The Happy Prince

10. Curiosity

He was cold as ice the moment we arrived. He came out first and left me behind. Ang akala ko pa naman ay kokomprontahin niya ako, pero walang nangyaring ganito dahil pinabayaan lang niya ako.

I got into my room and stayed until I fell asleep, thinking about what was happening.

.

THE NEXT DAY, he was the same. But he probably should have noticed that the old book was missing.

I was given an assignment and did my job like how he wanted. Ni walang 'hi' o 'hello' sa aming dalawa, at ako madalas ang ngumingiti sa kanya.

Uncle Estefan showed up at the end of the day, giving me sweets that he had bought from the City, and I loved them.

Alam talaga ni Tiyo na gusto ko ang mga dried persimmons at apricot. Palagi ko itong kinakain sa tuwing nagsusulat ako.

"Tiyo? Is Alessandro close to Edward?"

I smile while asking him. I am getting curious about the two of them. From two of them, Alessandro and Edward, have different characters, like they're not siblings.

"And why do you ask, Sylvi?"

Tiyo looked at me with his suspicious stare. Mala detective Barnaby ng Midsomer Murders ang mukha at titig niya sa akin at kinilabutan ako.

Iba talaga ang titig ni Tiyo.

"As much as possible, Sylvi, keep away from Edward."

He stood up, and I pouted. He didn't even answer my question.

"And why is that?"

"Because it will never do you any good. Mind your own business, pretend that you see nothing, heard nothing and talk nothing about what you see here inside the palace in the future."

"Tiyo naman!" Ngiwi ko at katulad niya ay tumayo na ako at sinundan lang din siya.

"Edward invited me to play golf the other day. Wala naman sigurong masama 'di ba? Day off ko naman nang araw na iyon at bored na ako sa lahat nang nandito. And besides, Edward seems better than my cold blooded boss!" ngisi ko.

"Kaya minsan napapaisip ako kung magkapatid ba talaga ang dalawa? Dahil magkaiba ang ugali nila," pangangatwiran ko.

Napahinto si Tiyo Estefan at nilingon na ako. Nakataas bahagya ang isang kilay niya pero ibinalik lang din ito sa puwesto.

I bit my lower lip, ready to laugh at his facial reaction. He looks funny, in my thought.

"Sylvi. . . Did you, perhaps?" He paused again and didn't even finish his question.

"Doesn't matter anyway. Hindi ka naman makikinig sa akin. Basta sundin mo ang gusto ko at huwag ka ng sumama kay Edward." Talikod ulit niya.

I pouted again and sigh deeply. Mahihirapan yata ako pagdating sa mga bagay na gusto kong malaman. Kaya iiwas na lang muna ako sa usaping Edward at Alessandro.

"By the way, Tiyo, the happy prince?" I asked without thinking. My mind jumps from our current conversation to the one that has bothered me for a while.

"Yes? And what about the happy prince?" taas ng isang kilay niya. Hawak na niya ngayon ang isang libro na sa tingin ko ay galing sa isang sikat na manunulat dito sa Europa.

"Tiyo. . . May ibang bersyon ba ang happy prince?" seryosong titig ko. Nababagabag lang din ako sa librong iyon at hindi ko pa tinapos ito. Baka mamaya ay babasahin ko ito ng palihim sa kwarto.

"Another version? What do you mean? Nag-iisang lang ang happy prince at kay Alessandro ito. Bakit? May iba ba'ng kwento ang happy prince na nabasa mo?"

Napailing ako at napakurap na. "W-wala naman. Bakit may ibang bersyon ba ang isinulat ni Alessandro?" balik ko sa tanong niya.

Namaywang na siya at nagtagpo na ang kilay nito. "Ikaw, Sylvi? Ano sa tingin mo? May iba pa ba?" pilyong ngiti niya.

"There was nothing, of course. The happy prince was a hero and the greatest prince without a title. You should think of it that way and end your wicked thoughts. Kilala kita. Kaya matulog ka na!" Talikod ni Tiyo at napanguso na ako.

The happy prince was a hero and the most outstanding prince without a title. My mind speaks in silence while staring at the back of my Tiyo Estefan.

Okay, he's a hero. There's no doubt about it because that's what was written.

And if so? Then? Who's the happy prince in that story that I have ridden? May ibang happy prince pa ba?

___

One, two, three. . . He counted in silence while looking at the dirt underneath him. He seems proud, standing mighty while looking at the peaceful flow of the river water beside the willow tree.

"Isa na lang. Isa na lang at tapos na." Lihim na saad niya habang nakangiti sa kawalan. At bago siya humakbang ay nilingon niya muna ang buong kapaligiran.

There was no one, and the sun was setting down. It's perfect for a job where everyone seems busy, and no one seems to notice that he isn't around.

"Hmm, freedom. . ." He said, looking at the lifeless victim lying on the dirt.

Mabilis niyang hinila ito pinuwesto sa tamang paglalagyan. Ngumiti siya na parang demonyo at nag-iisip sa maaring gawin sa mukha ng biktima.

He hums when he finally figures out what the victim's face would look like and grab his tools. It's a b****y job, but it gives him joy every time the sharp end of the knife touches his victim's skin. They could no longer scream and complain because they were lifeless.

"When everybody cried at your loss, I have the biggest smile," he said in silence. And started slicing the mouth of his victim.

"No one will look for you. Think of all the bad things you did in the community. And now that you're gone, they will never miss you." he added.

Once again, another victim of him has the same fate as the other. Finally, it turned dark and the only sound heard around the place was the hustle and bustle of the willow tree leaves on each branch.

____

The willow tree? My mind speaks in silence and my heart pounded. Mabilis ang pagtayo na ginawa ko at kinuha ko ang makapal na winter coat na nakasabit sa likod ng pintuan rito.

Kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay ito ang puno na malapit sa ilog na kung saan nangisda si Alessandro. Napatingin ako sa relo na suot habang mabilis ang ginawa kong pagbaba sa hagdanan.

I must be out of my mind, thinking it was nine o'clock at night. I paused and took a deep breath when I finally entered the kitchen area door.

It was dark, and the moon shone to give me light along the way.

Abot ang kaba sa dibdib ko ay hindi ko alam kung tama ba ito, pero gusto kong malaman kung totoo ba ang nakasulat o kathang isip lamang, gaya ng isang libro.

I know my curiosity wither will harm or save me.

.

C.M. LOUDEN