"IS BALTI DEAD?!"

"Simon –"

"Sus, is he dead?!" ulit muli ni Simon.

The tension inside Iesus' library grew thicker. Everyone was in shock. Mahapdi na ang mga mata niya at namamaga sa kakaiyak kanina. And Maha... she's not talking. Nakatulala lang ito sa tabi. And it worries her. God, she could no longer understand anything. Gusto niyang unawain ang lahat pero hindi talaga nag-si-sink-in sa utak niya.

"Simon," pumagitna na si Vier, "calm down."

"Vier, how can I calm down when Balti is sleeping in Iesus' room like a dead?! Humihinga pa ba siya? Gigising pa ba siya?"

"He's still breathing," pagod nang sagot ni Vier, nahimas nito ang noo. "Please, I know we're all tired. Pero hindi makakatulong kung paiiralin natin ang init ng ulo natin."

"I'm trying to understand!" nakasigaw pa ring sagot ni Simon kay Vier. Marahas itong bumuga ng hangin at napawak sa mga baywang. Ngayon lang niya nakita si Simon na matalim ang tingin kay Iesus. "Kung bakit kasi hinahanap pa natin 'yang mga pisting bagay na 'yan?" He pointed a finger in one of the shelves to make a point. 

"Simon," kalmadong tawag ni Iesus dito.

"That Nathanael knows everything."

"Yes, but we can't trust his words," sagot ni Iesus. "You have to understand that I'm doing this for your own good. We can't use the easy way out. It will always have its own consequences."

"I also don't trust him but look at Balti now. We failed to save him from Nathanael."

"Let's not assume things yet, Si," Sep interjected, with a calm serious face. "Ser is still breathing. He's just sleeping. Nagawan natin ng paraan kina Tor at Jude. I'm sure, Vier and Iesus can think of a solution to wake him up."

Marahas ulit na bumuga ng hangin si Simon. "This is crazy! Ikatlong missing item pa lang 'to but we're already screwed up. Ilan pa ba sa atin ang malalagay sa piligro ang buhay?"

"Ano ba talagang nangyayari?" basag niya sa kalmadong boses, as much as possible ayaw niyang dumagdag sa tensyon. Mas lalo lang 'di makakatulong kung lahat sila mainit ang mga ulo. "Sino si Nathanael? At bakit galit na galit siya sa papa ko? Bakit may cursed item? Anong koneksyon no'n sa buhay ko? Namin ni Balti? Hindi ko na maintindihan ang mga nangyayari. Balti didn't explain anything."

Marahang pinisil ni Aurea ang kamay niyang hawak nito. Tumingin din sa kanya si Maha. Mari was also with them. Nakaalalay kay Maha.

Everyone was tired. She can tell from their troubled faces. Lahat sila wala pang tulong simula kagabi. Alam niyang hindi na nila maitatago ang lahat nang 'to sa mga magulang nila Balti. They will soon demand an explaination. Halos hindi na rin sila pumapasok sa eskwelahan ni Maha. Magtataka na ang mga kasamahan nila. 

"Hindi si Balti ang kasama mo kagabi," ni James.

Umiling siya. "No, it was Balti. Alam ko siya 'yon." Kumunot ang mga noo ng mga ito. She continued, "He kept on telling me that he doesn't have enough time and that I have to trust him. I was so confused. Pero kahit na we-weirduhan ako sa kanya e sumama pa rin ako. I've given him the benefit of the doubt kahit na pwede akong ma-disappoint ulit kung isa na naman 'yon sa mga kasinungalingan niya."

"Balti? Meaning, he was able to come back?"

"What do you mean, Vier?"

"Nathanael is Balti's alter personality. More wicked and vengeful than our Bartholomew. It is similar to having a Dissociative Identity Disorder, but his case is different because of other aspects that you may find hard to understand as of the moment."

"You mean, may mga araw na hindi si Balti 'yon?"

"I cannot say when it started, but I'm assuming, our sessions were already a triggering factor that woke up Nathanael in his mind. And during his 3 days isolation, he saw the missing item."

"The ink bottle?"

Vier nodded. "Yes, and in my assessment, the ink bottle was the final trigger point for him kaya lumabas si Nathanael. I know, that you and Maha are well aware of what had happened to him in the museum."

"After the museum accident," dadag ni Tor. "There was a sudden change in his personality. He was aloof and quiet as a child. He couldn't even protect himself from kids who bullied him. We tried to talk about it before, he would suddenly raise the topic and shrugged it off after. He was curious, but Balti had chosen not to dwell on it."

"It's true," ni Maha. "Our parents avoided the museum topic at home. I was curious, so I asked Papa. He was in pure shock daw noong magising si Kuya sa ospital. He was shouting and taking off his IV. There were no other ways to calm him but to put him asleep. Then after a few days, nagising na lang daw si Kuya na walang any memories sa nangyari sa kanya sa museum. They were advised not to mention what had happened to him para raw 'di magka-episodes si Kuya. Kaya inalis namin lahat ng mga pwedeng mag-trigger sa kanyang maalala ang memory na 'yon."

"My father is with him that day." Napatingin ang lahat sa kanya. "I just recently confirmed it. Nasa bahay ang mga gamit ni Papa. I've read in his journal what happened to them that day. They were both looking at this story book Nennilo Y Nennila bago lumindol. Then dumagan kay Balti ang natumbang glass case ng libro. Papa mentioned na nahawakan daw ni Balti ang libro and he saw him burning in his own blood. Para 'yong nagbabagang ilaw sa balat niya."

"What else?" asked Vier.

"He was cursing my father in Spanish, hawak-hawak ang pupulsuhan ni Papa, sinisigaw ni Balti, Te Mataré! "

"I will kill you," Iesus translated.

She nodded. "Paulit-ulit at hindi maintindihan ni Papa kung bakit. And why would a kid would say such things to a stranger? After reading it, I approached Maha, sinabi ko sa kanya na kailangan kong kausapin si Balti dahil napapansin ko nang may kakaiba na sa kanya since he broke off our engagement. And I wanted to confirm if ang papa ko ba ang dahilan kung bakit siya nakipaghiwalay sa'kin. But prior to that, naabutan ko siya sa sala ng bahay namin na seryosong nakatingin sa mukha ng ama ko. When I tried to engaged in a conversation with him ay bigla niyang iniba ang topic, which I find very weird, knowing how fond he was with my family. I just... I... I needed answers. At alam ko na hindi rin ako matatahimik kapag hindi ako nakahanap ng sagot."

"Is this another unresolved past life?" ni Juan. "Same with Tor and Mari?"

"I'm thinking the same," ni Tor.

"Vier and James already got the book," ni Iesus.

"Ang Nennilo Y Nennila?" aniya.

Vier nodded. "It's part of the information I got from Balti."

"But how? Hindi ba – "

"The book was previously donated by my father," sagot ni Iesus. "It was one of the de Dios treasures in the underground museum. I've asked Vier and James to convince the museum president to have it replaced by something else. Fortunately, they've agreed."

"Will it help us?"

"I'm sure it will. Your father's keep journal and things will also be a big help for us. Nathanael exists for a reason. His hatred for your father has a root. Kailangan lang natin malaman kung saan nanggaling 'yon. We need to gather more information about his past."

"Maybe Tor can see his past now?" Simon suggested.

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Tor?"

"We'll have a different discussion with that, Nin," sagip ni Iesus. "I would like to have a moment with you later."

"Don't worry, Nin, i-explain sa'yo ni Iesus ang lahat," dagdag ni Au, may tipid na ngiti sa mukha.

"Nin," tawag ni Vier, "you haven't told us about the ledger and the missing item. How did he use it? What happened?"

"It was Nathanael... but then it was Balti who saved me." Naiiyak na naman siya. Malinaw pa sa isip niya ang mga nangyari kanina. Nagsimulang maninikip ang dibdib niya. "I didn't believe him. We argued. I confronted him kung bakit nagsinungaling siya about sa wooden box ng papa ko. He told me he didn't see it. But he kept it. Huli na ang lahat dahil napalitan na siya ni Nathanael. He tried to kill me. Sabi niya kasalanan ko raw lahat kung bakit naging miserable ang buhay niya. Kung bakit... kung bakit namatay ang pamilya at ang kapatid niya. He said that my death started everything. Pero hindi ko alam kung ano? Kung bakit ako namatay?

"Then... he started chanting spells... na hindi ko marinig. Lumilipad ang mga simbolo at mga salita sa katawan niya. Lumabas ang mga nakasulat sa ledger. It was like a time loop. A black hole. Gamit ng ink mula sa wooden box at feathered pen ay binura ni Nathanael ang lahat ng Niña na nakasulat sa ledger. And I don't have any idea kung bakit nandoon ang pangalan ko. Kasabay no'n, unti-unti na rin akong naglalaho. Sigaw ako nang sigaw..." she stopped, tuluyan na ulit siyang naiyak. Ramdam pa rin niya ang kamay ni Nathanael sa leeg niya hanggang ngayon. His burning eyes fuming with anger imprinted in her memories. "Tinatawag ko si Balti. Nagmamakaawa ako sa kanya..." Niyakap siyang tuluyan ni Au. "Na bumalik siya..."

"He came back?" it was Tor who asked.

She nodded. "Bumalik siya at nagawa niyang palitan si Nathanael... binalik niya ang pangalan ko... at binura ang pangalan niya..." Tuluyan na siyang napahikbi. "Hindi ako makalapit sa kanya. Gustong-gusto ko siya pigilan pero may nilagay siyang harang, Au. Sigaw ako nang sigaw sa kanya. Pero naglalaho na siya. Hanggang sa... hanggang sa matapos siya sa huling pahina."

"Nin..." Niyakap siya nang mahigpit ni Au.

"What do you mean by naglalaho?"

"Nawawala... I don't know how to explain it, pero parang nagiging invisible na ang ibang parte ng katawan namin."

"But Balti is still intact," ni Jude.

Ilang segundong binati sila ng katahimikan bago nagsalita si Iesus. "If my hunch is right, it maybe because Balti wasn't able to erase his name entirely in the ledger." Natuon ang tingin ng lahat kay Iesus.

"What do you mean, Sus?" ni Tor.

"I tore one page of the ledger."

Napansin niya ang marahas na pagkakakunot ng noo ni Vier kay Iesus. It bothered her a bit. Dahil sa uri ng tingin nito sa pinsan nito e para bang may ginawa si Iesus na hindi dapat ginawa nito. As if, it could cost both their heads off if Iesus will screw this up.

"Well, hindi ko sinadyang tanggalin ang pahinang 'yon. It peeled off, probably when Jude stole the ledger. Nakita ko na lang ang page sa sahig. I decided to keep it."

"Wait," it was James who spoke, "if we still have a torn page of the ledger with Balti's name written on it. Nathanael could still be alive in his subconscious, but we can still save Balti."

"A probability, yes, James" Vier agreed, pero panay pa rin ang pagsasagutan ng tingin nito at ni Iesus.

"So, that's why he didn't disappear completely," dagdag ni Jude.

"Where's the ink bottle and the ledger?" asked Tor.

"The bottle is still firmly intact, but the ink spilled on the floor." Halos sabay-sabay na bumuntonghininga ang lahat. "But we can still read the whole content written inside the ledger."

"Written in what language?" asked James.

Iesus tightly pressed his lips as he scratched his forehead. Expresssion pa lang ng mukha nito e alam niyang pahirapan pa ring basahin ang nakasulat doon.

"In Spanish," sa wakas ay sagot nito.

Almost everyone groaned again.

"Si Ser lang marunong mag-Spanish," reklamo ni Simon.

"Iesus speaks the language, however, when it comes to these documents, there seems to be a special spell that prohibited Iesus to read and understand the words written on it," ni Vier.

"Baliktad lahat ng mga salita sa paningin ko," dagdag ni Iesus. "It wouldn't work out for me. Aabutan tayo ng ilang taon kung ako ang mag-ta-translate."

"Then sino?"

"Mathieu," sagot ni Iesus. "His mother's mother is of Spanish descent who married a pure Filipino. His grandmother taught him Spanish. He can translate the ledger for us."

"Sep, get Mathieu," utos ni Vier.

"On it."

Palabas na nang library si Sep nang magsalita ulit si Vier.

"But please, Sep, avoid taking him by force."

"I'll try."

"Don't just try, I want you to do it."

"I won't promise."

At tuluyan nang lumabas si Sep sa library. Vier scratched the tip of his eyebrows. "We'll have to do our parts here. Simon, samahan mo si Niña na kunin ang mga gamit ng ama niya. Juan, look after Maha for now. Tor and Jude, kayo na muna magbantay kay Balti. And Drew, will you stay?"

"I wouldn't mind helping."

"In that case, follow your brother and make sure he wouldn't spend a day behind bars ."

"Fine with me." Tahimik na umalis ito na hindi nagpaalam sa kanila.

"And Iesus," baling ni Vier sa pinsan nito, "you and I will have to talk."

Iesus craned his neck at pasimpleng minasahe ang leeg. Inosenteng naniningkit ang mga mata. Lalo lang tuloy siyang na curious sa kung ano ang pag-uusapan ng dalawa.

"Nin, we will talk after Vier," Iesus informed.

She nodded. "Sa pagbalik ko na lang."

"Sounds good to me."

"Everything will be fine, Nin."  Marahang pinisil ni Au ang kamay niya at ngumiti. "Sama-sama tayo rito. Hindi nila pababayaan si Ser. Hindi mabubuhay ang Faro na wala si Balti."

"There will be a way," dagdag ni Mari na katabi si Maha. Hinaplos nito ang buhok ni Maha. "Balti will be saved." Saka niyakap si Maha. 

"WE'RE not gonna talk about this again, Philip." It was Iesus' voice, bahagyang nakaawang ang pinto ng silid nito kaya naririnig niya ang mga ito. Hindi muna siya kumatok. 'Yon yata ang unang beses na narinig niyang tinawag ni Iesus si Vier sa first name nito. "I'll take care of it myself."

"You could have asked me –"

"I know what I'm doing..." Hinintay niya ang susunod na sasabihin ni Iesus pero bigla na lang natahimik ang dalawa sa loob.

"I'll go and talk with James," si Vier na ang nagsalita.

Mabilis na umayos siya ng tayo nang marinig ang mga yabag ng paa sa loob. Bumukas nang malaki ang pinto at lumabas doon si Vier.

"Vier," bati niya rito.

"O, Nin, nakabalik na pala kayo?"

She nodded. "Kakabalik lang namin ni Simon. Dala ko na ang gamit ng papa ko." Hawak niya ang brown na sling bag kung saan nakalagay ang mga gamit ng ama. "Maybe, Iesus would like to see it first."

Vier smiled warmly, "Of course, he's inside." Binuksan pa nito ang pinto para sa kanya. "Sus, Niña is here."

"Let her come in."

Tumuloy na siya sa loob. Hawak pa rin ni Vier ang knob ng pinto. She saw Iesus standing near the window's frame. Nakatingin ito sa labas habang nakahalukipkip. Umuulan pa rin nang mga oras na 'yon.

"I'll leave you three alone," Vier inclined his head at the bed kung saan nakahiga si Balti. Isinirado na rin nito ang pinto kasabay nang pag-alis nito.

Iesus' room was converted into a hospital room. May mga medical equipments and vital signs monitor na naka connect kay Balti. Nakatusok ang swero sa likod ng kamay nito. Lumapit siya rito. Pero para namang dinudurog ang puso niya. He was lifeless and pale. Kahit na normal lang ang heart rate nito e para pa ring hindi ito humihinga.

Her chest throbs, ang sakit bigla ng lalamunan niya. Ramdam ulit niya ang pag-iinit ng mga mata. The inked words that she saw on his skin were like faded bruises now. Tila ba nilatigo at binugbog ito ng madaming beses. His lips dry. He was peacefully sleeping, pero para bang ilang taon na itong pinapahirapan ng mundo. 

Marahas niyang pinahid ang mga luhang umalpas na sa kanyang mga mata.

"I'm sorry," basag ni Iesus. Nakatayo na pala ito sa tabi niya. Nakatingin din kay Balti. "I know I owe you an explanation."

"I'm trying to understand everything... pero ang hirap... 'di ko alam kung saan ako magsisimula."

"Faro de Amore is not an ordinary place. I'm assuming that you have heard rumors about me and the missing items I've been searching for."

Ibinaling niya ang tingin dito. "Who are you?"

Mapait itong ngumiti. "Believe me, I've been asking the same question for the past years. And I was hoping that finding the missing items of my great-great-grandfather could somehow shed some light about this land's existence... and the mystery behind the lighthouse."

"Pero anong koneksyon no'n sa'min ni Balti?"

"There should be one reason."

"What do you mean?"

"Nin, do you believe in reincarnations?"

Napakurap siya. "H-Ha?"

"Because I want you to believe in the things that no human or scientific explanation could fathom. Faro de Amore is a place where impossible things can be possible. Where people can be someone powerful and wicked. Where curses and supernatural beings exist. I don't believe that people meet here coincidentally. We are all meant to meet in this place."

"Sa pagkakaintindi ko ay sinasabi mong may unresolved past life kami ni Balti noon? And Nathanael could be from his past and not on his present?"

"Yes."

"And what does it have to do with you?"

"Come, I'll show you."

Sumunod siya nang lumabas ito ng silid. Bumaba sila at pumasok sa library nito. Wala na silang naabutang tao roon. Lumapit ito sa isang particular na bookshelf at may kinuha roon na isang makapal na pulang libro. Namilog ang mga mata niya when the shelf slid open revealing a secret door. Nang bumaba si Iesus ay isa-isa namang umilaw ang mga lamp sa magkasinggilid ng pader. It was a narrow path, it reminded her of cotacombs na nakikita niya sa mga documentaries about underground places.

"My great-great-great-grandfather, Jose Remegio de Dios, or mas kilala ring Iesus is a Spanish Ship Merchant. I was named after him," basag nito. "I looked a lot like him. He was the one responsible with the missing items. He took those special items from those people who boarded in his ship to escape. I don't know the rest of the story, but I must seach for all of those 12 items to find answers."

Nang makababa ay bumungad sa kanya ang isang underground museum. Namilog ang mga mata niya sa pagkamangha. She had visited a lot of museums pero sa tingin niya ay mas madami pa ring antigong bagay na pag-aari si Iesus. These actually cost a fortune. Mahal na ang mga 'to kung i-auction.

"May gold ka ba rito?"

Bahagya itong natawa. "I'll give you the benefit of the doubt."

"I'll take that as a yes then."

Low light lang ang kabuoang ilaw sa museum at malamig pa. Some items are safely enclosed in glass cases. From paintings, books, journals, letters, jewelries, and navigation tools ay nandoon. May nakita rin siyang lumang mapa ng mundo na nakadikit sa likod ng study table. May armor pa at mga lumang kasuotan sa paligid.

"You said you look a lot like your great-great-grandfather. Pwede ko bang makita?"

"It's in the library."

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Sa library mo?" Isa lang natatandaan niyang painting doon na may mukha ni Iesus. Ang isa e family portrait nito noong bata pa ito. Napasinghap siya. Wait! "Huwag mong sabihing hindi ikaw 'yong nasa painting sa itaas?"

Umiling ito. "It was my great-great-grandfather, Nin."

Lalong namilog ang mga mata niya. "Akala ko –"

"I always get that a lot."

"Magkamukhang-magkamukha talaga kayo."

"I know."

"Pero bakit may kapangyarihan si Balti? And Simon mentioned that maybe Tor can see his past now? Ano 'yon? Lahat ba kayo rito may powers? Aurea and James, sila ang tumulong sa'min nang magayuma ko si Balti."

"I'll leave your curiosity in your own discovery, Nin, but to assure you, there is more of us that meets the eye. You will discover it in the following days."

"Kaya gusto mong maniwala ako sa mga bagay na imposible?"

He nodded, "It's easier to grasp an idea when you're open to possibilities despite how crazy it may sound."

"I..." Iginala niya ang tingin sa paligid.

Everything seemed too impossible to believe. Feeling niya kasama siya sa isang fantasy drama, but it was real. Nathanael was real. She witnessed it with her two eyes. Balti was different. The people in Faro are different. Iesus himself is a living mystery. Even his father, as far as she could remember believes in supernatural beings, urban legends, and curses. It was one of his fascinations.

"Balti is a family," basag nito. "You are all my family in Faro. I will do everything to assure your safety even if it cost me my life. It's a promise that I intend to fulfill. But I only have one favor to ask, Niña."

"Ano 'yon?"

"You have to trust me."