LORELEI
Death is never terrifying, but I used to wonder all the time about what comes after it. Will it be an endless pitch-black void that traps our souls forever, with our consciousness just vanishing into it? Where does it go? Or do we become ghosts that haunt the earth until we outlive the very lives we left behind?
I've always been fond of fantasy and fairytale books. Hindi ko na masiyadong maalala but my mother used to tell bedtime stories of the great Asgardian Empire. She read it from a thick, hardbound, green book with the title 'Love and Thunder' engraved in gold colors.
It tells the enchanting story of Emeraude, a princess from the western land of the empire, embarking on a journey to defeat the dark forces with the help of the two princes of Asgard—Thor and Loki.
"Mommy, tell me more, tell me more!" I would always say in a small voice whenever she closed the book.
She would laugh softly and pat my head. "That's a story for another night, Lori."
Then, she'd tuck me into the blanket and sing me a lullaby until I fell asleep. However, my mom passed away due to an incurable illness, and my daddy never really explained it seriously to me back then. Sinabi niya lang that she had to heal in the hospital, assuring me that she would be healthy and walking freely in no time.
Pero hindi na siya gumaling at hindi na siya muling nag kwento sa akin. When she passed away, all her belongings were kept in a big room at the end of the manor. But ever since then, hindi ko na muling mahanap pa ang librong iyon.
I'm twenty five now and I already finished a bachelor's and master's degree in business. I took over my father's company, with the help of his executive secretary. I kept searching for copies of that book everywhere, online shops man o sa bookstores. Kahit gaano kaliit na bookstore, hindi ko pinalipas.
"Sino ba ang author nung sinasabi mong libro, ma'am?" Tanong sa akin ng babaeng nagbebenta ng mga lumang libro. Nagbabaka sakali akong may copy siya no'n.
Umiling ako, hindi ko pala alam kung sino ang author ng librong 'yon. Was I too young to remember who or sad'yang wala lang talagang pen name or pangalan ng author ang nakalagay sa cover page?
"Nako, ma'am," malungkot niyang saad habang inaarrange ang mga naka-pile up na libro. "Mahirap mahanap 'yan, madaming magkakaparehas din ang title. 'Tsaka baka limited edition din 'yun, ma'am."
I nodded in defeat at tinignan ang ibang mga libro sa store na ito. Sinubukan kong hanapin iyon sa iba pang mga bookstore pero pare-pareho lang ang kanilang mga sinabi, na baka limited edition daw. Hindi rin nakatulong na hindi ko alam kung sino ang author.
I desperately typed the words 'Love and Thunder green book' on the google tab, habang naka-upo ako sa swivel chair ng aking opisina. To my disappointment, wala talagang lumalabas. Google ba 'to? Bakit ni isang information wala?
Halos isang oras akong nag scroll at umabot na ko sa pinaka huling result nang may nag pop up na notification galing sa messenger. It was from my secretary, na inutusan kong hanapan din ako ng copy ng book na 'yon.
She sent me a photo of a large green book, adorned with golden letters that spelled 'Love and Thunder.' It looked rather antique, pero it's exactly how I remembered it. I immediately called her and she picked up after a second.
"Good work, Rosie. Saan mo nahanap ang copy na 'yan?" I excitedly said.
Rosie briefly paused before answering me. "I found it on a reddit post, ma'am. It was posted seven years ago by a book collector. Sinubukan kong i-message ang nag post, swerte at active pa siya. I asked if he's selling it, and he said he's not the owner."
I clicked my tongue in annoyance. I'm willing to pay millions if that's what it takes to acquire the book.
"But, ma'am..." She seemed hesitant sa tono ng pananalita niya.
Hindi ako umimik, hinayaan ko lang siyang mag patuloy. Ilang segundo pa ay naramdaman niya sigurong 'di na ako magsasalita, she started speaking.
"The man who posted actually said something, he could contact the owner," sabi niya, "and if you can transact in person, it's possible that it can be bought."
Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya. It felt like winning a lottery, and if my mom's copy of the book got lost somewhere I don't know... At least, there's a high chance that I can get my hands on this one, right?
"Make sure to update me once he reaches out again."
"Understood, ma'am."
Binaba ko na ang tawag at pinatay ang phone, napa titig ako sa mga paperworks na kailangan ko pang pirmahan. For Pete's sake, pinahirapan na nga ako ng ama ko nung nabubuhay pa siya. Hanggang ba naman sa ngayon na namana ko lahat ng assets niya simula nung nawala na siya?
He passed away when I was in college, leaving me all alone with all his riches. No, he wouldn't call it like that though.
"The Rios Corporation is my legacy and honor, Lorelei. Take good care of it more than any treasure in the world." I can remember him saying those exact words on his deathbed.
Walter Rios may stand as a figure of authority and a well-respected business magnate, yet his presence in my life was more suffocating than paternal — he was far from being a father to me.
I tried to understand him, I really did. Inisip ko na lang na nag dulot ng sobrang sakit sa kaniya ang pagkawala ni mommy, at hindi na siya muling naka-recover pa roon. Consumed by his own grief, he became blind to the existence of his own daughter.
Now, I'm left with all his shattered fragments, attempting to mend everything even as I tend to my own patched-up wounds.
"Are you sure this is the right location, Rosie?" Seryoso kong tanong sa aking secretary.
"Yes, ma'am. Ito nga 'yon," sinagot ako ni Rosie habang tumatango.
Sa harap namin ang malaking hardin at isang malaking bahay na may lumang disenyo, we travelled all the way here from Angeles. Mahigit apat na oras kami bago nakarating dito sa La Trinidad, dahil sa traffic.
Ilang sandali pa ay may lumabas na lalaking naka-suot ng long sleeved black shirt at brown trousers, naka suot din siya ng round eye glasses. He looked like he's already in his late fifties or mid sixties, basing on the subtle white strands of hair. And, to be honest, his outfit reminds me of someone from the Harry Potter film. He could pass as a professor at Hogwarts sa suot niya.
Rosie mentioned that the post was from reddit. How come? This man right here looked way too old-fashioned to even know how reddit works.
"Magandang umaga! Kayo ba iyong nag hahanap sa libro?" Nakangiti niyang bati at tumango naman kami. "Tuloy muna kayo, mga hija."
Lumakad na siya papasok sa malaking lumang bahay at sumunod naman kami ng secretary ko, sinabihan ko na ang driver na sa labas na lang siya mag hintay. I looked around the interior design of the house, and everything appeared very old-fashioned. The walls were made of intricately patterned wallpaper, reminiscent of a bygone era, and the wooden furniture exuded an antique charm. Heavy drapes adorned the windows, casting a warm, sepia-toned glow across the room.
Pinaupo niya kami sa sofa at may dalawang maid na nag handa ng refreshments. Umupo na rin siya sa harap namin ni Rosie. Given that the house is big and there are maids serving him, I presume he must be rich. I crossed my legs as I took a sip of chamomile tea from the small cup.
"Hello, Sir. I am Lorelei Rios. Before we discuss business, let's get to know each other first, shall we?" I said to him, at bumaling sa katabi. "This is my secretary, Rosie, the one who contacted you for the book."
Ngumiti ang matandang lalaki at inilahad ang kamay niya sa akin. "Ako naman si Reginald Scott. Ikinagagalak kong makilala kayo, mga hija."
I shook his hand and Rosie did the same.
"I have a question," walang paligoy ligoy pa na pag deklara ko habang nakatingin sa kaniya. He only smiled kaya nagpatuloy na ako.
"My secretary said that she came across the book from a reddit post," I pointed my thumb to Rosie who sat beside me. "I just want to ask kung paano po? I'm sure someone your age does not—"
"—know how the modern era works?" He chuckled and took a sip from his cup as well. "Hindi ako ang nag upload noon, hija. It was my grandson, he's travelling right now kaya wala siya rito. But the book is in my possession."
Napatango ako. "I have another question."
The old man smiled once again, making the sides of his eye crease.
"How did you manage to get a copy of the book? 'Tsaka, is the book a limited edition po? I couldn't find any other copy of that book e." Sabi ko habang nakatingin pa rin sa kaniya, tahimik lang si Rosie na nakikinig sa amin.
Reginald seemed to think about it before responding, it showed in the way he put his hand on top of the other and crossed his legs in a very elegant manner. How classy, I thought.
"Well, to tell you, hija. In my thirty five years of collecting books from all over the world, that book has a mysterious aura. I bought it from a book store in Norway decades ago. Nothing was known about its author except the initials, E.S. No other works except that book either." He said seriously this time at tumingin sa paligid na tila may inaalala. "My grandson, who also has a knack for literature, found it fascinating. It was 'magical' as he said it. He is a blogger as well so, kaya siguro he shared it on what do you call it again? Ah, reddit."
I listened to him closely but I wasn't satisfied with that just yet. Magsasalita na sana ako pero nauna siyang magpatuloy sa kaniyang kwento.
"I'm curious, young lady..." Malalim ang boses niya na tila nambabanta pero his face still looked friendly. "Why do you want to have that book so much?"
My gaze at him didn't falter. The weight of the words hung heavy in the air.
"It is very dear to me," I began, my finger tracing the empty teacup in my hand, "because it holds precious memories of my late mother."
As I spoke, memories flooded my mind, and I could almost hear her voice, sweet and tender, narrating the tales.
"When I was little," I continued, pilit na tinatago ang kalungkutang sumusunod kahit saan ako mag punta, "she used to tell me bedtime stories from that book, chapter by chapter. But she never got to finish it. I never heard from my mother how the story ends."
His gaze softened, and for a moment, the air held a shared understanding of loss.
"I will buy it, kahit magkano po." I smiled bitterly at him, silently praying na ibebenta niya ito sa akin.
A pause lingered, the unsaid words echoing in the room, creating an anguished atmosphere that seemed to hang on every word. The old man stared at me for what seemed like an eternity, I know for sure Rosie was holding her breath. Mag sasalita na sana ako na, huwag na lang. Ayaw kong mamilit. Kahit na gaano pa ko ka-desperada. Baka kasi may sentimental value rin ang libro sa kaniya, 'di ba?
"I'll give you the book," mahinahong sabi ng matanda at uminom ng tsaa.
Narinig kong huminga nang malalim ang katabi ko at ako naman ay lumuwag ang naninikip kong dibdib kanina pa. I felt happy that he said that kaya naman excited kong pinalakpak ang kamay nang mahina.
"Really? How much is it? I'm willing to pay any amount in exchange..." Nagagalak kong saad pero umiling lang ang matanda na siyang ikinagulat namin ni Rosie. Nag tinginan kaming dalawa nang ilang sandali.
"I'll give it to you for free, don't worry. Hali kayo, mga hija," he gestured us to follow him as he stood up and walked slowly toward a big wooden double door.
Binuksan ito ng dalawang kasambahay kanina na sumunod din sa amin, nilingon kami ng matanda at tumango bago siya pumasok sa loob. Manghang mangha kong inilibot ang tingin sa malaking library hall. Towering shelves, filled with the weight of centuries, stood like sentinels, their contents ranging from weathered classics to contemporary narratives.
Sunlight streamed through tall, arched windows, casting a warm glow upon the polished wooden floors. Dust motes danced in the air, caught in the sunbeams like ethereal spirits of literature. The ceiling soared high above, adorned with intricate moldings that seemed to tell stories of their own.
I already saw how big this house was sa labas pa lang but to think that a library this big exists in this house is just simply amazing. Again, it reminded me of something from Hogwarts. Napapa-isip tuloy ako, siguro wizard itong matanda.
Oh, he's rich. Perhaps that's why he's giving me the book for free. Naglakad ang matanda patungo sa gitnang shelf at may kinuha siya roon, tumingkayad siya para maabot iyon. He's tall for an average Filipino at appearance-wise, he doesn't look like one at all. 'Tsaka he mentioned that his surname is Scott? Kaya naisip kong baka may lahi siya at pinili na lang manirahan dito.
Naglakad siya pabalik sa amin ni Rosie, hawak-hawak ang isang kulay green na makapal at malaking libro at may gold patterns. Medyo maalikabok na rin ito kaya pinagpag niya bago inabot sa akin, dahan-dahan kong tinanggap iyon.
"There you go," nakangiti niyang sabi at ngumiti na rin ako pabalik sa kaniya.
I looked up at the old man. "Thank you po, I'm beyond grateful. How can I pay you back for this?"
"Don't worry about it, I think that book's rightful place is in your hands, hija. Ang daming libro rito na napaglipasan na nang ilang dekada, I'm planning to donate all of these." Tumingin siya sa paligid bago bumalik sa akin at humalakhak nang mahina. "Bago ako mawala sa mundong ito."
Nanlaki ang mata ko at hindi ako makapagsalita, he looked fine and healthy to me. Kaya hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit bigla na lang siyang naging morbid. Ilang saglit pa ay tinapik ako ni Rosie.
"Ma'am, may board meeting by 3 o'clock, we have to get going. It's already 11 o'clock," seryosong saad niya in her usual monotone.
Tumango lang ako, sa byahe na lang din siguro kami maglulunch. Inihatid kami ng matandang lalaki patungo sa labas ng bahay nila, kasama niya rin ang dalawang kasambahay na kanina pa sumusunod sa amin. Bago pa kami tuluyang nakaalis ay may sinabi siya sa akin. How could I let it slide? It was too familiar.
"Take good care of it more than any treasure in the world, young lady." Reginald Scott said as he waved his hand good-bye.
Those words were what occupied my mind throughout the whole ride at sa board meeting. I couldn't focus at all but I tried my best to act like I had myself together. How could he know the exact same words my father said to me before he passed away? I instructed Rosie to manage all the other minor tasks at uuwi ako nang maaga sa aking penthouse.
Naka-upo ako sa aking malaking sofa habang ang malaking libro ay na sa aking harapan, nakalagay sa maliit kong glass table. I traced the intricate golden patterns on its cover page, as well as the golden engraved title. It also says in the lower part of the cover page, 'written by E.S.'
"Love and thunder," I murmured into the wind.
Binuklat ko ang libro at binasa ang iilang paragraphs, sa bawat salita ay parang nagrereplay ang boses ni mommy sa isip ko. Nakaramdam na ako ng antok kaya dinala ko ito sa aking kwarto.
Emeraude has never seen such cold and cruel yet enchanting gray eyes in her entire life. The intensity of the gaze held her captive, like a moth drawn to a mesmerizing flame. The owner of those eyes, a figure draped in shadows, seemed to wield an unspoken power that sent shivers down her spine.
As the stranger stepped into the dim light, Emeraude caught a glimpse of a subtle smirk playing on lips that seemed to know secrets untold. "You've stumbled into dangerous territory, little one," Lucian remarked, his voice a low rumble.
Lucian Thoren of Aesir, divine blood, son of the sky, and the crown prince of the Asgardian Empire, stood before her, his presence commanding the room.
For a moment, time hung suspended, and Emeraude found herself caught in a silent exchange with those enigmatic gray eyes. "What brings the crown prince to such a forsaken place?" she finally managed to whisper.
Lucian's gaze intensified, and a low chuckle escaped his lips. "The same thing that brought you, no doubt—a desire for something hidden, something forbidden."
"You're not from around here, are you?" he remarked, his voice carrying a weight of authority.
Emeraude, still caught in the magnetic pull of his gaze, shakily answered. "No, I'm not. What gives it away?"
He spoke in a low voice, the sound sending a shiver down her spine. "The way you look at this world, as if it owes you something. As if you're ready to defy the very heavens."
Hindi ko matandaang ganito ang kwento, I knew that Emeraude was a princess from the Western Kingdom but was it ever this complicated? Napakunot ang noo ko at ipinatuloy ang pagbabasa, nilaktawan ko ang mga familiar na chapters hanggang sa nakahabol na sa akin ang antok.
I woke up from the soft ray of sunlight hitting my face, and as my eyes adjusted to the surroundings, I realized I was lying in an opulent bed with intricately embroidered drapes that cascaded like waterfalls. The room exuded an air of regality, adorned with antique furniture, rich fabrics, and walls embellished with tapestries depicting scenes of a historical fantasy film.
Huh?
Kinusot ko ang aking mga mata, baka na sa panaginip pa ako. I should go back to sleep, pumikit ako ulit at muling nakatulog. Ilang sandali ay nagising na ako, bumangon akong nakapikit at kinapa ang aking side table para i-check ang aking phone. Bakit nawawala ang side table ko?
I slowly opened my eyes and saw that I was still in the room where my dream took place. Confusion mingled with awe as I sat up, taking in the grandeur that surrounded me. Walang ideya akong napakurap at napakunot ang noo sa nangyayari. Gusto ko nang magising at baka ma-late pa ako sa trabaho, nakakahiya naman 'yon as a boss.
I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood up, the coolness of the marble floor beneath my feet made me shiver. Ano? Marble? My bedroom as a carpeted floor, at kung panaginip man ito ba't ang realistic naman?
The air carried a faint scent of lavender, silken drapes billowed gently by the open windows. I grunted as I shut my eyes and looked up, nang buksan ko ang aking mga mata ay nasilayan ko ang kisameng may pinta ng mga anghel. It's similar to the Sistine Chapel's ceiling.
My gaze wandered around, taking in the ornate furniture and the detailed craftsmanship of every piece. May nakita akong vanity mirror na tila gawa mula sa ginto. Dali dali akong pumunta roon at muntik na akong mapasigaw sa aking nakita.
The reflection staring back at me was not the person I expected to see. Instead, the mirror showed a pale-skinned young girl of about 8 or 9 years old. Her light auburn hair framed delicate features, and her eyes—two pools of pure gold—glistened with an otherworldly luminosity.
Panic infiltrated my system as I instinctively reached for my own face, half-expecting it to be a trick of the light. How could this be? I searched the room for answers, desperate for some logical explanation. But everything, every ornate detail, remained steeped in an unsettling stillness, and the reality of the situation hit me like a sledgehammer—I wasn't in a dream anymore.