Past In The Spotlight (SUNSET TRILOGY #1)

Chapter 14

[Capitulo Catorce: Panganib (Danger)]

The trail stretched ahead, a quiet companion to our journey. Serenity enveloped us until Marianne's question disrupted the hush. "Matagal pa ba tayo, Clara (Are we there yet)?" she inquired, her voice cutting through the silence like a gentle ripple in a calm pond.

"Medyo may kalayuan subalit hangga't maaari ay huwag kayong mag-iingay (It's a bit far, but as much as possible, don't make noise)," Clara responded with a cautious undertone. "Maaaring nasa tabi-tabi lamang ang mga Espanyol (The Spaniards might be just around the corner)." Her words hung in the air, a subtle reminder urging us to tread lightly, as if the very forest held secrets that even the trees dared not share.

"Sige na pero bakit ba tayo pupunta roon kung delikado? Wala pa tayong kasamahang kalalakihan (Okay, but why are we going there if it's dangerous? We don't have any male companions with us)," Marianne asked once more.

Clara's silence spoke volumes as her gaze remained fixed on the horizon.

Eventually, our journey came to a halt in a forest teeming with towering mango trees. "Lahat kami ay mayroong kailangang gawin. Ngayon, nang dahil sa wala rin naman lamang tayong gagawin ay tayo na lamang ang manguha ng mga prutas na ipapakain sa mga kapwa natin katipunero (Each of us has a role to play. Now, since we have nothing else to occupy ourselves, let's gather fruits to share with our fellow katipuneros)," she responded.

"Anong katipunero (What do you mean by katipuneros)?" asked Marianne.

"Alright, ladies, forgive me, but I couldn't understand a single thing you are saying," I interrupted. I interrupted. The unfamiliar words no longer held any enjoyment for me.

"Ano iyon (What's that)?" Clara asked, confusion etched on her face.

"O ngayon, ikaw naman ang nangangailangan ng translator (Now, you're the one in need of a translator," Marianne teased, glancing at Clara. "Anyways, sinabi niya na hindi raw niya tayo maintindihan (Anyways, he said that he can't understand us)."

"Naku (Oh)!" said Clara. "Lo siento (I'm sorry), Señorito."

I nodded, the corners of my lips curling into a reassuring smile, conveying understanding without uttering a word.

The trees, though not towering, boasted an abundance of fruit. Clara, her hands reaching for the ripe, yellow orbs, meandered through the expansive land, harvesting the plentiful bounty.

"Teka, Clara, ano ba ang ibig sabihin mo noong sinabi mong katipunero? As in, totoong kasapi na kami sa Katipunan (Hold on, Clara, what did you mean when you said 'katipunero'? Like, are we really members of the Katipunan)?" Marianne inquired, approaching Clara.

Unable to decipher their language, I opted to contribute by gathering the fruits from the tree in front of me, finding solace in a task that transcended the barrier of words.

"Oo, tama nga ang iyong dinig, Señorita (Yes, you heard it right, Señorita)," Clara replied.

"Hala (Oh, my)!" Marianne gasped.

"Bakit? Ano ang nangyari (Why? What happened)?" Clara asked. "May nasabi ba akong mali (Did I say something wrong)?"

Her eyes widened with surprise, a spark of excitement lighting them up. "Hindi ko alam na may Katipunan part talaga sa pelikula namin (I didn't know there's a Katipunan part in our movie)," she exclaimed, a genuine sense of awe coloring her words. "Astig (Cool)!"

"Pelikula (Movie)?" Clara asked.

"Nariyan na naman tayo, e (Here we go again)," Marianne muttered, her joy shifting abruptly to irritation.

As my basket neared fullness, I observed Clara briskly approaching. "Tara na (Let's go)!" she exclaimed.

"Uuwi na tayo (Are we going home now)?" asked Marianne.

"Kung gusto ninyo ay maaari na kayong umuwi (If you want, you can go home now)," she answered. "May pupuntahan pa kasi ako (I still have somewhere to go)."

"Hindi pa namin alam ang mga pasikot-sikot dito (We're not familiar with the ins and outs here)," Marianne protested. "Sasama na lang kami sa iyo (We'll just come with you)."

"Subalit (But)..."

"Tara na! Sabi mo nga kanina ay huwag mag-iingay (Let's go! You said earlier to keep it quiet)," said Marianne as she grabbed the lady's arm.

Continuing our pace, a new scene unfolded before us. Below the small hill, a small Filipino town emerged, its character defined by weathered brick houses adorned with capiz shell windows. The cobbled streets echoed with a bygone era's charm, as antique horse-drawn carriages meandered through, their rhythmic clip-clop adding a nostalgic melody to the air. The town exuded a timeless aura, a snapshot of history preserved in its architectural details and unhurried way of life.

"Bakit tayo nandito (Why are we here)? Hindi ba sabi mo delikadong lumayo sa kampo (Didn't you say it's dangerous to stray far from the camp)?" Marianne asked.

"Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit sinabihan ko na kayong mauna nang umuwi sa akin (That's why I told you to go home ahead of me," Clara replied.

"What is going..." Mid-sentence, my words dissipated into the air, eclipsed by the distant echo of a man's fervent shout.

As the ominous words "Un bastardo Indio (You bastard man)!" reverberated, a chilling realization gripped the air. In that heart-stopping moment, the atmosphere transformed into a realm of terror. The gunshot's echo lingered, merging with the shadows that now seemed to harbor unseen threats. Our breaths caught in suspense, weaving a narrative of fear and uncertainty, as the ominous encounter unfolded in the hushed stillness of the unknown.

Clara's anxious tone revealed the depth of her concern. "Sina Ama't Ina (My Father and Mother)," she uttered, her words carrying a weight of worry. Fear flickered in her eyes as the uncertainty of their safety loomed. Without a moment's hesitation, she turned towards us, her steps quickening into a run, each stride echoing the pulse of apprehension that now gripped the once tranquil scene.

"Clara, delikado (Clara, it's dangerous)!" Marianne shouted.

In the midst of the road, Clara came to an abrupt halt, her eyes widening with a mixture of shock and horror. The once calm atmosphere now tinged with a sense of impending dread. Something in that unfolding scene seized her, freezing her in a moment of grim realization. The air thickened with an unsettling tension as she confronted a sight that sent shivers down her spine.