My Handsome Katipunero

KABANATA 8

"Wow." The only that came out from my mouth the moment we stepped foot in this so called 'bayan'.

It's different from the typical towns in 2016. Colonial buildings, dirt roads, horse drawn calash, Spanish soldiers, women dressed in Maria Clara attire, men wearing barong. The whole place was decorated. Colorful flags are hanged everywhere. Kinda looked like a town fiesta.

"Ipinagdiriwang ngayon ang pista ng patron kaya maraming tao mula sa kalapit bayan ang narito." Antonio stated.

Napatango na lang ako. The town is crowded. You'll see people in every corner of the town. The music that the music band is playing is lively. Some are singing, others are dancing, drinking. They're all having fun even without smartphones? Internet? How can they have fun without those?

"Halika na, Kristin." saka ko lang naibalik kay Antonio ang atensyon ko nang magsalita ito.

"Sa'n?"

"Sa tindahan ni Mang Gorio. Doon natin iiwan ang kalabaw."

"Teka, akala ko ibebenta mo 'yang kalabaw?"

"Kaya, tara na." saka niya hinawakan ang kamay ko at nag-umpisang maglakad.

It didn't take us long to get to Mang Gorio's shop. Antonio gave the carabao to the old man who seems to be owner of the shop. They talked for a while bago bumalik si Antonio.

"Halika na." kunot-noo akong napatingin kay Antonio.

"Sa'n? 'Diba ibebenta mo 'yung kalabaw?"

Napatawa siya, "Si Mang Gorio na ang bahala. Mamayang gabi ko na kukunin ang pera kung sakali mang naibenta ang kalabaw. Kaya ngayon," he held my hand, and I felt bolts of electricity running from my hands all throughout my whole body. "magsasaya tayo. Minsan lang sa isang taon ang maganap ang pista rito, kaya susulitin natin."

'Di na ako nakaangal nang hinila niya ako papunta sa sentro ng bayan.

We went to lots of houses. Parang kilala siya ng lahat ng tagarito. They welcomed him, offered him food, talked to him. And he, he talked to the them, laughed with them, like they weren't strangers. He's so friendly. Unlike me, all I did was sit in the corner and watch him getting friendly with others. Some tried talking to me, asking if I was a mestiza, but I just gave them cold shoulders. They can't blame me, I don't like talking to people I don't know. They creep me out.

"Bakit hindi ka kumain kanina?" Antonio asked nang makaalis kami sa bahay ng kaibigan niya.

"Diet." I answered.

"Alam mo, maraming nagtatanong kung ikaw ba'y isang mestiza?"

I looked at him, raising a brow. "Mestiza?" People kept asking me if I was a mestiza, what the hell's a mestiza anyway? Kano? Maputi? Aish!

"Oo, kung ikaw ba'y may lahing banyaga." he answered.

Ah. If I was half? "Yes, I am. One fourth canadian."

"One fourth canadian?"

"Sabi ko, oo. mestiza ako." I looked at him with a 'seriously' look. Then, I noticed. He has foreign features. Like I said before, maybe he's half spanish? "Eh, ikaw? Mukha ka rin namang banyaga. Except for your skin color."

Napahawak siya sa batok niya habang nakangiti. He's mannerism again. He's cute doing that. Damn. "Pilipina ang aking ina at kastila naman ang aking ama."

"Nasa'n sila?" I asked.

"Hindi ko alam." he answered bluntly.

I stopped on my tracks, "What do you mean you don't know? Anong 'di mo alam?"