Chapter 8

Sofia and I stayed in this big room for two days. We haven't gone outside kahit na nate-tempt ako. I don't want to take Sofia around. Baka mapahamak pa siya at ako na naman ang mapagalitan. In the first place, why Mommy leaves her beloved daughter with me?

There's no need to go outside. Every hour ay may pumapasok na maid at nagtatanong nang maitutulong niya sa amin. Everything from breakfast to dinner, even snacks is covered. I don't need to lay a finger because the maid would clean the room for us.

I like it here. I don't need to face my mother every damn time. I can do everything I want here. I can eat everything I want and most especially, I don't need to take care of my sister because there's a maid who's doing that for me.

Napangiti ako nang makita ang papalubog na araw sa labas ng bintana ng kwarto ko. I have a separate room with Sofia and I like this privacy.

Napalingon ako nang may kumatok sa pinto. Binuksan ko 'yon, thinking it was the maid but it wasn't. It's the guy I don't want to meet again.

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

"Komportable ka ba rito?" tanong niya.

Pinagkrus ko ang bisig ko. "Kanina, oo. Ngayon, hindi na. Nandito ka kasi, e. Can you please get out of our room?"

He smirked and crossed his arms too. Nagtitigan kaming dalawa. Ang kulit-kulit niya tapos ako naman nagpapatalo sa kakulitan niya. Siya lang ang rason kung bakit ayaw ko rito. He's making my blood boil.

"Do you want to explore the city?"

I tilted my head and glanced at the window. I do love to explore the place. Everything is normal here, ang mga tao o writers ay katulad lang din ng mga ordinaryong tao. Siguro.

"Will you tell me more about this world?"

Humarap ako kay Writan. Tumango siya. I took my time dressing up. After that, I walked out of the room and found Writan sitting on the couch.

"I'll tell Sofia first."

Nagpunta ako sa kwarto ng kapatid ko pero natutulog pala siya. Sinabi ko na lamang sa maid na kung sakaling hanapin ako ni Sofia, sabihin niya sa kapatid ko na aalis lang ako sandali. Pagkatapos niyon ay lumabas ako kasama ni Writan.

I walked in the right direction but Writan walked in the opposite. Nangunot tuloy ang noo ko.

"May elevator dito," he explained.

Napanganga ako. "What? We didn't know! For Pete's sake, we walked from the first floor all the way here!"

Tumawa siya. He signaled me to follow him. I hugged myself and did what he signaled me to do. When we stepped into the elevator, we stayed quiet. Naaamoy ko ang pabango niya na sobrang tapang but manly at the same time. I like his smell.

"What do you think about this world?" he opened up a conversation.

"Weird. It's like we're aliens na pumasok sa ibang planeta. Like Narnia na legit."

I heard his chuckle. He always laughs at my answers. I looked at him and saw him amused at me. Hindi ko nararamdaman na kanina pa pala siyang nakatitig sa akin. Gumanti ako, tiningnan ko ang suot niyang hoodie at pants partnered with leather shoes. He looks good with that casual look lang. Naka-taas ang buhok niya at maaliwalas ang mukha.

"May evil witch do'n at lalong walang tiger dito. Hindi Narnia rito, though I want to enter that world if it's existing."

I shrugged. "Walang imposible. Look at me, entering this strange world."

Ngumiti siya at tumahimik ulit.

"So, when did you enter this world? Kailan mo nasabing gusto mong manatili rito instead of outside?"

Naramdaman ko ang pagseryoso niya. "Five years ago. You? Do you like writing? Even your name isn't related to writing."

"I don't like reading more so writing."

"Hmm...maraming nagsasabi sa aking manunulat na ayaw nila noon nang pagsusulat. It will take time for you to realize what your passion is. Perhaps it's only waiting for you to be ready."

I shrugged. "I don't want to be a writer. It's a cheap passion."

Nakita ko ang paglaglag ng panga ni Writan. I giggled looking at his face. He couldn't believe I said that.

"I take it back. Mukhang mangra-riot ka, e."

We laughed together. Nanahimik ulit kami sandali.

"Grandma is like my comfort. Kaya ako narito dahil gusto kong tulungan siya ro'n sa book kahit na hindi ko naman alam kung anong madi-discover ko. Hindi ko nga rin alam itong pinasok namin ng kapatid ko. It feels surreal."

Tumango-tango siya sinabi ko. Ngumiti ako sa kanya at nanahimik. Why does this elevator taking so long?

"I hope you find out what's in that book. You can go home finally and see your grandmother."

I gave him a genuine smile.

"Since when was this world created?" tanong ko pagkatapos naming lumabas ng elevator.

Nakita ko pa ang pagsaludo ni Writan sa babae sa desk. Nginitian ko lang ang babae bago ako lumabas kasunod ni Writan na pinagbuksan kami.

Nalanghap ko ang sariwang hangin. Tiningnan ko ang maliwanag na daan. Again, I don't know where it will end.

"Since your world is created," sagot ni Writan.

"Then, how about Bok? Kailan siya pumasok dito at naging leader?"

Umiling siya at tumingin din sa daan na maraming naglalakad na mga tao.

"Matagal na. Matanda na rin siguro 'yon kung hindi siya pumasok dito."

I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. I can't get the idea of being young forever. This world is offering that and it's weird na hindi ka na tatanda.

"Are you free to get out of this place? How about your parents? Family?"

Tiningnan ako ni Writan. I'm comfortable with people staring, but him it feels uncomfortable. I'm getting nervous.

"All of these people were ready to leave their family for their passion. We never leave your world of yours if we're not. Not everyone of course has the same reasons why are they pursuing writing than being with their families."

"So, you were ready to be here before you left your family? You can't get out of this place again," I realized.

Naglakad kaming dalawa papunta sa daan at naglakad-lakad. Pakinig ko ang tawanan ng mga tao na kasama namin. Nginitian ko ang iba. I looked at Writan, he's looking in front of us. There is a huge tree beside the road and it has color pink flowers on it. Like a cherry blossom. It's beautiful.

"Let's sit there," he offered.

Sinundan ko siya. Umupo kami sa bench sa ilalim ng puno na parang cherry blossom. Nilanghap ko ang hangin habang nakatingin pa rin sa mga tao sa daan.

"Are they truly happy with their choices? Like you, are you happy here? Because happiness is the important thing."

"Agree. We don't know if everyone here is happy. They chose this, they should be happy. Right?"

I tilted my head and faced Writan. He looks so handsome sitting beside me. Inayos ko ang suot kong dress na kinuha ko lamang sa closet kanina. It was pink like the color of these cherry blossoms.

"Are you happy?" pagbabalik ko ulit ng tanong sa kanya.

Naramdaman ko ang bigat sa mukha niya.

"You should be happy. You chose this world."

Tumango siya bago inalis ang tingin sa akin. We became quiet.

"I want to be happy. Everything I do is like nothing. Being here makes me think of what it would be like to be happy like all of you being here. So, I'm asking you...are you happy?"

He gave a smile and nodded. "We have the same thought. What's the definition of happiness in that world? Is it the same definition of happiness here?"

"Happiness isn't how people define it for you, it's how you define happiness on your own."

"May sense ka rin palang kausap, 'no?" pang-aasar ni Writan.

Pinalo ko siya sa bisig niya bago kami humagalpak ng tawa. I grinned and nibbled my bottom lip after.

"How many stories have you written? You're here for five years."

"Fifteen novels."

Nanlaki ang mata ko. "Good for you," I teased.

He shook his head, grinning like me.

"Your grandmother is a writer. How about your mother?" Writan asked in curiousity.

Umiling ako. "My mother's a nurse."

"She doesn't like writing?"

I never ask her that. I only think about what I want than hers.

"I hate my mother. She only does the things I'll hate. Divorcing my father, caring for my sister than me, not caring for me, planning, and deciding everything for herself."

"Hating people will only make you feel bad. It's not good for your health,", he advised.

"I don't mind being unhealthy," I responded.

Sabay kaming tumayo at naglakad kasabay ng mga tao sa daan.

"Kailan matatapos ang daang 'to? It feels like there's no ending in this road."

He shrugged. "Don't know, haven't tried it yet."

Napatingin ako bigla sa kanya. "So, wala ngang katapusan ito?"

Nagkibit balikat siya. Napanganga ako. Tiningnan ko ang malawak na daan.

"Do you want to find out where this ends, Claudia?"

I blinked repeatedly. "With you?" natatawa kong tanong, may halong disgusto sa tono ko.

"Why not? I'm always curious about this road too. We can find out together."

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad habang tuloy-tuloy siya. I'm being tempted by his offer. But I have Sofia to worry about. I can't leave her in the house.

"You don't want to?" biglang tanong ni Writan.

"I want to," tipid kong tugon.

"What's stopping you?"

I stared at him. He ran his hand on his hair.

"Sofia. She has no one with her. I can't leave her there."

He nodded and went back to me. "I guess we're not doing that right now. How about next time? Let's find out where this road ends."

"Okay. Next time."

We shook hands in the middle of the road. He grinned and so am I. We went back to the house together while comfortable silence surrounding us. Why would I agree with him? Is it me deciding that I will be here longer?