EVERY NIGHT, the ship would ring with the ominous sound of triggers cocked, guns aimed into the darkness. I got the feeling that bombs exploded somewhere in a ship, and I couldn't get rid of the feeling of being caught right in the middle of an unseen battlefield beneath the serene surface of the ship.
I went to slip captain Rene in an effort to get some peace. "Don't worry, Lady Emory," he told me. "We are doing everything in our power to ensure that everyone aboard this vessel is protected."
"It's just. this is my first time traveling like this," I confessed, my voice shaking a little. Those unpredictable punching sounds, almost explosive and gunfire-like in nature, unnerved me.
"Oh! Do not worry," Mr. Rene replied warmly, his smile genuine. "Our crew is trained for every event. You are in safe hands."
I went back to my suite and closed the door behind me with a sigh. Every nerve of my body seemed on edge, and with the passing seconds, I found myself considering the duration this voyage was going to take.
BANG!
Again the sudden noise jolted me out of my thoughts. My hands covered my ears as my heart tolled in fears and uncertainty.
The next Sunday broke in involuntarily, the sun pouring into my cabin with mellow warmth. It was the first day in weeks that I had indulged in sleeping in. My mind went haywire as I wandered around my room. What exactly was that noise that had so startled me? What lay ahead today that made me apprehensive about leaving my cabin?
Wala akong mapili na damit na isusuot ko ngayon. Nababahala ako sapagkat masyado akong naninibago. What I mean by that baka nagkamali ako sa mga desisyon ko. I am vexing with myself. Napalingon na lamang ako when the doorbell is ringing. Who's that? Bago pa ako makalapit sa pinto ay nagbukas ito. He is wearing a bowtie and white polo.
"Here's your lunch, ma'am!" The steward seemed to be very friendly as he set up the tray.
"Come again?" I was totally perplexed since I hadn't called for lunch.
"Your lunch, ma'am. Mr. Sigmund told me to deliver it for you," he repeated still smiling warm.
"My lunch?" My eyebrows furrowed, vexed by the sudden delivery. "Fine, thank you." I watched him leave, then lifted the stainless steel lid from the pot. What I saw inside threw me off even further. "A watch? What am I supposed to do with this?" My mind was already in a whirlpool of confusion, and this unexpected gift didn't really help matters.
On a huge vessel full of people, suddenly I felt this overwhelming need just to wander around. My feet took me wherever the hell they wanted. I still had the watch on, the one brought to me instead of breakfast. Was Sigmund trying to humor me? He was starting to piss me off. I hate feeling this way!
Ang bawat hakbang ko ay naging mabilis na kaniya ding ginawa habang ang mga kamay niya ay nasa likuran. Kalmado at walang pagkabalisa ang mukha. Mukhang alam niya na kung bakit. Nang magkatapat kami ay wala halong ngiti ko siya tinitigan. Nakatingala ako sa kaniyang mukha na nakakaloko ang tingin.
"Semyonovich," he said.
"Pardon?" I replied, caught off guard.
"Semyonovich Magalhaes, your father's name," he clarified.
"How did you know, Mr. Sigmund?" I asked, my tone tinged with suspicion. He avoided my gaze and grinned knowingly.
"Ice skating rink. It was my father's favorite place to amuse himself. I used to skate with your father on occasion," he explained cryptically, shuffling some papers on the nearby table. "However, I must attend to some errands." With that, he turned and left me with a puzzled expression on my face. His familiarity with my father only added to my confusion.
His words were vague, yet they carried an underlying truth that compelled me to understand him better. But did I really want to delve into this? No, I didn't want any part of it.
Nagkatagpo ang landas namin ni Lady Shimmer. "Would you like to visit my place?" Pag-iimbita niya sa akin kaya't ngumiti ako sa kaniya.
"It's my pleasure to come with you."
Sumama ako sa kaniyang lobby, na eksklusibo para sa kanya lamang. Napuno ito ng iba't ibang mga painting. Sa open area, tila abot-kamay mo na ang kalangitan. Ang hampas ng hangin ay nakakatuwa, na tila sumasalubong sa aming mahahaba naming buhok. Pinagmasdan ko ang mga eroplano sa himpapawid at ngumiti sa nakikita.
"Natutuwa ka sa mga eroplano?" tanong ni Lady Shimmer.
"Yes. Ang unang sakay ko diyan ay kakaiba. May isang batang lalaki na pinapanood ako habang ako'y umiiyak sapagkat takot ako sa matataas."
"Gayon ba. Mukhang ngayon ay hindi kana takot."
"Sapagkat mas natakot ako sa mga mata niya. Nagagalit ito sa'kin at sinabing ako lamang ang gumagawa ng takot sa aking isipan. Ngunit hindi naman kami magkakilala."
"Napaka-pilyo naman niya kung gayon." Sabay kaming natawa sa pahayag kong iyon. "Napaka-seryosong bata naman iyon."
"Mukha nga. Mahilig sa itim. Sa pagkaka-alala ko ay puro itim ang suot niya."
"Misteryoso ha."
Kami ay nag-tsaa ay nag-kwentuhan ng ilang bagay sa amin buhay. Hindi ko inaasahan ang pagdalo ni sir Augustine Aquinas. "Mabuti at nakarating ako," saad niya.
"Mabuti at naabutan mo pa kami," biro ni Lady Shimmer. "Ang balita ko ay mahilig ka sa sining. Nais kong malaman ang iyong kritiko sa aking mga sining."
"Kritiko..." I murmured.
"Kritiko?" Augustine repeated. "Sa katunayan, kahanga-hanga ang iyon gawa. Kakaiba ito at hindi ko masabi ang tamang salita. Ngunit may nais kong ipagtapat binibini."
"Ano iyon?" Shimmer waiting for his words.
"Masyadong malalim ang ibigsabihin ng mga kulay. Lalo na't gumamit ka ng madilim na pangulay. Para sa akin ang itim ay kalungkutan sa dilim kaya nababagabag ako at nangungulila ang pakiramdam ko sa iyong likha."
Pumapalakpak na lamang si Shimmer. "Kung gayon nadama mo ang nais ipahayag ng sining ko."
"And it's familiar," I commented.
"How come?"
"As they reported, none of them is alive. Yan ba ang gabing lumubog ang mga bangka at barko dahil sa bagyo. And that hurricane transmuted into tragic stories," I said, trying to calm myself, recalling the news about my father being on that massive ship. Madami ang namatayan at nangulila.
"Absolutely, Lady Emory, kaya naipinta ko ito. When my cousins died in the midst of their voyage," Mr. Augustine Aquinas replied, his voice tinged with sorrow.
"Tragic stories turned into art," Sir Augustine Aquinas added, coughing. "Ngayon ko lamang nalaman ang balitang iyon."
"Please have a seat," offered Shimmer. The gentleman sat opposite me. "Saan ka nga pala nagmula, Sir Augustine?"
"I'm from the city of Vienna, Bohemia. My father brought me here on the ship to be independent. I studied alone to have my own adventure. Nevertheless, it's axiomatic that exploring is a challenging chapter of my life.”
"You grew up independently, ha!" Shimmer sipped her tea, contemplating Sir Augustine's story. "Well, when I was 6, my parents decided to bring me to an Arts School in Venice Silesia. Sa bawat nagagawa kong sining, naibebenta ko ito, kaya naman ako na ang nagdesisyon na maglakbay upang maghanap ng iba pang oportunidad sa iba't-ibang lugar."
"That's so great!" I interjected enthusiastically.
"How about you, Lady Emory?" Shimmer turned her attention to me.
"My parents wanted me to be..." I hesitated, not wanting to admit that my parents' dreams for me had already ended. "Umm... a pianist. They trained me how to play the piano.”
Naaalala ko pa noon na iyon ang nais ng aking lola ngunit agad siyang nawala. Nais niya kong turuan tumugtog ngunit sandaling panahon niya lamang akong naturuan. Nagsanay ako ngunit ibinenta naman ni lolo ang piano na iyon. Naaalala niya kasi kung paano sila nagmahalan kasama ang piano.
"So, you have a talent in music," masayang banggit ni Augustine.
"Hindi nga lang ako nahasa sa pagtugtog," pag-amin ko.