KABANATA 38
"Princess, I've been looking all over for you!" The teenage boy with black orbs told me as he heaved himself up the roof of the orphanage. "Anong ginagawa mo rito?" He asked as he laid beside me.
As usual, silence was my answer.
"What are we searching for in this beautiful night sky?"
Another silence.
"Are we looking for constellations? Or some UFOs perhaps? That should be exciting, don't you think?"
Again, silence.
"Ah, are we catching some falling stars?"
I froze when he guessed it right. And I bet he felt me react to his last guess since he became more elicited than before.
"So we're catching stars! I'm ready to beat you to it!" He rubbed both of his hands as he prepared to search for the fallen jewels, "I've got loads of wishes for them to fulfill!"
'You think it's easy to even catch one? Baka!' I yelled at him in my head as I blankly stared at his giddy face, 'You're just going to tire yourself out. Suit yourself then.' I said in my mind as I returned my eyes to the glittering heavens.
"Oh, I saw one!" He declared as he sat up straight and quickly put his hands together.
Frantically, I shot up and searched for his fallen star but couldn't find it. 'Was I too late to witness it fall?'
"Falling star, oh falling star, grant me my wish."
Immediately, I turned towards him when I heard the familiar chant. 'How... how did he know?'
"Ibulong mo kay Ana na ako lang ang lalaki para sa kanya at sagutin niya na ako. Sabihin mo rin kay Prof. Davids na huwag niyang gamitin ang plane trigo at advanced calculus para gawing impyerno ang buhay ko. Pakisigaw rin sa tainga ni Yuujin na ako ang mas magandang lalaki sa aming dalawa."
'Aho. Are those even wishes? And besides, to make them come true, you're not supposed to say them out loud. Aho. Baka.'
"Finally," I heard him say.
'He's not done yet? How many more--' I stopped when I saw how serious his face was.
"Bestow my Princess all happiness. Put a lovely smile on her pretty face."
'What is he saying?'
"Erase all the bad things that happened to her in her memories. Retain the good ones."
'No! Stop!'
"Make her understand that I will always be her ally, her friend, her shield, her King... That I love her and I will never leave her side." He opened his eyes and smiled when he caught me gaping at him. "I wish you all the happiness in the world, Princess. I love you."
"Ian? Umiiyak ka?"
Natauhan ako nang marinig ang tanong nito at kaagad umayos. I turned around to wipe off the few tears on my eyes.
"Saglit nga. Harap ka nga sa akin," sabi nito bago ako puwersahang pinaharap.
I wasn't done wiping them off so he saw them right off the bat and his expression immediately hardened.
"Anong ginawa ng putang-inang iyon?!" He asked, half-yelling, "Sinaktan ka ba niya?! Ha?!"
When I didn't answer, he made a quick scan of my body. He grabbed each of my arms and thoroughly checked them for any wounds. He turned me around and attempted to check my back. I was about to pull away when he yelled again, this time for a different reason.
"Anak ng--! Bakit basang-basa ka?!" He glanced outside the window and saw the still heavy downpour of rain. And just like that, a conclusion was made in his mind. "Pinaglakad ka lang niya pauwi?! Kahit malakas ang ulan?!"
"Uh..."
"Gagong Drake na iyon! Uupakan ko siya sa susunod na magkita kami!"
"Stop, Ren. That's not it."
"Pinagtatanggol mo pa ang unggoy na iyon?!"
"Pinuntahan kita sa bahay mo kanina," sabi ko at agad nitong itinikom ang bibig, "Akala ko galit ka pa rin sa akin. Akala ko hindi mo na ako mapapatawad. Akala ko tuluyan niyo akong itatakwil sa grupo--"
"Hindi mangyayari iyan!"
Tumango ako sa pahayag nito.
"Pero kasi kanina, hindi ko naman iyon alam. All I could think of was your disappointed faces. Even Cecilia didn't want to see me anymore," tugon ko, pinipigilan ang nagbabadyang muling pagbagsak ng aking mga luha.
"Nandoon si Cel sa kwarto ko?" Kunot ang noo nitong tanong at agad naman akong umiling. He cleared his throat before proceeding, "Imposibleng mapatawad pa ni Cel iyong hayop na iyon kaya ganoon na lamang ang tampo niya sa iyo. Hindi na rin natuloy iyong selebrasyon dahil nawalan na ng gana ang mga tao."
I gasped at his revelation. Matapos mong sirain ang kaarawan ko? I heard Cecilia's voice ringing in my ears. Napayuko ako nang makuha na ngayon ang ibig nitong sabihin.
"Nagalit ako kanina nang malamang kaibigan mo ang demonyong iyon. Mas lalo akong nagalit nang pinili mo siya kaysa sa amin."
I bit my lip at his revelations.
"Sa galit ko, dumiretso ako rito galing sa manggahan," muli akong nag-angat ng tingin sa narinig. Kasalukuyan itong nakatingin sa kabuuan ng aking silid. "Nagbakasakali akong maaga kang uuwi kaya hinintay kita. Pero nakatulog yata ako. Hindi ko na namalayan iyong oras," paliwanag nito habang nagkakamot ng batok.
"Why?" I balled my fist as an attempt to stop the shaking. My mind were already producing the worst answers. I shook my head in the hopes that I would lose them. I cleared my still thickening throat before continuing, "Didn't you say you were angry? Hindi ba ang sabi mo ay huwag na akong bumalik? Kung ganoon, ayaw mo akong makita--" Natigilan ako nang makitang humalukipkip ito at saka matalim akong tinitigan.
His eyes alone could command the whole of my being.
"Wala akong sinabing ayaw na kitang makita. Hinding-hindi rin iyan mangyayari," mariin nitong tugon, "Nagalit nga ako, oo, pero magkaibigan pa rin tayo. Kahit gaano pa ako kainis sa mga naging desisyon mo, hinding-hindi mawawala ang pagkakaibigan natin. Kaya nga ako nandito ngayon. Kahit gaano kagago ang mga kadahilanan mo kung bakit ka nagtitiwala sa ungas na iyon, gusto ko pa ring marinig. Gusto ko pa ring pag-usapan natin," sabi nito, ang bawat salita ay tila humihele sa nalulungkot kong puso.
"Teka nga sandali," he blurted all of a sudden before pointing at my wet clothes, "Magpalit ka nga muna ng damit! Magkakasakit ka sa ginagawa mo, e!"
"But--"
"Bilis na! O baka gusto mong ako ang maghubad sa iyo?" Banta nito, may naglalarong ngisi sa kanyang labi. Even my saddened heart jumped at the sight. Shit! Really? "Isa!"
Kahit alam kong nagbibiro lang ito, hindi pa rin naiwasan ng batang puso ko ang paniwalaan ito. Kumaripas agad ako ng takbo sa gawi ng closet ko at mabilis na humigit ng isang set ng pyjamas. Pagkatapos ay dumiretso na ako sa banyo para magbihis.
It didn't took me that long to finish changing. When I got out of my bathroom, I saw him looking at some of my childhood paintings. Nakapangalumbaba ito habang pinagmamasdan ang bawat larawan. Napalingon siya sa aking gawi nang marinig ang pagsara ko sa pinto. Umayos ito sa pagtayo at ibinulsa ang mga kamay tsaka nag-iwas ng tingin.
Humugot muna ako ng hininga bago ako lumapit sa kanya. Kinakalma ang nanginginig ko pa ring sarili.
"Tss. Basa pa ang buhok mo, o!"
Nabigla ako nang bigla na lang nitong hinigit ang tuwalyang nakasabit sa aking balikat at pinunasan ang buhok ko gamit iyon.
"Siguraduhin mong tuyo ang buhok mo bago matulog para hindi ka makalbo pagdating ng panahon."
That's ridiculous! I wanted to answer back if only I was not distracted of how close he was to me at the moment.
Hindi ako makagalaw sa sobrang lapit namin. Gusto mang umiwas ng mga mata ko pero napapatingin pa rin ang mga ito sa kaharap na mga labi. He was so close I could even smell his minty breath!
"Nakikinig ka ba?"
Muntik na akong napatalon nang bigla itong sumilip at nagtama ang aming mga paningin. Agad naman siyang nagtaas ng kilay nang makita ang ekspresyon sa aking mukha.
"Gising ka pa pala. Akala ko naman nakatulog ka na," sabi nito bago inalis ang tuwalya at isinabit sa isa ko pang upuan.
He walked towards my table. He leaned on it as he crossed his arms infront of his chest again as he looked at me, like a predator on his prey. Nagsimula na namang kumalat ang lamig sa aking sistema. Pakiramdam ko ay nasa harap na naman ako ng buong angkan at naghihintay ng magiging hatol.
"A-ano..."
"Hindi ka ba niya talaga sinaktan?"
Sandali akong nalito kung anong tinutukoy nito. Nang mapagtantong tungkol ito sa pagsama ko kay Drake ay agad akong umiling.
Nagtaas siya ng kilay sa aking sagot, tila hindi kumbinsedo.
"O baka naman tinakot ka niya para gawin mo ang mga gusto niya?"
Sandali pa akong tumitig dito bago ako muling umiling.
"Kung ganoon, paanong bigla na lang kayong naging magkaibigan? Kailan at saan iyon nangyari? Sa pagkakatanda ko, buong summer lagi ka naming kasama. Sa pabrika. Sa dagat. Sa springs. Sa manggahan. Sa talyer... Saan? Saan kayo nagkausap? Bakit..." Magkasunod-sunod nitong usisa pero hindi ko nakuha ang huli dahil halos ibinulong na lang iyon nito sa sarili.
Nang ibalik nito ang mga mata sa akin, alam kong kailangan ko itong sagutin.
"Nagkita kami noong minsang nagpunta kami ni Kuya Milo sa siyudad," I honestly told him.
"Sinadya niyong magkitang dalawa roon?" He asked. There was a hint of something in his voice.
I immediately shook my head as response.
"It was pure coincidence that we saw one another at a mall. Nagkausap kami at doon siya humingi ng tawad," which actually never happened but he didn't need to know that, "He said he wanted to be my friend," which was true, as part of his condition to save Gene, "I felt that he was sincere back then that's why I agreed--"
"Bullshit!" Bulalas nito, nakakalas na ang mga kamay at ngayon ay kanyang ibinulsa. His menacing stance was even more intimidating. "Naniwala ka sa mga kagaguhang sinabi noon? Sa tingin mo magbabago pa ang isang demonyong tulad niya?"
"Naniniwala akong kayang magbago ng isang tao. Ang kanyang damdamin, isipan, at maging pag-uugali nito."
Panandalian man, biglang sumagi sa isipan ko ang mukha nina Kyo at Kira. Even if it seemed impossible, my heart was still hopeful that what I said was true.
Napatalon ako nang isa na namang mura ang pinakawalan nito nang marinig ang sagot ko.
"W-Well, maybe he had a change of heart after all those months of being comatosed. Baka gusto niya lang na itama ang mga pagkakamaling nagawa para sa kanyang pangalawang buhay."
Hindi siya nakapagsalita sa aking nabanggit, tila prinoproseso ang impormasyong nalaman. I took that as a chance to continue.
"I'm sorry if I've upset you by becoming his friend. Hindi ibig sabihin na dahil kaibigan ko na siya ngayon, hindi ko na kaibigan ang Dragons. Pamilya ko na rin kayo lalo na ngayong nasa ibang bansa pa ang pamilya ko," I sincerely told him.
He shifted in his place as his expression softened. Tumayo ako nang tuwid at saka ipinatong sa kaliwa kong dibdib ang aking kanang kamay.
"I am a Dragon through and through," mariin kong deklara, "And you are my King."
I was so bent in giving him reasons to let me stay that my brain didn't have the chance to process what my mouth was saying. Huli na nang matanto ko ang kahulugan ng huli kong sinabi.
He was quiet all of a sudden. Nakatakip ang isang kamay nito sa kanyang bibig at tila malalim ang iniisip. Ang kanyang mga titig ay masyadong nakakapanghina, kinailangan kong kumapit sa kalapit na silya para hindi mabuwal.
"A, a-ano... ang ibig kong sabihin..." I struggled to look for the right words to say. Hindi ko rin mawari kung saan ibabaling ang paningin.
Napaatras ako nang bigla na lang itong tumayo mula sa pagkakasandal sa aking lamesa. Nakatikom ang bibig at tila nagpipigil ng ngiti habang hindi inaalis ang mainit na tingin sa akin.
"W-what?" Hindi ko napigilang itanong habang pinipilit na ikunot ang aking noo bilang protesta sa kanyang nakaambang na tudyo.
"Kung ako ang iyong hari, tulad ng sabi mo," panimula nito habang unti-unting lumalapit sa akin, the devious smile was now evident in his face. Shit!
Wala sa sarili akong napaatras. Nakita niya iyon at mas lalo itong ngumisi.
"Gagawin mo ang lahat ng gusto ko," sabi nito at muli pang humakbang.
Muli na naman akong napaatras, pilit na pinapalawak ang distansiya sa pagitan namin.
"Hindi mo susuwayin ang mga utos ko." Isa na namang malaking hakbang ang kanyang ginawa.
I took another step back and didn't see the lying object when I did. I lost my balance and was about to hit the floor when he quickly grabbed my arm. Tumama ang katawan ko sa katawan niya at nalanghap ko ang panglalaki niyang bango.
Agad akong kumilos para mailayo ang katawan ko sa kanya. Nang muli pa sana akong aatras, hinawakan niya ang aking mga siko para ipirmi ako sa ganoong posisyon. Kumalabog ang sistema ko nang sumilip ang mga berde niyang mata.
How is it possible that this person could turn my feelings upside down with just a stare? Kanina lang pakiramdam ko ay para akong nilalamon ng kadiliman, ngayon naman ay nalulunod sa intensidad ng kanyang mga titig.
"Kahit kailan," he uttered, half-whispering, "Kahit anong mangyari," he paused, eyes held emotions I was afraid to identify, "Hinding-hindi mo na ulit ako tatalikuran. Hinding-hindi ka na ulit aalis sa tabi ko."
My mouth was left hanging when I saw how hurt ran across those emeralds of his. Was he talking about... And then I remembered how I turned my back on him to go with Drake.
"Maliwanag ba?"
"But that was..."
"Maliwanag ba?" He pressed.
Lalo pa nitong nilapit ang sarili. Gusto ko mang kumawala, hindi ako pinapayagan ng titig nito. Really?
"Ian!"
"Oo!" Napapikit kong sagot.
"Anong oo?"
Naman! I took a deep breath to calm my nerves as I stared back at his green orbs.
"Hinding-hindi ko na uulitin ang talikuran ka. Hinding-hindi na rin ako aalis sa iyong tabi."
Mariin siyang pumikit na tila inuukit sa kanyang memorya ang lahat ng aking binigkas.
"Good," sabi nito sa huli.
Pigil ang hininga ko nang naramdaman ang marahang pagdausdos ng kamay nito mula sa aking siko papunta sa aking kamay. Kinuha niya iyon at ipinatong sa kanyang dibdib. I could feel the steady thrumming of his heart against it.
"Ako si Reign de Jesus, hari ng Dragons, hari ng Asteria, at... " He paused as he gently swiped the back of my hand with his thumb. Saglit na napadako roon ang aking paningin bago ko ibinalik sa nangungusap niyang mga mata. Even though it should be me who should be promising my loyalty to him, it felt like he was swearing his allegiance to me instead.
"Ang magiging hari mo, ngayon at kailanman," his sentence hung as his eyes bored into my blue ones, into my soul, marking it as his, "Ian Moritake."
Even though the name was foreign to me, it felt like it was truly mine, and that I was truly his.
I will always be your King... I will never leave your side.
I love you, Princess.
Napapikit ako sa naalala.
Rekka... I whispered his name in my heart as his smiles overflowed in my memories. From the first moment he stepped into the orphanage's door to that very night he stepped out of my life.
Arianne!
Muling gumuhit sa dibdib ko ang sakit. I pulled myself from his hold and I immediately saw confusion in those green orbs of his.
I took a step back as my tears ran down my cheek. I gripped the front of my shirt, protecting my heart from this intruder, protecting the memories of my true King.
"Ian?" Humakbang ito nang isang beses palapit sa akin.
"Stop," pigil ko rito nang muli pa sanang hahakbang.
"Anong problema?" He asked, gulat at sakit ang nakaguhit sa kanyang mukha.
I bit my lower lip to stop myself from crying. Don't come near me. Don't pry. Don't take them away from me!
"Don't take Rekka away from me."