JESSA
Nanatili ako sa pwesto ko at sinubukang pakiramdaman ang maaring nangyayari sa kabilang gilid ng pader. Maririnig pa rin ang mabibigat at nagmamadaling yabag ng ilang tao at ang mga boses na humihiyaw ng utos. And all of it sounded so loud and so near, I could practically feel their presence here.
"Rosales," tawag muli sa akin ni Navarro at pinisil ang wrist ko. "Let's go."
Hindi ako gumalaw dahil naririnig na namin ang isa 'pang boses ng lalaki sa kabilang gilid, the same voice who called out to me earlier. "Nasaan ang prinsesa?" Tanong nito.
"Hindi ko pa ho nahahanap ang prinsesa," sagot ng governess ko.
"Tsk." There are angry footsteps. "Dalhin niyo siya sa Hari."
Naramdaman ko na mukhang maraming kawal ang nakapaligid ngayon sa governess ko. My heartbeat feels heavier and heavier as the footsteps become further apart, signifying that they are now taking her out of here.
Napatingin nalang ako sa ibaba at kumuha ng malalim na hininga. The restless wrath has resurfaced, pressing on my chest , making my hand to clench. Another surge of violence runs through my veins, and I want to burst through the wall and reek mayhem outside for the sake of my governess.
But I couldn't do that. Hindi ko iyon pwedeng gawin.
"Hey." Navarro squeezes my wrist. I tried to look at him despite the darkness enveloping us. "I'm sorry about her."
I gulped down the angry sobbing I hadn't realized I was doing. I nodded to appreciate what he had said. "But we don't have more time for this," ang sabi ko. Tumalikod na ako sa pader at hinarap ang madilim na hallway sa harapan. "We have to get out of here."
Sabay naming pinagmasdan ang tila bang walang katapusan na kadiliman sa harapan. "We need light," I said.
"A fire, I think? Do you think may flashlights sa mundong ito?"
"Do you think my torches dito?"
"I think I saw one kanina nung nakabukas pa 'yung lagusan.. I got to see a glimpse of this tunnel under a light."
Fire. Since mukha nga namang electronics like flashlights and lightbulbs are not yet existing here, apoy ang kakailanganin namin for the source of light. We need fire.I began again in my head. I directed my gaze on the endless darkness before us, and there, I visualized the flames of the oil lamp chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, blazing hot and wild.
My body shivered with an unexpected warmth. In my ears, a peculiar high-pitched sound vibrated. And there appears to be an energy pressing on my body.
And then, one lamp hanging at the low ceiling blazed with fire. The small flame had poured warm illumination over the narrow brick tunnel. Then another oil lamp blazed from behind, adding more vibrance to the place. And another one followed, and another one, until all of the lamps that my eyes can see are engulfed in flames.
Pareho kaming natulala ni Navarro nang napanood ang kusang pagliyab ng mga lampara. Para 'bang may isang multo ang nakarinig sa pinag-uusapan namin kayai isang niyang inapuyan ang bawat lampara.
"Paano mo nagawa 'yon?" Navarro asked, breathless.
"I don't know," I answered. "Wala naman akong ginawa."
That's a lie, isn't it?
We walked.
As we went, the pebbles and sand grinded beneath my heels and Navarro's shoes. I can hear heavy and hurried footsteps above us. Definitely, nagkakagulo na ang lahat dahil sa pagtakas ko. Pasensya sila, I have to leave because I do not belong here. The only one who belongs here is Princess Blaidrah, the body I'm in.
Good thing ay walang pasikot sikot ang tunnel na ito at dirediretsyo lamang kami. Tahimik lang kaming dalawa, habang ang tanging yabag at paghinga namin ang pumupuno sa katahimikan.
Without moving my head, I slowly directed my gaze to Navarro, who is focused on the path in front of us. Talaga 'ngang gwapo si Allvais, ano? Lalo na hindi naman kagandahan ang ilaw dito ngayon, so the warm firelight's shadows had enhanced the strong features of his face, from the shape of his nose, to the hoist of his cheekbones and his chiseled chin.
And it's kind of disorienting to think that this is Stefan Navarro.. The guy I used to have a crush on for years.. Is here, with me, in this strange world, in this weird situation. Maybe if we are not in danger, or maybe if we are not in need to escape from something, I would have collapsed from panic. I never imagined that I would be walking in a narrow tunnel with him.
Allvais is very different from Navarro's actual face.. But it's totally perplexing to see a glimpse of his real appearance under Allvais' presence. Hindi ko maintindihan, sa mata niya ba iyon? Sa pamilyar na mga mannerisms? O sa pakiramdam ng presensiya niya na matagal ko nang nakabisado?
I developed a huge crush on him, strong enough to recognize him even in a different body.
Uminit naman ang parehas kong tenga sa naisip ko. I mentally slapped myself in the head. Umayos ka nga, Jessa! Halos nasa panganib na 'nga kayo, kung ano ano pa naiisip mo!
Yet the silence grew uncomfortable, it's like weighing down on my shoulders already as we walked. So I took a deep breath, and called out to him. "Navarro?"
"Hmm??"
"Do you have any idea what is going on?"
Another beat of silence. Kumuha siya ng malalim na hininga, which sounded sharp in this closed space. "Ayaw ko itong sabihin ulit pero.. Wala talaga akong ideya.."
"Ang alam ko nalang eh 'yung ilaw sa libro ko.. What if mundo pala ito ng libro ko? The Blood of the Dragon?"
Biglang tumigil si Navarro sa paglalakad at tinignan lang ako. His eyes are wide open and seems to struggle to find his next words. "Holy shit," sabi niya. "That's impossible."
"We're literally in the bodies of somebody else, ano pa 'bang imposible sa iyo?"
Hindi siya kumibo muna at napabuntong hininga nalang. Then he continued his pace and I followed. "'Yun lang ang explanation na meron tayo ngayon. 'Yung iba din nating groupmates, sila Castillo. We need to find them immediately." He said.
Hindi ko na tuloy ma-imagine kung paano nalang ang kondisyon ko ngayon kung hindi namin nahanap ni Navarro ang isa't isa. Hell, I wouldn't probably even think of escaping if he wasn't here. Being with him tonight flares an unexplainable energy in me, driving me to be slightly brave.
Ano na kaya ang kalagayan ng iba naming ka-grupo? Nahanap na rin 'ba nila ang isa't isa?
Tumango tango naman ako habang patuloy lang sa paglalakad. "We will find them." I nodded more to myself. Navarro nodded too. "I believe we'll find each other eventually."
BANG!
Parehas kaming napatalon sa gulat sa narinig. Para 'bang isang mabigat na bagay ang hinampas sa pader. The tunnel's walls trembled from the impact, showering us with small dust particles plummeting from the ceiling.
"Galing ba 'yon sa pader na pinag-lusutan natin kanina?" He asked.
"No way," I whispered. Hinawakan ko na ang harapan ng magarbo skirt ng gown ko. My heart began to pound in my chest, and the temperature dropped so quickly that I shivered. But I gulped and shook my head. "Hindi.. Hindi nila dapat alam 'tong lugar na 'to—"
Another BANG! The tunnel shook, but it was stronger and louder. There were heavier and bigger rocks that fell, hitting the floor with loud THUD!
From the sound of it, alam kong may pader na ang sapilitan nilang nabuksan.
Dali-dali kong tinaas ang skirt ng gown, I hurled my legs into action, and yelled at Navarro. "Takbo!"
We ran.
The tunnel is darker and more constricted, there is less of a possibility of escape. Alam namin na wala ng ibang pwede pang paglusutan kagaya ng mga hallways sa labas. Beads of sweat run down my forehead, my hands are firmly fisted on my skirt, and my feet are nearly not touching the ground from all the running.
When the sound of many running footsteps boomed throughout the tunnel, I forced my legs to sprint faster.
Habang patuloy lang kami sa pagtakbo ay napansin ko ang mga lampara na isa isang nagkakaroon ng apoy sa tuwing madadaanan namin ito. Huh? Pero wala na kaming sapat na oras na tumigil pa at magtanong. Tumuloy lang ako sa pagtakbo, nang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa mga lampara sa itaas.
Navarro is way too focused on running, he doesn't seem to notice it.
More rushed footsteps are approaching us, and my heart is racing faster, causing my legs to hurl quicker and run. Wala na 'bang pwede paglusutan dito? Pakiramdam ko mahahabol na nila kami dito—
"It listens to you."
Isang boses ang biglang bumulong sa utak ko, na para 'bang galing ito sa nakalimutan ko ng mga alaala.
"..It's your element, and it may serve to your favour. Use it to your power."
"Rosales," Navarro calls out, panting so hard from running fast. "Nakikita ko na sa malayo na may tatlong pintuan.. Alin don tayo papasok?"
".. The walls of this castle listen to you, too."
"Rosales, bilisan mo, papalapit na sila—"
"Saglit." Tumigil ako. Hinarap ko ang mga paparating na kawal. Tumigil din si Navarro sa pagtakbo pero halatang handa na akong hatakin para dumiretsyo.
"Anong gagawin mo?!" For the first time this night, the panic and anxiety sounded so obvious in his tone. "Ayan na sila!"
"It listens to you.." The voice once again whispered in my mind. I watched the flame from the lamp chandelier, shining brightly in fiery crimson despite the solid blackness of the tunnel and the commotion around it. I wish to be just like a fire, to be warm, powerful, and blazing.
And then, fire rose from the floor, a few feet away from where I am standing.
"HOLY SHIT!" Hiyaw ni Navarro. Rinig din ang ilang hiyawan ng mga kawal sa malayo. The flames became brighter, forming what appears to be a barrier between us and the knights on the other side.
"Let's go!" I turned back from the fire wall and grabbed Navarro in the arm. "Sa gitnang daanan tayo!"
"How do you—" Hindi na niya natapos ang sasabihin dahil lalo ko lang siyang hinatak sa pagtakbo.
Sobrang bilis na ng tibok ng puso ko kaya unti unti na akong nahihirapan huminga. Sumisikip na ang dibdib ko, sumasakit na ang ulo ko, sumasakit na rin ang sapatos ko dahil sa pesteng heels na 'to.
As we passed one, the lamps continued to blaze, that's when we noticed a wooden door at the end of the corridor so we sprinted towards it.
Dali-dali naming hinanap ang maaring handle nito para buksan, pero wala kaming makita. Tanging ilang bakal na frame lamang ang nakakapa namin at ilang mga pako.
Hindi ko alam kung hanggang anong oras ang itatagal ng apoy doon, pero malakas ang pakiramdam ko na unti unti na nakakatawid doon ang mga kawal. Anytime soon, they'll reach us here.
"Tabi ka muna," Navarro said. He stepped back and slammed himself against the door. The frame rattled, but nothing happened.
"Shit," I heard him cursed.
Kinapakapa niya ng ilang bakal at pako sa pintuan. He attempted to press it, but his fingers slipped and he stiffened. I noticed a large slash across his palm with blood running from it.
"Navarro!" I shrieked out in horror.
"Malayo ito sa bituka." He closed his hands, took another step forward and kicked the door.
Something was rattling at the door. "Lakas mo pa," I said.
I noticed him take a big breath and kick. The door shattered, and its pieces flew everywhere. The wind struck me in the face. Before I could even think about what was waiting for us outside, Navarro grasped my waist and pulled me outside the door.
It's dark, and the forest ground is rough and muddy. Little branches scratched my ankles and legs. I kept walking on small and large rocks, making it difficult to maintain my balance. If Navarro isn't holding me, I've most likely already stumbled and fallen.
The shouts of men echoed across the forest. I looked back and was expecting some bunch of armed warriors running towards us. Ngunit ang natanaw ko lang ay kung anong lumiliwanag sa loob ng hallway na pinanggalingan namin. Another fire seems to burn inside the corridors, and there are shouts of men too. The fire inside burns and burns, the men's screams louder and louder. Nasusunog na ba sila sa loob?
What the hell was that?
I shifted my gaze to us and saw how dark this woods is. Only the distant lights from the castle behind us threw golden lights and shadows on the trees' leaves. Creatures' howls reverberate over the vast and dark forest. The trees tower over us like commanding titans.
My heart raced faster, I cannot control my breathing well. My legs are becoming increasingly tired.
Ngayong wala na akong nararamdaman na humahabol sa amin, doon na unti unti kong nararamdaman ang sakit ng katawan ko. Nangangalay na ang mga binti ko sa sobrang pagtakbo, para 'bang may umiinit sa bandang legs ko dahil ata may natamaan ako na hindi ko namalayan. Sobrang gulo na rin ng buhok ko na ilang hibla na ang nakadikit sa ulo ko dahil sa pawis. My throat feels dry as hell. I am thirsty.
Tsaka ko nalang namalayan ang isang luha na kumawala sa mata ko. I tried to stop more tears from flowing out, but it only seems to worsen. Tired sobs emerge from my throat, and an unflattering number of tears spill out.
Navarro had probably sensed my crying, for we slowed down our pace and I felt his arms around my waist, holding me closer to him. I tried to put my arms around him for support, but my vision doubled, a sharp and high sound rang in my ear.
All I knew, I gave up my weight and my butt hit the damp soil.
"Hey, Rosales!" Navarro exclaimed.
I'm physically hurt. I just want to get out of here and go back. Ayaw ko na sa mundong ito.
"I want to go home," I say, more tears flowing out my eyes. "Gusto ko nang umuwi."
Navarro's hand finds my back and he gently caresses it. The warmth of his hand feels nice in mine, which only seems to trigger my emotions. "Ako rin." Navarro's voice cracked, probably from trying to stop sobbing like me. "Ako rin."
Hindi ko pinigilan ang sarili ko at hinayaang ilabas ang mga luhang kanina ko pa pinipilit. I don't know what the heck is going on, I just want to go back home. Home, to where we belong.
"Everything... Everything is confusing." Navarro starts, with a voice so soft and low, a tone that carries comfort and assurance. "We are in the bodies of someone else, hindi natin alam ang mga nangyayari. But I am asking you to be brave. Everything is going to be okay."
"But how?" I almost shouted, which made Navarro pause. "How do you know that everything is going to be okay?"
My tears didn't stop flowing. He stared at me in the eye as if he's looking for something. Then his expressions softened and continued to tap my back.
"Because we are together," he said. "I believe that as long as I have you, and you have me, we can figure things out together."
Even from the dark shadows surrounding us, I saw the slight smile on his lips. His words pour down on my consciousness, and maybe.. He is right. We've been supporting each other since we've met in these bodies, if we don't leave each other... maybe things will indeed turn out fine.
The thought sent warmth in my soul, and isn't it ironic to find comfort in this situation? A smile tried to paint on my lips, but even my face muscles felt so tired, I just nodded.
Suddenly, a warm cloth surrounded my shoulders.
Inalis na pala ni Navarro ang suot niyang coat, at tsaka nilagay sa balikat ko.The coat's expensive scent reaches my nose, its warmth spreads in my system. I let out a big sigh, something I realized I haven't done in this place.
Hindi ko alam kung paano ba ako tutugon sa ginawa niya, pinakinggan ko nalang ang mabilis na tibok na puso ko habang pinakiramdaman ang init ng kanyang coat sa katawan ko. Does this count as a hug from him?
Habang kinakausap ang sarili, I watched him roll up his polo sleeves, showing a little stretch of his biceps. The moonlight shadow had highlighted the stretch of the muscles in it, and I tried to shift my gaze away from it, but all I noticed were odd marks on his skin.
The marking reminds me of how the bed would leave a trace on our skin after long hours of dozing, but this one is deeper and is more likely to be permanent. The lines bend all over his skin like a mermaid's scale.
"Let's find a safer place," Navarro said after rolling up his sleeves. Agad kong binaling ang tingin sa kanyang mukha. "A hidden place."
Napalingon ako naman sa palasyo sa kalayuan. Ilang mga bintana pa rin ang may ilaw. And I was expecting some distant noises of people or horses or anything, but it was.... eerily silent.
"Nakakapagtaka nga, bakit ba hindi pa nila tayo hinabol? Bigla nalang sila nawala," dagdag niya.
"There was fire," I said. "Nakita ko. I think they were burned."
Naramdaman ko na biglang nanigas si Navarro sa tabi ko, "how can you say that so casually? You mean nasunog sila sa loob ng tunnel na iyon?"
"I am not sure naman," I answered. "But the fire definitely stopped them from chasing us."
Hindi umimik si Navarro at tumingin lang sa ibaba. And then, kumuha siya nang malalim na hininga. "It seems like the fire from that castle really listens to us, ano?"
I didn't answer. Muli kong naalala kung paano gumalaw at magliyab ang apoy sa preseniya naming dalawa. I opened my palms, and there, I saw the unfamiliar lines spreading across my hands. Princess Blaidrah, who are you? Bakit sa dami naming nasa grupo, sa katawan mo ako napunta?
Silence fell between me and Navarro, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Parehas lang kaming nakatingin sa ibaba, malamang parehas din namin sinusubukan i-digest ang lahat ng mga nangyari.
Hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin ako naririnig na maaring ingay na mula sa palasyo. Which is very weird, para 'bang ang lahat ay biglaang nanahimik at tumigil. Kaya ang tanging nasasakop ng tenga ko ay ang kaluskos ng mga puno sa paligid at ang sabay na paghinga naming dalawa ni Navarro.
Napatingin ako kay Navarro, na ngayong nakayuko lamang. His biceps are still exposed, and with the moonlight, I can now see the markings pushed in his arms. What are those? Ano naman kaya ang kinalaman ng mga iyon kay Allvais?
"Sa gantong oras ng gabi, nakakulong na ako sa kwarto kasi malamang sinisimulan ko na 'yung DNA model natin kay Ma'am Santos," biglang panimula ni Navarro.
"Hala oo nga no," sabi ko. Naalala ko ang mga candy at marshmallow na binili ko sa palengke kahapon, pati na rin ang cardboard at mga stick. Balak ko na rin simulan ang model na iyon ngayon..kaso.. "Next week na pasahan pala non."
"Oo." Navarro lets out a soft snicker. "Tapos makakatulog na ako ng 11:00, tas gigising ako ng 5:00 para magbihis." He raises his head upward towards the sky, where the stars continues to twinkle slowly. "Tas late pa rin ako kasi napatrapik sa may bayan, kaya lagi akong naka-marathon tuwing umaga eh."
Naalala ko rin paano siya tatawagin ng adviser namin ang pangalan niya tuwing papasok ng room. Laging hinihingal at palaging halatang tumakbo nang mabilis. Halos kabisado ko na 'nga rin kung paano pa siya aasarin ng mga tropa niya, "Navarro! Late na naman! Ten pesos penalty!"
Napatawa ako. I grab the coat and pull it closer to my skin. Ngayong nasa kakaibang sitwayson ako,I realized how charming the insignificant things are. I thought they were just another noise in my surroundings, but I find myself clutching to them just now, a remembrance of the world where I was born.
Naalala ko na rin ang seatmate ko, si Sammy, na kapag may discussion ang teacher ay mayroon din kaming sariling topic sa upuan namin. Naalala ko ang president namin na laging pabalik balik sa iba't ibang teachers, dahil siya lang ang may lakas ng loob na mag-voice out ng mga concerns namin. We even jokingly call her 'the class' spokesperson' for how well spoken she is.
"Nung nakaraan, naiwanan ko 'yung ribbon ng uniform ko, kaya siningil na naman ako ni Kelly. Kaloka, 'yung kulang na 'nga baon ko, sobrang dedicated pa ng class' treasurer natin." I laugh.
Tumawa rin si Navarro. "Lagi ko 'nga rin nakakasagutan 'yang babae na ;yon. Wenya 'ba naman, hindi pa 'nga ako nakaka-upo, aba nasa tabi ko na agad siya para maningil para raw sa electric fan na sira."
We laugh, a sound that seems to cut through the eerie silence of the forest. And for the first time tonight, I feel okay. Finally, it seems that nothing is about to happen. For a little while, we were just another pair of teens in this world, laughing at things we couldn't fix.
"Every recess din," Navarro's voice drops into a soft tone. "Pupuntahan ko si Claire sa room nila para lang kitain siya."
Oh.
The heaviness in my chest comes back, and suddenly, his coat in my body doesn't feel warm anymore. Ang tanga tanga ko para kalimutan na mayroon palang kumakalat na chismis na may nililigawan si Navarro sa section one.
Napatingin nalang ako sa kanya, at kahit na lalong dumilim dito sa pwesto namin, I cannot miss out the gentle look on his face.
"Minsan, nagsasawa na ako sa pa-ulit ulit na buhay ko eh," sabi niya. "But now that I'm here, in a different body, and probably in a different universe, I realized na I still love my normal life."
Tama siya. I nodded at him. Siguro kahit anong hirap na pwedeng ibato sa akin ng buhay, if it means being beside the world where I grew up in, I'll still find myself coming back. Home. A universe where I was created.
"We will come back," I concluded. "To where we truly belong. Let's promise each other that, Navarro."
"Yes." Tumango siya at marahang binaling ang tingin sa akin. "But call me Stefan. We're more than classmates naman na, di'ba?"
Hindi agad ako nakasagot. I stare at him, trying to smile, to answer back, but all I can do is to feel the warmth rising on my cheeks. Navarro watches me as I try to not meet his gaze, but I let out a soft puff of pleased laugh. "Stefan Navarro," I say, letting the name glide across my tongue and shape my lips. "Stefan... Nice to meet you, call me Jessa."
He lets out a soft laugh too, before shaking his head. "You're a dork, Jessa."
Ah. There it is. My name in the tone of his voice. Thank goodness, hindi boses niya ang naririnig ko ngayon kundi kay Allvais, pero hindi pa rin iyon sapat para hindi magwala ang kaluluwa ko sa kanya. Para 'bang isang buong banda ang nagmamartsa bigla sa tyan ko, para 'bang ilang daang drum ang pinapalo sa utak ko habang nageecho sa isip ko ang pangalan ko mula sa bibig niya.
"Well.." Stefan says before an awkward silence to take over us. "I'm seeing a cave over there. Let's go?"
Kaya tumayo na kami at tumungo sa kweba na sinasabi niya. The cave is spacious, with only the moonlight casting illumination around it. Hindi na ito masama para maging silungan muna namin nang pansamantala.
"Hey, you better get some sleep," Stefan says. "I'll watch."
"Uhm, no. I really don't think I can sleep," tugon ko.
"Subukan mo, please. You need energy for tomorrow. Hahanapin pa natin sila Castillo, di'ba?"
"Paano ka?"
"I'll be fine."
The moment he said that, my eyelids immediately felt heavy. So I immediately find a spot to lay down, close my eyes, and let the universe decide what will happen tomorrow.
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