Celestine

Chapter One

It’s still early in the morning but I’m already wide awake. The sun isn’t peeking yet when I got up from bed. I slowly walked towards the mirror and saw a lady with pair of deep amethyst eyes, a perfect heart-shaped face, well thick eyebrows, long thick eyelashes, a cute pointed nose and rosy cheeks. Her silver-grey hair that complemented her fair glass skin, was flowed over her shoulders and her bloody red thin lips were curved to form a smile.

"You are now a full grown woman. Kailan ka hahayaang matuklasan ang mundo sa labas ng mansion na ito? Kailan mo malalaman ang mga bagay na itinago sa iyo?" I whispered to the woman in front of the mirror.

I could see the sadness in her eyes, the fake smiles she made and the tears she kept for so long. 

And that woman is me.

“Celestine…” I heard a deep voice coming from outside my room.

Inihanda ko muna ang sarili bago nagtungo sa kinaroroonan ng pinto at marahang binuksan ito. A big long-haired man on his 50’s was standing firmly in the front of my door, half of his face was covered with beard. 

I genuinely smiled at him.

“Hi, Mr. Tummy. Good morning po.” I kissed his globular tummy and tickles it. The guy in front of me is our butler but I considered him as my family.

“Good morning to you too, little pumpkin.” He laughed and patted my head. 

Iginiya niya ako palabas ng kwarto at marahang inalalayan pababa ng hagdanan.

“I’m already twenty-one po and you are still calling me little Mr. Tummy,” kunwari ay nagtatampong ani ko na tinawanan lang niya. 

It’s not my fault that he has this gigantic height and I look small beside him.

“Where’s my grandmama po?” muling saad ko.

“She’s in the dining table. Kanina pa niya hinihintay ang paggising mo.” Tumango ako bilang tugon sa sagot niya.

Inilibot ko ang tingin sa buong kabahayan namin habang bumababa sa hagdan. It’s an old mansion, though it was not visible cause it was well preserved by my grandmama. This house is just too big for the three of us.

There are a lot of frames with pictures of us hanging on the wall as I walk in the doorway of our dining area. And there I saw Lucianna Ulrich, my grandmama, who is sitting like a queen in the center while silently sipping her coffee.

“Hi, darling. How was your sleep?” malambing na aniya, kapagkuwa’y ginawaran ako ng halik sa aking noo. 

I smiled with that gesture. She’s really the sweetest.

“Good morning po. Nakatulog po ako ng mahimbing, grandmama.” I kissed her on the top of her head and then seated in the chair right beside her. Maingat na inayos ko ang kapirasong tela sa ibabaw ng aking hita at umayos mula sa pagkakaupo.

Inilibot ko ang paningin sa pagkaing nakahain sa harap. Pinigilan ko ang sariling mapabuntong-hininga dahil sa dami ng pagkain ngunit tatlo lang naman kaming kumakain dito. Madalas ay natitira lang ang mga ito at nasasayang. Nakaramdam tuloy ako ng awa sa mga nilalang na wala halos makain, kung pwede lang ibigay ang mga ito sa kanila para hindi na lang nasasayang.

“Mr. Tummy, come here and join us. Let’s start having our breakfast.” 

Binalingan niya ng tingin si Mr. Tummy na kasalukuyan pa ring nakatayo sa aming gilid. Nakita ko naman ang pagtango nito bilang pagsang-ayon sa anyaya ni grandmama.

“Thank you, Madame,” ani Mr. Tummy bago naglakad patungo sa hapag.

Napatawa ako nang bahagya niyang mabunggo ang mesa na nagdulot ng paggalaw ng mga pagkain sa hapag. Dinig na dinig ko ang pagkalansing ng mga kubyertos. I stared at the cup of coffee and immediately levitated it to avoid from spilling over my grandmama’s shirt.

“I’m sorry, Madame.” Hinging-paumanhin ng aming butler habang umuupo sa upuang ipinagawa talaga para sa kaniya.

“That’s fine. Let’s eat.” 

Napabungisngis naman ako dahil kitang-kita ko ang kaba sa mukha ni Mr. Tummy, he thought my grandmama will scold him. He may look tough and scary from the outside because he’s really a big guy, he could even pass as a giant character in some movies for kids, but in real life, Mr. Tummy has the softest heart.

Nagsimula na kaming kumain. I just put a piece of pancake on my plate and drip some chocolate syrup on top of it. I could feel my eyes twinkling, it looks savory.

“That’s enough, darling. That’s too sweet.” Napahinto ako sa paglalagay ng syrup dahil sa ginawang pagsaway ni grandmama.

I pouted at her. “Just a little more, grandmama. Please?” I gave her my sweetest smile and I could taste victory when I saw her nodded. 

“Grazie, grandmama.”

She just smiled at me and patted my head. I know she can’t resist me. We continued eating silently, until she broke the silence.

“How was Celestine’s training, Mr. Tummy?” Baling ni lola kay Mr. Tummy na abala sa pagkain.

“She’s doing great, Madame. Gamay na gamay na niya ang kaniyang kapangyarihan na halos hindi ko na masabayan.” Bahagya kong binagalan ang pagkain para makasunod sa pinag-uusapan nila.

“That’s nice to hear," aniya bago tumingin sa akin. “I’m so proud of you, darling,” she said and slightly caress my left cheeks. 

I genuinely smiled at her.

“Oh and I have a good news for you, darling.” Nag-angat akong muli ng tingin at nagtatakang binalingan siya. I could hear the excitement from her voice.

“Ano po iyon?” I couldn’t think of anything she would want to tell me.

“I decided to enroll you at Mourose University, sweetie.” Malawak ang ngiting ibinibigay niya sa akin. 

I was stunned with the sudden news. Hindi ko na nagawang isubo ang pancake na dapat ay kakainin ko na.

“Really, grandmama?” Happiness was visible in my voice. Nakita ko ang kaniyang pagtango at kasiyahan sa kaniyang mga mata.

She held me an elegant envelope with golden linings on each sides. It is an acceptance letter from the said university. I hugged her tight and showered her lots of kisses.

To: Ms. Celestine Daciana Ulrich. I could feel my hands trembled upon reading it. This is what I have been waiting for!

Dear Ms. C. D. Ulrich,

With great honor, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Mourose University. Your first semester begins on the next day.

Enclosed, you will find a pendant with the symbol of a Golden Fangs. The pendant is necessary to enter the grounds of Mourose. Along with this letter, you will find a list of required supplies, as well as the schedule for the upcoming year.

We very much look forward to receiving you as part of the new generation of Mourose heritage.

Sincerely yours,

Headmaster Louis Mourose

Naramdaman ko ang pagpatak ng luha sa aking mata. Walang mapagsidlan ang sayang nararamdaman ko ngayon. Finally!

“I love you so much, grandmama. You don’t know how happy I am.” I hugged her again. I want her to feel how grateful I am. Alam kong ramdam niya kung gaano ako kasaya ngayon.

“I love you too, Celestine. Grandmama will do everything to make you happy.” Nakangiting aniya at marahang pinunasan ang luha sa aking mata. “Hush... don’t cry, darling.”

“I’m just… overwhelmed. You finally granted my wish. Sobrang saya ko po, grandmama.” I kissed her cheeks and hug her one more time.

I looked at Mr. Tummy and I saw him smiling while giving me two thumbs up. I even saw droplet of tears from his eyes. I know he is happy for me too.

“Just remember one thing, darling. You need to go straight home after school. Mr. Tummy will send and fetch you at school. Am I clear, Celestine?” I nodded and smiled at her.

“Sí, grandmama.” 

Tatanggapin ko lahat ng mga kondisyon niya. I’m just too happy right now.

I spent my whole twenty-one years of existence inside this mansion. I’m not allowed to go outside; I haven’t had a glimpse of the world outside this mansion. Aside from my grandmama, Mr. Tummy, the wide forest around us and the wild animals there, I haven’t seen anyone in my whole life.

Our mansion was built at the top of the hill, but it’s still inside the boundary of the city called Thorndale. Iyon nga lang, walang sino man ang makakakita nito maliban sa aming tatlo. My grandmama put a high-spell barrier around it, kaya malabong may magtangka ding pumasok dito. 

I was home-schooled since I was young, my grandmama being my teacher and Mr. Tummy being my trainer. Bata pa lang ako ginugol ko na ang buhay ko sa pagsasanay. I learned different types of martial arts to develop my physical strength and to defend myself, na hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin lubos maisip kung sino ang pwedeng manakit sa akin. I always thought that every creature outside our mansion were good, just like my grandmama and Mr. Tummy. Pero gaano nga ba ako nakakasiguro kung di pa ako nakakasalamuha ng iba bukod sa kanila?

At sa buong buhay na inilagi ko sa mansion na ito ay natuto akong makuntento. Natuto akong maghintay. Hindi ko kailanman naisip na lumabas sapagkat alam kong may rason si grandmama bakit niya piniling hindi ako palabasin. I may be sad most of the times that I can’t go out, but never in my life I disobey my grandmama. Hindi rin naman siya nagkulang sa akin, lahat ng kailangan kong matutunan ay ibinahagi niya. They both showered me with love, they took care of me like I’m a fragile thing. Hindi nila ako hinahayaang masaktan o masugatan man lang. I became dependent on them, at hindi ko yata kaya kapag nawalay ako sa kanila.

Siguro nga hindi pa ako nakakalabas kailanman, ngunit alam ko naman kung ano ang mayroon kapag lumabas ako sa mansion na ito. Alam ko ang mga naghihintay sa akin sa oras na itinapak ko ang aking paa sa labas. I know that the world I live in consists of different creatures. Vampires, werewolves, witches, wizards, elves, mermaids; you could name it and you will find it here. In fact, my grandmama is a witch. Tinuruan niya ako nang iba’t-ibang spells na akala ko noong una ay normal lang na kayang gawin din ng kahit na sino. While Mr. Tummy is a werewolf.

At ako? Isang malaking tandang pananong ang katauhan ko sa mundong ito. I’m not a vampire nor a wolf, but I have their abilities. I’m not a witch but I can cast spells. I’m not a mermaid but I can breathe underwater. Not even an elf but can wield magic.

Alam kong may iba sa akin na hindi magawang maipaliwanag nila Grandmama. Siguro kapag nakalabas na ako rito, makakatagpo din ako ng mga katulad ko. At siguro, hindi ko na tatanungin kung ano bang mali sa akin.