✔The Knight's Madness

QUATTOURDECIM

Nica hated the smell of smoke.

Well, as a matter of fact, she hates a lot of things but the smoke of those goddamn cigarettes are definitely on top of her list. Sinamaan niya ng tingin ang lalaking nakaupo sa cart ng makintab na toy train. His long legs dangled, but it looks like he didn't mind at all.

"Sa susunod ire-request kong maglagay ng 'no smoking' sign dito," inis na sambit ng dalaga habang nakatakip ang ilong.

Isang malokong ngiti naman ang sumilay sa mga labi ng mamamatay-tao. His crooked teeth were equally as annoying as his habits.

"Toot! You can't really do that, kiddo. Hindi porke't tita mo ang secretary, pwede ka nang umaktong reyna," The Toymaker mocked and took a long drag on his cigarette. His other hand played with a dead kid's shoe. "Kaya kung ayaw mo sa amoy, pwede ka namang lumabas."

'Fucking asshole!'

Nica gritted her teeth and stormed away. Dahil wala siyang balak i-satisfy ang siraulong 'yon, mas pinili na lang niyang manatili sa loob. She sat down on a stool, just as a glass of vodka appeared in front of her.

"The Toymaker's bothering you again?"

Napalingon si Nica sa lalaking nakatayo sa likod ng counter. Abala pa ito sa pagpupunas ng mga baso, meticulously inspecting them. Oh, he loves to keep the glassware spotless. Kaya nga palagi niyang tinatapon ang mga basong namamantsahan ng dugo ng mga kaaway niya.

'Doc is just as deadly as anyone else in this place.'

Nica grabbed the--what she assume is free--glass of vodka. "Isang araw talaga matatagpuan niyo na lang nakasiksik ang bangkay ng bwiset na 'yan sa loob ng toy chest niya."

Dr. Smiley (or simply "Doc") gave her a patient smile. Hindi niya alam kung totoo bang may Ph.D. ito sa medisina at kung anong kinalaman nito sa pagiging bartender, but Nica was grateful he was a decent guy.

"Mukhang hindi mo na kailangang gawin 'yon. I heard that the Toymaker will be up against Whistler in the first round of the tournament," he said.

Natigilan si Nica, the glass stopped in midair, halfway to her lips. "Talaga? Ang akala ko ba random ang gagawin nila sa first round?"

"Hindi 'yon ang narinig ko sa tita mo." The man smiled.

"Ugh! She doesn't tell me anything... Minsan talaga pakiramdam ko wala siyang tiwala sa'kin," Nica mumbled the last part, even though she was sure that Doc heard her. Nang hindi ito umimik, nilagok na lang ng dalaga ang alak at inusog papalayo ang baso.

Doc sighed and refilled her glass.

"That's why you should prove yourself to the management, Nica. Kaya nga nila ibinigay sa'yo ang mahalagang assignment na 'yan. No referee, no match."

Hindi na niya kailangan pa ng paalala. 'I've already sent the invitations to potential referees. Kailangan na lang naming hintayin kung sinong tanga o desperadong papatol sa alok namin,' she thought.

Walang imik na lang na inagaw ni Nica ang baso, kahit pa hindi pa tapos sa pagsasalin si Doc. She gulped it down and ignored the bitter taste left in her mouth.

*

Friendship.

Paulit-ulit niyang sinearch sa internet ang kahulugan ng salitang 'to matapos ang 'di inaasahang pagbisita sa kanya ni Kleo kahapon. Inabot pa siya ng madaling-araw. 'Pwede ko na nga yatang gawan ng thesis,' Kleo thought while poking at her pork and beans.

Hanggang ngayon, nahihirapan pa rin siyang intindihin ang mechanics ng pakikipagkaibigan, kaya hindi niya alam kung normal ba talagang kumain ng lunch nang may kasama.

She wasn't used to a mortal companion, at kanina pa talaga nagrereklamo si Roberta sa loob ng bag niya.

'Oh, poor Roberta!'

"---it's really amazing! The grand winner will even get a free trip to Sydney's Opera House in Australia..."

Pagtatapos ni Kesa bago nito ibinalik ang kanyang atensyon sa pagkain. Kleo watched in horror as she ate a spoonful of those horrible pork and beans. Gustuhin man niyang pigilan ang violinist dahil wala siyang tiwala sa hinahain nila dito sa college cafeteria, huli na ang lahat.

'Pero paano na lang kung may nilagay nga silang kemikal? Paano kung maging zombie na lang bigla ang lahat ng mga estudyante rito? Paanong kung---!'

"Kleo?"

Napabalik na lang sa kasalukuyan si Kleopatra Claveria nang tawagin siya ni Kesa.

"Are you okay? Kanina ka pa hindi umiimik," Marquessa asked. Kleo suddenly wondered the story behind her blind eye. Pero base sa naging reaksyon ng kapatid ni Everick kahapon nang magkita sila, Kleo can only conclude that it has something to do with the Neverwoods.

'Pero bakit hindi niya ito naalala?'

Huminga nang malalim si Kleo at isinantabi na muna ang pang-uusisa.

"Nalalamigan lang ako," she replied.

Kesa rose an eyebrow at her, clearly unconvinced. "But you're already wearing a sweater."

"I'm mad."

Imbes na laitin siya, mahinang natawa si Kesa.

"Well, I'm insane. We'll get along just fine, don't you think? Hahaha!"

So far, Marquessa looks genuinely happy to be in her company---kahit pa nasa ulo pa rin ni Kleo ang korona ng pagiging "campus freak show" ng ECU. 'Maybe having a living friend isn't so bad, after all.' Napangiti na lang din si Kleo. Maya-maya pa, napansin niya ang pagkinang ng ilang crystal sa ilalalim ng mata ng kanyang kasama.

Studs of glimmering diamonds on her skin. Rhinestones? Piercings?

Teka...

"T-Those are dried tears."

Natigilan si Marquessa sa kanyang sinabi. She unconsciously touched the spot under her good eye. "Dried tears? Hindi ko alam ang sinasabi mo."

"It's a folklore I've read on a paranormal journal on the internet. Minsan sa isang siglo, nag-iiwan ng bakas ang mga ligaw na kaluluwa sa kagubatan ng Eastwood sa sinumang makakatakas sa kanila. I've heard that they do that during a blood moon, and that it's one of the rarest phenomena written in the books," Kleo explained. "Some say that they come from human tears. Others believe that they contain an untapped potential. Pero hindi ko sigurado dahil ngayon lang ako nakakita ng ganyan sa personal..."

Suddenly, Marquessa looked uncomfortable.

"Sana lang naaalala ko kung paano ko 'to nakuha..."

"What do you mean?"

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ang dalaga.

"I don't really know why... But I can't remember a lot of things. Parang may kulang sa mga alaala ko...parang may kailangan akong maalala. It doesn't really make any sense hahaha! I think I'm going crazy, Kleo."

Muling bumalik sa alaala ni Kleo ang nangyari kahapon. No, maybe it does make sense. At alam niyang may kinalaman dito ang magkakapatid.

Bago pa man ito sabihin ni Kleo, agad niyang naaninag ang bulto ng binatang papalapit sa kanila. Suddenly, she wondered why the hell she even agreed to eat at the cafeteria in the first place. Akmang magtatago na sana sa loob ng kanyang sweater si Kleopatra nang tumabi sa kanya ang lapastangang nilalang.

The guy's cologne smelled like dead rats---well, at least to her.

"Hi! Ikaw 'yong tumulong sa'kin noong isang araw, 'di ba? I never got the chance to thank you properly..."

Kleo frowned and mumbled, "You're a transferee, right?"

"Ha? Oo---!"

"Friendly advice: stay away from me."

---

Promise me you'll never share
the secrets I try to hide;
and I'll tell the devils to spare what's left
of your sad and miserable life.

---Kleopatra Claveria