Epilogue

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Masakit na ang mga binti ko sa tagal kong tumatakbo. Parang masyado na akong nalayo sa bahay. I should've taken my way to the left alley instead. Tsk! Bad idea.

Lumingon ako para makita ko ang nasa likuran ko nang magulat pa ako sa dapat ay na-anticipate ko na. Shit, those men are really up to something. They're putting so much effort in chasing me. Lumiko na naman ako, at ilang sandali pa ay hindi ko na alam kung nasaan ako. Medyo naaalala ko naman kung saan ako dumaan, I tried convincing myself, pero naguguluhan na ako sa nangyayari sa akin ngayon. Puwede namang iba na lang ang habulin nila. Bakit ako pa?

It's already afternoon, and I think I'm too far from home. Hahanapin ako nina Mom at Dad nito, e. Sasabihin nila, bakit ako late umuwi.

Hindi ba alam ng mga pangit na mokong na 'to na nagsasayang lang sila ng oras sa akin? Ang bilis ko kaya tumak—

Shit.

Sa pagtakbo ko, bigla akong may nakabanggang isang matangkad na lalaki. Nakaharang siya sa dadaanan ko, at ang agad kong napansin ay ang tattoo niyang noose na nasa pulso. Hindi pansinin ang design nito pati ang location, pero napansin ko agad 'yon.

Hindi ko na nakita ang mga pagmumukha ng mga mokong na naka-itim na humahabol sa akin, pero sigurado akong kasamahan nitong kaharap ko ang mga humahabol sa akin. Shit, really.

Wala na akong iba pang nagawa kung hindi ang sipain siya sa tiyan. At hindi ko inakalang gano'n kalakas ang sipa ko. Napahakbang siya patalikod, kaya mukhang na-distract naman na siya. I was surprised to see that I was still safe despite the fact that I did not do something immediately. Good thing. But what the heck? He did not even do anything to me.

Good thing, again, naalala kong may dala akong magagamit ko para sa self-defense. But damn it, ang bigat ng backpack ko. I rummaged my pocket, and I immediately got my pocketknife in my hand. Nagpatuloy ako sa pagtakbo, at hindi ko na inisip na gamitin pa ang pocketknife ko. I mean. . . hindi ko naman talaga planong gamitin 'to.

Pero umiral na ang takot sa akin. Marami sila. Hindi ko sila kakayanin kung maaabutan nila ako lalo na't isa akong duwag; nag-iisa rin ako. Pero isa lang ang naisip kong gawin kung sakali—ang tumakbo. It can be a cowardly thing for others, but it's the bravest thing I can do.

Pero 'yon nga, e. Marami sila. Baka mamaya, nasa susunod na eskinita lang sila. Pero 'wag naman sana.

Ah, aywan ko. Bahala na.

Kung kanina ay lumingon pa ako para makita kung nasaan na sila, ngayon, parang hindi ko na kakayanin. Nararamdaman ko na ang pagod. Bakit ba kasi napadpad ako rito sa walang-taong lugar? Dapat talaga hindi ako dumaan dito, e. If I didn't go here, I'm probably safe.

Habang pinipilit ko na lang tumakbo, napatapilok ako. Sa dinami-daming pagkakataon nga naman, oh. Sinubukan kong tumayo ulit nang madapa ako. Maaabutan ako nito, e. Sa mga oras na 'yon, isa na lamang ang nasa isip ko—ang sumuko.

Pero hindi pa rin nila ako naaabutan. I can still escape. Besides, may pocketknife naman ako, e. I immediately stood up, successful in convincing myself, and I ran again. Kahit na nararamdaman ko na ang sakit ng katawan ko, pinilit ko pa rin. At kahit 'di ko pa man sigurado, alam kong plano nila ang patayin ako.

Believe me, my life is in fucking danger. I can feel it.

I needed to get back home as soon as possible. There, our neighbors can help me.

Habang tumatakbo ako, pinag-igihan ko ang pagmamasid sa dinadaanan ko. May mga shop sa paligid, at may mga pangalan ang mga ito. . . pero hindi ko mabasa ang iba.

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العصر الذهبي

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Parang Arabic ang name ng shop. Wait, what? I thought while running. Nasaan ba ako?

Seriously, I didn't know where I was. As I sped up, I saw more shops and houses. Masyadong tahimik. Dumidilim na rin. Paano na lang kung makuha ako ng mga lalaking 'yon? Sino ang tutulong sa akin?

Nasa isip ko pa lang ay kinilabutan na ako. I could die. I could. . . fucking die. Maraming masasamang pangyayari ang patuloy na tumakbo sa isipan ko, at nabuhay bigla ang dugo ko. Bumilis pa lalo ang tibok ng puso ko. I have to find a place that can hide me from them if there will be no one that can help me.

Ilan pang structures ang nadaanan ko sa pagtakbo ko. Hindi ko na na-identify pa kung ano ang mga structures na 'yon, pero kumanan pa rin ako sa isang street na wala pa ring tao. Umasa na lang akong mawawala ako sa paningin ng mga lalaking 'yon.

Mas nabilisan ko pa ang pagtakbo ko. May nakita rin akong neon lights mula sa 'di kalayuan. It seems like this is the place I can hide in.

Habang palapit nang palapit ang pinanggalingan ng liwanag, naramdaman ko ang pagiging safe ko. . . pero hindi ako dapat maging panatag.

Nang nakalapit na ako sa pinanggalingan ng ilaw, agad akong umakyat sa three-step na hagdanan nito. I quickly pushed the door made of glass, and finally, I was inside the place.

I don't care if this is a bar, house, or shop. Mukha namang walang taong magagalit. All I need right now is a place to hide myself in since I'm probably out of their sight. And if there are people here, they can probably help me.

The walls were tinted with the bluish light of the place. The place looked like a bar's lobby. . . or whatever. There was a counter covered in neon lights, but nothing in sight could be served. No one was in sight.

Slowly, I became conscious of things I weren't thinking back when I was running. What if the men in black find me? Napatitig ako sa mga bintana, and my feet led me to a place far from the windows.

"Stephanie?"

Napatingin ako sa likod ko nang marinig ko ang pangalan ko. I saw someone. She was wearing a rosewood pink mask. I think I know her.

Plus, she knows my name.

"Paris?" I smiled, coming closer to her. "Pero hindi ka na pumupunta rito, 'di ba?"

"Yeah," she smiled as I saw Veronica and Carrie walk towards us, and they were in their masks. "Ngayon lang kami uli nakapunta."

"Hello," I said as I smiled at them.

Fuck, I don't have my masquerade mask with me right now.

"W-wala akong mask ngayon," I said, almost panicking.

I looked around to see if there was anyone who could see me, but when I looked to my left, I saw someone I never thought I'd see. Anymore.

"Cerulean," Chris said, staring right into my eyes as I felt the same pull between us.

"Chris," I said as I felt worlds and bridges of sleep and rise merge right after I fainted. When I opened my eyes, the same face welcomed me. Panaginip lang pala.

Panaginip lang.

But Chris was in front of me, sitting on my bedside. In disbelief, I rubbed my eyes for approximately ten seconds.

"Oh, my goodness," I said as I rubbed my eyes, "I missed you."

But when I opened my eyes, Chris wasn't here. I'm fucking hallucinating again. And yes, I'm disobeying his order.

I stared at the gray-painted ceiling, just like this vision of mine for this morning—dull and well, gray because Chris wasn't really here.

But oh, well, I always see things, though.

I heard people singing the "Happy Birthday" song as people burst through my door.

I saw Mom and Dad. Lannie, Maddie, and Divine. Their parents. My grandma and grandpa.

They continued singing me a happy birthday, holding a mini cake.

Of course, Chris is not here.

"Anak," Mom said as if she hadn't ruined my drawings several months ago, "three days mo nang ayaw lumabas ng bedroom mo."

I was startled, but she continued, "Tuwing ginigising ka namin, natutulog ka ulit, but what's important is that you've woken up na."

I smiled and hugged Mom. I didn't know why I felt like I might dance my way out of this room, but I was so happy. It was my birthday, and I deserved it.

"Happy legality, Stephanie!" Lannie, Maddie, and Divine exclaimed, jumping.

"Thank you, guys," I smiled.

Today's going to be a blast.

"Oh, and masquerade ang party na in-arrange namin para sa 18th birthday mo," ang sabi ni Lannie habang inaabot sa akin ang matagal ko nang hinahanap na maskara. . . ang maskara ni Cerulean.

"Just like before?" I smiled at my three friends, pertaining to Town in a Building, something Mom and the others would never get.

"Just like before," Divine smiled.

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07/20/2022
GMT+8:00

Sincere Lies

"Town in a Building" Series #1

© DianneArrows 2018-2022

"Do you know what are those two weaknesses of each mask? The apertures where you see the eyes."
- Cerulean Hathaway / Stephanie Santiago

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