ELC1
Stay close, Kill.
That's my brother's last order to me before I went out of the car and run in the woods. It was like a broken song player that keeps on running in my mind as I continuously ran away.
It was so hard because I don't know where I am supposed to go when the only thing that I can faintly see are trees, grass, darkness, and the moon. I felt like going to the same yet different direction over and over.
Noong hindi ko na kinaya ang pagod ko ay nagpasya na lang akong umupo sa ilalim ng malaking puno. I hugged my knees while I look around. I cannot help but feel scared of almost everything.
It's already night. I should already be taking my night bath peaceful in my room and read a good book before sleep. But here I am now, inside an unknown forest with only darkness and cold winds. I have to endure the chills that I'm feeling now instead of having a warm night in my bed! And... and...
What if there are wild animals around? Ahas? Or what if I fall into something like what typically happens in movies?
I hugged my knees tighter and rest my head in the top of it.
My brothers will find me... Kuya Rion promised me. Mama and Papa won't sit down quietly if I got lost.
Right? You have to trust them, Ki－
"Aish, what a goddamn bloodsuckers!" I shouted while trying to move my body because of the mosquitos trying to bite my precious skin for blood, ruining my emotional moment!
Damn it! It's so itchy!
Kuya Rion! I swear!
I wasn't able to take a rest after my long run or even a short sleep, at least. I spent the whole night with my bloody war against insects around me! That's why when the dawn breaks and there is still no sign of help coming near me, I decided to just look for them myself.
I gather my courage up and I tried my best to trace back the way that I took before. Hindi pa naman ako tumatanda, kaya I'm confident in my recollection of memories.
I excitedly ran when I saw an opening! Finally! Sawang-sawa na akong makakita ng puro puno!
But I grimaced when I felt the pain of my feet. My lips parted when it didn't stop. Mabilis kong tinanggal ang heels ko para matignan ang paa ko.
I bit my lips to stop myself from crying ridiculously because I saw dirty fluid on the upper part of my heel. Ganon din sa isa kong paa. I think the blisters that I got from too much friction caused by my running and nonstop walk just got popped!
Ang hapdi!
Tumingin ako sa maliwanag na bukasan ng gubat at pabalik sa paa ko.
Okay, Kill. You got this. Konti na lang!
I practiced my breathing exercise before I put my high heels back on my feet because duh! I'm not gonna walk barefooted in this forest! Ni hindi nga ito sementado! My feet will just hurt more because of the dried leaves!
I stepped in the counter part of my high heels so it wouldn't touch my wound. I slowly walked towards the path that I am seeing because of my painful feet.
C'mon, someone has to be here!
"Yes!" I delightedly blurted out when I finally stood on a cemented ground!
Ngunit agad ding nawala ang aking saya noong mai-ikot ko ang tingin ko at wala akong pamilyar na nakita mula sa natatandaan kong lugar kung nasaan kami kagabi.
There's no car... and definitely no sign of a broken bridge. What... no way... did my memory just failed me?
No way!
"Kuya Rion..."
Fear started to corrupt me again when I figured out what I just did. I was in a completely different way but I tried my best to look around wishing that my brother can appear in front of me and I wasn't wrong with my decision.
Muli kong nilingon ang gubat na nasa likod ko lang. My eyes started to feel hot because of my incoming tears.
Kuya's voice reminding me to stay close played in my mind once again. I bit my lips and I sobbed.
No... what did I do?
I just want to look for them!
I heard my stomach growled that made me look down on it. I stomped my feet hard because of frustration but I immediately regretted it when I felt the pain in my feet. I immediately duck down to remove my heels and throw it away from me.
"Damn heels!" I shouted as I felt my tears falling.
I found it easier to divert my fear and anxiousness into anger. Umupo ako sa sementadong daan dahil sa pagod kong mga binti.
"I'm so hungry..." I sobbed.
Never in my life that I starved myself! Hinawakan ko ang balat ko at malungkot ko na hinaplos ang mga pulang parte doon dahil sa pagkagat ng mga bwiset na insekto kagabi.
"I need a bath too... a whole-body massage... a skin treatment..." I sobbed harder.
Kuya... nasaan ka ba? Kala ko ba babalikan mo ako?
I gasped when I realized something. Natigil ang pag-iyak ko. Paano kung... paano kung...
Kaya hindi ako mahanap ni Kuya ay...
Oh my god, no... I can't even say it in my mind! That's horrible and I could never accept it! No!
My heartbeat rose. I need to do something! I stood up even with my pitiful state. I look around and I decided to take the path on my right. Sabi kasi nila always go right!
I need to ask someone for help so I could contact someone. I'm not sure how could I do that but probably... I can find some branch of our business here? Pwede ba yon? Can I count on them, thought?
But I need to try! I'm sure all the branches have contact with the main office! But will they believe me?
"Argh! You selfish pigs! I'll remember your plate number and make Papa trace you!" I shouted to the car who just passed by me even if I'm already trying my best to wave my hand and stop them.
My feet are aching so bad because I am walking barefooted! Wala akong choice kung hindi magpatuloy.
I froze on my feet when I saw what's in front of me... a little far from my current place but is already in my eyes.
There are so many people around! Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko dahil sa parehas na takot at saya.
Finally!
"Pamilihang Bayan..." I read the large letters displayed and the one that's very visible while I'm slowly approaching it.
I decoded the simple words. Pamilihan and bayan... it must be a market?
A public market!
I wasn't able to know where I could put my eyes. I roamed around. Parang hinipan ng hangin ang aking totoong intensyon dahil sa nakikita ko noong makatapak ako mismo doon.
My heartbeat doubled as I look at every part of the busy market. It has so many people that I cannot believe what I am really seeing.
Ngayon lang ako nakakita ng ganito karaming tao! Ang ingay at ang bibilis ng mga galaw!
The world...
I cannot help but feel amazed. I momentarily forgot about my brother and my poor situation. I stepped my feet to start walking around. Napapangiwi ako sa ibang kakaibang amoy at tinatakpan ko naman ang ilong ko sa mga mababangong amoy ng pagkain dahil mas lalo akong nagugutom.
I don't know why some people in the stores glares at me for doing so even if I'm doing it to protect their tasty food from me because I cannot believe that from all of the riches my family has, my first walks into a market is me, penniless!
A lot of people look at me weirdly. They are probably wondering why I am barefooted. Hindi naman halatang madumi ako dahil maganda pa din naman ako!
Tumigil ako. I curiously eyed the two kids I suddenly laid my eyes on. They are like mosquito larvae! Ang lilikot! They are following an old lady and they are pushing and pulling each other.
Because of my curiosity about what they are doing, I unconsciously followed them. My mouth circled when I notice what they are trying to do.
The lady's wallet is hanging loose on her back pocket and the boys are trying to get it by fishing it's key chain's hook using their forefinger.
Oh!
Napahaplos ako sa aking tyan dahil narinig ko na naman ang pagkalam nito. Napatingin ulit ako sa mga bata.
I balled my fist and competitively eyed them. I'm hungry!
My lips parted when I saw them successfully getting the wallet. They smiled widely and they place their hands together for a silent high-five.
I nodded. Ganon pala yon. Nice job! But I am older so I am better!
"Hey, kids!" I called the pickpockets and walk towards them. I immediately grab the wallet from the kid's hand that's still hanging on the air so he could show the wallet to his mate.
Unfortunately, I got it first.
Yes! Money! I need to eat first then I'll find someone who can help me!
"Hoy!" he shouted.
"I saw what you did..." I smiled at them. "You're too young to do bad things..."
Bad only if you get caught...
"Hoy, amin yan!" sabi ng katabi niya.
"It's not yours, it's the lady's money. You stole it." I said, smirking.
"Ano daw?"
"English! Nagsasalita ka non diba? Kunin mo na pera natin!" the boy pushed the other one to face me.
My smile vanished. Oh. I forgot.
"You! That! Mine!" the other boy said while pointing me, the wallet, and himself. I followed all the movements of his hand.
"Hindi kaya..." I said and I put my hand that's holding the wallet on my back.
Their jaw fell.
"Nagtatagalog!"
"Hoy, Ate－"
Hoy! Hoy! Kahoy! Puro sila hoy!
"Mga bata..."
I didn't allow them to finish and I showed them the wallet. They tried to reach it but I raised my hand higher. I smirked.
"Gusto nyo isumbong ko kayo sa pulis?" I used the line that was too overrated in movies. Hah! I am not that ignorant kaya no!
Nanlaki ang dalawa nilang mata. They both stepped backward as I stepped forward, trying to scare them more. The hell would I know where the police are?!
"Ba-bakit mo naman gagawin yon!"
I smiled. "Kasi nakita ko 'yong nigawa nyo..." I tried speaking more tagalog words.
It was very easy to speak Tagalog using my mind! But I find it hard using my tongue!
I was about to step more closer when they already run away from me. I smiled. Victory for me! Yes, I can eat now!
Masaya akong tumalikod upang magsimula na ulit maglakad. My smile automatically vanished when I saw who's in front of me. She was staring at the wallet in my hand.
It's the lady who really owns the wallet!
"Naku, hija! Salamat!"
My lips parted as everything turned slow motion for me. From the lady, walking fast on my direction to how she got her wallet from my hand.
Food! No!
Sinubukan kong abutin ang wallet na parang mahihigit iyon kung iiwan ko ang kamay kong nakabitin sa hangin. I look at it sadly. My shoulders fell.
I thought it's... my efforts!
"Napansin ko na din iyong mga mga batang iyon kaya babalikan ko na sana pero nakita agad kitang pinapagalitan sila! Salamat talaga!"
I tried to fake a smile and I nodded.
"Okay po..."
Wala sa loob akong suminghot noong parang may naaamoy ako. My eyes followed the scent until it went down on the lady's hand. The plastic bag on her hand is transparent and I can see what's inside of it.
I gulped.
I don't know what kind of food is there but I am very sure that it really has a good smell. Sana nakakakain na ako ngayon.
"Ah! Palabok at kakanin!"
She must have noticed where I was staring, the reason why she raised the one she's holding to show to me. I'm not really familiar with what I heard but the moment she raised it higher, I feel like crying.
Kagabi pa ako hindi kumakain!
My stomach rumbles once again. Napatingin doon ang babaeng nasa unahan ko.
"Sige po..." I said and went past her, letting go of my chance to eat.
I never doubted karma but I can't just believe that it came to me too soon! Hindi man lang ako pinakain!
"Teka... gutom ka na ata, ineng?"
I immediately turned when I heard of it. I nodded immediately. She smiled at me and held my wrist.
"Tara, at nang mapasalamatan man lang kita..."
I felt like God blessed me an angel.
"Teka... teka... wala kang uuwian kung ganon?"
I nodded at her while munching my food. It's an orange noodle thing that really tastes so good. Ate Lucy, the one who treated me food said that it's the same one in her plastic bag. It starts with P and ends with K but I'm not quite sure of the name. She only mentioned it once.
"Masarap po!" I said while pointing on what I am eating.
I really don't know how to be thankful for her. She even noticed that I was barefooted and she insisted of buying me slippers in the sidelines which caused her 30 pesos! Then she brought me to this food house that she calls Carinderia to treat me, food!
I have to improvise a story to tell her, though. I feel sorry about lying but what can I do? I just can't blurt it out especially to a stranger even if Ate Lucy seems mabait naman.
I just told her that I was supposed to meet my new boss here but I was robbed and I am not really familiar with this place so I have no place to go.
"Ano bang pangalan mo?" she chuckled. "Kanina pa ako nagtatanong sayo ni hindi ko pa alam kung anong pangalan mo!"
That made me stop. I pretended to drink water while I was thinking. Can I? Shall I tell her my name? That I'm Kill Legrand? Matunog ang pangalan ng pamilya ko sa buong bansa.
My heart thumped when I remember what happened last night. No... I can't be under that situation without anyone to protect me now.
I traced my name to come up with another name to say. Binaba ko ang baso at ngumiti kay Ate Lucy.
"Reese. Reese po ang pangalan ko..."
"Napakaganda naman..."
I smiled at her, thankful yet feeling guilty. She's a good samaritan but I cannot just trust her with anything.
"Thank you..."
It was weird to have her watch my every move but I just disregarded it since I wanna continue eating. Maybe after this, I'll try to ask a favor to her if she can bring me to any of our business branches?
"Alam mo Reese... saktong-sakto kasi naghahanap ng kasambahay ngayon sa pinapasukan ko. Baka lang naman gusto mo..."
I stopped. My heartbeat escalated unusually and I don't know why.
"K-kasambahay po kayo?" I asked.
Ngumiti siya at umiling. "Cook ako doon. Pero pag nag-kasambahay ka, doon ka titira, libre pagkain mo, mataas magpa-sweldo. Wala ka nang po-problemahin! Tsaka kalimitang wala din naman sila Ma'am at Sir doon, yung anak lang nila ang nananatili. Marunong ka naman sa gawaing bahay siguro diba?"
Of course... not.
Why the hell would I learn household chores if I have many people to do it at the mansion?
"Sabihin mo lang, kakausapin ko yung mayordoma." ngumiti siya saakin.
I wasn't able to answer. I know I shouldn't be hesitating now. I should immediately say no! I'm sure my family is already looking for me and they will find me soon!
But the fear of not knowing where would I stay if they still can't is creeping in me...
At isa pa... I roamed my eyes around－to Ate Lucy who's smiling at me, to what I was eating today... to the noisy food house that we are in, the smile that was etched on people's faces, and the laughter that I can hear.
I remember myself walking around this public market awhile ago. This... this is how people in the books and on the internet describe how and what life is and I exactly know what I yearned secretly for all these years.
"B-bat nyo po ito ginagawa?"
Ngumiti ito saakin. "Kasi may anak akong mukhang kasing edad mo, Reese. Kung mangyayari man sa anak ko itong nararanasan mo, hiling ko na sana may tumulong din sa kanya katulad nito."
Napakagat ako ng labi noong narinig ko yon. I feel so bad of what I planned a while ago! Ate Lucy didn't deserve that! She thought I help her but I was actually... just got caught.
Mama, sorry. But if the world continues to show me how beautiful it is, I think I will always deny your idea of it.
"Okay po..."
"Hmm? Ano yon?"
"Magta-trabaho po ako."