San Carlos

Kabanata 7

I stared at the man in front of me. His narrow eyes are smiling and vibrant brown in color. Mapula ang kanyang manipis na labi na siyang bumagay sa mapusyaw na kulay ng kanyang balat. His light brown hair was aesthetically in curls like Cupid's. Tila walang kapintasan na makikita sa mukha ng lalaki. He looks like an angel.

I can't believe that I am now in face to face with the son of the possible killer of an innocent young lady.

"Paumanhin rin sa aking kapabayaan, ginoo. Mauuna na ako," hindi ko alam na kaya ko palang magsalita ng ganon kabilis until today. I was about to turn my back to him when he spoke again.

"Maari ko bang malaman ang iyong pangalan, binibini?" he carefully asked. I halted from walking. Mariin kong naipikit ang mga mata.

I puffed a deep breathe, "Eloise," I said, before striding away from him.

Nanginginig ang mga binti ko habang naglalakad palayo sa lalaki. Wala bang araw na hindi ako mabibigla sa mga nalalaman o kaya naman nakikilala ko? I... I just freaking met the gobernadorcillo's son. The man who will die before December ends.

The Ibarra's are well-known in the town of San Carlos. Everyone in the town knows about their kindness and greatness. Bawat taon, ang lahat ay nakikidalamhati sa kamatayan ng magiting na gobernadorcillo at ng panganay na Ibarra. Lahat ay gumugunita taon-taon.

Few old newspapers told us that the first born of the gobernadorcillo was shot dead in front of every person living in the town. It was a cold evening, warm smiles and faint laughters are shared, the spirit of Christmas flows in the air. As the gobernadorcillo do his speech on the freedom park, his son, Primitivo Ibarra was shot in the head.

Remembering the face of the man earlier, I can't imagine seeing it pale and lifeless. Mabilis na tumayo ang balahibo sa aking batok at mga braso. It is too dreadful to imagine.

"Binibining Eloise," napahinto ako mula sa mabilis na paglalakad nang makita si Inigo sa aking harapan.

Magulo ang buhok nito, dinedepina ang mapupungay na mga mata na ngayon ay malambot na nakatingin saakin. I almost melted because of the way he looked at me. Ako na ang unang umiwas ng tingin. His eyes are too much for me to handle.

"Saan ka ba nagpunta? Hindi ka dapat basta na lamang lumisan nang hindi mo ako kasama, lalo na't hindi mo gamay ang lugar at mga tao rito," he said, I can almost taste his frustration.

I wanted to laugh at him because he's back on wearing his scowl once again, but I can't. Isang tipid na ngiti na lamang ang ibinigay ko rito.

"Pasensya na. Uwi na tayo," aniya ko bago nagsimulang maglakad. Nakita ko ang pagtataka na gumuhit sa mukha niya, but still, he followed me.

I was abstracted the whole ride home and it is obvious that Inigo noticed that something must be up, ngunit pinili na lamang nito na bigyan ako ng katahimikan. It is that one thing I've liked about him. He is silent. He can give you the silence without being uncomfortable with him.

Habang tinatahak ang daan pauwi, ay tanging ang panganay na Ibarra lamang ang tumatakbo sa aking isipan. Pilit na iniisip ang dahilan kung bakit ito nabaril. He looks completely innocent, like an angel. But on the other hand, what shines, hurts the eye the most. I don't know anything about him, I shouldn't be deceived. I should be careful.

"Eloise, hija— Señor Inigo!" hindi natuloy ang ginawang pagbati saakin ng Señora nang makita ang binatang sumunod saakin mula sa pagbaba ko ng calesa. She stopped midway and looked at us, I can sense that she wanted to ask something but I couldn't bring myself to speak.