Chapter 7

"Bakit naka-lock 'to?" Pinilit kong buksan ang pinto pero hindi talaga magbukas 'yon.

Humarap ako sa lalaki na hindi pa rin umaalis hanggang ngayon.

"Ni-lock mo ba 'to?" pag-aakusa ko sa kanya.

Itinuro niya ang sarili niya. "Ako pa? Have you seen me near your door and lock that? I can't even hold that doorknob."

I blinked twice. Napatingin ako kay Sofia na hinihigit ang kamay ko.

"I wanna go out," she wailed.

Napailing ako. Sumasakit na ang ulo ko. Pinihit ko ulit ang doorknob. Hinampas ko ng palad ko ang pinto.

"Is there someone in there?!" I shouted at the door while banging it.

"Please, help us get out of here!"

Ilang minuto akong kumakatok sa pinto pero walang nagbubukas niyon. I sighed in disbelief and worry. Paano na kami ngayon?

"What do you suggest we do?" I asked the guy.

He shrugged. He looked at my younger sister. I watched him knelt in front of Sofia.

"Hey, little girl. Do you want a lollipop?"

Hinila ko palapit sa akin si Sofia. Naguguluhan ang mata ng kapatid ko.

"Huwag kang maniniwala sa stranger, Sofia. We don't even know his name," I said in an irritated tone.

Tumayo ulit ang lalaki sa harap namin at inilahad ang kamay niya.

"I'm Writan. In Latin meaning to write."

I scoffed and shook my head.

"I can't believe my grandmother asked me to go here and do something with this book. I don't know what the hell I would do with this! I'm only contemplating that this is for my grandfather, Boston. Pagkatapos ay wala naman pala siya rito. And why did I think he'd be here, e...patay naman na si Grandpa!"

Napailing na lang ulit ako.

"What's your grandmother's name?"

"Penya?"

I don't know exactly what grandmother's name is. Narinig ko lang kay Jason and thought that's her name.

"Wala akong kilalang Penya," tipid niyang sagot. "But I know who could help us. If you want to find an answer, propably Bok could help you."

"Who's Bok? I don't want to come with you. Baka dalhin mo kami kung saan ng kapatid ko," pagsusuplada ko.

"If I wanted you to go somewhere I would have done that earlier."

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "But it's not late for you to do that. You can't fool me. I know men."

"Do you want to find your grandfather or not?"

Tiningnan ko si Sofia. Tumigil na siya sa pag-iyak.

"We're going to explore this world. Don't cry anymore, Mommy's not here to comfort you."

She pouted but didn't disagree with me. Hindi ko alam kung naiintindihan niya ang sinabi ko. But who cares, I just need to look out for her and never let her get harmed. 'Yon lang.

Sumunod ako kay Writan. Kaswal siyang naglalakad sa harap namin.

"Are you really this rude? Or you don't know the proper manners?" asik ko sa kanya.

Binalingan niya ako. His height towered us. Lumunok ako pero nagsalita pa rin.

"Men shouldn't walk in front of girls or else iisipin kong may gagawin ka talagang masama sa amin."

He snorted and faced me. He shoved his hands in his pockets. "Can you at least trust me, young lady?"

I felt cold with the nickname he called me. "Don't call me young lady. That's so fucking disgusting."

Iniwan ko siya at dumeretso sa nilalakaran namin. Patungo lang naman ito sa kalsadang hindi ko alam ang dulo. Nagdududa pa rin ako kay Writan but I guess I have to let him help kasi wala na akong ibang aasahan.

"Kaliwa," tipid na instruction ni Writan sa likod namin.

Mas lalo siyang naging creepy dahil nasa likod naman namin siya. Tumigil ako.

"Mauna ka na," tugon ko.

Napakinggan ko ang pagtawa ni Writan. "That's why I don't talk to girls, they're all unpredictable."

Hindi ko pinansin ang sinabi niya. Sumunod na lang ako sa kanya na lumapit sa isang malaking building. Pinihit niya ang doorknob at nagbukas 'yon.

"Wait."

Tumigil ako sa harap ng building.

"You said you can't open our door. It means that only the owner of that door can open it, right?"

Tumango siya. "Let's go."

"I can't. If that's the truth, then this is your house or building, not Bok's."

He smirked and shook his head. His hands were hugging the book kanina pa. His hair got messy with the breeze. Naramdaman ko rin 'yon sa pisngi ko. Namumula ang ilong niya sa sobrang kaputian at medyo namumula ang mata.

"You don't easily trust people, do you?"

"Mahirap na. You don't seem to be a trustworthy guy."

Mas lalong lumawak ang ngisi niya. Nanatiling seryoso ang mukha ko. His handsomeness will not affect me. Even his chocolate damn eyes na ang sarap titigan.

"Sige. Kapag mali ka, tutulungan kita. Pero kung tama ako, iiwan ko na kayo rito. Deal?"

Umiling ako. "Or maybe you're saying that kasi we're not really getting out of that place."

Humagalpak siya ng tawa. Tumigil din after a few seconds. Lumapit siya sa 'kin.

"I will not do anything to you. This is not the door I'm mentioning, it's that door." Tiningnan ko ang itinuro niya. Napanganga ako sa mga nakalinyang pinto kasama ng pintong pinaglabasan namin. "I'm here to help you find that Boston. Ano bang makukuha ko sa 'yo?"

Napasinghap ako nang makita ang mata niyang hinagod ang katawan ko.

"Manyak!" sigaw ko.

Tumalikod siya sa 'kin at pumasok na nang hindi nagsasalita. Natahimik ang puso ko na kanina pa palang dumadagundong sa kaba dahil sa lalaking 'yon.

"My gosh," I whispered.

"Ate...let's go."

Ako na ang nag-pout. I don't trust him. What if he does something bad to us? No one can help us here. Nagbuntong-hininga ako bago dahan-dahang naglakad papasok ng building.

Malamig sa loob. Mayroong malaking bilog na carpet na pula sa sahig at desk sa kanan. Malaki ang bintana sa sides ng kwarto at may mataas na hagdan sa unahan. This looks like a hotel at hindi bahay.

"Hi, dear," bati ng babaeng nandoon sa desk.

Lumapit ako sa kanya. "I'm here with Writan. Where is he?"

Itinuro ng babae ang hagdan. "Go upstairs. Enter the door you'll see in front."

Tumango na lamang ako kahit hindi sigurado. Naglakad kami ni Sofia sa taas ng hagdan. Maganda ang malaking bintana sa unang palapag ng hagdan at nang maglakad na kami sa pangalawa ay napanganga ako sa dami ng pinto sa second floor. Nakita ko sa tapat namin ang isang pinto na may nakasabit sa harap na, Bok's office. Baka ito na nga...

Lumapit kami ro'n. Hinigpitan ko ang pagkahahawak ko sa libro ni Grandma. If I didn't find my grandfather here, I'll try again opening the door that we came into. I can't stay here in this world with no assurance na walang mangyayaring masama sa amin.

Huminga ako nang malalim at kumatok sa pinto. Nagbukas agad 'yon. I saw Writan with a grin on his face. I gave him a sarcastic smile. He laughed at me.

Pumasok kami ng tuluyan sa kwarto. It was big with monitors on the left side. May malaking table ro'n at mga upuan. Sa harap namin ay desk with a guy sitting behind it. He has a serious face but looks gentle at the same time. Tipid akong ngumiti sa kanya bago ako itinulak ni Writan sa tapat ng lamesa.

"I heard your story, young lady."

Nangasim ang pakiramdam ko. Is there a person here who could call me by my name instead of 'young lady'? Hindi na ako nagreklamo.

"You are looking for Boston? He's your grandfather?"

Tumango lang ako. Inilahad ng lalaki sa amin ang silya sa magkabilang bahagi ng lamesa niya. Tumingin ako kay Writan, tumango siya kaya tinanggap ko na lang ang alok. Iniupo ko ro'n si Sofia. Binigyan siya ng lalaki ng lollipop. Hindi na rin ako nagreklamo pa.

"Wow. Why aren't you like that with me? You haven't complained yet."

Inaruhan ko ng tingin si Writan. "If you say so, I'll complain then. Why did you leave us standing outside? What kind of hospitality do you have?"

Tinawanan niya lang ako. Nakita ko ang pagtigil niya nang tingnan siya nitong lalaking sa harap namin.

"I'm Bok. I'm the publisher or leader of this place. Welcome to the world of writers, Claudia and Sofia."

I smiled sweetly at him. Buti pa si Bok, mabait at magalang unlike Writan na gagawin ang lahat para mairita ako sa kanya.

"Thank you for welcoming us. I will be straight to the point. Yes, I'm looking for my grandfather, Boston. My grandmother, Penya got sick. She asked me to get this book and enter a door. I didn't know what the door will lead us but I guess here we are, in the world of writers. What a cliche name."

Bok smirked. "Tama nga ang sinabi mo, Writan. Kakaiba ang dalagang ito," he said to Writan. Bumaling siya sa akin at ngumiti. "Can I take a look at the book, Claudia?"

Tiningnan ko ang libro bago tumingin kay Bok.

"Can I ask you something?"

Tumango siya sa akin. "Ikaw lang ang magbabasa nito. Don't let anyone peek or see words from this book. Even with your trusted fellow writers whatever. Especially Writan. I can't trust this guy, you know."

Parehas silang humalakhak. Napailing ako. Inilapag ko ang libro sa lamesa. Pinaningkitan ko ng mata si Writan na tuloy ang halakhak sa tabi ni Bok.

"I will protect this book at all cost. I promise."

I agreed with him. Pinandilatan ko ng mata si Writan bago naupo sa upuan sa gilid ko.

Pinanood ko ang pagbuklat ni Bok do'n. Seryoso siyang nakatingin sa first-page ng libro. It was a dedicated message for Boston, my grandfather.

"Ang ating nawalang pag-ibig ay hindi ko na maibabalik. Ngunit ang librong ito ang magpapatunay na hanggang ngayon ay hinihiling ko pa rin na sana ay makasama kita hanggang sa huling hininga ko. Minamahal pa rin kita, Boston," pagbabasa ni Writan.

"Hey!" sigaw ko.

Without a second thought, I grabbed a pen on the table and threw it to Writan. He's getting into my nerve! This guy, argh!

"Don't freaking read the book! It's for Bok's only to read! My gosh, baluktot ba ang utak mo?" nanginginig sa inis kong sigaw.

Tumikhim si Bok kaya natigil ang komosyon namin ni Writan. Nakakainis na talaga kasi ang lalaking ito! Nagsisisi akong nagpatulong pa ako sa kanya. I should've explored alone than get help from this guy.

"Your grandmother's name is Penya. Are you sure it's Penya?"

Kumalma ako. Naiisip ko pa lang si Grandma ay nalulungkot na agad ako. We're supposed to be out there watching out for Grandma but instead, I'm here looking for my grandfather.

"Her name's Penya. Actually, I'm not one-hundred percent sure, I haven't asked her full name yet."

"Bakit ka pumunta rito kung hindi mo alam kung anong totoong pangalan ng lolo at lola mo? Mas lalo ka naming hindi matutulungan," singit ni Writan.

I gritted my teeth. I looked for a thing to throw at him but I don't want to grab the papers at the desk kasi baka importante pa 'yon.

"Napipikon na ako sa 'yo, ha. One more word from you and I will not hesitate to punch your disgusting face!" singhal ko ulit.

Naginginig na ako sa inis sa kanya. Gusto ko ring umiyak sa frustration at disappointment. I want to go back to grandma.

"Matutulungan n'yo ba ako o hindi? Tell me if I'm wasting my time here. I don't have all the time in the world. I still have Grandma to worry about."

Ibinaba ni Bok sa desk niya ang libro at itinuon ang braso sa magkabilang side no'n. His hands were clasped. He gave me a stare.

"The time out there stops from the time you enter through the door," he chatted.

I stopped for my next words. "What?"

"Don't worry about the time. I'll help you with this."

Napatango na lang ako. Nabawasan ang pag-aalala ko.

"How can you help me?" I asked him.

He brushed his hair with his hands and licked his lip. Napansin ko na tahimik na si Writan, so I glanced at him. Napanganga na lang ako nang magsalubong ang mata namin at kindatan ako. I want to throw curses at him again.

"I will try to search for our records and find your grandfather's name. Your grandmother's name as well. Will you tell me her surname?"

Lumunok ako at nag-isip. "San Pedro, if I'm not mistaken. Thank you for your help."

Tumango siya at ngumiti. Hinawakan niya ulit ang libro. "Do you mind if you leave this book and I will try to find out more?"

I didn't hesitate to agree.

"For the meantime, Writan will assist you in a room for you and your sister. This house was built for guests. I hope you consider staying here until I find the records."

"Well, we have no choice. Hindi ko mabuksan ang pinto palabas ng mundong ito. I guess we're staying here."

"The door will open once it feels you have to go home."

Hindi na ako sumagot sa sinabi niya. A door that can feel? Weird.

"Okay. And o, I don't need Writan's help. I do think he makes everything rather complicated."

Narinig ko na naman ang tawa ni Writan pero hindi ko na siya nilingon. Tinulungan ko si Sofia na bumaba sa upuan.

"Salamat ulit, Bok."

He shook my hand and before Writan stepped outside with us, I went out and found ourselves at the desk on the first floor again. I hope I successfully find out about my grandfather's connection in this world. I have no idea why would Grandma asked me to go here. Is there something I need to know?