ZEIAH || CAPITULO QUATRO: THE EMBLEM

I ate and finished the food that Doron laid on me, then I saw the clothes he left at the foot of the bed. I approached and took them one by one. I measured and coincidentally the size was right for me, then I went to the bathroom, only to find out how big it was, I was amazed, mas malaki pa ito sa kubo namin ni Mama halos katumbas ng apat na kubo na kasing laki ng meron kami. I smiled a little when I remember again, Mama. With a heavy heart, I try to ignore and I headed on to take a shower. Dahil sa hindi na rin maganda ang pakiramdam ko sa aking damit na ilang araw ko nang suot, not to mention how awful I smelled and that makes me feel a little embarrassed. 

 

After I took a shower and groomed myself, I dried my hair and got dressed. While I was doing that I looked at myself in the mirror. There seems to be something else. I came closer in front of the mirror while eyeing my full-length figure, then I felt a small tingling sting on the side of my neck. Hinawakan ko ang parting iyon nang aking leeg.

"Ahhh..." I murmur in agony. It's painful that my body is arched in pain that I almost sit down on the floor. I gasped for an air, habang pinapakiramdaman ang masakit kung leeg while I am in a squatting position, my right hand ay nakahawak sa aking leeg samantalang ang isang kamay ko ay kumakapa sa lababo ng banyo upang maging alalay para ako'y makatayo ng dahan-dahan. After a few minutes, I am thankful the pain started to fade away and my body started to calm down at the same time.

That made me get up all of a sudden. Tumayo ulit ako ng tuwid at tiningnan ang leeg ko, and to my surprise, a strange emblem started to form on the right part of my neck. It looks like an "S '' mark, it was just beside the scar that I had from my captivity with the man who killed my mother. I felt worried but whatever it is I will find out--I sigh.  I touched that strange emblem with my palm, tracing it with my fingers, nararamdaman ko ang pagbakat ng marka na ito sa aking balat na parang nagpapahiwatag na isa siya sa akin, na parang matagal na siyang nandito sa aking leeg. Napakagat ako ng labi habang nangungunot din ang aking noo habang titig na titig sa bagay na ito sa aking leeg. 

After a while, I heaved a deep breath and I composed myself and continued to get dressed. Kahit na marami ang tumatakbo sa isip ko, binalewala ko muna ang mga ito. Pagkatapos magbihis at mag-ayos I went out of that huge bathroom and averted my eyes on every corner of the room. Then, I went into the window, the room has large stained glass windows in an increased height, the wide curtains were half-open. I stood there looking outside of the window. And from up here, I saw the magnificent view of the place.

It's breathtaking...

Namangha ako sa lugar parang nasa ibang dimension ako nang mundo.Nagkataon na ang kwartong kinaroroonan ko ay halos nasa harapang parti mismo ng mansion na ito kaya’y kitang kita ko ang kabuuan ng paligid. Napakaganda, but it feels so enchanted. I also noticed that the structure of the place was designed in Gothic Architecture. The pointed arches that are sharps and screams danger say it all, I even noticed the ribbed vaults on the roof and walls with the flying buttresses and the magnificent ornate decoration that seems to have sculptural moldings that I can barely figure out and pinnacles and spires.

May malaking hardin sa kaliwa at kanan nito that has a statue of saints and historical figures nang isang tao na may pakpak. May mahabang pathway na centro mismo sa harapan ng mansion at sa gilid ng pathway ay may mga statue din of different figures na may mapapangit na mukha at pakpak it made me awe but at the same time mas lalong na tri-trigger ang aking isipan sa pagkakaroon ng maraming katanungan. Aking naaninag din ang malaking labyrinth sa gawing kanan ng lugar which is kitang kita mula sa bintana ng kwartong ito. Kaya mas lalo akong nagtaka kung nasaan talaga ako. 

 

Masuri kong tiningnan ang bawat paligid na parang may hinahanaap na hindi ko maintidihan. The place is too quiet na mas lalong nagpa misteryoso ng lugar. Ni walang katao-tao sa lugar kahit sa labas, ni wala ngang gwardiya sa matayog na bakal nitong gate na may mga matutulis na rehas. Meron ding statues sa kanan at kaliwa nito, on the left side there was a figure of a man in a robe that has a sword and wings while on the other side ay isang parang halimaw with an ugly face, thorns on its head, large pangs, and sharp canines and teeth and wings.

The place is so spectacular and glorious... but I have this feeling that it feels more than what it is and that's what I need to find out too.

Naningkit ang aking mga mata ng mapagawi sa kalangitan. Mataas pa ang sinag ng araw at gusto ko nang simulan ang huling habilin ni Mama sa akin, kasabay nito is my determination to do the task as soon as possible. For sure, finding Claire is the only way to answer all of my questions, Isa pa. I also need to know how this symbolic thing happens to appear in my neck. And I just hope that these people who helped me could be able to answer it but of course, I have to make sure if they can be trusted first, though they may look so nice, still I can't be complacent.

That's right Zeiah... Hindi ka pwedeng makampante... Mahirap na...

Pagkatapos, napag pasyahan kung lumabas at pumunta sa kwarto ni Doron.

I can't let another day pass dapat mahanap ko na si Claire para ipakita sa kanya ang memoir ni Mama.

Nang masabi ko iyon sa aking isipan do'n din at naalala ko ang memoir ni Mama.

Naku naman halos nakalimutan ko nadala ko yun e' --asan na ba yun? tanong ko sa aking sarili.

Bumalik ako sa tabi nang kama at tiningnan baka andun yung bag ko, pero wala akong makita. Halos ginalugad ko na ang buong kwarto pero wala akong makita. Bigla kong naalala si Doron baka nakita niya at naitabi yung dala ko. Kaya tumayo ako ng tuwid, bumuntong hininga at inabot ang door knob para buksan ang kwarto at lumabas. 

Sabi niya kanina nasa tabi lang nang kwartong ito ang kwarto niya sa bandang kanan.

I started heading my direction sa bandang kanan at doon nga bumungad sa akin ang isang malaking pinto din. Kasing laki din ito sa kwarto na kung saan ako kanina. I count 1, 2, and 3...bago kumatok. Sa hindi maipaliwanag na dahilan kinakabahan ako. I realized that for some reason Doron's presence has an effect on me.

Weird... Calm down Zeiah...He is nice so no need to get nervous. 

I told myself while doing my best to calm down. Then after a few minutes, I found the courage to knock on his door. I used to knock twice then no one came to open it, then I tried it again and for the second time--no one opened the door, so I thought maybe he was out there. Then the same feeling I felt again that I don't even have the slightest idea what's the reason why I felt sad?

Seriously Zeiah? I can't believe myself for reacting like this right now. I just met him a few minutes ago.

This is so fucking weird...

And when I'm about to leave and decide to come back later, the door opens. And there it is again, my heartbeat becomes faster almost like the pounding train tracks and something's not really right.

"Yes?" I heard his voice and before I could turn my back to look at him--- upon hearing his voice, I suddenly felt the pain in my neck again right there and then where the emblem happened to emerge.

Anu ba ang nangyayari sa akin?

Nasambit ko sa aking sarili habang paunti-unting bumibigat ang aking katawan at talukap ng aking mga mata...