. I'm taking my words back earlier for turning this house down or giving a bad impression. This house will serve and we will create good new memories to share.

Sa kalagitnaan na ng gabi, biglang bumuhos ang malakas na ulan, loud roars of thunders too. It never bothers me, so I continued to sleep. Hanggang sa ilang minuto, ginising ako ni dad.

"I-Ivy, a-anak." dad's shivering voice made me wake up.

"Dad, ano po 'yon?" mahina kong sabi at hindi ko maayos maimulat ang aking mga mata.

"We don't have much time, she's here! Bilis anak!"

"D-dad? what's happening? Where's mom?" tanong ko at nagsimulang gumulo ang aking isip.

Hindi sumagot si dad. Bakas sa kaniyang mukha ang takot at gulat.

"Not now Ivy, I can't explain it to you right now. Ang dapat lang natin gawin ngayon ay tumakas." nanginginig pa rin niyang sabi sa akin.

"Saan p-" bigla akong binuhat ni papa kasama ang mga kaunting gamit na kaniyang sinalba. Ramdam ko ang tibok ng kaniyang puso na napakabilis. Ganoon din ang kaniyang malamig na pawis at walang katapusang hingal.

"Mom!" malakas kong sigaw, dahilan na lumingon sa akin si mom.

"Ivy!" hinaplos ni mama ang aking mukha at niyakap ako ng napakahigpit, parang wala na itong bukas.

"Ivy anak, tandaan mo ito. Mahal na mahal ka palagi ni mama ha? Please take care of yourself and your dad for me," sabi ni mom na puno ng iyak at sabay abot sa akin ang kaniyang kuwintas. I wear it promptly.

"But mom, this is your necklace. I can't have it, hindi ko po kayang kunin ang importanteng bagay sa'yo." I look at her even though fears start to consume my heart.

"What's mine is yours, Ivy. This necklace will protect you and dad, this necklace is our only hope. Please take care of this," malakas na sabi ni mom, sabay hawak ng kuwintas and explaining its capacity.

"Goodbye Ivy and Stephen, I love you both." she waved goodbye to us with a painful feeling inside her.

"Mom no! Don't leave us!" pinipilit kong pagtawag sa kaniya.

Sigaw at iyak ko nang bigla akong pinakawalan ni mom. Mom suddenly releases her power and creates a protective and powerful dome. Nagulat ako bigla.

"Dad? What's the meaning of this? Anong nangyayari?!" pinipilit ko pa ring tanong sa kaniya.

Dad just sat on the corner crying. "She needs to face the greatest challenge of her life, my princess."

"Her evil twin sister, Trixia..."

Wait, mom had a twin sister?!

I also sat down near my dad. Parehas kaming natutula. I hope this is all nightmares, I just want to wake up...

"Oh Merielle, my goody-two-shoes sister!" isang boses na nakikilabot, kasabay din ang malakas na kidlat at lalo pang lumalakas ang ulan. Nasira ang kalahati ng aming bahay gayundin ang mga kagamitan dahil sa malakas na kapangyarihang taglay ng babae.

Nakasuot siya ng magarbong damit na gawa sa mga mamahaling tela. Kulay itim, pula, at lila ito. Porselana ang kaniyang kutis, kulay pula ang kaniyang mga mata na tila ba umaapoy ito. Ang mahaba at maitim niyang buhok ay lumulutang sa ere. Kuko niya'y mahahaba't matatalim, kulay pula ang mga ito na handang pumatay at sumipsip ng dugo. At first, I thought it was mom, dahil magkamukha nga sila. She's truly the villain version. Tanging gawa ko lang sa loob ng dome ay umiyak at pagsasabi ng 'tama na, ayaw ko na ng away at gulo.'

"I always knew from the start that you're always weak as fuck, Merielle!" mura niya sa aking mom.

"Lumabas ka na diyan Merielle! Duwag ka na nga, mang-aagaw kapa!" galit na galit niyang utos at bigla siyang nagpalabas ng napalakas na mga kulog. Nasusunog na ang buong bahay at dahan-dahan nang nagiging abo. Ang mga kapitbahay ay nakasaksi sa gulo at nagsisigawan sa takot.

"Hindi ako mang-aagaw at duwag, Trixia!" kaagad namang sinipa ni mom sa ulo si Trixia at binalutan ng mga makakapal na tinik ang katawan nito, dahilan na sumigaw siya ng malakas dahil sa sakit at natamo nitong sugat.

"Mom!"

"Merielle!"

Sabay-sabay kaming nagulat ni dad. Ang simpleng pananamit ni mom araw-araw ay bigla itong umiba sa isang magarbong kasuotan. May kulay ginto, berde, at rosas ang kasuotan niya. May magandang kolorete rin sa mukha ni mom na para siyang isang magandang engkantada o anghel.

"Kaya mo siyang talunin, mom!" pag-che-cheer ko upang matalo kaagad ni mom si Trixia.

"Shit!" mura nito. Sumigaw ito ulit ng malakas at sinunog ang mga tinik na ginagawa ni mom.

"Hindi ko alam Stephen kung bakit minahal mo pa si Merielle. Bakit hindi nalang ako?" ang tanong ni Trixia kay dad. Does dad has a past relationship to my mom's evil twin sister?

"Dahil sama at kadiliman ang namamayani sa iyong puso, Trix!" buong tapang na sagot ni dad.

"Mga walang kwenta! Balang araw, babalik ka rin sa akin Stephen! Tayo ang maghahari ng walang katapusang kadiliman sa virtual at real world!" galit na galit na sabi ni Trixia at kaagad na pinapatamaan sa puso si mom gamit ang kidlat at apoy.

"Mom!" sigaw ko.

"I-Ivy, m-mahal kong anak..." nahihinang sabi ni mom. Her flight ability suddenly lost and her nature power weakens.

"Merielle!" kaagad na nag-iba ng anyo si papa at sinira ang dome gamit ang kaniyang buong lakas upang sagipin si mom. Ginamit ni dad ang kaniyang kapangyarihan na energy manipulation upang higupin ang kapangyarihan ni Trixia. Kaagad akong tumakbo kay mom at humihina na ito.

"Hahaha! Akala mo Stephen mawawalan na ako ng kapangyarihan? Puwes nagkakamali kayo!"

Pinalibutan kami ng madilim at makapal na usok. Tumama kami ng tingin ni Trixia at nakita ang kuwintas na aking sinusuot. Umiilaw ito ng napalakas.

"Ang susi! Ibigay mo 'yan sa akin! Hindi maaring masira ang aking mga plano!" utos ni Trixia sa akin, ngunit hindi ako magpapa-uto sa kaniya.

"Ayaw ko!" matigas kong tugon sa kaniya.

My necklace is the key? Pero hindi naman ito hugis susi.

"Matigas ang ulo mo batang ka! Hindi maganda ang pagpapalaki ng magulang mo sa'yo!" nang hablutin na sana ni Trixia ang kuwintas, may malakas na puwersa ang nagkaroon pagitan sa amin. Bigla akong lumutang at malakas akong nahulog sa malaki, makapal, at magaspang na pader.

"Ivy!"

Napahiga ako at dahan-dahan nang lumalabo ang aking mga mata at humihina ang aking pandinig. Maraming dugo ang umaagos mula sa aking ulo, sakit at hapdi ang aking nararamdaman.

Mamatay na kaya ako? Ito na ba ang aking katapusan? Hindi ko na ba makikita ang aking mga magulang?

"Hindi maari! Dapat masira ko na ang susi! Merielle, sumama ka sa akin. Papatayin na sana kita ngayong araw kagaya ng ginawa ko sa matalik mong kaibigan, ngunit mabait ako ngayon at dapat mas lalo pa kitang pahihirapan!"

"Tignan lang natin kung sino ang karapat-dapat na maging empress at mamuno."

My eyes are getting heavy because of the painful injuries. Then, everything went black...

Ang sakit mang tanggapin pero...

I guess this is the end of my life.

She's Invincible: Quests For Truth by ScarletVidia