Chapitre 9: 09| e g r e s s
09
e g r e s s
"HIDDEN doors are a trendy thing during ancient times. Historically speaking mayroon ng mga hidden passageways, sometimes they are used to protect a hidden headquarter. For example during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1 practicing of Catholic rites and rituals are prohibited it was punishable by life imprisonment or even death. Some priests visit loyal and devout servants of Catholicism to perform their daily religious service," inilipat ni Astrid sa panibagong slide ang kaniyang presentation .
"So there are many houses that features hidden chambers or also they are called priest holes. These priest holes are tiny and cleverly hidden spaces designed to hide a Catholic priest during a search or raid but unfortunately most of them died because of starvation and suffocation," ani niya pa nang ilipat ang slide sa mga litrato ng mga pari.
"Sometimes this secret doors are also created to protect. The Pyramid of Giza are designed with different chambers and doors, those doors could lead you to your destination or to your death. The Pyramid is also filled with decoy rooms to ward tomb raiders while concealing the actual burial site," dagdag pa niya. She discussed the ancient structural sites and their hidden features.
Naputol ang pagbabalik tanaw niya tungkol sa mga secret doors and passages nang biglang humigpit muli ang pagkakatakip sa bibig niya. Gusto niyang tapakan ang paa nito dahil pakiramdam niya'y matatanggal ang kaniyang Guerlain Gold and Diamond Lipstick mula sa kaniyang labi.
Nag pumilit siyang kumawala ngunit mas lalong humigpit ang pagkakaangkla nito sa kaniyang katawan.
"Stop moving! Don't worry. Si Kairo 'to," he whispered. She felt a little relief nang malamang si Kairo iyon, his minty breath also gave a soothing effect to her ngunit ang kaniyang sistema ay naghuhurumentado! Pabilis ng pabilis ang tibok ng kaniyang puso. Dalawang rason lang kung bakit bumibilis ang tibok ng puso niya. Una dahil sa kaba na buhat ng killer at ikalawa ang mahigpit na pagkakayakap ni Kairo sa kaniya mula sa likuran.
Ngunit di niya pa rin lubos maisip kung paano ito nakapasok sa underground church at kung paano siya nito nasundan!
Mahigpit na naka-angkla ang braso nito sa kaniyang baywang na animo'y ahas na nakapulupot sa bikitima nito. Sobrang lapit ng katawan nila, magkadikit na halos maramdaman na niya rin ang pagtibok ng puso ni Kairo.
"Lumabas ka na! Nakita kitang pumasok dito!" Ani ng killer. Hindi niya masyadong makilala ang boses nito dahil halatang malat at paos ito.
Maya maya pa'y lumuwag ang pakakatakip sa kaniya ng bibig ni Kairo. Nilingon niya ito.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Pabulong na tanong niya.
"You almost erased my Guerlain Diamond lipstick you idiot," nag tangis ang kaniyang bagang. Gusto niyang sumigaw ngunit pinigilan niya ang kaniyang sarili.
"I am sorry. I'll explain later but for now, we need to get out of this goddamn forsaken chamber," ani ni Kairo, luminga linga ito na animo'y nakikita nito ang daan.
Nagulat siya nang biglang hawakan ni Kairo ang kaniyang kamay at marahan itong hinila.
Hindi niya makita ang dinadaanan ngunit halatang kabisado ni Kairo ang daanan.
Habang maingat silang naglalakad ay natabig ni Astrid ang isang babasaging vase at dahil nga madilim ay di niya iyon napansin.
Nagkatinginan sila ni Kairo at sabay na napasigaw ng "RUN!!!!!"
Sabay silang tumakbo, wala ng pakeelam si Astrid kung maputol man ang heels niya. Ang importante ay makalabas na siya roon ng ligtas.
"Hoy!!!" Sigaw ng killer. Sinulyapan niya ito ngunit hindi klarado ang mukha ng tao dahil madilim ang paligid at ang tanging ang liwanag mula sa streetlight lang ang nagbibigay ng kakarampot na liwanag sa loob.
Ngunit sa gitna ng takot at kabang bumabalot sa kaniyang katawan ay nawala iyon nang mapagtantong hinahawakan ni Kairo ang kaniyang kamay. Biglang bumagal ang oras, nag mukhang nasa slow motion effect ang pagtakbo nilang dalawa ng binatang kaniyang kinaiinisan. Kinontra niya ang isip dapat ay natatakot siya at hindi nag iisip ng mga kalandian.
"Are you ok?" Tanong ni Kairo ni hindi man lang niya nakitaan ng bahid ng kapaguran o exhaustion ang mukha ni Kairo.
"Is that even a question?!" Ganting tanong ni Astrid habang hinahabol ang hininga at tumatakbo.
Patuloy pa rin ang pagtakbo nila sa gitna ng kawalan. Nadaanan nila ang mahaba ngunit maliit na daanan na halos maipit ang kanilang braso sa sobrang kitid na daanan. Suddenly Astrid felt suffocated, she felt that an unforeseen force is crushing her lungs immobilizing her breathing. Pakiramdam niya'y inaatake siya ng claustrophobia niya. Biglang humina ang kaniyang pagtakbo at pilit hinahabol ang kaniyang paghinga.
Something's wrong.
Huminto si Kairo at lumapit sa kaniya. Naramdaman niya ang paghawak ni Kairo ng kaniyang pisngi at iniangat iyon. "Are you ok? Let me carry you," ani ni Kairo ngunit tinapi niya ang kamay na sana'y magbubuhat sa kaniya. "No iiiii-i am ok," sagot niya sa garalgal na tinig.
"No you are not!" Agad na dumapo ang kamay nito sa kaniyang baywang at binuhat siya. Walang nagawa si Astrid kundi ang magpabuhat sa binata.
She's on the verge of passing out. Ngunit nilabanan niya iyon.
Buhat buhat siya ni Kairo. Tinignan niya ang mukha ng binatang wala man lang bahid ng kapaguran sa mukha. "Adik ba 'to?" Birong tanong niya sa sarili. Lihim naman siyang napangiti sa kaniyang naisip kahit na nag didilim na ang kaniyang paningin.
His messy wavy hair are covering his face mayroon ring cobwebs ang buhok nito, his face is also covered with sweat ngunit hindi gano'n kabasa ang mukha nito. He looks so perfect even he is sweaty and full of cobwebs.
Through her peripheral vision nakakita ng liwanag si Astrid at mukhang nasa dulo na sila at palabas na ng animo'y mala-tunnel na daanan.
Narinig niya ang pagsipa ni Kairo ng pinto at pareho silang napabagsak palabas buhat ng sobrang kapaguran. Astrid inhaled na parang walang bukas. Pareho silang nakahiga sa sahig. Ngunit biglang humarap si Kairo sa kaniya.
Sobrang lapit ng mukha ni Kairo sa kaniya. "Aaa-are you okay? Are you hurt?" Sunod sunod na tanong nito. For a moment nawala ang abilidad niya na sumagot. His face are mesmerizing to the point that her judging ability became impaired.
"Hey are you okay? Or do i need to take you to the hospital?" Ulit na tanong nito. Agad na bumalik ang diwa niya, naupo muna siya. Ngunit hindi siya makapaniwala sa nakita, nagulat siya dahil alam niya ang lugar kung saan sila ngayon. Those paintings hanged on the wall, the bed, the bedside table, and the interior.
"ARE YOU..." Hindi natuloy ang sasabihin ni Kairo nang mapagtantong nasa loob siya ng isang pamilyar na kwarto.
Dahan dahang siyang napaupo at pilit na pina-process ang kaniyang nakikita.
"This is .." Sumaligbat si Astrid "Yes. Dorothy's room, inside the Manor,"
"Why are we um. Here?" Napasingkit ang mga mata ni Kairo.
"Duh. Of course the tunnel from the underground church is connected here," sarkastikong sagot ni Astrid. Pinagmasdan niya ito habang tumatayo at inaayos ang uniform nito. Marami ng alikabok at cobwebs ang damit at katawan ng dilag.
Tumayo rin siya.
"How long has it been here?" Tanong niya kay Astrid na pinapagpag ang dumi sa palda nito.
"I dont know. Hundreds of years probably," tanging nasagot nito.
Dire-diretsong nag lakad si Kairo papunta sa pinto at akmang bubuksan ito ngunit nag salita si Astrid.
"You know you are forbidden to enter here, right? And they might press charges against you because of trespassing," anito bigla namang napatanggal ang kaniyang kamay sa pagkakahawak sa doorknob.
Naalala niyang hindi puwedeng pumasok ang outsider sa manor lalo na kung lalaki unless there is a special occasions.
"What do you want me to do? Bumalik ulit doon sa ilalim at lumabas sa Pontus?"Sarkastikong tanong niya muli niyang binalingan ang secret door na nasa likod ng isang malaking painting na gawa ni Dorothy.
Astrid shrugged her shoulder like there's nothing happened at para bang hindi niya ito tinulungan. Hindi niya mapagtanto kung bakit gano'n na lang ito kasuplada sa kaniya. They barely know each other but it seems that he did something bad to her.
"What is wrong with you?" Tanong niya kay Astrid
"What?" Kunot noong tanong nito.
"I said what is wrong with you? Why are you so rude with me? Did i do something bad to you?" Nagtatakang tanong niya kay Astrid.
He saw Astrid's eyebrows raised like she was questioning his behavior.
"Me? Rude? To you?" She heave a deep sighed before continuing her answer. "Let's say, I don't interact with men like you" anito. Lumapit si Astrid sa kaniya. "Personal taste," bulong nito at inilayo ang katawan nito at umikot sa loob ng kwarto ni Dorothy.
"Wow! Ikaw na nga itong tinulungan ikaw pa ang may ganang um-attitude," galit na sambit niya.
Napaatras ang ulo ni Astrid.
"For your information i did not asked you to come there in fact you just popped up out of nowhere," sagot nito, kalmado ang tinig nito ang halatang hindi basta masisindak.
Tinungo ni Astrid ang cabinet ni Dorothy sa tabi niya at binuksan ang unang kahon.
"But you cannot leave that place without me!" Muli niyang sagot but this time the tone of his voice are like thunder rumbling beneath the earth.
Astrid chuckled. "Oh please, stop acting like we owe our life to men or I cannot save myself because i am a woman," sagot ni Astrid. Nakita niyang may kinuha ito sa loob ng drawer ni Dorothy. A cellphone.
Muli siyang nilapitan ni Astrid at hinawakan ang baba niya at inilapit ito sa mukha nito. "I am not your typical damsel in distress or some Disney princess who needs a prince. I am more than a pretty face." Sagot nito sabay bukas ng cellphone ni Dorothy tinalikuran siya nito.
Kairo never experienced to be shut up by someone especially a woman. He usually assert dominance to all the people he met in different walks of life but Astrid is really something else. A feisty woman who can destroy someone's aura of dominance. Judging Astrid's behavior she really belongs to Alpha Kappa Tau-a den of strong feminists.
Ilang minuto ring ine-explore ng daliri ni Astrid ang loob ng cellphone ni Dorothy. Sumilip siya mula sa likuran upang makita ang pinapanood nito sa cellphone.
Kairo saw nothing but a video of a series of blinking lights. Suddenly he remembered a certain code which he read in a book which the author is his Mom, its a collection of Decoding Techniques.
ILANG minuto ring nag paikot ikot ang daliri ni Astrid sa cellphone ni Dorothy. Nakita niya ito sa cabinet ng dalaga na nasa ilalim ng isang cardboard na animo'y tinatago nito. Unang binuksan ni Astrid ang gallery section ng cellphone ni Dorothy ngunit isang video lang iyon.
Astrid deduced the appearance and the settings of Dorothy's phone and it seems that it is a spared phone, mostly her parents cellphone numbers are recorded on its contact book, a couple of pop music, and three messages from her Mom asking where was she.
She played the video but it was just a clip of series of blinking lights na nanggagaling mula sa torch light ng phone nito.
Inulit ulit niya iyon ngunit gano'n lang ang laman ng video na iyon. Ilaw na namamatay at sisindi lamang.
"Can you repeat that one more time?" Tanong ni Kairo nang matapos ang video, hindi niya alam na nasa likuran niya ang binata at nakikipanood din sa kaniyang pinapanood.
Ginawa niya rin ang inutos ni Kairo.
Maya maya pa'y biglang naalala niya ang librong binasa niya noon, ang Decoding Techniques. It was her favorite book when it comes to cryptoanalysis.
"Morse Code!" They said in unison. Nagkatinginan silang dalawa ni Kairo.
"You know Morse Code?" Sabay din nilang tanong
"Yes!" Sabay nanamang nilang sagot
"How?" Sabay ulit nilang sagot
"Ok, I am gonna speak first," ani ni Astrid.
"I know morse code, I read in a book," seryosong sagot ni Astrid
Astrid know what Morse code is ngunit hindi niya pa nahahasa ng maayos ang kaniyang decoding technique pagdating sa Morse code. She chose not to tell it to Kairo since she don't want to look stupid.
"How about you? How did you know Morse Code?" Tanong niya kay Kairo.
"Same, I read it also on a book," sagot nito
Kumuha si Kairo ng isang papel at ballpen sa loob ng kaniyang duffel bag. Inilapag niya ang cellphone ni Dorothy sa kama at nag simulang isulat ang code na makikita sa video. Pumunta si Astrid sa likuran ni Kairo at tinignan niya ang ginagawa ng binata.
This is the second time she got impressed by the man she hated the most, habang pinagmamasdan niya ang ginagawa ni Kairo ay pakiramdam niyang hindi ito ang binatang nakilala niya, malayong malayo sa sports enthusiast na Kairo.
A sudden surge of guilt filled her body, she remembered the way she acted towards him despite of saving her. Hindi siya sana'y na ipagtanggol at iligtas ng isang lalaki, she grew up fighting on her own, standing on her own, healing on her own, and resenting all the unfair social norms imposed by toxic patriarchal community also on her own. In a span of a decade and a half she learned to develop a barrier around her and a strong personality.
In an early age she have witnessed the experience of her Mom as a victim of toxic patriarchy. Ang ina niya ang dapat mag mamana sa kompanyang pinaghirapan nitong itayo at palaguin. Her Mom squandered every drops of her blood, sweat, and tears to reclaim their family's lineage from endless scandal. As the first born child her Mom was tasked to do everything to protect their family's name from humiliation and so she did. Her Mom sacrificed her chosen career and some of her life decisions in order to please her family.
Time came and her Mom's father reached his inevitable demise. Her Mom expected that her father will passed on his legacy to her but he didn't. Her father transferred his company properties and assets to his second born male child because her Mom's father thinks that women cannot do what men can do. She saw how her Mom's dream and aspirations in life crumble in front of her very own eyes.
Astrid resented all forms of toxic patriarchy and the moment she heard that Kairo was just using a woman for his personal gain the ember of hatred and anguish against sexual discrimination and injustice ignited like wildfire devouring her.
"Have you got it?" Tanong niya kay Kairo
"Yes I got it," sagot nito
Pinakita ni Kairo ang papel na naglalaman ng nasabing morse code.
. _ _ . . _ .. _. _ .. _. _ _. ._ _ _ _ _ _ _ .. _ _ _ .. _ . . . .
"She said Painting 1-8-8-6," ani ni Kairo at nilingon siya nito.
Naalala ni Astrid na magkakaroon ng isang art exhibit mamayang gabi sa isang bagong bukas na museum kung saan ibibida nila sa nasabing gallery ang mga vintage paintings. Magkakaroon rin ng isang auction doon. Ngunit wala ng oras. Hindi basta basta puwedeng makapasok if there are tickets available she'll definitely buy but its already sold out.
"She's referring to the art exhibit tomorrow evening at Holland Museum, I saw a proof of purchase ng ticket for the event. All vintage paintings will be displayed there," sagot niya. Agad niyang kinuha ang kaniyang Birkin Bag sa sahig at dali daling naglakad palabas ng kwarto ni Dorothy ngunit pinigilan siya ng binata.
"Wait," anito na nakahawak sa kaniyang braso
"What?!" Galit na tanong niya
"Why are you doing this? I mean these things? Are you investigating?" Tanong nito. Hindi muna sumagot si Astrid binalingan niya ng tingin ang kamay ni Kairo na nakahawak sa kaniyang braso.
Wala siyang planong sabihin kanino man ang kaniyang ginagawa maliban na lang kay Genesis.
"Before I answer your question, answer my question first. What are you doing there inside the underground church?" Balik tanong niya kay Kairo.
Kairo bit his lower lip which made Astrid's heart somersaulted like a crazy ass skier.
"I am on my way to the parking lot and then I saw you entered behind the grotto so i followed you and then i got a little bit lost inside since t'was dark," sagot nito. "And i saw a shadow of a man I didn't want to create noise dahil baka malamang mayroong tao sa loob and luckily you went to the place where I was hiding," dugtong pa ni Kairo.
Kumunot ang noo niya na para bang pinagdududahan si Kairo and she almost heard a few Spanish words he muttered under his breath.
"Are you swearing at me?" Tanong niya.
"What? No! Por que habria?" Anito.
"So answer my question now! Are you investigating?" Tanong ni Kairo na biglang sumeryoso ang tinig nito. His eyes automatically fixated to where she was standing. She felt that those gaze rooted her to the ground, she became frozen from that moment.
"Yes. I am investigating. Happy?" Sarkastikong sagot ni Astrid sabay tinalikuran niya ito ngunit sa ikalawang pagkakataon ay pinigilan siya nito. "I want to go with you" ani ni Kairo na siya namang kaniyang ikinagulat.
"What? What do you mean you'll go with me?" Tanong niya alam niya kung anong ibig sabihin ni Kairo ngunit gusto niya lang linawin kung tama ba ang kaniyang pagkakaintindi.
"I'll help you investigate," sagot nito. Natahimik si Astrid. Ilang araw lang silang nagkakilala ni Kairo at ayaw niyang magulo ang kaniyang planong nailatag.
"No," she coldly replied.
"You can't go with me. I am sorry," dugtong pa niya.
"I'll call Levi to assist you palabas ng Manor nang hindi ka nakikita." Aniya at naglakad palabas.
Iniwan niya si Kairo na nakatingin sa kaniya. She left Kairo no choice but to accept her decision, whatever the reason why he decided to help her she doesn't even care.
Naguguluhan ang isip niya, deep inside she somehow trust Kairo and she doesn't want him to be involved sa imbestigasyong kaniyang ginagawa, she also don't want Kairo to be in danger.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone