⪼ D A N N A H
Ford whipped the vine from our faces. I couldn't believe we were sneaking away, which is really dangerous. Ito ang pinakabawal sa lahat ng bawal. Kapag nahuli kami, hindi ko alam kung gaano katindi ang haharapin naming consequences.
And I also couldn't believe the fact that Ford is willing to take risk just to help me see my brother tonight. Hindi ko naman siya kinulit, siya ang nag-insist nito kaya sobrang thankful ako sa kaniya.
Oo, bawal. Pero hindi ko rin naman matitiis ang kapatid ko. Umalis ako sa bahay ng hindi ko alam na hindi na pala ako makakauwi agad sa kaniya.
"Sigurado ka bang gusto mong tumuloy?" I held the end of his shirt and that's when he looked at me.
"Hindi ba dapat ikaw ang tinatanong ko niyan? Hindi ka ba natatakot?"
"Natatakot."
Sinuri niya ang mukha ko matapos kong isagot iyon. Marahil nga bakas rin sa mukha ko ang takot, maging sa boses ko. Kada hakbang ko palayo sa Academy, ang bigat sa pakiramdam. Alam ko na agad na hindi maganda ang kalalabasan pagbalik roon.
"Akong bahala sa'yo," he assured me.
Ford lead me out of the forest and we finally saw the pathway of the main road. No one's around. Nakakakaba kung gaano ka-bukas ang area na 'to ngunit wala man lang mga tao at sasakyan sa paligid. The sun is still blazing up there. I wonder how this place would look like if we got out of the forest at night.
It must be cold and haunting.
Terrifying.
"It will take us half an hour to go to the bus station. Dalawang oras ang byahe papunta sa inyo. Five hours, balikan." Tinago na niya ang spare key na ginamit naming pambukas sa backdoor.
"Masyado palang matagal, hindi ba tayo mahahalata?" I checked my phone and it's currently quarter to four in the afternoon. Umalis na kami bago pa man din dumating ang mga prof.
"Mahahalata pero planado ko na ang lahat. I've been doing this for years. All you have to do is trust me," he said. "So tell me... do you trust me, Dannah?
I just stared at his eyes because I couldn't even say the answer. I don't trust people easily because when I do, it ended being broken. But something's about him that feels right.
And so I nodded. "I trust you, Ford."
He smiled and nodded. "Akong bahala sa'yo," then he repeated what he said earlier as another reassurance.
Mahaba ang naging byahe. Matagal bago kami nakarating pero kailangang umalis agad.
Ilang beses kong pinindot ang doorbell ng bahay ni tita. It's close to midnight, maagang natutulog si Dale kaya si tita ang inaasahan kong magbubukas ng gate. Si Ford naman ay nakasandal sa gilid at nakapikit lang. Mukhang inaantok siya.
"Sino 'yan?" Umangat ang tingin ko sa gate nang marinig ang boses ng kapatid ko.
"Dale!" Sigaw ko pagkabukas niya ng gate. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang makita ako. I spread my arms and hugged him tight. It's been like two days but I missed him already. Hindi ako sanay na magkahiwalay kaming dalawa. "I missed you."
"Ate, gaano ka ba kasi katagal doon?" Tanong niya kaya natigilan ako. Hindi ko rin kasi alam. "Gaano kako katagal, ate? Miss na kitang inisin."
I don't know. After several months? After a year? Hindi ko rin alam, Dale. Pero mukhang matatagalan yata ako.
"Basta babalik ako agad." I ruffled his hair and kissed the top of his head.
"Don't kiss me like that, ate. Magseselos ang boyfriend mo." Tinuro niya si Ford. Magrereklamo na sana ako kaso natawa sila parehas na para bang sa simpleng gano'n lang, nagkaintindihan na ang humor nila. Lalong hindi ako nakapagsalita nang gatungan pa iyon ni Ford.
"Hindi, ayos lang."
Parang noong nakaraan lang tatay ko siya tapos ngayon boyfriend na? Anong klaseng role pa ba ang gusto niya?
"I'm not the jealous type."
"And you're not my boyfriend, too. Huwag mo ngang lokohin yung bata." Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin pero tumawa lang ito.
Nagkwentuhan lang kami ni Dale, ayos lang kahit marinig ni Ford kasi hindi personal ang pinag-uusapan namin. Kinamusta ko ang studies niya at sabi niya okay naman raw, matataas ang mga nakukuha sa quizzes. He also asked about Infernio Academy, sabi ko na lang maganda doon pero hindi ordinaryo. I don't want to elaborate more, maybe someday I'll make him understand.
"Dannah," Ford called me and pointed at his wrist watch. It's time to leave. I want to cry. I don't want to leave Dale in tita's hands, we all know how cold she is to us. Mabait lang siya kapag kaharap sila mommy.
"Aalis na kayo?" Dale asked with a sad tone. I nodded and ruffled his hair once again. Ayaw ko man pero kailangan.
"Oo, Dale. Curfew na kasi," katwiran ko na lang.
"Ingat kayo." Ang lungkot ng tono niya, ang hirap iwanan.
"Wayne Ford Hendrix." Ford suddenly introduced himself. "I-FLAMES mo na lang ang mga pangalan namin ng ate mo kapag bored ka."
"You're like kuya Blake." Tumawa ang kapatid ko at maya-maya lang nakipaghigh five pa kay Ford. Mukhang hindi lang pala ako ang nakakapansin no'n.
"Alis na kami ha? I'll take care of you sister, don't worry."
We waved Dale goodbye and we're about leave kaso biglang humabol ang kapatid ko.
"Wait lang!" Nakatingin siya kay Ford. "Familiar ka po."
⪼ S A P P H I R E
"Okay, anong ginawa natin? Bakit parang galit na galit si Mr. President?" Tanong ni Hadley habang diretsyo ang tingin sa stage.
Nilibot ko ang paningin ko nang mapansing wala pa si Ford. Halos thirty minutes na kaming naghihintay rito sa Infernio Hall pero wala pa rin si Mr. President.
Where is he and why did he call us here?
"Si Dannah?" Saglit akong napasulyap sa katabi ni Blake na transferee rin. Hindi ko maalala ang pangalan niya. I'm not really good at remembering names.
"Ewan ko. Kanina pa siya wala, hindi rin umattend sa class."
Unti-unting napataas ang kilay ko sa narinig mula kay Blake. She didn't attend classes either? Same case with Ford? Don't tell me magkasama sila? Or it's just a coincidence?
Napatingin ako sa stage nang makita ko si Mr. President. I sighed, finally he's here.
"Infernio Battle is cancelled this year."
"What?!" I was so shocked because of his fucking intro. Why do he have to tell without a warning? And why do he need to cancel it?! I've been waiting for that for four years!
"Sit down, Ms. Quinn," Utos sa akin ni Mr. President na mukhang mainit talaga ang ulo. This is making me mad!
"And that's because of the three transferees. Gusto ko sa darating na Infernio Battle ay kasali na sila." Oh, great. Kami pa ang mag-a-adjust para sa kanila.
"So we're going to wait for years again?!" This time, kay Hadley ko na lang sinabi. She just shrugged, totally not having any idea. Mr. President is so complicated.
"It will be moved next year. And before you complain, to be fair, the international sparring competition was also moved."
So everything's been moved? And for what reason?
"Isang taon lang ang bibigay ko sa mga transferees. Sandaling panahon kumpara sa iba. It's because I believe in them."
I crossed my arms and rested my back on the chair. My face sunk in irritation. Tiningnan ko sila Blake at inirapan. Hindi ako natutuwa sa mga nangyayari.
Everything is getting unreasonable and not making any sense.
"However, I'm really disappointed with one of you." Natahimik ang lahat. Ibang aura na naman ang bumalot sa buong hall. "Lumabas ang isa sa inyo sa Academy kanina."
Lahat kami ang nabigla. Hinanap ng mga mata ko kung sino ang kulang. At nang mapagtanto ko na ang tingin ni Mr. President ay nakatuon lamang sa mga transferees, doon na nagdugtong lahat ng napansin ko kanina.
Fucking hell. No way!
Paano niya nagawang makalabas? Where's the fucking exit?! Ang tagal tagal ko na rito pero kailanman ay hindi ko nalaman kung nasaan 'yon!
The hell is with that Dannah Baeford?!
"How?" Redhead asked.
"Ms. Risei Taylor, you're discreetly asking me where the exit is. I'm sorry, but I won't answer that," Mr. President told her. You really can't outsmart a bloody genius.
"I'll give her warning once she came back, but with Ford..."
My eyebrows drew a straight line as Mr. President let out a disappointed sigh. Tama nga ang hinala ko. Bumagsak ang magkabila kong balikat at napailing habang iniisip ang mga pangyayari.
Fucking hell, Ford. I am so disappointed, too. Why would you do that?
"Oh, hell." Mahina man, narinig ko ang malutong na mura ni Silver na siyang katapat ko. He ran his fingers through his locks. He looks frustrated.
"Hindi ko palalampasin ang ginawa ni Ford. He knows everything about Infernio Academy's rule. Alam niyang bawal pero ginawa niya pa rin at hindi lang ito ang unang beses."
There's this weird connection between Mr. President and Ford. Matagal ko nang napapansin na siya lang ang nakakalapit dito at kayang makipag-usap na parang normal na tao lang ang kaharap.
Ngayong napag-alaman naming alam din pala ni Ford ang daan palabas na si Mr. President lang naman ang nakakaalam... isn't that weird?
Who are you, Ford?
And what is your relation with Mr. President?
_