Conquering Territories: Completed

1

The wide ocean welcomed me as I opened my eyes. The serene sound of the waves and the rustling leaves echoed inside my ears. Everything was calm, peaceful, and perfect. I finally found that one thing I was looking for a long time. Silence.

I looked at the ocean once again. Tila ba nagsilbing isang malaking salamin ang karagatan habang ipinakikita ang asul na kalangitan. It was too beautiful to be unnoticed. An urge inside me flared, causing me to walk towards the blue entity. Hinayaan ko na lang ang sarili ko na magpahatak sa kagandahan ng katubigan.

As my skin touched the water, everything suddenly turned upside down. The water encircled my whole body, causing my breath to be lessened. I tried to breathe. It was only water that entered my mouth. It was water and nothing else.

At that moment, something unexpectedly happened. I felt someone claiming my lips. It was soft, passionate, and full of emotion. Someone was now in front of me, claiming my whole body as if I was a prized possession. His hazel brown eyes looked at me, which caused emotions inside me to flare. I was about to withdraw from the kiss but, the crashing waves interrupted.

I let out a deep sigh as I woke up to morning. It was that dream about the waves and kiss again. Again. Ilang beses ko na rin napapanaginipan ang tungkol sa mga alon at karagatan. It was always that man.

A small smile was formed on my lips after realizing that dream. The same man kissed me again inside my dream. I don't know if something was wrong inside me but, I'm loving it. The idea of me kissing a man was weird at first yet, I think I'd love it. The man inside my dream somehow lifted my mood.

I found myself looking in front of the mirror. My coal-black eyes were now directly looking at my reflection. Dark circles were now present under it, maybe because I was overworking these past few days. I need to earn enough money for my college tuition fees. Hindi sapat na tatambay lang ako sa bahay. I need to work my ass off to sustain our needs.

Years ago, I was living the life almost everyone wished for. A happy family, a complete-package life for a young kid. Everything's perfect, not until that thing happened.

Nagising na lang ako na iba na ang mundong ginagalawan ko.

A faint smile was formed on my lips as I saw our family picture. Ang malas ko naman dahil sa gilid ko pala ng salamin inilagay ang larawan namin. Flashes of memories entered my mind, drowning me with the thoughts of them.

Several years ago, my parents went out to fish. I was just a child back then. Innocent, dumb, and naive. I never thought of the idea of them not coming back. Masyado akong nagtiwala na babalik sila. The next thing I knew, the two of them were found dead. Cold and lifeless.

Tears were now building inside my eyes. Remembering those moments triggered something inside me. Hindi ko pa talaga kaya na wala sila sa akin. Hindi ko pa rin kaya.

I traced our picture with my bare hands. A tear dropped on the frame, causing the picture to glint under the sun rays that entered my room. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko na umiyak. Mahirap pa ring pakawalan sila.

"Bakit kasi ang daya n'yo? Hindi n'yo man lang ako isinama d'yan sa taas," I said, trying not to choke on my own words. I thought I could handle my emotions. After several years, I thought I could handle it on my own. Hindi pa rin pala. Hindi ko pa rin pala kaya.

"Akala ko ba walang iwanan? The both of you promised."

Tears escaped my eyes after saying those words. The thought of me being alone in this world somehow made my heart ached. I do have friends with me yet, a family's quite different from that. Both told me that they'll never let go of me. Akala ko lang pala 'yon.

"Khaydel!"

A loud voice interrupted my thoughts, causing my senses to come back. It has been minutes since tears broke out of my eyes. I need to gather myself.

"Tama na nga' tong drama." I let out a chuckle while drying the tears that escaped my eyes. Wala na rin naman kasing magagawa ang pag-iyak ko. There is no need to cry after all. Hindi ko na maibabalik ang oras. I shrugged the thoughts that conquered my mind. Being negative won't do me any good. I should be strong.

I went out of my room and headed towards the receiving area. Hindi na ako nagulat nang abutan ko si Kuya Leon na nag-aayos ng almusal. He really does take care of me very well.

"Good morning!" I greeted as I gave Kuya Leonel a fist bump. He let out a soft chuckle, maybe because of my childish actions. Kuya Leon's my companion throughout the years I spend here. He's my mother's son from her first relationship, making him my half-brother. After that incident, he's the one who took care of me.

"Umiyak ka ba?" he asked, eyes focused on mine. I immediately looked away after noticing that he's waiting for an answer. Hindi ko naman kayang sabihin sa kanya na umiyak na naman ako sa harap ng litrato ng mga magulang namin.

"Hindi po. Napuyat lang ako kagabi kaya naging gan'yan," I answered before I shifted the topic. "Ano po bang almusal?

"Galit, poot, hinanakit, at sama ng loob," he answered before chuckling. "Wala naman na tayong ibang inaalmusal maliban sa sama ng loob."

Natawa na lang ako dahil sa sinabi niya. It was a joke for anyone yet, those things were different for us. Hindi na siguro mawawala ang sama ng loob bilang parte ng almusal naming dalawa.

"So, who was it this time?" I asked before I took a bite of my food.

"Wala naman, sadyang nainis lang ako sa mga balita sa dyaryo. Hindi talaga mapalayas ang mga dayuhan na 'yan sa teritoryo ng bansa natin." he said. I couldn't blame his reaction after he read that news. After all, we're living near the said place that was indicated on the news. Hindi malayo ng madamay kami kapag nagkaroon ng gulo.

"Hindi ka na nasanay, Kuya. Since then, our place was inhabited by several foreigners who wanted to conquer our land. Hindi na yata mawawala 'yan. May it be American, Spanish, or even Chinese. They inhabited our place since then." I answered.

"Dahil nabanggit mo na rin lang ang Chinese," he said before he gave me an envelope, "may nagpadala kanina ng sulat na 'yan."

My eyes suddenly focused on the envelope that he gave me. An "o" was instantly formed on my lips. Akala ko ay hindi na magpapadala ng sulat ang lalaking 'yon. Himala at sumulat pa siya.

Siguro ay napansin ni Kuya na iba ang naging tingin ko sa ibinigay niyang sulat. "Mamaya mo na basahin 'yan. Maghanda ka na at baka mahuli ka pa sa klase," he said. I immediately hid the letter inside my backpack before I fixed myself to school.

"Wala pa naman po akong balak na basahin 'yon." Sinubukan kong iiwas ang tingin ko pero, narinig ko na lang ang mahinang tawa ni Kuya.

"Tigilan mo ako Khaydel, alam ko ýang galawan mo. Mamaya malate ka pa."

"Ito na po, Bossing," pabirong sabi ko bago magsimulang ayusin ang gamit ko. Mahirap na at baka may maiwan pa akong gamit. Hindi ko naman gugustuhin na magkaroon ng pangit na unang araw.

Habang nag-aayos ng gamit, hindi pa rin nawawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ko. Hindi ko naman inaasahan na magpapadala pa rin pala siya ng sulat. It has been years since he wrote me a letter. Akalain mo nga naman at buhay pa pala ang lalaking ýon.