Finally! Finally makakalibot na rin ako! Acckk.

Pero syempre bago makalibot kailangan ko munang dumaan sa library. This has been my hobby since I met K.

Alas-syete pa lang ng umaga pero madami na ang estudyante dito sa labas. Some are preparing their booths and some are already strolling with the opened booths.

Mas maganda maglibot mamaya dahil mas madaming booth ang bukas lalo na sa hapon. Kapag umaga kasi ay nakatuon ang mga estudyante sa mga programs.

Katulad na lang ng mga tournaments sa sports, academic, and pageant. Usually, the program will start at eight am and will end at noon.

Scheduled ang mga programs na mangyayari kada araw. Katulad kahapon opening remarks ang nangyari sa pang-umaga na schedule samantalang sa hapon ay mga booths.

For this day ang alam ko ay magbubukas ang mga tournaments at magtatagal ito ng limang araw. So sa pang-huling araw which is closing ceremony i-a-announce nila kung sino ang mga mananalo at ang mga makakatanggap ng rewards sa buong week ng festival.

Biglang sumagi sa isip ko na kasama pala akong mag-perform sa closing ceremony. Jusq pwede bang mag-back out? Hindi pa naman ako nakakapag-practice. Tinatamad ako huhu.

Buntong-hininga kong binuksan ang pinto at dumiretso sa tabi ni Eri.

"Oh bakit nakasimangot ka?" tanong niya. Instead of answering her, I messed my hair out of frustration.

Napatigil ako nang mapansing siya lang ang nandito. "Nasaan sila?"

Inirapan niya ako at halukipkip na dinantay ang ulo sa kaniyang kamay na nakapatong sa lamesa habang nakatitig sa akin.

"Bakit, may dumi ba sa mukha ko?" hinawakan ko ang aking mukha at kinapa-kapa ito.

She sighed. "You appear to have forgotten your responsibility in this library, Seven claimed." hala oo nga! Napangiwi ako nang makitang parang tambakan na ng basura ang lugar.

"You won't be able to leave the library until it is clean, he stated." what?

"Ano kamo?" Paano na yung paglilibot ko?

"Well, remember the contract? He mentioned that you will know what would happen to you if you disobey him."

Para akong binagsakan ng langit at lupa dahil sa mga sinabi ni Eri. Lintik na multo talaga 'yon!

"Nasaan ba siya ngayon?"

"They went to enjoy the festival," she shrugged. Wow, ako 'yung estudyante pero mas nauna pa siyang mag-enjoy sa festival!

"They?" tanong ko. "Yes, he went together with Rei." Ang galing. Akala ko ba mag-kakampi kami at mag-kaaway sila?

"Eh ikaw?" tanong kong muli habang inaabot ang walis at dustpan. "Paalis na rin," Tumayo siya sa upuan at naglakad palabas. Ngunit bago isara ang pinto ay lumingon ito pabalik sa akin. "Bilisan mo mag-linis."

Napasimangot naman ako dahil akala ko ay yayayain niya ako.

Buntong-hininga kong sinimulan ang paglilinis. Grabe, paano naging makalat 'tong library eh mga multo ang mga 'yon. Ako at si Rei lang ang tao dito.

Inisa-isa ko ang pagsalansan ng mga libro sa lalagyan. Bakit ba laging makalat dito.

I shook my head and went in his table. I touch the table and swept my fingers on it. Ngumiwi ako nang makita ang makapal na alikabok sa aking daliri.

Kumuha ako ng isang tela para punasan ang lamesa. Ngunit napatigil ako nang makitang bukas ang drawer ng lamesa.

Nag-aalangan 'man ay binuksan ko ito at sinuri ang loob. There's nothing except of dust and a picture frame, wait...picture frame?

Nagkataob ito at tila tinago. Dahan-dahan ko itong kinuha at tiningnan. The frame was designed in simple intricate silver lining while the body was painted in black.

There's one girl and one boy in the picture. Beside them is another girl and boy too who are smiling widely. I think their age is about eight years.

The boy in the middle is smiling widely with his small arms stretched in the shoulder of the girl who has a grumpy face. Nakatingin ito sa batang lalaki na nakasimangot habang ang lalaki naman ay nakatingin sa camera at mukha masaya. Habang ang dalawa naman sa magkabilang dulo ng imahe ay nakatingin sa camera. They look very close to each other.

In any case, I'm beginning to feel something enigmatic inside of me. It seems as though I have seen this photo before and am quite familiar with it. Lalo na yung dalawang bata sa gitna.

My head suddenly began to hurt. I try to control the discomfort by holding it, but it doesn't even make it any better. I trip and fell to the ground as I whimpered in pain.

It hurts! Parang binibiyak ang ulo ko!

Even though I'm having a hard time pinilit kong tumayo upang makalabas. But as soon as I got to the door, I realized I had collapsed.

***

Below is a magnificent castle-house, there's a hidden cell underground.

Many of the prisoners are begging for help and forcing their way to break down the cell even though the chain on their necks is holding them back.

One cry, though, stands out among the laments and sadness in this place. A young girl's cry was heard at the end of the cells.

I followed the voice, and it led me to a young child who was gripping something and sobbing with her head buried in her knees.

She looks really scared.

In an effort to communicate with her, I knelt a little lower. But as I started to speak, someone interrupted me.

The boy standing outside the cage tells her, "You're noisy." with an angry expression.

This boy doesn't appear to be in prison. Instead, he's dressed in fine attire.

Tumigil sa pag-iyak ang batang babae at inangat ang ulo. I gasped in recognition as I saw her face. Cielle? Why is she here? Is this the continuation of my last dream? 

"W-who are y-you?" Cielle said in the midst of crying.

The boy sighed. "Tsk. So, you're that child," he mumbled. Child?

"What's your name?" he asked. Cielle crawled from the back of the cell to get closer.

"I'm R—Cielle," Cielle answered in a low voice.

"Take this." the boy handed a white blanket and then turn away. "Use that." he waved his hands.

"W-Wait! What's your name?"

Lumingon pabalik ang batang lalaki. "I'm K—KD, call me KD." and then he vanished as the darkness enveloped his whole body.

Muling bumalik ang tingin ko kay Cielle. The white blanket is now hugging her whole body. As she was about to sleep I heard the words she mumbled.

"Thank you, K—"

***

Halos hindi ako makahinga nang idilat ko ang aking mata. What was that?

Anong huling sinabi ni Cielle? Thank you...what? I immediately feel the need to recall what she said just now. But each time I try, my head hurts.

My pupils then dilated as I had an epiphany. I don't know where I am. Why am I restrained? What is this location, exactly?

I'm in a small dark room tied up in a chair, my arms, legs even my tummy. There's only one light above my head that I can count on to see where I am.

"Come to your senses?" a deep voice suddenly emerged.

"S-Sino ka? Bakit ako nandito!" sigaw ko habang nagpupumiglas.

Jusq ano na naman ba 'tong pinasok ko?

"Who are you." madiin niyang tanong sa akin.

"Huh? Ikaw kumidnap sakin tapos 'di mo ko kilala?" baliw?

"Kung hindi naman pala pakawalan mo na ko!" sigaw ko.

"Wala kaming pera pang-ransom!" (⁠╥⁠﹏⁠╥⁠)

Imbes na makakuha ng sagot, narinig ko ang pagbukas ng pinto sa likuran ko. Agad akong natahimik dahil sa kaba. Gago napasobra ba ako ng salita? Wala naman akong masamang sinabi. (⁠╥⁠﹏⁠╥⁠)

Napapitlag ako nang maramdaman kong may humawak sa aking balikat. I felt his presence on my back. "So you're really that girl. No wonder he's obsessed with you." he whispered. That girl?

I stiffened as I felt his breath on my ear. "I wonder what face he will make when he sees us like this."

"A-ano bang kailangan mo. B-bakit mo 'to ginagawa."

Tuluyan siyang lumayo sa akin na kinaluwag ng hininga ko.

"Aren't you curious about Seven's past?" his past?

I've never thought of that...

"Hindi ka ba nagtataka na sa lahat ng mga wonders na dumaan sa'yo, sakanya lang ang hindi mo pa napapasok?"

"His past and his dimension."

I was caught off guard. I can't think clearly. Indeed, after all of my encounters with the wonders, knowing his past and his dimension is an exception. Why?

I looked at him. "Bakit mo 'to sinasabi,"

Nagkibit-balikat ito. "Following orders, eh?"

Orders? My eyes widened in recognition. "D-don't tell me...ikaw si One?"

"For a girl, he's obsessed with, you look dumb." aray!

He gave me a lopsided grin. "Let's just say I'm a mere servant,"

He leveled himself on me. "Do you want to know his past?"

"No," I answered.

For some reason naiinis ako sakanya. Sino ba siya? Gwapo sana kaso ang toxic niya tingnan.

"Well, whether you agree or disagree, it was her demand that you be given a glimpse of his past." unti-unti siyang lumapit hanggang maging kapantay ng tenga ko.

"The interesting past of Seven—no let me replace it."

"The interesting past of Kaden."

The next thing I knew his hands enveloped my eyes. But before I lose consciousness I heard his last words. "By the way, I'm Second. Nice to meet you Seven's girl." he then waved his hands.

***
Note: I changed 'Fourth' to 'Second'. Meaning it's Second who kidnapped Raisha and showed K's past. I would like to apologize for this mistake as I was confused on my messy outline. I'm sorry and Thank you.

***
charmyxx