4: Grey City

There was a huge difference between Royal City and Grey City. 

Royal City was already considered as modernized in terms of their machineries and the likes. Probably because it had long been a democratic country despite its name. Bukod pa doon, they were trading different kind of products and most of the people living there were well-off.

Kagaya na lang nila Emy. Her father owned a toy factory and it was profitting more than the expenses they had. And since student pa rin naman si Emy, Uncle Shin was the one running the business temporarily. May sarili din namang business si Uncle Shin pero from time to time, isinisingit niya ang toy factory nila Emy in his schedule just to make sure that it was still doing well.

On the other hand, Grey City was totally different. Ganun din si Uncle Francis. Grey City still had an imperial government. It was being run by an Emperor. And one of the subordinates of this empire was the family of Uncle Francis.

There were several military families in Grey City. Kaya hindi maisip ni Emy if she had already encoutered Uncle Francis' family before.

Anyway, si Uncle Shin ang kasama niya sa pagbyahe papuntang Grey City. It took them two and a half days just to reach the boundary of Royal City and Grey City. When they passed the boundary, they travelled by horse and carriages since walang ibang mode ng transportation doon kundi ang mga iyon unlike Royal City na may mga ilang energy-operated mode of transportation na.

Uncle Shin rented a carriage for her and her luggage while he rented a horse for himself.

"It's been a while since I ride a horse." Uncle Shin said habang nakangiti.

"I have never thought you can ride one, Uncle Shin."

He laughed out loud.

"I might be weird looking wearing this kind of clothings habang nakasakay ng kabayo. But I am telling you, I am great at this. Hindi nga lang kasing galing ni Francis."

"D-does my father know how to ride one to?"

"Of course. After all, kapag bakasyon namin noon, dito kami ipinadadala ng grandparents mo. We used to have our aunt living here. It is such unfortunate na hindi siya nakapag-asawa at nagkaanak. But I think that's the reason why Francis had chosen to live here instead. He was the closest to Auntie Angeline."

Napatango na lang si Emy. In her old life, she focused herself sa circle of family na kinalakihan na niya. She wasn't that familiar to anyone na sa tingin niya ay hindi mahalaga. Her thinking back then was very narrow. Like a frog inside a well.

If she had taken a trouble to explore, maybe she would know other people. Baka rin hindi siya napahamak gaya ng nangyari sa kanya in her old life.

Uncle Shin noticed na natahimik ang dalaga. Lately, he had been observing his niece. Totoong close na ito sa kanya noon pa man. Emy was just like his other daughter. Mas mahinhin at mahiyain nga lang ito kaysa kanila Shantal at Sabrina. But since she woke up from her coma, it felt like she went into drastic change.

There were times na mukhang malalim lagi ang iniisip nito. Bukod pa doon, around everyone, it felt like she was being calculative towards people. Like she was being careful sa pakikisalamuha sa kanila. Maybe because she had amnesia and couldn't remember anything at all. Kahit siya rin naman siguro would feel the need to be careful kung magigising na lang siyang isang araw na hindi makilala ang mga taong nasa paligid niya.

And lastly, she also changed her style. Simpleng simple lang siya noong manamit. Those dresses in her closet only get worn kapag may mahalagang event silang pinupuntahan nila Jonas. But ever since she woke up, she started to dress up herself. Shin couldn't help but to see Ruby, Emy's mother, on her.

"I think you fit perfectly in here now." Shin suddenly said to the lady. Agad namang napatingin ulit sa kanya ang dalaga.

"It is true that Grey City still not modernized yet compared to Royal City. But I think the youth here are quite mature. Shantal, despite being a bit older than you, is still a bit childish. Maybe because she has to live with her younger siblings. But you... ever since you woke up, you suddenly have an air of maturity. Maybe because you've been through a lot this year."

Emy smiled gently. This family wasn't that bad at all. From Uncle Shin to his family, it was obvious how they loved her. Maaaring minalas siya sa pangalawang pamilya ng Papa niya but she could live easily if she wanted to. Ang hindi niya maintindihan ay kung bakit mas pinili ng dalaga na maging masyadong mabait.

Napangiti na lang ng mapait si Emy. Hindi nga pala siya naiiba dito. She thought she was living wisely all these years. But look what had happened to her. She had no idea that she would be stabbed behind by the people she had trusted the most.

"You can rest, Emy. Gigisingin na lang kita once we arrive the Grey City's gate."

"I am good, Uncle. I have enough rest. I'll just keep looking around."

"Ikaw ang bahala."

After that ay tahimik na silang naglakbay. Uncle Shin was obviously enjoying his horse riding. He would speed up at times. Minsan ay kakausapin niya yung coachman.

Busy naman sa pag-iisip si Emy. Once she stepped within the Grey City, it only meant that the game would start again. She needed to prepare mentally, emotionally and physically.

***

Emy had no idea na nakaidlip na pala siya. Nagising na lang siya when the carriage suddenly stopped and they had already reached the gate of Grey City.

They arrived there almost at sunset. But the place was still bustling.

Uncle Shin was talking with the guards of city gate habang siya ay nasa loob ng carriage. She decided to fix herself. She had to look the best. After all, she was back to her "dearest" city once again.

"Is everything alright, Uncle Shin?" Tanong niya when he approached her.

"Yes. Don't worry. We are just waiting for Francis to pick us here. They already send someone to him."

She frowned at agad namang napuna iyon ni Shin.

"Their security wasn't this tight before. Mukhang may nangyari these past few months kaya naghigpit sila ngayon."

Emy's curiousity was piqued. What could have happened that resulted the tight security of Grey City?

Di rin naman nagtagal ay dumating na din si Uncle Francis lulan ng isang kabayo. Samantha could immediately tell that this horse was not an ordinary one. More likely, it was a war horse.

"Shin!"

"Francis!"

Nagyakap ang magkapatid at nagbatian. They laughed and teased each other. Mukhang matagal nga na hindi sila nagkita.

"Oh, wow... If it isn't little Emerald..." Sabi ni Francis when he saw her.

"Except that she is no longer little." Sabi naman ni Shin. "I am surprised na nakilala mo siyang agad. Ni hindi mo man lang naisip na baka si Shantal siya o Sabrina."

"Come on, Shin. Look at her. She's a carbon copy of Ruby. That old Jonas died too early and left her beautiful daughter alone. Just what is he thinking?"

Emy felt the sadness between two brothers as they remembered their late brother.

"Uncle Francis, it is nice to finally meet you."

Biglang tumawa ng malakas si Shin dahil namulang bigla si Francis.

"You're a tough guy in a war field tapos si Emy lang pala ang magpapablush sayo."

"Shut it, Shin. Masisisi mo ba ako? I only have the brat, Franco, as my kid. Even Lie Feng isn't as feminine as she is."

Tinawanan lang ulit siya ni Shin.

Soon, they were on the way to Uncle Francis' residence. Emy continued looking around.

She was finally back. Anxiousness and excitement engulfed her emotion at the same time.

This time... she would make everything right.

***

Grey City didn't change at all these past few months. They still loved rumors.

As the carriage of Emy stopped in front of Francis' residence, people gathered around to see kung sino ba ang bisita ng mga Hans.

Gracefully as she could, Emy went out of the carriage. Agad siyang sinalubong nila Uncle Shin at Uncle Francis.

Lumabas na din mula sa residence sila Lie Feng at Franco.

"Welcome to our home, Emerald." Sabi ni Uncle Francis na napakamot pa sa ulo niya.

Halatang hindi siya sanay na may bisitang kagaya ng dalaga.

"Kaganda namang dalaga ng bisita nila Francis. Siya na ba ang mapapangasawa ni Franco?"

They all heard the talk of those people around them. Agad namang namula si Franco.

He was a tough guy like his father. He had been joining his parents in few of their wars. But just like Francis, he was not expose that much with ladies.

"You should not spread rumors like that. Pamangkin ko itong si Emerald, nothing more." Depensa ni Francis. Iniisip kasi niyang baka mailang ang pamangkin.

But Emy was used to the Grey people so she didn't mind at all.

"You don't have to explain to them, Francis." Napailing na lang na sabi ni Auntie Feng. Then she looked at Emy.

"Oh my... What a beauty. Kung di ka nga pinsan nitong si Franco, ipapakasal ko siya sa iyo."

"Mama." Mas lalong namula si Franco dahil doon.

Tumawa lang ng malakas si Feng. Then she locked her arms on the lady.

"I am glad to have you in our house, Emy. Finally, may makakasama na rin akong dalaga dito sa amin. I am quite fed up with your Uncle and cousin. Puro labanan na lang ang alam nila. Kulang na lang yung mga blade ang kainin nila."

"Kung magsalita ka, Mama, akala mo hindi ka rin ganun ah."

"Wala lang akong choice no. How unfortunate that I never had a daughter. But now that Emy is living with us, para na ring natupad ang pangarap ko di ba?"

Then she winked at her.

Emy smiled back at her. Uncle Francis' family was warm. Ganun din naman sa pamilya nila Uncle Shin. But Emy had a feeling that anything she wanted would be given by this family without hesitation if she asked them to.

Nagkwentuhan muna sila habang naghihintay ng hapunan. Nadala na rin naman sa magiging kwarto niya ang lahat ng mga gamit niya.

"Poor you... It must be terrible to have amnesia." Sabi ni Auntie Feng habang hawak hawak ang dalawang kamay ni Samantha.

Sinabi kasi sa kanila ni Shin ang mga nangyari sa kanya.

"I thought that Ella will take care of her. Kung alam ko lang na mangyayari ito, kinuha ko na si Emy sa kanila noon pa mang mamatay si Jonas."

"Well, no one has expected this to happen. Though I am also disappointed at Ella. I heard Emy was with Ella's children nang maaksidente siya."

"Who knows if they had something to do with that?"

"At least she's with us now. We can take care of her." Sabi ni Auntie Feng.

"Yes. It's a good decision na dito mo piniling mag-aral, Emerald. That way, your Aunt and I can watch over you."

Emy just smiled at them.

"If you want to go around the city tomorrow, just tell me and I'll go with you." Prisinta ni Franco.

"Thank you."

***