First and Last

Chapter 26

The celebration for good harvest was fun. Ang ilan sa mga dumalo ay inabot ng hanggang umaga para matapos ang selebrasyon. It was a night full of happiness. Kaya patuloy ang pag-unlad ng lugar na ito ay dahil sa mga tao. Their unity is something that shines on the middle of the field. I am not saying that our hacienda is the best among all the places here but I am proud that this one is a unique haven for all people who do not have bad intention.

Nobody is perfect but we can be our own version of perfection for ourselves. This place is my own safe haven. Walang pangamba. Walang pag-aalinlangan. At walang hindi tiyak.

“You ready?”

I nodded while holding my bag. He said that he wants to see the falls. He was curious about the story behind it. Buong akala niya ay kami lamang ang makakapunta ngayong araw dahil pagod sa nagdaang selebrasyon ang mga tao dito pero gustong sumama nina Abuela.

The falls he was curious about is the one who had a tragic ending. Noong narinig ko ang kwento ay isa ako sa napahanga ngunit nanghinayang sa dulo. Abuela told me the story. Siya ang nagpakilala sa akin ng mga lugar dito. I was my parents only child. Laking Maynila. I met my grandparents here when I was on my pre-school days. And just like the falls, I have my own tragic story too. Kaya siguro napamahal na sa akin ang lugar na ito.

“This one is…” Arrow breathed. “Heaven.”

He scanned the area. Maski ako nung una ay ganyan ang ekspresyon. The place is so beautiful. Breath-taking.

He stepped on the small rock formation on the middle. Tinatanaw niya ang lawak ng talon. I opened my camera. Nakangiti siya habang walang malay na kinukuhanan ko ng litrato.

Lumapit ako sa kanya matapos kong maibaba ang mga dala kong pamalit na damit. Sila Abuela ay abala sa pag-iihaw ng isda sa gilid.

“The Queen is here.” Rinig kong sabi niya.

He placed his both hands on my waist. Back-hugging me.

“Maganda?” tanong ko sa kanya.

“Sobra, beh.” Birong sagot ni Arrow. I softly tapped his hands but he just hugged me more tightly.

The falls is calmly streaming down the lower part of the area which makes the places even more beautiful. Hindi ganoon karami ang mga tao na nagpupunta dito kapag mga ganitong araw pero masasabi kong hindi ito nauubusan ng tao dahil isa din ito sa mga kilalang spot ng hacienda.

The rocks formation along the side of the falls and on the middle part are happily mixing on the ambience of the place. Sa ganitong pagkakataon lamang ako nakakaranas ng totoong ginhawa. I mean the real peace. Pure and Quiet. Siguro ay dahil sa ginhawa ng lugar. Malayong-malayo kasi ito sa Maynila. I can’t blame Arrow if he felt that this place is a breathing. Far away from the city that gives him pressure and suffocation.

Nasa gawing hindi malalim lamang sila Abuela habang si Arrow ay gustong pumunta malapit sa falls. Hindi gaanong malakas ang bugso ng tubig galing sa itaas kaya hindi naman ito gaanong delikado.

“Sa paanong paraan mo ako nakikitang kasama mo, Love?” he suddenly asked. Nakalubog ang kalahati niyang katawan sa tubig habang ako ay nasa balsa. His hair is now wet. Nakakulong ako sa magkabila niyang mga braso habang nakatingin sa akin.

“Hindi ko alam.” I glanced on the water dripping slowly on my legs. Maang lang siyang nakatingin sa akin. “Hindi ko nga alam na dadating ka.” I pinched his left cheeks softly. “Pero kahit ganon, hindi ko naman hahayaan na makawala ka pa.”

He buried his face on my legs and giggled.

“Mahal na mahal mo ‘ko ‘noh?”

Umirap lamang ako sa kanya. Lumayo siya ng kaunti sa akin. Kitang-kita ko mula sa pwesto ang likurang bahagi niya. He’s like an Olympic swimmer doing what he loves and what he enjoys. I’m happy.

Minsan nga ay naninibago pa din ako kapag kasama siya. Before, there are days that I can’t breathe not because I am having a hard time on breathing but because of the thought that I end up being alone. I always look on the beauty and bright side of everyone but…is there someone who can see my own shine? And if there is, then who?

“Ako!” Arrow exclaimed. Kaunting layo lamang ang pagitan namin. “Ako ba Love hindi mo tatanungin?”

I sighed. Hinahamon siyang tinignan. “Sige nga.” I started. “Ako ba Love, Sa paanong paraan mo ako nakikitang kasama mo?”

I placed all my hairs to the right side while patiently waiting for him to answer. Akala ko nga ay hindi niya ako narinig dahil sa agwat namin.

He dived on the water. Masyadong malinaw ang tubig para hindi ko siya makitang lumalangoy papunta sa direksiyon ko. Nararamdaman ko din ang marahang paggalaw ng balsa kaya naman nararamdaman ko na ang unti-unting pagtalsik ng tubig-talon sa balat ko.

“If there’s any chance that we will get married today, papakasalan kita.” He romantically looked at me as if he’s piercing his words on my heart. “Masyado kitang mahal para pakawalan pa.”

The feeling is mutual, Love.

Pagkatapos naming kumain ng tanghalian ay nauna na sila Abuela na umuwi sa mansion. They said that they need extra rest today dahil hindi naman na daw sila gaya naming malalakas pa ang katawan. Kami naman ni Arrow ay nagpa-iwan pa. Nakapagpalit na kami ng damit at hinihintay na lamang ang oras para magpalipas.

“Remember that I told you that this falls has a story to tell?” sabi ko sa kanya. Nakaupo kami sa kubo habang nasa harap namin ang talon.

He nodded. Nakasandal ako sa kaniya.

“Malaya.” Simula ko. Naramdaman ko ang titig niya sa akin. “That’s her name.”

“Malaya.” Ulit niya.

“People here believed that Malaya is a woman who…you know, the typical girl in a province. Walang hangad kundi ang kapayapaan.” I sighed. “She loves peace and purity. Mahal na mahal niya ang lugar na ito para iwan pa. They said she loves humming when the morning comes and at night, she let the time passed by just looking at the moon.”

Walang imik siyang nakikinig sa akin habang tinutuloy ko ang kwento ko.

“Mahiwaga. Ganoon siya kung ilarawan ng mga tao noon. Until one day, he met a man and she made a promised to him that no matter what it takes she will be forever devote her love on that man. But love is love and nothing is a perfect love. Hindi niya namalayan na sa sobrang pagmamahal niya sa lalaki ay siyang pagkalunod niya. On the other side, that man she loves, only ruins what she’s building for. He only brings damage and a little trouble.”

“Hindi siya totoong minahal ng lalaki?”

Umiling ako. “Mahal siya.” Pinal kong sabi. “But because of unexpected twist, the boy did something unhealthy for their relationships. Malaya hopes that one day he will come back on this place dahil nangako yung lalaki. Pero lumipas ang halos isang taon, hindi pa din siya bumalik. Little did he know, she impregnated Malaya. Siguro ganoon talaga na kahit walang kasiguraduhan…hihintayin at hihintayin mo siya.” I sighed as I remembered that scene where Abuela told me her story. “Dala-dala ni Malaya ang anak nilang wala pang halos isang taon ng lusubin sila ng mga estranghero. Malaya did everything she could do para maligtas lamang sila. The fire was slowly eating the whole village and the people are screaming for their lives. She went to her place dahil may kalayuan ito sa nayon but not all story has a happy ending. She received a gunshot on her back. She tried to save herself from the pain but she cannot see any lights and hope when she knew that her son is already stops fighting for his own life. Na kahit na anong gawing paglaban niya ay tila biglang hinugot sa kaniya ang kanyang rason para lumaban pa.”

Arrow sighed. Magaan niyang hinahaplos ang kabila kong balikat.

“She lost the man she forever dreamed about and now, she lost the only remnants of their love. Kinuha na ang lahat sa kaniya. At that very moment…” turo ko sa direksyon ng talon. “she and her son left a piece. Nangako si Malaya na hindi duon magtatapos ang kanyang kwento. She promised that she will never leave this world untouched again with his love. Na aabutin niya sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga agos ang kinaroroonan ng kanyang minamahal.”

I stopped for a seconds.

“That’s explains why.” He said. “Kaya ba ganito ang hugis at porma ng talon?” tanong niya. I looked at the falls and smile realizing that the two main characters of the story is right here in front of us. The falls with a big one formation but has a softly water melody endure a long and painful un-ended journey. Mas lalo akong napangiti ng makitang halos nakikipagsabayan sa bugso ng agos ang maliit na talon. Their little one. He’s screaming purity and joy. Katulad ng ibang mga bata.

There’s always a sides of the story. I wonder kung ano naman ang bersyon ng sa lalaki…

Kinagabihan, we slept on our rooms. Mukhang napagod din si Arrow mula sa maghapon naming pagpunta sa talon. I heard him talked to their manager. He didn’t open up that topic so I assumed it is a private thing to know about.

Gumising na lamang akong nasa hapag na silang lahat para mag-almusal. Pagkatapos niyon ay siyang pagtungo naman nila Abuela sa munisipyo para mag-ayos ng mga papeles para sa panibagong proyekto na itatayo daw nila ditto sa lugar.

“I will comeback…” rinig kong sagot ni Arrow sa kaniyang telepono. He’s on the veranda. Napadaan lamang ako sa direksyon niya. “Just wait, okay? You don’t have to do anything, just wait.”

Curiosity filled my whole system. Is he talking to his manager or…someone else?

I went to the kitchen to grab some cookies. I will review some engineering projects today since we don’t have any itinerary plans. Hindi ko pa napupuno ang lalagyan ko ng marinig ang balisang yapak ni Arrow. He immediately poured a cold water in a glass at mabilis na ininom iyon.

“Are you okay?” takang tanong ko sa kanya.

He startled a bit. “Yeah. Yeah. I’m okay.”

Lumapit siya sa akin and kissed my right side temple. “May problema ba?” marahan kong usisa.

He shooked his head. “No. Everything went well. All is fine.”

Iwinaksi ko na lamang ang nasa isip ko. I reviewed the projects and Arrow attended meetings with his manager and bandmates. I convinced myself that it’s all about work. If I only knew that one day, our story will never be the same.

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