Beyond the Boundary | ?

04 | End of the Bridge

"BAKIT mo kinausap ang matandang 'yon?"

Napaangat ako ng tingin kay Zeigmund. He was looking straight in front of us while speaking.

I took a glance behind me before I looked at in front of us. "Wala lang... May tinanong lang ako na sinagot niya," kaswal na sagot ko.

"Ano naman ang tinanong mo?"

Napatingin ako sa kaniya at saka napasimangot. "Why are you extra nosy today?"

He glanced at me before he shook his head in disappointment. Hindi ko maiwasang iawang ang bibig ko sa inis dahil parang kasalanan ko pang sobrang matanong siya ngayon.

Hindi na siya nagsalita pa. Hinihintay na pala kami nina Caes sa gate ng barko kaya pagkarating namin do'n, kaagad na kaming tumulak pabalik sa Grendan. While we were talking, we were careful not to step near the bridge's edge, wala pa namang railings. It's been years since these ships were built but none of them had at least one railing! Kinulang ba sila sa budget o ano?

Pagkabalik namin sa Grendan, sobrang daming mga tao at may sayawan pa. There were people dancing at the middle of the road while the group that played instruments for the music was sitting at the fountain in front of a restaurant. Everyone was clapping and cheering for the performers.

Na-distract ako sa music dahil sobrang engaging at hindi mo maiwasang sumabay ng palakpak sa rythm ng tugtugin. I smiled and when I was about to raise my hand and dance, someone grabbed it and pulled me a little.

"Let's go. Baka maiwan ka pa namin dito."

Napaangat ako ng tingin kay Zeigmund. But before my eyes could meet his, he quickly turned his back on me and lightly pulled me out of the crowd.

The rest of the gang was standing in front of a cafe, talking about something related to food, until we arrived. Napabaling kaagad sila sa amin ni Zeigmund.

"So we decided na mag-dinner na lang tayo sa restaurant," anunsiyo agad ni Caes. "And we already talked about which restaurant we'll be having dinner."

"Sa Sa Shippee na lang tayo," dugtong ni Aveyron sa sinabi ni Caes. "It's near here."

Umangat ang kilay ni Caes sabay baling kay Ave. "Huh? I thought sa Cameron's tayo?"

Reivohr, who was behind Caes, crossed his arms. "Malayo na 'yon. Sa Shippee na lang tayo."

"I'll go with you," ani Zeigmund habang nakatingin kay Reivohr. The latter smiled and nodded.

"Ako rin," sabi ko.

Napasimangot si Caesonia. Wala na siyang nagawa at sumunod na lang sa amin nang lumakad na kami papuntang Shippee. It's a restaurant here in Grendan that's popular to visitors and tourists dahil bukod sa ito ang pinakamalapit na restaurant sa gate, ay matagal na ito na sa palagay ko ay mas matanda pa sa akin kaya kilala na ng lahat, at saka masarap naman talaga ang pagkain nila at hindi pa masyadong mahal.

While we were inside the restaurant, waiting for our order to arrive, my mind wandered back to what the old man said back at the Grand Ship 99. What he said just added more fuel to my burning desire about knowing what's beyond that flag and rope.

'May mga bagay na mas mabuting 'wag mo nang alamin kaysa magsisi ka pa sa huli.' Because of this thing he told me, I couldn't help but think about random things that's beyond the boundary. Ano ba ang meron do'n to the point na sinabi sa akin ng matanda na magsisisi ako kapag nalaman ko?

Did he saw what's beyond the boundary? Has he gone there? Has he gone to the surface?

Anong nandoon? Mga kakaibang nilalang ba? May mga tao rin ba ro'n o wala? Were there things there that's beyond a person's comprehension?