My Handsome Katipunero

KABANATA 25

"S-si Emilio Jacinto 'yung lalaki kahapon?"

Corazon nodded, "Bakit? May nangyari ba?"

I hitched my breath, "Oh my God."

"Kristin?"

Emilio Jacinto also plays a huge role in the history of the Philippines. And what happened yesterday, oh heavens I don't even want to remember it. Does it mean that the possibility of me existing in the future has decreased?

Corazon tapped may shoulder, "Kristin, may problema ba? Namumutla ka. Naku baka ika'y mabinat."

I shook my head, "Wala, wala. Ah, 'D-di ba kasama siya sa pagpunta sa Imus? Bakit nandito siya kahapon?"

"May naiwan raw siyang aklat na mahalaga sa katipunan kaya siya madaling bumalik. Sakto namang dumating siya bago ako umalis ng bahay kaya naisipan kong ipagbilin ka muna sa kanya."

After the scene doon sa silid na pinagpulungan ng katipunan, hindi ko na alam kung anong nangyari kong Emilio Jacinto.

"Aklat?"

Tumango siya, "Oo. Doon daw nakapaloob ang kartilya ng katipunan. Sa tingin ko'y iyon ang aklat na nasa silid na pinagpulungan nila. Nakita ko ito habang naglilinis kahapong umaga."

So I was right. It was that book.

"As in? E loveletter naman ang laman nun. Paano naging mahalaga 'yun?"

Corazon raised a brow, halatang hindi maintindihan ang sinabi ko, "Anong ibig mong sabihiin?"

I sighed, "Wala. Wala. Masyado lang ata akong nag-iisip."

Hindi ko kilala si Emilio Jacinto. Uulitin ko, I'm not fond of Philippine History. Pero kung titigan mo ang isang Emilio Jacinto, wala kang makikitang ni katiting na pagiging romantic sa katawan nito. But that book yesterday proves us all wrong. He was a hopeless romantic who has unreciprocated love towards a girl.

Can't believe a dignified person like him lied about the book being an important document of the katipunan. Iniwan ang pulong sa Imus para sa aklat na 'yun? As if naman mababasa nung babaeng gusto niya 'yung mga sulat niya. Wait. What if isa sa mga tao dun sa bahay ang nagugustuhan niya? Tatlong babae lang naman kami, so ibig sabihin hindi hindi si Tandang Sora at hindi din ako. Dalawang beses palang kaming nagkita at base sa nakasulat doon sa aklat, ilang beses na silang nagkita at nagkausap.

I looked at Corazon.

I gasped because of the possibility. Come to think of it, Corazon fits the description of the girl in the girl in the book.

"Nandito na tayo," Corazon exclaimed.

I was pulled back from my thoughts when we stopped in front of a two-storey house. The lower storey was constructed out of bricks while the overhanging upper storey's walls was constructed out of woods. It has sliding windows, a terrace and a tiled roof.

"Dito mo inihahatid ang mga gamot?" I asked without removing my eyes from the house.

"Oo. Hindi man halata sa itsura ni Jose ngunit nanggaling siya sa isang pamilyang nakakaangat sa buhay." She grabbed my hand and drag me towards the stairs of the house which leads to the second floor.

"Magandang umaga, ho."Corazon greeted the old woman who was sitting on a wooden couch.

The old woman turned her head and smiled when she noticed it was Corazon. She stood up and gracefully walked towards us.

"Corazon, mabuti naman at ika'y muling nakapunta ngayoon," the old woman said, gladly.

Corazon kissed the old woman's hand, "Wala hong masyadong gawain sa bhay kaya naisipan kong maghatid muli ng gamot."