Chapter 9: IX

What is love in this passing life?

Is it the unbearable feeling?

Does the butterfly within you keep you sane?

But when the butterfly dies, what one can offer?

Is life worth sparing for a manifestation of love? Do love ends when selfishness outweighs it?

° ° °

YEAR 2020

The aroma of scented roses lingers in his senses and a skip of a heartbeat emerges. The glimpse of sunset kissed his illuminating eyes and a silhouette of a dazzling lady wearing a dress dancing along with the romantic ballad song 'So this is love by Ilene Woods' playing in a music box.

He grabbed her hands and asked, "Can I have my last dance?"

The lady smiled at him and gave him her hands. They romantically dance inside the room.

"Do you love me?" The boy asked.

So in love, she answered, "Of course, I do. I'll do everything for you, you knew that." A smile was drawn on him.

"If you love me, what can you offer?" he continued.

"My body, my life, my soul. I am willing to offer everything." He kissed her on the neck passionately.

"If I would take all of that, would you allow me?"

"My consent is yours, Ai." The girl gave him her consent without having a second thought.

"Do you remember our favorite love story?" The boy abruptly diverted the conversation.

"Yeah, Romeo and Juliet." She chuckled.

"Do you remember how Romeo and Juliet died?" He asked, the lady study him. "Do you want to die with me, Ai?"

Without hesitation, she answered, "You know I can't live without you. I'll die with you, Ai."

"But I can," he said strangely. The lady let go of him and face him with confusion.

"What?" she asked, frightened.

"Did you already forget what we both desired? Our desire was death." He caresses her cheeks. "The time has come, my love," he answered her with a smile over his ears.

"I'm not yet ready," she said, anxious.

"But you said you would do everything for me?" The boy pitied.

The lady walks back and forth with tension. "We promised at the right time, not today."

"Tomorrow is not mine to live anymore." He looked down, disappointed. He goes near the rope that they created. The lovers are planning to hang their selves, taking their own life.

"The sunset is beautiful today, Ai. Maybe we can wait for another day?" The lady tried to convince him.

The boy gazed at the sun running down until darkness folded. Tears suddenly fall from his eyes.

"It always ends with darkness," he said and pushed the lover that causing her to fall to the floor. "You're a liar, you really never loved me at all!" He shouted. "If you don't want to die with me, I'll do it myself!" He went up the chair and started strangling himself with the rope.

The lady was in fear and without hesitation, she stood up and went up on the other chair and start to strangle herself with the rope too.

"Don't listen to yourself. I love you more than my life!" She exclaimed and tears flowed from her sparkling hazel brown eyes.

The boy stopped for a while and stared at his girl with an overwhelming smile. He grabbed her and kissed her on the lips, passionately. It lasted for a minute.

"Thank you for proving your love..." he said, "now I'll send my deepest condolences to myself." The lady's eyes widened the moment she heard him. She tried to let go of the kiss, but he forcefully pulls her to him. He won't let go of her. "I'll dig your grave, my love." His last words and kicked the chair of the lady which caused her to choke on the rope. Now she's hanging, gasping for breath.

He gets the rope from his neck and goes down from the chair, laughing evilly.

"What a foolish brat!" He shouted at her. "Do you think I'll kill myself for the sake of love?" He nodded his head as a continuation statement.

"You really believe that I didn't know what you have done? You betrayed me by just telling my rival I exist. You will both kill us because of your selfishness!" He yelled at her in anguish.

"Now taste the selfishness." He chuckled and continued, "I loved you, but not enough to end my life!"

"I-It was for the s-sake of us. I still have d-dreams to l-live as we p-promised..."

"Your dreams are not mine to live." With eyes cast with rage, he let out an evil smirk.

In the middle of fighting for her life, the lady managed to point at the table where an envelope is located. He noticed her and he look in the direction where she was pointing. He goes to the table and gets it.

"Oh, you have a love letter for me. You're always the sweetest!" He laughed sarcastically.

"To Ai, the love of my life," he read the outside dedication. He didn't open it, instead, he gave it back to her. The letter falls on the floor.

She took her last breath, and the last drop of tears fall on the letter.

The boy watched her lost her life and then he wiped his tears and smile evilly. "Too much love will kill you." He holds her hand and kisses it.

"Thank you for loving me. Our desire is now fulfilled... till death do us part."

KAMPO MORTE | DAY FIVE

We're back at the cabin, we already have an idea that the answers to the mysteries we are trying to unveil are just in here.

I've tried to wrap up with a thought for a while, but I, myself can't trust my intuition; I admit I was skeptical. But right now, I have this gut that all my intuition is definitely right. Sometimes you just have to trust your intuition especially when there's a mix of emotions involved; what we feel is faster to grasp energies; bad or good it might be.

"What happened in here?" nagtataka at nangangambang tanong ni Tril habang pinagmamasdan namin ang paligid.

Everything here was chaotic; it was different than the first day we step foot in this camp. The big rectangular table where everyone gathered for dinner is already messed up. Broken glasses scattered food on the table and on the ground, and some parts of wooden chairs are broken; everything wasn't before. I look at the cabins. It was still the same, but it's just weird that the guards with those hollow faces weren't there anymore; no one is here.

"Guys, wala naman sigurong zombie apocalypse na nangyari rito ano?" tanong ni Dem.

"Sobrang ayaw ko na talaga sa nangyayari," saad naman ni Haliya habang inaakap ang sarili dahil sa takot.

"Maybe they're just around. Remember they are also part of this hell camp," Elyt muttered.

"Ang weird lang kasi, nagmistulang ghost camp," giit ni Tril.

'Alakin.' I heard the familiar whisper in my ears. It repeatedly echoed in my brain until I didn't realize my foot are already moving.

Habang nag-uusap sila ay parang may kung anong nagtutulak sa akin na lumapit sa cabin namin. I don't know but this voice calling my name drives me to go inside the cabin. It's like a calling. I just don't know what kind of calling, who knows maybe it's death.

I am now standing in front of Kampo Uno's door, our cabin. My nerve was wracking while I was deeply staring at the door. I slowly hold the door while my hand was trembling with fear. At this point, despite what we already encountered, I am still in constant fear.

I'm about to open it when a hand fell on my shoulder.

"Bro!" It was Dem. I felt like my heart dropped for a second until gravity pull it back. My sharp gaze strikes him.

"What's in there?" Elyt asked when he step in front of the door beside me. Haliya and Tril followed. Haliya is beside Elyt and Tril is beside Dem.

"This is our last shot... and to tell all of you honestly, I don't feel good about this one. It's either we'll survive or die." We intently looked at each other with concern and fear. "I don't know what's the end line," I added and hold the doorknob I'm about to open.

The moment I hold it I already knew it was locked and then I felt a sudden electricity that numbed my hand. Binitawan ko ito sa pagkakahawak.

"Alakin? Bakit?" Haliya asked.

I'm about to respond to her question but the welcome sign appeared on the door. It says... 'WELCOME BACK! I AM WAITING FOR YOU.'

"You're right! This ain't good, Alakin," Elyt uttered and gazed at me.

"Punyeta! Ito na naman tayo!" Naiinis na usal ni Dem sabay kalabog ng pinto. Ilang sandali pa ay may lumabas na naman dito na mga salita.

What you buried will bloom in time.

"What does that mean?" Tril confusedly asked.

"The door is locked," I said, while my eyes are still on the words that just appeared. "Maybe it has something to do with the phrase," I added.

"Guys, tignan niyo 'to." Napatingin kami kay Haliya na ngayo'y nakayuko habang pinagmamasdan ang doorknob.

"There are numbers engraved on the doorknobs," she said.

"What numbers?" Elyt asked.

"It's all number three," she answered and look up at us with deep confusion.

"Maybe it's the passcode!" Tril exclaimed.

"But we need a key, not a passcode," Elyt said.

Silence for a while when we heard that.

"Alakin, bro may idea ka ba?" tanong ni Dem sa akin. Hindi ko muna siya sinagot kasi wala rin akong ideya sa ngayon. Itinuon ko muli ang atensyon ko sa mga salita na nasa pinto.

Mahinang binibigkas ko ang mga salitang 'yon at paulit-ulit din itong bumabagabag sa isipan ko.

What you buried will bloom in time?

Three?

What you buried will bloom in time?

Three?

What you buried will bloom in time?

Three?

"Guys! We only have an hour left on our time!" she suddenly exclaimed and show us her bracelet. Our frightened faces can now be seen. If we fail to finish this maybe... our dead body will go home.

What you buried will bloom in time?

Three?

I am contemplating the clue in my head until the tip of my eye saw something on the reflection of Haliya's bracelet. I know it was it! The answer to the clue.

"TREE!" I shouted that made their attention caught.

"What!?" They all asked in unison.

"What you buried will bloom in time? I'm sure it is a tree. Trees grow in time and the number three sounded like... a tree," I explained. Happiness on their face is now visible. Parang nabuhayan sila ng pag-asa ng sabihin ko 'yon. Dem also hugged me due to his joy and excitement.

"Bro, the best ka talaga!" galak na galak na wika nito.

"Wait!" Tril interrupted. "If the tree is the answer to that clue, then how is it connected in th--" Hindi ko na siya pinatapos sa pagsasalita at agad kong sinagot ang tanong niya.

"The key might be on one of those trees," I said and diverted my attention to the trees.

"The trees have numbers," Elyt said and looked at us. "Maybe that number 3 is for something important," he added. From what I observed the first day, we step foot on Kampo Morte, those trees with painted numbers already caught my attention.

Sinong mag aakala na ang mga simpleng bagay na ito ay isa pala sa mga sign at ang simpleng obserbasyon ay isang daan para makatulong sa paglutas nito. As what we always said, they are playing a mind tricking game on us, so it's a must to be observant at all times.

"You are right. The key might be on the number 3," I agreed and step down to find the number 3.

Hiwahiwalay kaming naghanap. Hindi na kami nagsayang ng oras.

"Guys, be careful!" I shouted at them. Ilang sandali pa ay nag-echo ang sigaw ni Tril.

"Alakin, I think I found it!"

Itinuon ko ang atensyon ko sa kaniya at mabilis na nilapitan siya. Nagtipon kaming lima kaharap ang malaking puno ng mahogany.

We stare at it for a while.

"Look up," ani Elyt. Sabay naman kaming lahat na napatingala. "The key!" dagdag pa nito.

Elyt was about to climb the tree, but I stopped him.

"I'll go get it, Elyt," I said, and he looked at me.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yes. I don't want any of you to get harm again," sabi ko kaya nagtinginan silang lahat. Hindi na nakipagtalo pa si Elyt at hinayaan na lamang ako. He gave way to me.

"Mag-iingat ka, Alakin," sambit ni Haliya bago pa man ako maka-akyat sa puno. Nginitian ko na lamang siya bilang tugon.

Mabilis akong naka-akyat sa puno at agad na inabot ang susi.

"I got it!" sigaw ko. Natuwa naman sila.

"Come on down, Alakin!" Tril shouted.

Pababa na ako nang biglang nakaramdam ako ng pagkahilo. Napayakap ako sa sanga ng puno kasi muntik na rin akong mahulog.

"Alakin!" They worriedly yelled.

Habang nakayakap ako sa puno at nararamdaman ang pagkahilo, ay bigla na lamang naghalo-halo ang laman ng utak ko. May namumuong scenario na hindi ko maintindihan at maipaliwanag. Parang nag-fa-flashback sa utak ko lahat ang nangyari sa camp ngunit ang hindi ko lang maintindihan ay may mga pangyayaring hindi pamilyar sa aking isipan. May mga kasama akong hindi ko kilala. But one thing that is clear to me, is a cabin where I am with a group of people and a woman... that always haunts me.

What is this I am getting? Just another fiction of hallucinations or the other story of myself I have forgotten?

I can hear my heavy breathing as sweat flows in my body. I diverted my sight to the surroundings as I hear someone calling my name from a distance. I focused myself on the small red light that my eyes envision from the straight direction of my sight.

"Alakin!? What's happening?" Tril curiously asked.

If I'm not mistaken, what I am seeing now is the headquarter of Kampo Morte. I'm pretty sure it was.

Ilang saglit pa ay napansin kong may gumalaw sa isang sanga ng puno. Tinignan ko ito at hindi na ako nagtaka sa aking nakita. It was a camera.

Obviously, they're recording us, para bantayan ang bawat galaw naming lahat.

"I'm going down!" sigaw ko sa kanila para hindi na rin sila mag-alala at magtaka.

"Are you okay?" Tril.

"Anong nangyari, bro?" Dem.

Pagkababa ko ay agad nila akong tinanong. Hindi ko muna sila sinagot. Naglakad muna ako pabalik sa pintuan ng cabin namin, sumunod na lamang din sila. Habang naglalakad kami pabalik ay doon na lamang ako naglakas loob na magsalita.

"I found them," sabi ko. Ang mga mukha nila'y 'di maipinta sa pagtataka.

"What do you mean, Alakin?" tanong ni Elyt.

"I labeled... Kampo Morte's hide out," sabi ko at sabay naman kaming lahat na huminto na ngayo'y kaharap na ang pinto ng cabin.

Ginamit ko na ang susi na nakuha ko para buksan ang pinto. Sa kabutihang palad ay tama ng ang susi na nakuha namin.

Narinig namin ang pagpihit ng doorknob. Bago pa man bumukas ang pinto ay may lumabas ulit na salita sa pinto.

Only those who hold the truth are welcome.

"Ano’ng ibig sabihin niyan? Who holds the truth? Sino?" Haliya wondered.

May sumagi rin sa isipan ko nang lumabas ang mga salitang 'yon.

"What we buried will bloom in time!" Nagtinginan silang lahat sa akin nang bigla akong napasigaw. I continue, "That phrase can also be associated with the word truth. You know, the truth will always come out no matter how much we buried it."

Bago pa man sila makapagbigkas ng salita ay muling may lumabas na mga salita sa pinto.

It's your time, Alakin Serverse.

Nang mabasa 'yon ay agad-agad silang napatingin sa akin na may halong pangamba at katanungan. Nagtaka kaming lahat lalong lalo na ako.

Ang mga balahibo ko sa katawan ay nagsitaasan. I feel like my heart is about to go out from my body. Hindi ko maikakaila na nakaramdam muli ako ng takot ngunit ito ang pinakamabigat sa lahat.

Napalunok ako at hinarap ko silang lahat.

"After this, we will all be free. You'll go home to your family and live a life as if nothing had happened," I said.

"Your statement sounds like you don't want to go hom—" Naputol ang sasabihin nito at saka naging seryoso ang mukha nang ma-realize niya ang ipinapahiwatig ko. "No way, Alakin! You'll go home with us!" giit ni Tril.

"We survived this far. We believe you can do it!" pagpapalakas nito ng loob sa akin.

I smiled and chuckled. "This one feels heavy... I can't promise tha—" My words cut off when Elyt interrupted.

"End that thought, Alakin! If you can't get out alive, you're a loser," Elyt said.

I smirked and answered, "I am always a loser."

"Not this time, Alakin."

"Guess you don't have to worry about being outsmarted," I sarcastically responded.

"I am most worried if I don't have a rival," I laugh a little bit when he said that. "I only approve to be outsmarted by you."

"Well, I guess I'll take that as a compliment from a rival," sabi ko kaya napangiti na rin 'to.

I offer my hand for a handshake, he just looks at it, instead, he gives me a hug and taps my back. I was a little bit in awe of what he did.

"Thank you for saving my life. Thank you for everything, Alakin." I was overwhelmed by what he said.

"Nagseselos ako. Payakap din!" saad ni Dem at nakiyakap din.

"Bro, stay alive ha!" dagdag pa nito.

Bago pa man magkaroon ng ilangan ay bumitaw na ako sa pagkakayakap.

"I need to go," I said to them. Bago pa ako makapasok ay biglang nagsalita si Tril.

"Alakin, where's my lighter?" she asked.

"I think I lost it earlier..." Kinapa ko ang bulsa ko at sa kabutihang palad na naroon pa ito. "It's here," I assured.

"Good. If you lost that, I'll beat you," Tril jokingly warned. She gave a smile and continued, "If anything bad happens in there, just call some help from us." I nodded my head and just gave her a smile as a response.

Papasok na ulit ako nang bigla rin nagsalita si Haliya. "Alakin, this the right time for you to cast your fears," wika naman ni Haliya.

"Thank you, Haliya," sabi ko at saka nginitian siya.

Nilisan na nila ako at naglakad papunta sa ilalim ng isang malaking puno para doon maghintay sa akin… kung sakaling makakabalik pa ako.

Tumalikod na ako ngunit bago ako pumasok ay nararapat ko nang ipaalam sa kanila ang gusto ng puso kong iparating.

"Guys!" I shouted at them, and they all look back in unison. I continued, "Thank you for making me feel that I exist!"

I feel like my tears are about to drop, so I decided to go inside before they could see it.