✔The Knight's Madness

TREDECIM

His father was expecting him to follow in his footsteps, never realizing how big they actually were for him. 

Noong hapong 'yon, naabutan na naman niya itong tulog sa kupas nitong arm chair. Humihilik habang nakahilig ang ulo sa balikat. Malamang magkaka-stiff neck na naman ito mamaya paggising, and to say that his temper becomes a tad bit worse is an understatement. Swertihan na lang siguro kung hindi siya ang pagbuntunan nito.

No, he wasn't physically abused or anything.

Nalaman lang talaga ni Raffaelo na sadyang mas malakas pa ang mga sigaw ni Mr. Asuelo kaysa sa kanyang asawa. On the contrary, Raff can't even remember if he ever heard his mother, his sweet and calm mother, raise her voice at them. Ang huli niyang naaalala ay palagi lang itong tahimik at hindi umiimik. Back in their old house, he wouldn't even notice his mother's presence.

Kaya hindi na rin nahirapang mag-adjust sina Raff sa pagkawala nito.

That stopped his thoughts.

'Pagkawala? Gago. Ano bang pinagsasasabi mo? Buhay pa ang nanay mo...buhay pa siya,' pilit na pangungumbinsi ng kanyang utak. Hindi na niya namalayang nakakuyom na pala ang kanyang mga kamao.

No, his mother is still alive and breathing.

Somehow, she's still alive and breathing back in that white and sanitized room at the private hospital across town. Kaya nga sila lumipat dito sa Eastwood, hindi ba?

Because his mother is still alive and breathing...

"Hindi ko na lang alam kung hanggang kailan."

Napabalik na lang sa kasalukuyan si Raff nang nalaglag ang remote control sa kamay ng kanyang ama. Napabuntong-hininga na lang siya nang mapansing nakabukas pa pala ang kanilang telebisyon. He was already used to this routine. Mabilis niyang dinampot ang remote at pinatay ang TV.

The commentators' voices soon died down as the screen went black, just when one of the boxers was about to land a uppercut on his opponent.

Hindi niya alam.

Nakatuon lang kasi ang mga mata sa referee hanggang tuluyang mawala ang imahe.

"A referee, huh? That's ridiculous." Inis na pinatong ni Raff ang remote sa coffee table at sinulyapan ang mga larawang naka-frame sa pader. Nakakatawang isipin na sa kabila ng katotohanang mas marami pa silang "mas importanteng gamit" na kailangan i-unpack, inuna pa talaga ng kanyang tatay ang mga ito.

Well, why not?

He always loved to relive his glory days as the world of sports' most famous referee. The vintage photographs showed a younger version of the man snoring on the sofa, wearing white and black while standing between two legendary boxers.

May autographs pa ilang mga larawan.

Ilang beses nang nagkumento si Raff sa kanyang ama, "Those are rare memorabilia. Kung sana binenta mo na lang ang mga 'yan sa collectors, eh 'di sana may pambayad na tayo sa hospital bills ni mama." But every time he did so, his father would either shout at him or act like he even didn't hear the frustration in his son's voice.

'Tapos gusto niya akong maging referee din? Tsk. He's out of his mind! Nadadamay na lang ako lagi dahil sa pangalan niya.'

After gulping down a glass of water, mabilis na nagtungo si Raff sa kanyang maliit na kwarto at isinara ang pinto. Hindi na siya nag-abala pang mag-ayos ng kakainin nila. Nawalan na siya ng gana.

Might as well get some homework done.

Half-way through his organic chemistry worksheet, biglang napansin ni Raff ang papel na nakaipit sa mga jalousie ng kanyang bintana. Nang kunin niya ito, agad na kumunot ang noo ng binata nang makita ang itim na envelope.

'Ano na naman bang gimik 'to?'

Pero nang basahin ni Raff ang nilalaman nito, kamuntikan na niya itong mabitiwan.

*

"Hello again, Miss Fake."

Despite the cheeriness in his voice, I knew my brother was struggling to keep his expression light. Matagal ko nang kilala ang baliw na 'to. Wala na siyang maitatanggi sa'kin. Dahil sa kabila ng kaba at tensyong bumabalot sa paligid, I knew Joker was secretly happy to see her again.

If only the feelings were still mutual.

Mula sa kinaroroonan ko, nakita ko ang naguguluhang ekspresyon ni Marquessa. Only one brown eye focused on us.

I noticed how she attempted to hide her blind eye with her hair, even though it was useless. Nanindig ang balahibo ko nang maalala ko kung saan niya nakuha 'yon. Guilt quickly punched me in the gut again. Ayoko na sanang maalalang wala akong nagawa para ibalik ang kanyang paningin.

Matagal niyang tinitigan si Joker habang nakasimangot. Ilang sandali pa, nagulat na lang kami nang bigla siyang ngumiti nang. A casual smile with no hint of familiarity.

"I'm sorry, but do I know you?"

Joker's body tensed. Lalong naging "awkward" ang sitwasyon. Sa huli, napansin ko ang paghinga niya nang malalim bago sumagot ng, "Yeah! W-We've met during your performance, remember? Hahaha! You even dropped that rubber duck."

Sinulyapan ni Kesa ang rubber duck na ginawa niyang keychain. She still kept it, huh?

"Really? I... I can't remember."

Damn.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang side effects ng ibinigay sa kanya noon ni Joker, pero mukhang apektado na talaga ang mga alaala niya---especially when it comes to him. It seems like that drug is slowly blocking him away from her memories, and even if Joker met her over and over again, I fear that she'll just forget him---over and over again. Hindi na dapat ako nagtataka. It was suppose to protect her, anyway.

Nakakalungkot lang isipin na malaki ang naging kapalit ng proteksyong 'to.

And I know Joker understands that, too.

Makalipas ang ilang sandali, malungkot na ngumiti si Evarius Neverwood at aliw na napapailing.

"That's depressing, my insane little sweetheart... Anyway, I need to get going. Have a frabjous evening ahead!" Sa isang kisapmata, bumalik ang malokong ngiti ni Joker at kumindat pa kay Kesa bago siya tuluyang naglakad papalayo.

He didn't even bother glancing behind his shoulders to see if I was coming with him.

He's getting better at faking himself now.

'The tables are now turned.'

Bumaling ako kay Kleo. Nakatitig pa rin siya sa likuran ni Joker habang naglalakad ito papalayo. Kung naguluhan man siya sa palitan nina Kesa at Joker, she didn't pester me with questions. Nararamdaman rin siguro ni Sadako ang bigat ng tensyon kanina.

Sa halip, narinig ko na lang siyang nagtanong ng...

"Saan pala natin hahanapin yung patay? Should we call the Society or do we flip the entire graveyard? Teka, kunin ko lang yung mga pala at sako..."

"There's no need," I stopped her. "Kami nang bahalang mag-imbestiga sa mga nangyari. Besides, you don't want to leave your new friend all alone, do you?"

As if on cue, Kesa approached us; her pigtails bouncing after her.

"Hey, Kleo!"

I smiled and stepped aside, giving them their much needed quality time. Natuod naman sa kanyang kinatatayuan si Kleo, halatang hindi alam kung anong gagawin o kung ano ang sasabihin. Bago pa man siya makapagprotesta at magpumilit na sumama sa'min, I quickly jogged out of their lawn and did a thumbs up at her. Nagtungo ako sa kalapit na puno at mabilis na nagbagong-anyo.

I just hope it's not too late.

---

A cry of help jolted me awake
in the dead of the night last June;
A stain, a scratch, and an eerie voice,
"Nightmare are real, see you soon..."

---Everick Neverwood