Chapter 40 (last chapter)

Six years before the downfall of Alcantaras

"Langdon! Hurry, man! Ang bagal mo! Kapag tayo, hindi nakapasok, kakainin ko talaga iyong ball python mo."

Napailing na lang siya sa tinuran ng pinsan. Sergio is such a crazy frog when it comes to this one Alcantara woman. He planned on sneaking in the 18th birthday party of their nemesis just to talk to this girl.

Nagsasawa na rin siya sa paulit-ulit na ginagawa kaya sumama na rin siya. He wants some thrill in this vacation. Monte Vega is one boring town with no bars. Just stables, horses, old houses, and rivers. Napakalayo sa New York City na naging tirahan na niya sa halos buong teenage years niya. Well, nag-enjoy din naman siya sa bagong curated na horse collection.

"Do it and I'll butcher Tanya and turn her into adobo," tukoy niya sa minamahal nitong palaka.

Sumunod siya rito at napailing na lang nang malaman ang ideya nito para makapasok sa loob ng bakuran ng mansiyon ng mga Alcantara kung saan kasalukuyang ginaganap ang pagdiriwang.

"Seriously Serg? We're going to do this?" aniya habang nakatingin sa mataas na bakod na balak nitong akyatin na kasama siya.

Sergio gave him a punch in the back. "Try to go back to your own roots, man. You were a Monte Vegan first before you became a true-bloodied New Yorker. We used to do this before after we tired out our horses."

Sergio whistled and a rope was thrown at them from the other side.

"I always have reinforcement. For my dear young love."

Kinindatan siya nito bago inabot ang tali.

"I'll go first. See you on the other side."

Sergio effortlessly climbed into the wall and jumped until he disappeared from his eyes.

Naiiling na namewang na lang siya. Sergio is one mad man for infiltrating the enemy's camp tonight. This could get the two of them killed. This is trespassing.

Sinuklay niya ang buhok at napatawa.

"Well, I'm also a crazy one because I'm doing this."

Hinila niya ang tali at sinimulang akyatin ang pader. Nang makarating sa dulo ay binitawan niya ito at nakangising tumalon sa kabilang bakod kung nasaan ang madilim na garden ng mga Alcantara. Inayos niya ang suot na tailored black suit at sinuntok sa likod si Sergio na nakapamulsa at nakangiting naghihintay sa kaniya.

"Serg, we better enjoy ourselves for tonight." He groaned. "I broke a bone or two for you."

"Oh I'm sure you will, Langdon. The Alcantara clan has some of the finest women I know."

He chuckled. "You forgot that they're also feisty, bold, and always ready to take our head for a bounty."

"You're right that's why we have to wear it. It's the theme of their party."

Mula sa breastpocket ay may inilabas itong dalawang maskara at inihagis sa kaniya ang isa. Sinalo niya ito at nakangising pinagmasdan ang Zoro-inspired na mask.

"Wow! How original!" sarkastiko niyang papuri sa hawak. "What a taste, Sergio Zahir Asturia. Where's my sword? I'm sure it's just out here."

"Hey, I didn't know our beloved neighbors would have a birthday blast until just this afternoon. Iyan lang ang nakayanan ko Langdon Voltaire Asturia kaya pagtiyagaan mo na."

Nabaling ang tingin niya sa Ironman mask nito.

"Yeah, I'll have this one. Thanks for the consideration."

"Sandali." Pinigilan siya nito nang humakbang siya papunta sa maliwanag na direksiyon. "Your hair, Langdon."

Hinawakan niya ang ulo. "What about my hair?"

"Everyone in town knows you have that red silly color in your hair. We might get caught because of you."

He just shrugged it off. "You should have thought about that before pestering me in my sleep and dragging me down here. Tara na before you chickened out."

They walked into the bustling party of their rivals and blended in the crowd like they're one of them. Kumuha siya ng isang kopita ng champagne sa dumaan na waiter saka sinuyod ng tingin ang maliwanag na paligid.

This is actually what he expected from the Alcantaras. Elegant and boring. Luxurious and boring. Any other adjective with the word boring next to it. Just plain boring.

The guests in their gowns, suits, and masks were scattered in the well-lit lawn chatting or if he can describe it, hushing like they're telling a secret. In the background is a classical music played by an orchestra that is seriously making him yawn.

"This isn't a party, Sergio. It's too quiet it could pass as a funeral."

Tumawa lang ang pinsan, malikot ang mata nito sa kakahanap sa debutant sa gabing iyon.

"Then find some fucking cold corpse you can fuck. You stay here and enjoy. I need to find her," he said and left him there.

He sighed. "Fuck you, Sergio." Inilibot niya ang tingin sa paligid para makahanap ng isa sa mga finest women na tinutukoy nito. "I'll choose that woman in hot pink mask."

He put the goblet in a table and went to the direction of the woman. Nang makalapit ay inihanda na niya ang kamay pero bago pa niya iyon mailahad dito ay nakaalis na ito kaya tumambad sa kaniya ang babae na nasa likod nito.

The woman is wearing a Sandman helm-inspired mask without the long tusky end that covers three fourths of her face. He can only see half of her nose and her lips. Her white long gown extends up to the ground.

"Hello, my lady. Can you please accept an offer of dance from a lovestruck lad?" he asked a little bit amused by her mismatched outfit. Now this one looks so original.

"I don't dance," she denied his request using the most soothing voice he has ever heard. "I've never danced in my whole life. I... I only play instruments."

He did not retract his hand. "Please, I insist."

"Would I be responsible for the dirt in your shining shoes if ever I step on it?"

He shook his head and gave her a genuine smile. "What kind of a man would blame a woman he fancies? Please, just one dance."

Pigil-hiningang hinintay niya ang magiging desisyon nito kaya nang abutin nito ang kamay niya at magkasama silang pumuwesto sa bahagyang tagong parte ng bakuran ay parang pumitlag ang puso niya.

He put his hands on her tiny waist but instead of laying hers on his shoulders, she looked down and pulled up her gown to show him something.

"Can I really dirty your shoes with them?"

"You're wearing sneakers," he said as a matter-of-factly.

"Yes, because I hate anything with heels. Nagkakalyo ang paa ko and they hurt my toenails sa bad. I envy those girls who can stand them."

Ewan niya pero nakita na lang niya ang sarili na tumatawa sa ipinagtapat nito.

"If I were a woman, I'd also hate those killer shoes. It's not fashion. It's a weapon," he exclaimed.

"You really think so? I thought girls really love that because it makes them pretty."

Kinuha niya ang kamay nito at inilagay sa mga balikat niya.

"We can dance together without you stepping on my shining shoes." He guided her and pinned his body closer to him. "Just count two steps to the left and two steps to the right. Now let's do this. One two, one two. And then again."

They kept on doing the same thing for several minutes until she heard him giggled.

"You also don't know how to dance. This is not how my cousins do it," natatawang pambubuking nito sa kaniya.

"You busted me," pag-amin niya, hindi na maalis ang ngiti sa mga labi. "Can you take off your mask? Can I see your face?"

Mabilis ang ginawang pag-iling nito. "N-No, no. I look weird." She leaned closer to him and whispered. "I have glasses underneath this mask and I don't have any make up on. And I should not be here in the first place. My strict brother didn't allow me to come so I just sneak in here because I thought the theme of the party would be more interesting. I want it to be about animals but it's not my birthday so I don't have any right to complain but the concept of this whole party is really disappointing."

Naaaliw na patuloy lang siyang nakinig sa mga daldal nito. The way her voice goes from rising to falling intonation while remaining to be sounding respectful is remarkable. He found her very interesting.

"If you hadn't come, then I wouldn't have a lovely companion in a very lovely night like this. Baka kanina pa ako umuwi kung hindi dahil sa iyo."

"Lovely? Me? Really? But you didn't even saw my face. How could you say I am lovely?" she asked in her clear innocent curious voice.

"Well, I don't know. Maybe because with a voice like that, a nose and a lips like that, there will be no mistaking that you are very lovely. Altogether. What's your name then, lovely one?"

He felt the tension in her body when she cautiously look from one side to another and then back to him.

"You are an Asturia and I'm an Alcantara. You can't know me, you know that," saad nito sa pinakamalamyos na tinig na narinig niya sa buong buhay niya. "But I know you're Langdon Asturia."

He got a bit nervous. "How'd you know that?"

Itinuro nito ang buhok niya. "Your hair easily gave out your identity. You're the only one here who has that kind of hair."

"Is that so? Well, would me being an Asturia be a problem? I just want us to be friends."

"Of course it will! It's in the rules. We're even forbidden to talk to each other now."

Nakangiting ipinasok niya ang mga kamay sa bulsa. "But here you are talking to me. I assumed you want to be my friend even though I'm an Asturia. Rules are just made up by the adults to scare us. Come on, it's fun to break them."

"You sound like my cousin," she said.

"See? It's not just me. Even your cousin thinks so too. Do you want to go with me now? We can talk somewhere else to make you less worried," he suggested when she turned sideways to look at the people again.

Hindi ito nakasagot kaya alam niyang tama siya.

"Come on." Hinawakan niya ang kamay nito na ikinapitlag nito pero hindi naman ito bumitaw.

"I need to go home before twelve," she stated in distress.

Tumingin siya sa relo at ngumiti rito. "It's still half past ten Cinderella. We can still fool around."

Hinila niya ito papunta sa garden kung saan sila tumalon ng pinsan kanina. Hinubad niya ang jacket at inilatag ito sa damuhan at inalalayan paupo ang babae. Tumabi naman siya rito at tinitigan ang maliit pero matangos na ilong nito.

"The sky looks so good tonight," bulong nito at itinaas ang kamay sa kalangitan. "It's perfect for stargazing."

Tumingala rin siya sa langit at hindi maiwasang ngumiti sa rami ng mga bituin.

"You like stars? I have a telescope in my room. I could bring it to you."

She moved her head to his side and clasped her hands together as if pleading for something.

"Really? You're letting me borrow it? So it means you will see me again?" she said in a mixture of excitement and fear.

"Of course. I'll see you again. What's your name? Can I have it? You know me but I don't know you. It's not fair."

"Langdon! We have to go. They know we're here," humahangos na saad ni Sergio at agad na kumapit sa tali at nagsimulang umakyat.

Magkasabay silang tumayo ng babae. Ibinigay nito ang jacket sa kaniya at sumunod sa kaniya sa pader.

"Can I meet you again tomorrow? In the border of the estates? By afternoon? Say three?" he asked in a hopeful manner.

"No, I was forbidden to go there by my parents and my brother. I can meet you in a cafè in the plaza."

He nodded, his heart beating in a different manner.

"Oh wait." Hinubad niya ang maskara at ibinigay rito. "Bring that tomorrow para makilala kita."

Inabot nito iyon at niyakap. "Okay. Goodbye, Lang. See you then."

Kumaway ito sa kaniya.

Nakangiting nagsimula siyang umakyat hanggang sa makarating siya sa dulo. Bago tumalon pababa ay nilingon muna niya ang babae at kinindatan ito.

He can't wait to see the face and know the name of the lovely girl behind the mask.

"ATE CAS! Ate Cas!" masiglang tawag niya sa pangalan ng pinsan nang makabalik na siya sa sariling silid mula sa birthday party ni Basha. Nakiusap siya rito na magpanggap na siya para hindi magtaka ang kuya niya.

Umayos ito ng upo sa kama at itinabi ang binabasang libro at itinuon sa kaniya ang buong pansin. Kinuha niya ang mga kamay nito at nagniningning ang mga matang nginitian ito.

"Can you please do me a favor? Can you meet someone for me in a cafe in the plaza? Please return an item for me and tell him my number. Can you please do that for me, ate?"

Ngumiti si Casindra at inayos ang iilang hibla ng buhok niya pabalik sa likod ng tenga niya.

"Of course, Cin. Anything for you, my sweetest cousin."

"Thank you, Ate Cas."

Niyakap niya ito at hinalikan sa pisngi.

That night, while holding the mask from her beloved, she dreamt of dancing llamas while she and Langdon sat under the sky of teeming constellations.

WAKAS

Author's Note:

Another story has ended. Thank you and may we all be together again in another journey of another story.

If you have Facebook, you can add me there. I'm also on w@ttp@d with the same username.

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Love,

Pecadoria