Amber's POV
Kung ano ano lang ang pinipindot ko sa remote control. Nililipat lipat ko lang ang channel sa kung anong numero ang mapindot ko.
Nandito ako ngayon sa sala. Kasalukuyang nasa harap ng TV kahit wala naman talaga akong ganang manood.
"Nak, are you ready?" Asked mom. Nakatayo siya sa gilid ng sofa kung saan ako nakaupo.
Sa totoo lang ay handa na lahat ng mga gamit ko kagabi pa kasi ngayong araw na ako pupunta sa Archantia. Sabi sa'kin kagabi ni mama ay nasa Magic World daw iyon. I thought it was funny, but she started to mention stuffs like Infinite Space, breaches and other dimensions.
Handa na ang mga gamit ko pero ako hindi. Kasi simula't sapul ayoko talagang pumunta doon. Ayokong mawalay kay mama.
We debated about this for days. I really don't want to but I have no other choice. Wala na raw kasing iba pang panahon para sanayin at pag-aralan ang kapangyarihan ko. She said it's for the greater good. And you know what's more annoying? She mentioned about a danger that is coming at tanging ang mga tao lang sa Archantia ang makakatulong sa'kin. I tried to ask what danger she's talking about but she would just dodge the question.
Wala na talaga akong maintindihan at mukhang wala rin silang planong ipaintindi sa'kin.
Hindi ako umimik. Hindi ko sinagot ang tanong ni mama kasi medyo nakakatampo na talaga siya. Minsan naiisip ko baka ayaw na niya sa'kin kaya niya ako ipapaubaya na lang kay Headmistress Xarafina. Siguro sawa na rin siya kasi nga naiiba ako. Because seriously, why wouldn't she just tell me everything?
Naramdaman naman niya siguro agad na nagtatampo ako kaya lumapit siya at tumabi sa'kin. She held my hands and her eyes were tearstained again.
"You'll understand someday, Amber,"aniya
"Why not today?" I tried my best not to let my voice trail off. Hindi ko rin tinanggal sa TV ang tingin ko.
"I don't know where or how to start, anak," she cried. "But we just can't hide you forever."
I shifted my gaze at her and this time, hindi ko na rin napigilan ang mga luha ko.
"Hide me from what, ma?" I cried too. "Gulong gulo na ako. Andami dami kong tanong, ma. Pero lahat ng 'yon iniiwasan mo naman."
"I'm sorry I can't protect you." Aniya saka niyakap ako.
Ang plano niya ay ang ipaubaya ako kay Headmistress Xarafina. Mag-aaral ako sa Archantia at malaki ang posibilidad na doon na ako mamumuhay sa Magic World. Kapag nandoon na ako sa mundo ng majika ay lilipad naman si mama papuntang Canada. Doon siya maninirahan sa kapatid niya.
Everything was so sudden and heavy. I don't even know how she could bear all of these. Because I can't.
Niyakap ko na lang din siya pabalik.
**
My jaw almost literally dropped.
Lahat ng mga gamit at bagahe na dadalhin ko sa Magic World ay nandito lahat, pati ako at si mama...sa C.R!
After almost breaking down emotionally a little bit earlier ay eto ang malalaman ko— the only damn way to get to the Magic World is through our comfort room. For Pete's sake!
Movies and novels taught me portals are hidden somewhere deep in the forests but here's a slap of reality, kasi nasa C.R lang naman pala namin ang portal.
Halos manindig ang mga balahibo ko sa kung ano anong naiisip ko. What if naman kasi either sa'min ni mama ang naliligo dito sa C.R tapos napagtripan ng mga taga Magic World na mangibang mundo tapos dito dumaan sa portal sa C.R oh edi nagkabokyaan! Jusmiyo!
"This is insane!" bulalas ko.
"It's not what you think, anak." Mom giggled. Pumwesto na nga kami sa loob ng C.R and she started to chant out weird words. The next few seconds were breathtaking.
The walls opened up to an empty, black space. Nothing was there, just pure emptiness.
"Black hole?" I asked.
"That's the Infinite Space, Amber," paliwanag ni mama. "A breach that connects different dimensions. It will teleport you to the Magic World since Xarafina already routed you there."
"Ma," I said, looking into the Infinite Space. "Please answer this question. Why don't you just go there with me?"
"Gustuhin ko man, anak, ay hinding hindi talaga pwedi," sagot nito. "It is strictly against the Law of Dimensions that no mortals should ever step foot in the World of Magic."
"Why not?"
"Hindi kakayanin ng mortal na katawan ang majika doon. Mere mortals will die in just a matter of days, being weaken by magic intensity."
"Will I see you again, ma?" I tried to hold back my tears.
Hindi ako iyaking tao. Drama is probably my least favorite. But when it comes to my mom, I become vulnerable. She's my weakness. She's all I've got.
"I'll pray," tanging nasabi ni mama.
I stared into the Infinity Space, bitterly accepting the fact that once I stepped in there, I might never get to see my mother ever again.
"Be safe there, Amber," she added, I shifted my gaze at her and she's staring into the space. "Just imagine how beautiful life will be in there. You won't need to hide anymore."
I couldn't even bear imagine my life without you, ma.
"I hope you'll learn to smile there."
I hope I get to see you again.
"Paalam, 'nak. Mama loves you."
A tear fell down my eye and the next thing I knew, I was already being devoured by darkness.
**
I was too lazy to open my eyes. Pakiramdam ko ay nilalamon pa rin ako ng kadiliman sa Infinite Space.
"Gising ka na ba?" bulong ng isang boses ng babae. "Kanina ka pa natutulog, gumising ka na."
"Huwag mo ngang kulitin ang pasyente, Gypsi." Ani ng isa pang boses ng babae.
Kahit nakakatamad ay napilitan na lang din akong imulat ang mga mata ko. The white ceiling above me greeted my sight. Napatingin na rin ako sa paligid and there were two girls standing beside the bed I'm lying on— one with a violet curly hair who looks just about my age, and the other is in a nurse uniform.
"Nurse Jenni!" Masiglang bulalas ng babaeng may violet na buhok. "I told you she's awake."
"Kapag nalaman kong ginamitan mo siya ng spell, naku Gypsi!" Ani naman nung nurse saka ito lumapit sa'kin. "Kamusta ang pakiramdam mo?"
Saglit ko silang tinignang dalawa saka ako tumango na lang bilang sagot.
"Nandito ka ngayon sa infirmary ng school," paliwanag ni nurse Jenni. "You lost consciousness while you were in the Infinite Space so we had to rush you here."
Lumapit naman ang isa pang babae na tinawag na Gypsi nung nurse. She smiled and waved at me.
"Hi! I'm Gypsi Faden," tuwang tuwang pakilala nito. "I'm a witch and I will be your dorm mate slash classmate slash bestfriend."
"She considers herself lucky to have you as a dorm mate. Lalo na nung nabalitaan niyang galing ka sa Human World."
Gypsi was still smiling so wide. I didn't know what to react. I've never been greeted like this before.
"Mahiyaing bata ka siguro," tukoy ni nurse Jenni sa'kin. "Siya nga pala, can you manage to walk? Baka gusto mong maglibot-libot na sa school. Gypsi will definitely tour you. Pero kung hindi mo pa kaya you can stay here for the meantime."
"Asan si Headmistress Xarafina?" I asked.
"She's still busy with your files so she can't assist you for now," sagot ni nurse Jenni. "Nasa dorm na rin ang mga gamit mo."
"Can I be alone for a bit?" Paghingi ko ng pabor. Medyo nagulat naman sila sa sinabi kong 'yon. Nagkatinginan silang dalawa ni Gypsi at Nurse Jenni pero pumayag din naman sila at naiwan nga akong mag-isa dito.
Hindi ko na ba talaga makikita ulit si mama?
Nahiga ulit ako saka humagolgol ng iyak.
**
"Tada!" Masayang bulalas ni Gypsi. Nandito na kami ngayon sa dorm at tuwang tuwa naman si Gypsi sa pagtour sa'kin sa loob ng dorm.
It was cool. Very aesthetic. Malinis at maayos ang loob and it's very spacious. It has a mini sala and mini kitchen too.
"You get to have the bed on the upper part," tukoy ni Gypsi sa double deck na magiging higaan namin. "I get to be down here."
Kagaya ng sinabi ni nurse Jenni ay nandito na nga lahat ng mga gamit ko. Mamayang gabi ay ililipat ko na ang mga damit ko sa cabinet pero ngayon ay parang gusto kong matulog muna.
"You can go ahead and take a nap to rest."
I nodded as a reply.
"What's your name, by the way?"
"Amber."
"Amber?"
"Weiss."
"Auh okay."
Napakaboring ko palang kausap.
"You go rest while I prepare some foods," nakangiting sabi ni Gypsi. "Siya nga pala, Amber."
I shifted my gaze at her. Wala akong imik pero hinintay ko na lang ang idadagdag niya.
"Welcome to the Magic World," aniya. "Welcome to Archantia."