Chapter 3
“Ano ang nangyari sayo?” Bungad agad sa akin ni Aurora pagkakita niya sa akin sa bungad ng portal.
“M-May tao.” At hindi ko alam kung bakit kailangang mangatal ang boses ko. Kung bakit kailangang bumilis ng ganito ang heartbeat ko. It’s not as if I haven’t seen a human before. Nakikita ko sila araw araw pero hindi pa nangyari na ang tao mismo ang nakakita sa akin.
Nakita kong tumaas ang kilay ni Au dahil sa sinabi ko dahil wala nga namang kakaiba sa sinabi ko.
“So?”
“He saw me. May third eye siya.” Doon na napatango ang kaibigan ko at alam kong naiintindihan niya ang predicament ko. In my 150 years of existence, I never allow any human to see me. Although hindi naman bawal na gawin namin yun pero hindi ko ginawa at wala akong balak gawin ang bagay na yun. Hindi ko alam kung bakit but I felt this certain abhorence with humans. Alam ko na marami ang magagalit o magtataas ang kilay kapag narinig nila ang opinyon ko but that is how I felt towards human.
“I see. Don’t worry about it Crystal. Some of them really possess that kind of gift. But there are so few of them na halos wala ng naniniwala sa mga sinasabi nila. Not to mention that humans have this very short memory and lifespan.” It’s true. Humans easily forgot. They are so fragile yet they are very destructive. Yan ang isa sa mga rason kung bakit ayaw ko sa kanila. And I can’t also understand why my kind are so fond of them. Kung tutuusin, they are useless. They brought nothing but destruction. They destroy their own kind, they are greedy, they destroy the environment, they are proud. Yet, they are the preferred one and nymphs are attracted to them and some are jealous of humans.
“Hindi lang yun Au, I felt my heart beat when I saw him.” Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Aurora at tumingin sa akin. Then a smile formed on her lips. At hindi ko nagustuhan ang ngiti niya. At mas lalong hindi ko gusto ang nasa isip niya. Hindi maaari.
“You must be in love.” Nakangiti pang sabi niya as if falling in love is the greatest thing that could happen to us.
Well, it is because nymphs only fall in love once. Hindi tumitibok ang mga puso namin hangga’t hindi kami umibig. And once we fall in love it is unstoppable and for eternity. I am not against falling in love. Ang ayaw ko lang ay ang umibig sa isang tao. I hate it. No… I abhor it. I can’t fall in love with a human. I can’t fall in love with something I considered weak. Ayaw kong matulad sa ibang mga katulad ko na iniwan ang pagkaimmortal para lang sa mga taong minahal nila. For me that is sheer absurbity.
“Hindi maaari Au.” I said vehemently. I won’t allow it.
“You can’t stop it Crystal.” Napapikit ako sa sinabi niya. Dahil tama siya. The power of love is always greater than our own powers. Kumuyom ang mga kamay ko.
“I won’t see him anymore. I won’t let him see me anymore.” My voice is full of conviction.
“You can’t also stop it Crystal. Your soul will cry for him, will even crave for him. You will act on instinct even before you have the chance to think.” Siguradong sigurado si Aurora nung sinabi niya yun. Napangiwi ako.
