13th BLOODLINE

Daveeh looks so happy after finishing her last book to read for the week. Tumayo s'ya mula sa kina-uupoan at nag-angat ng tingin sa yaya n'ya na kanina pa nanonood habang nagbabasa s'ya. Malaki ang ngiti sa labi n'ya dahil pakiramdam n'ya kada may natatapos s'yang set ng babasahin sa isang linggo ay para iyong achievement para sa kanya. "I'm done! What's the present for me this week, Hilda?" Maligayang tanong n'ya at ibinuka ang mga braso sabay umikot-ikot sa tuwa. Naka-ugalian ng ama n'yang bigyan s'ya ng regalo sa bawat linggo at kapag natapos n'ya ang babasahin. "This is a best present, I pressumed," nakangiting saad ni Hilda habang nakatingin sa masaya n'yang mukha. Nanlaki ang mga mata n'ya nang ang hawak nitong bote na naglalaman ng paborito n'yang inumin. Hinihigop ng inuming 'yon ang pakiramdam n'ya. She couldn't believe she's having that amount of drinks in normal day. Her dad only let her have it during unexpected days but now having it in her sight dried her throat. She wanted to grab it and drink all of it. "Does daddy approved it?" She has to make sure that her dad allowed her to have it in this day. She would never pissed her dad off. She loves him so much and he loves her too. She know her dad wants are all for her good. So she would never disobey the last person she have left in this world. When Hilda nodded her head, she quickly grabbed the bottle and drink it in a countable gulps. Hilda was so happy while looking at her. Red liquid flows down in her chin. She chuckled and stick out her tongue to lick the liquid that her tongue was able to reach. "How was it?" Natatawang mahina ni Hilda habang inaabot nito ang ibinabalik n'yang bote na wala ng laman. "Taste so good. Did dad tell you to give me more of that after I finish the set of books in time?" She asked in excitement. She can feel her veins even more tight, she can feel her strength even more. She stretched her arms and feels the intensity of that drinks that gave in her body. She loves it, that's her favorite for it helps her control herself. Mas nararamdaman n'ya ang kakaibang lakas sa katawan habang kinokontrol nito ang pagwawala ng natutulog n'yang kalamnan. "He didn't, he just let you have it now but next time, he's not gonna let you have it in a day like this." Sagot ng nanny n'ya. Humaba ang nguso n'ya sa narinig na sabi nito. Hilda turned her heels back from her. Napatigil s'ya nang biglang may pumasok na tanong sa isip n'ya bago pa man makalabas ng silid n'ya ang yaya n'ya. "Hilda," she called that made Hilda stopped and looked at her. Hilda gave her a questioning look and waiting for her to spill what she has in mind. She bit her lower lip because of hesitation. This will be the first time she would ask this question and she promise herself that this will also be the last. "What is it?" Hilda pushed back the door and closed it before facing her completely. "You have a question? What?" She was kinda nervous because of Hilda's frowned eyes and knotted forehead while looking at her. She seems serious of waiting what she wanted to say. "Ahm...," she gulped. Wala sa sariling itinaas n'ya ang kamay sa bibig at kinagat ang kuko. That's her mannerisms. Napatalon s'ya sa gulat nang maramdaman ang paghampas ng yaya n'ya sa kamay kaya naibaba n'ya ito bigla. Nakalimutan n'yang hindi nga pala s'ya nito tino-tolerate sa mannerism n'ya. "Daveeh?" Pagkukuha ni Hilda sa atensyon n'ya. She cleared her throat at give a little glance to the door. "What does it looks like behind that door?" She nervously asked. Hindi inasahan ni Hilda ang tanong n'ya na 'yon kaya kitang-kita n'ya kung paano nanlaki ang mga mata nito sa gulat. She never asked such question in her entire life. Hilda who's been with her since she was a little never heard a word from her about what is in behind that closed door. Was there a thing behind that door? Outside of this cold room she's living all her life? Hilda took a step forward and stand closer to her. Sinundan n'ya ang galaw ng kamay nito na umangat sa ere at hinamplos ng maingat ang pisngi n'ya. "There is nothing behind that door, nothing special, just a cold and dark place." She smiled and nodded. Hilda gave a peck kiss on her forehead like she always does. "Sorry for asking," napayuko s'ya at kinagat ang ibabang labi sa kaba kung bakit nga ba n'ya 'yon naitanong. "Don't be sorry for something that is not wrong, asking is not wrong, never was, but sometimes curiousity leads us to our downfall. I know that you're smart. I know that you understand that our race lived in a cold room." Hilda explained before turning her heels back. Kumaway lang s'ya dito nang magpaalam ito sa kanya. Daveeh sighed and sit down. Bakit nga naman n'ya naitanong ang bagay na 'yon? What makes her curious? The book? The last book she read says that there's an outside world. There's a world, an ocean, a car, building, a school and a lot of people. Iginala n'ya ang paningin sa paligid n'ya at wala s'yang nakitang mga gano'n dito. Bed, bookshelf at ang piano na bigay lang ng daddy n'ya ang mayroon s'ya sa paligid n'ya. Wala ng iba. Ito lang ang nakikita n'ya buong buhay n'ya. Daveeh knew who she is, what she is and she's very thankful that she has her dad lifting her up and molding her into what she really is. Though, she knew that her dad is the Prince of Casa Villanueva yet she knows no one of the Villanueva clan but of course a-side from her dad. In the book, there's this thing called family. With a mom, dad, and children. She only have her dad so she doesn't have a family. Arthur Villanueva her dad never mentioned if she have someone to call a mom and a sibling and she didn't bother to ask about it. She just couldn't believe why all of a sudden she's starting to think what is in there, behind that closed door. Her dad explained everything to her, she know that. However, these past few days she's starting to feel like something's lacking. There is something she wanna know but she's bothered that she do not know what really wanted to know. She sometimes can't understand herself. Maybe because she reads a lot. Different kind of books, different pictures in there. Things that she knew only existed in the books. She's starting to feel like, those things are real. That it can be found in the world but when she roam her eyes around her world, there was nothing. Ano ba ang nangyayari sa kanya? Bakit bigla nalang pumasok sa isip n'ya ang bagay na 'yon? Paano kapag nalaman ng daddy n'ya nag simula s'yang magtanong ng mga gano'n, baka mapagalitan s'ya. Wala sa sariling napasabunot sa buhok si Daveeh sa mga naiisip n'ya. Hindi n'ya kakayanin kapag nagalit ang daddy n'ya sa kanya. Kailanman ay hindi pa ito nagpakita ng galit. Her dad was always been careful. He treats her like a porcelain. Sana lang ay hindi sasabihin ni Hilda ang pagtatanong n'ya sa daddy n'ya. Pero kung ano man, may mali ba sa tanong n'ya? Masama ba na itinanong n'ya 'yon? Ang sabi naman ni Hilda walang mali sa pagtatanong at walang mali sa tanong n'ya. Daveeh take a deep breath and sigh. Nag o-over think lang siguro s'ya. That was the 1st time, hindi naman siguro ikakagalit ng daddy na 'yon. Tama. Lumapit s'ya sa piano at nagsimulang tumugtog. Bukod sa pagbabasa ay ang pag-tugtog ang kinaaaliwan n'ya. Nakahiligan n'yang tumugtog, mahilig s'yang kumanta. Maraming libro ng kanta ang nasa bookshelf n'ya na bigay sa kanya ng daddy. Marunong ang daddy s'ya sa mga nota kaya ito na mismo ang nagturo sa kanya para maitugtog n'ya ang mga kanta. Ngayon na kabisado n'ya na ang lahat ay natuto na rin s'yang sumulat at gumawa ng mga kanta. Some of her written songs, she sang it for her dad. Ipinikit n'ya ang mga mata at dinamdam ang bawat tunog ng piano sa t'wing ipinipindot n'ya ang daliri dito habang umaawit sa isip. Music can also calm her mind, there are days that she felt uneasy for something she do not know. Music helps her to be relieved. Dumilat ang mga mata n'ya nang makarinig s'ya ng pagpalakpak at nang lumingon sa pinangalingan ng tunog ay agad sumilay sa mga labi n'ya ang malapad na ngiti. She rushed in and jump unto the arms of her father. She heard him chuckled and hug her tight. "I've missed you dad," she said. Kumalas sa pagkakayakap sa kanya ang ama at tumingin sa kanya. Binigyan s'ya nito ng halik sa noo habang matatamis na ngiti ang mayroon ito sa labi. "Hello, Princess, how are you?" Malambing na sabi nito. "I'm fine, daddy, thank you for asking. By the way, I love my present. Can I have it again next time?" She clinged in her dad's arm trying to use her charm. Napabitaw s'ya dito at humaba ang nguso saka napakamot sa tungki ng ilong nang pitikin ito ng ama. Binigyan s'ya nito ng matutulis na tingin kaya mas lalo pang humaba ang nguso n'ya. "I just found a very good specie somewhere and I think of you when I see it that's why you got it but no next time." Firm na pagkasabi nito at naroon ang authority sa boses. "I came here because I heard something." Nanigas ang katawan n'ya at tumambol ang dibdib n'ya sa kaba. Wala pa itong sinasabi pero pakiramdam n'ya ay alam na n'ya kung ano ang gustong sabihin ng ama. "Something? Like?..... " kagat labi n'yang bigkas. Bumuntong hininga ang ama n'ya at hinawakan ang dalawang kamay saka iginiya s'yang maupo. Napalunok s'ya ng maraming beses at ramdam n'yang nanginginig ang mga tuhod n'ya. Why the hell she's nervous? Her dad didn't seem someone to be afraid of today. He's calm! "Hilda----" "I was just curious daddy. Nothing serious," nanginginig ang boses n'ya nang magsalita s'ya at pigilan ang ama sa gusto nitong sabihin. "What makes you curious?" Tanong nito. Hindi n'ya mahanap ang tamang sagot sa tanong na 'yon ng ama n'ya. What really makes her curious? The books? The pictures on it? Was that enough answer? "The book," pag-amin n'ya. Tumayo ang ama n'ya sa tabi n'ya at humarap sa bookshelf n'ya. Pinasadahan ng kamay nito ang mga libro n'ya doon habang sya'y pinagmamasdan ang ama. "I just waiting for you to get curious and ask question." Kumunot ang noo n'ya sa sinabi nito kaya mas lalo pa s'yang naging focus sa susunod nitong sasabihin pero wala na s'yang narinig na salita pa mula rito. Tumayo s'ya at lumapit sa ama. "Daddy? What do you mean?" "I guess, you're now ready. You're curiosity won't end up just like that. Tomorrow, the next day, you'll still think of the question until you got answer and be satisfied. Maybe, it's the right time for you." "I–I don't get it." Sa 'di maipaliwanag na dahilan ay naghuhurumintado ang puso n'ya sa kaba. Ramdam n'ya ang kaba sa dibdib. Tumingin sa kanya ang ama at hinawakan ang magkabilaang balikat. Diretso ang tingin nito sa kanya kaya naman ay kitang-kita n'ya ang lakas na nagmumula sa nga mata nito. At nang bumuka ang bibig ng ama at narinig n'ya ang mga salita dito ay napanganga s'ya sa gulat at pagkamangha. "There's a world behind your closed door."