I looked at the brat standing in front of me. We looked like we're having a staring contest, well, more like a glaring contest.
"Could you please stop that?" Karlos snapped, averting his gaze from mine.
"I won't unless you give me money," pagmamatigas ko.
"How can a kid have money?"
I rolled my eyes heavenward, "You're no kid."
"I am."
"You're not. You're a thousand year old divinity in a body of a child. Now, give me money."
He clicked his gum, "What're you going to do with the money?"
I finally stopped throwing daggers at the kid. I was taken aback by his question.
I honestly don't know what I was doing. It's just giving someone a gift. I've done it before. So, why am I nervous? Siguro dahil ito ang unang pagkakataon na magbibigay ako ng regalo sa isang lalaki na 'di ko naman kaano-ano.
"Y-you don't need to know. Just give me already."
"Wow, such a brat," he scoffed. "I'm not giving you money. Anong tingin mo sakin? Bangko? Oras kaya kong ibigay, pero pera. Dream on."
"Karlos, c'mon! It's your fault-"
"Kasalanan ko pa."
"No, I mean. Biglaan naman kasi 'yong pagdala mo sakin dito. 'Di man lang ako naka-prepare! Naka-nigh-gown nga lang ako no'ng dinala mo ko dito. At least give me everything I need."
He rolled his eyes and slid both his hands in his pocket. "At ako rin ang dahilan kung bakit mo siya nakilala."
Instantly, I blushed. I looked down and started fidgeting my fingers.
"It's all about him, right?" He asked. I bit my lower lip, "He's the reason why you're asking money?"
I didn't answer. Instead, I looked at a different direction, avoiding his gaze.
On the 25th of December is Antonio's birthday. At meron na lang akong limang araw para ihanda ang ireregalo ko sa kanya.
Simula noong naging malungkot na ang pamilya namin dahil sa dinanas ni kuya, 'di ko na naranasan ang mabigyan ng regalo o ang magbigay ng regalo. Every christmas, even on important events in my life, my parents would be out working their butts off. And I spent those days in the dark corner of my room.
"I guessed right," Karlos said after taking a deep breath. "Sana sinabi mo nalang."
I looked at him. Inilabas niya ang isang kamay mula sa bulsa hawak-hawak ang isang kulay cream na tela. Then he gave it to me. I accepted it.
"Para sa'n 'to?"
" 'Yan ang ibigay mo sa kaarawan niya."
I gave him a confused look, "This? Tela?"
" 'Di naman kailangang mamahalin o maganda 'yung regalo. Ang importante 'yung effort and the love you put into it." He looked at Tandang Sora's house, "Saka, magpatulong ka kay Corazon. Embroidery." Then, he turned his back and started walking.
I nodded and was about to get inside but stopped when Karlos called my name. I turned to look at him.
"Pero 'wag mong isipin na kinokonsente kita. I'm still against you having feelings for the guy."
I smiled, "I know."
I started walking back to the house. Karlos warned me before, "Don't fall." It was an obvious warning. He knows what will happen in the end if I did. But, it was his fault. Hinayaan niya akong makilala ang isang Antonio Crisostomo. And now, I'm ready to take the risk.
Nang makapasok sa loob ng bahay ay agad akong nagtungo sa silid namin ni Corazon. Nakasalubong ko pa si Aling Isay na may dala-dalang basket ng mga kumot at mukhang nagmamadali.
"Anong meron?" bungad ko kay Corazon nang makapasok ng silid. But she was busy folding clothes to even notice me.
Nitong mga nakaraang araw, napansin ko ang pagiging busy nila. Halos hindi magkaugaga kakalinis ng bahay. Maging si Antonio, hindi ko halos makita dahil palaging umaalis.
I cleared my throat catching Corazon's attention. She glanced at me ngunit agad na ibinalik sa ginagawa, "Kristin, nandito ka na pala."
Naglakad ako palapit sa kanya, "Anong meron? Ba't parang andami niyo atang ginagawa?"
"Naku. Hindi ko pa pala nasabi sa'yo." nakangiting sabi niya.
"Ang alin?"
Hininto niya ang pagtutupi at nakangiting tumingin sakin, "Darating ngayong araw ang supremo. Sa katapusan ng buwan ay magkakaroon ng pagpupulong ang mga pinuno ng katipunan sa Imus."
Natigilan ako sa sinabi ni Corazon.
"Dito muna sila mananatili."
Andres Bonifacio is coming to town. I saw him when the Cry of Balintawak took place, pero 'di ko siya nalapitan o nakausap- I never wanted to in the first place. And now, he's coming to Tandang Sora's house and I'm not even prepared. Feeling ko, 'pag nakaharap ko na siya, judgement day ko na. Hindi ko ma-explain pero nagi-guilty ako. I feel like I've done something wrong.
I think I did.
I gulped, "G-ganun ba. Tulungan na kita."
"Huwag na, Kristin. Baka mapagod ka-"
"Corazon, tatlong buwan ang lumipas nung natamo ko 'tong sugat." I pointed the scar on my leg. The one I got when the spaniards attacked Antonio's village. "Ayos na ako."
Corazon sighed, "O sige na nga."
I smiled at naupo sa tabi niya.
"Para saan 'yan?" tanong niya habang nakatingin sa panyong hawak ko. I looked at the handkerchief I was holding. Doon ko lang napansin ang itsura ng panyo. It was a smooth cream colored handkerchief. It's smooth and its edges was laced.
"Magpapaturo sana akong magburda." nahihiyang sagot ko.
"May pagbibigyan ka?" napatingin ako sa kanya. She was looking at me, wearing a mischievous smile as if she knows what I'm thinking.
I avoided her gaze, "W-wala naman. 'Pag gustong matuto magburda may pagbibigyan na agad?"
She chuckled, "Mamahalin ang hawak mong panyo, imposible namang wala kang pagbibigyan?"
"Wala naman kasi-"
"Si kuya Antonio ba?"
I covered my face with my hands. Ganito ang problema ng mga taong mapuputi, kitang-kita ang pamumula. Corazon's obviously teasing me. She loves teasing people hanggang napapaamin niya ito.
"Tama ako." she tapped my shoulder lightly. "Tutulungan kita."
I removed my hands from my face saka tumango.
Sabay kaming napalingon ng may kumatok sa pintuan, "Narito na ang supremo. Halina kayo sa labas." masayang balita ni Tandang Sora.
Agad namang tumayo si Corazon at hinila ako.
They were all excited, but I wasn't. My heart was pounding. I'm freaking nervous for no freaking reason! Well, maybe because makikita ko ang isang taong matagal ng patay. Patay na sa panahon ko, pero buhay pa sa panahon ngayon.
Wait. Everyone here is dead.
I pushed all my thoughts away and calmed myself down.
Binitawan ni Corazon ang kamay ko at nauna nang bumaba ng hagdan. Huminto ako at napatingin sa kinaroroonan ng iba. Mula dito sa balkonahe ay makikita mo ang mga nangyayari. Pinalilibutan ng lahat ang isang lalaking 'di masyadong katangkaran. Nakasuot ng puting camisa de chino at itim na salawal. Nakangiti itong nakikipag-usap habang hawak-hawak ang kamay ng kanyang asawa.
I've seen him in the Cry of Balintawak. Standing in front of his people as he tore his cedula accompanied by patriotic shouts.
I saw him again.
The supreme leader of the country's revolutionary government.
Andres Bonifacio.
The National Hero my brother looked up to- the Hero I looked up to when I was young is right in front of me.
"Bakit naging hero si Bonifacio kuya? E wala naman siyang superpowers. 'Di naman siya katulad nina Superman at batman." I asked my brother while turning the pages of his history book.
He chuckled the he shuffled my head, " 'Di lahat ng hero dapat may powers. Basta matapang ka, at handa kang magbuwis ng buhay para sa iba."
"Hero ba siya para sayo, kuya?"
My brother nodded, "Syempre naman. Hero siya ng lahat ng Pilipino."
"Kung ganun, hero ko na din siya."
"Kristin." halos mapatalon ako sa gulat nang biglang may tumapik sa balikat ko.
"The heck?!" singhal ko.
Natatawang napaatras si Santiago. Napairap ako, "Anong tinatawa mo?"
He raised his hand indicating that he needs a moment. I crossed my arms in front of my chest at naiinis na tinignan siya. Kalahi niya ata si Karlos. mga lahi ng kabute at bigla-bigla nalang na susulpot.
Nang halos maubusan na siya ng tawa ay umayos siya ng tayo at tumikhim, "Paumanhin."
I rolled my eyes at ibinalik ang tingin sa kinaroroonan ng Supremo. Nakikipagkuwentuhan ito sa iba pa niyang kasamahan. Ibinaling ko ang tingin sa lalaking katabi niya. There I saw Antonio. Nakangiti siyang nakikipagkwentuhan sa supremo.
It's already been five months but that smile never failed to make the butterflies in my stomach go crazy. I don't want that smile to disappear.
"Hindi ka ba babati sa supremo?" tanong ni Santiago.
Umiling ako bilang sagot. Bata pa ko nun when I decided to call him my hero. Pero iba na ngayon.
Heroes are supposed to save people who are in need. Pero bakit 'di niya naligtas ang kuya ko? Bakit 'di nailigtas ng mga paniniwala niya ang mga taong tulad ni kuya? Why is it that his heroism couldn't save the corrupted people in his country? That's what I wanna ask him. Hindi lang sa kanya kundi para sa lahat ng taong naging haligi ng bansang 'to.
Bakit 'di nagbunga ang mga sakripisyo nila?
Alam ko namang 'di ko dapat sa kanila 'to itanong pero 'di ko mapigilan ang sarili ko. I was consumed by hatred to the point that I started blaming everyone, kahit na nagiging irrational na ako.
"Nakasama ko na ang supremo, huwag kang mag-alala. Matapang ito ngunit hindi naman ito nangangain ng tao." biro nito.
"It's not that."
"Ano?"
Napapikit ako at napahinga ng malalim.
"I don't wanna talk about it." I opened my eyes and it met Antonio's gaze. I felt my heart flutter.
Nag-aalala itong nakatingin sakin ngunit agad naman iyong napalitan ng isang ngiti.
I smiled in return.
It feels weird but I like it whenever my mood changes just because of one smile coming from him.
Inalis niya ang tingin sakin nang tapikin siya ng supremo. He nodded and they started walking papasok ng bahay.
Agad naman ako naalerto.
"Siya nga pala, Kristin. Ngayong darating na kaarawan ni Antonio-"
Hindi ko na hinayaang matapos magsalita si Santiago at tumakbo na papasok sa silid namin ni Corazon.
-
"Antonio, sa'n ka pupunta?" I asked nang mapansing papalabas ito ng bahay.
Hapon na ng maisipan kong lumabas ng silid. Good for me at wala sina Andres Bonifacio sa bahay. I heard they were meeting other members of the katipunan. I think it's about the other provinces taking part of the revolution.
He stopped, "Sa kalapit na bayan. Kukunin ko lamang ang mga naiwang pinamili ni Rafael." sagot nito.
"Ba't ikaw ang kukuha?"
"Masama raw ang pakiramdam niya."
I sighed. Darn that Rafael. He's taking advantage of Antonio's kindness.
I glared at Antonio. Nagtataka naman siyang napatingin sakin.
"And darn this guy for being an angel." I muttered. I shooked my head at naglakad palapit sa kanya. "Sama ko."
"Malapit ng dumilim, at saka, mahigpit na ang mga kastila ngayon. Baka-"
"Yeah right. Now, let's go." I grabbed his hands and drag him out of the house.
I flatters me that he worries about me but I am Kristin Lopega and I'm no damsel-in-distress.
"Kristin." I bumped into his chest nang bigla niya akong hilahin pabalik.
I raised my head and met his gaze.
Thump. Thump. My heart said.
The orange light coming from the setting sun complimented his brown eyes. It made my stomach twist and turn.
"Dito ka na lang. Maaaring mapahamak ka kung ika'y sasama sakin. "
I gulped at inilayo ang sarili mula sa kanya, "I-I won't. 'Wag kang mag-alala, 'di 'yun m-mangyayari sakin-"
Napahawak siya sa kanyang batok and averted his from mine, "N-natatakot akong mangyari uli sa iyo ang nangyari noon. At natatakot ako na baka wala na naman akong magawa."
I was taken aback. My heart raced even faster. My stomach turned to knots. My knees woobled, my cheeks flustered. I lost my voice.
I just stared at him not knowing what to do.
He was blushing.
And I'm expecting.
Should I?
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Ii-edit ko po siya pag nakahawak na ko ng pc. Sorry ngayon lang nakaupdate, tambak ang requirements. Pero ngayon nabawasan na, mga isa. Pasensya na talagaaaaa. Babawi ako pramis. Pero di muna ngayon basta ngayon ewan. 😂
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