My Handsome Katipunero

KABANATA 18

Well, that was surprising. That explains her outfit the last time we talked. She came from a noble family.

The title "Two-faced bitch" suits her.

Pero nung una ko siyang nakita sa bayan, 'di naman siya mukhang nagmukha sa mayamang angkan. In fact, mukha siyang mahirap. She looked like a teenage mom with ten children and no husband to support her. She looked nothing like a high-class woman.

"Pero nakita ko siya noon sa bayan. 'Di naman siya mukhang mayaman. Muntik pa nga siyang paputukan ng baril nung isang kastila."

Pinulot ni Corazon ang saklay ko at ibinigay ito sakin, "Iyon ang paraan ni Ate Burandai upang makatakas sa kanila at makipagkita kay kuya Antonio."

"Makipagkita?" tumango siya at umupo sa upuang kinauupuan niya kanina.

"Simula noong pinagbawalan si ate Burandai na makipagkita kay kuya Antonio, labis na nalungkot ang dalawa. Kaya gumawa sila ng paraan upang makasama ang isa't isa. At ito'y sa pamamagitan ng patagong pagkikita."

Well, that hurt.

It felt like my heart was being squeezed.

So gay. A part of my brain said. But, that's what I feel. It felt like large hands are squeezing my heart, crushing it to tiny pieces. I was righ. Burandai is Antonio's love interest. At narealize niya palang. No one cpuld blame him. He doesn't know the feeling of liking someone. People like that exist. I was one of them. And now, I'm not.

Wow. Indirect rejection hurts more than being rejected directly.

"Boto ako sa dalawa. Halos lahat ng tao, gusto sila para sa isa't isa."

Ouch. After realizing his feelings, maybe he'll court her. Ask her hand in marriage. I bet he'll do everything just to be with her. Just like the love stories in the past. Pure.

"Pero alam mo, Kristin," Corazon looked at me. "Noong dinala ka rito ni kuya Antonio, habang nasa bisig ka niya at walang malay, may kakaiba akong naramdaman."

I blinked, "Eh?"

"Tila ba lumabas kayo sa isang nobelang aking binasa," lumapit siya sakin at hinawakan ang isa kong mamay saka ngumiti. "Kung sakaling kayo ang tinadhana para sa isa't isa, huwag mo siyang iiwan."

I was taken aback. I was lost for words.

Fate? Fate is drunk when he thinks binding a girl from the future and a boy from the past is right.

But, we'll never know. Fate is unpredictable.

I looked at Corazon's hand holding mine.

Angel of Fate, if you exist, give me answers. Tama ba ang nararamdaman ko para kay Antonio? Tama bang mahulog ako sa taong nagmula sa nakaraan?

"Don't fall for him."

A knock on the door disrupted my thoughts. Sabay kaming napalingon ni Corazon sa pintuan ng silid. Nakatayo doon ang isang matandang babaeng may ngiti sa kanyang labi.

It was Tandang Sora.

"Corazon, narito si Santiago."

I felt Corazon stiffened with the mention of the name, 'Santiago'. She let go of my hand at bumalik sa upuang kinauupuan niya kanina.

"A-ah. Susunod na lamang ho ako."

Tandang Sora gave me a warm smile. She's really nice. She treated my wound, made food for me, and she even helped me get to sleep when I was bothered by a nightmare.