Nagmula ako sa hinaharap. Pinatay ako ng isang malanding insecure sa kagandahan ko ngunit sa 'di malamang kadahilanan, imbes na dumiretso sa langit, ang kaluluwa ko ay napadpad sa katawan ng isang babae sa taong 1944. At ang babaeng ito ay walang iba kundi si Ivanna Ramirez, ang lider ng isang rebeldeng grupo na nais patalsikin ang mga Hapon sa bansa. At sa darating na November 14, 1944, papatayin siya ng taong mahal niya.

Napadpad ako sa katawang ito sa buwan ng enero. Eksaktong siyam na buwan bago ako patayin. At kung nais kong patuloy na mabuhay at hindi sayangin ang pangalawang pagkakatong ibinigay sakin, kailangan kong mahanap kung sino ang pumatay kay Ivanna.

"What am I thinking!" I shouted while running away from the soldiers.

Hindi ko alam ang pasikot-sikot sa lugar na 'to kaya kung may nakikita akong masikip na eskinita, doon ako didiretso. It feels like we're just running around in circles.

I looked over my shoulders. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang mapansing hindi na sumusunod sakin ang dalawang sundalong Hapon. Huminto ako sa pagtakbo at isiniksik ang sarili sa madilim na eskinita habang hinahabol ang hininga.

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko at pinakiramdaman ang puso kong sobrang bilis ang pagtibok.

"Grabeng kamalasan naman 'to," I uttered. Kahit kailan hindi ko hiniling ang ganitong klase ng pangalawang pagkakataon. This thing will kill me again.

I know I should've just given the badge back. Pero unang pumasok sa utak ko 'yong sinabi ni Domingo. Then a lot of scenarios started appearing. If I gave them the badge, they would obviously accuse me of stealing it. And even if I explain, there is this thing we call 'communication barrier'. But if I ran away even before the soldiers step foot on the narrow alley, there's a high possibility that I might lost them but it would strengthen their accusations of me.

And surprisingly, my body chose the latter and here I am, meeting the nine months deadline a little bit early.

I have a lot of regrets today!

I removed the scarf. Mukha na akong naligo dahil sa pawis. My hair's sticking everywhere. No'ng nakaramdam na ako ng pangangalay, naisipan kong umupo.

Pero bago pa man tuluyang sumayad ang puwet ko sa lupa, narinig ko na naman ang mga boses na 'yon.

"Soko!"

Mabilis akong tumakbo papalayo sa dalawang Hapon. Tinungo ko ang kailaliman ng eskinita at bawat hakbang, dumidilim ng paligid. Pero kahit na nagkandarapa na ako sa kakatakbo, hindi ko huminto.

Akala ko naligaw ko na sila! Why are they so persitent in catching me? Is this badge that important?

"Yameru!"

I looked over my shoulder. At nang mapansing palapit na sila mas binilisan ko pa ang takbo. If this was a marathon, I'd be the winner. I gotta give credit to Ivanna's legs. Despite being slender, it surprisingly can endure something like this.

Nang matanaw ko na ang lagusan ng eskinita, halos gusto ko nang maiyak sa tuwa. Tuwa, dahil isa na namang oportunidad para iligaw.

But the joy I felt started to vanish when a silhouette appeared on the exit of the alley. The rays coming from the sun shaped the person stature. A tall, lean figure was blocking the way.

Parang sasakyan, nawalan ako ng preno kaya't hindi ko napigilan ang sarili at bumangga sa taong 'yon. I closed my eyes when I felt the impact. But instead of falling onto the ground, a pair strong arms held my arms and waist, preventing me from losing my balance.

I opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was the person's hand holding my right arms. It was the hands of a man, veined yet it was beautiful and fair. Long and slender fingers, nails were clean and knuckles turning pinkish. My gaze traveled from the gray sleeves of his suit to his broad shoulders and finally to his face.

Soft raven black hair that reached his neck danced with the cold mid-January breeze. His face was strong and was defined by a prominent jaw. He had a high-bridged nose and thin and pale lips. The expression on his face was the opposite of his graceful hands. His dark brows sloped downward, looking at the direction of the Japanese souldiers who were chasing me as his grip tightened around my waist.

I couldn't remove my gaze from the man. And when his met mine, I hitched my breath. A pair of deep and dark brown orbs stared at me as if inviting me to marvel in its simplicity. It was the warmth of a sweetened coffee that engulfs you during cold nights.

Ramdam ko na ang pag-iinit ng magkabilang kong pisngi pero hindi ko maialis ang tingin sa taong nasa harapan ko ngayon. Nawala sa isipan ko na hinahabol ako ng dalawang sundalong Hapon. This feeling I have right now, the feeling of security, is something I don't understand. What is this? Never in my life did I drool for someone this perfect-

"Isang hampas-lupang kung kumapit ay tila ba nais ipasan sa iba ang kanyang kahirapan." Even his voice was deep and soothing and full of insult-

I blinked, "Eh?"

Nakatingin siya sakin nang may pandidiri sa mukha. Wait, is he referring to me?

"H-Henli-dono.."

Itinaas niya ang kamay na nakahawak sa braso ko at sinenyasan ang dalawang Hapon na umalis. Yumuko ang mga ito at sinunod ang lalaki. Ako naman ay nanatiling nakatitig sa kanya at hindi maigalaw ang sarili. Pilit kong pinoproseso ang mga salitang binitawan niya kanina ngunit parang ayaw itong tanggapin ng utak ko dahil magandang impression na ang unang pumasok dito.

Maya-maya ay itinulak ako ng lalaki. Hindi ito malakas kaya nagawa kong ibalanse ang sarili. Doon ko lang napansin ang kasuotan niya. Nakasuot siya ng kulay abong three-piece suit na ang outer coat ay nakapatong lang sa kanyang balikat. Underneath is a gray vest and white shirt with collars hugging his neck. He was wearing gray pants and a pair of leather shoes.

He looked like a gentleman from 1940s. Well, indeed, he was.

Nagulat ako nang bigla niyang pinagpag ang sariling damit na para bang dinapuan ito ng maduming bagay.

He clicked his tongue, "Huwag mo uli akong hawakan gamit ng marumi mong kamay."

It felt like a lightning struck me and I was able to move again.

"Teka..." I pointed myself, "Ako ba ang tinutukoy mo?"

He raised his brow, "Sino pa ba ang tao rito kundi tayong dalawa lang?"

I gasped, not believing what I'm seeing right now. Did I just described this man as someone warm? Wait, masyado ko siyang pinuri sa description ko sa kanya and turns out his personality was the total opposite of all of those.

"Sa susunod na manggugulo pa kayong mga mahihirap sa bayang ito, hindi ako magdadalawang-isip na ipatapon kayo."

This. Is. Absurd. How can someone with an appearance like this have a mouth that shoots insult nonstop? Hindi ako makapaniwalang halos... halos tumulo ang laway ko kakatitig sa taong 'to.

Huminga ako ng malalim at pinakalma ang sarili.

Tinalikuran niya ako at akmang aalis nang bigla akong nagsalita. "Hoy, una sa lahat, hindi ako hampas-lupa. Kumakain ako ng tatlong beses sa isang araw, may tirahan, nag-aaral, at higit sa lahat 'di ako nanghihingi ng pera. Pangalawa, wala akong pakialam kung ipatapon mo ang mga mahihirap dito. Kung gusto mo samahan pa kita. Pangatlo, sino ka para pandirihan ako? Hindi porke't-"

He looked at me over his shoulders. Dumapo muli ang tingin ko sa mukha nito. Nakakapanhinayang. "Porke't mukha kang mayaman e pwede ka nang manghusga nang walang pakundangan."

Hinarap niya ako. Dumilim ang mukha niya at tinignan ako na para bang isa akong dumi sa paanan niya.

"Kung gano'n, isa ka sa kanila."

I raised a brow. "Anong pinagsasasabi mo?"

"Mga taong biglang tumaas ang katayuan sa buhay dahil sa pagsipsip sa mga dati nang nasa sa itaas. Mga linta."

Pakiramdam ko aabot na sa langit ang kilay ko sa kakataas. This person seemed to have a prejudice against the poor. I didn't know such conceitedness existed in my grandmother's time. If he was born in the future with that same attitude he would put the prominent figures who think too highly of themselves to shame. Hindi ko pa naiisip lahat ng pwede kong gawing "pagpupuri" sa kanya, nagsalita na naman siya.

"Kahit na nakapagsusuot na kayo ngayon ng magagarang kasuotan, hindi niyo pa rin maipagkakaila ang iyong pinanggalingan. Hindi nakapagtataka kung bakit ka narito at tinutulungan ang iyong kauri."

Wow. I lived for 20 years but never in my life did I met someone as unreasonable as him. Hindi ko siya gets , to be honest.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. I can already feel my blood boiling. This guy, despite possessing a noble aura, is so foul-mouthed I wanna wringe his neck until he's unable to breathe.

I looked at him, "Look here, pretty boy. I-"

"Thank you."

Oh my god. Nakakaintindi siya. Well... This is already the 1900s after all. The Philippines was already an American colony by the time world war happen. Kaya nga nadamay Pilipinas sa giyera kasi noon considered pa na parte ng America ang bansa. This was also the era where colonial mentality became rampant. Nadala hanggang sa kasalukuyan. Tulad nung babae dun sa kabilang kwento. Masyadong hate Pilipinas at masyadong gino-glorify ang mga Amerikano.

Bobo na lang ang mag-aakalang hindi pa nakakaintindi ng Ingles ang ilan sa mga tao sa panahong ito.

May naidulot rin palang kapakinapakinabang yung unang beses na hindi ako natulog sa history class ko noong high school. Naalala ko pa rin kmyung itinuro nung professor kong tinalo pa ang bangkay kung magturo.

I shrugged it off, "Nakakaintindi ka pala. Then, I'll make it easier for you. I don't care about your grudge for the people you call leeches because I have absolutely nothing to do with them. So don't go spewing nonsense dahil hindi mo ako kilala. I may be someone great that could save your ass one day."

I was fusing with unexplainable irritation when suddenly I saw a glint of amusement in his eyes. The side of his lips curved up into a mocking smirk. God, did it just make him three times hotter? He opened his mouth but before he could utter a word...

"Binibini!" a man shouted from behind him. It was Domingo. He was running towards us with a worried expression. Para bang pinagsukluban siya ng langit at lupa at ngayon palang nakakita ng liwanag.

Nang makalapit siya samin ay pilit niyang hinabol ang kanyang hininga.

"Binibini, labis akong nag-alala dahil wala ka na sa pinag-iwanan ko sayo kanina. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin kung sakaling may nangyaring masama sa'yo. Paumanhin, binibini. Sana hindi na lamang kita iniwan-"

He was talking nonstop that he failed to notice the man standing beside him who is now staring at me with an unreadable expression. I glared at him but he wasn't bothered by it nor did he spare a second to remove his gaze from me.

"Paumanhin, binibini. Dahil sa aking kapabayaan-"

The man chuckled, causing Domingo to avert his attention towards him. His eyes grew big the moment his gaze landed on the man.

"Save me, huh?" he uttered. "Let me see you do it."

I raised a brow, "Huh?"

Then, he gave me a mocking book that made all the blood in my blood vessels boil. "Let me see you save my... my ass."

His tone sounded like a challenge telling me, 'do it, if you can'. Hindi ko alam pero parang mas lalong kumulo ang dugo ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Not only was he saying it while wearing that exasperatingly gorgeous face but because he hit a nerve. I sounded tough but I couldn't possibly save someone. Well, ayoko talaga dahil sobrang sama ng ugali niya but yeah, he was right. I don't have the courage to do so.

Before I could react, he turned his back and walked away without saying another word which added fuel to the irritation I feel towards him. I stomped my feet while spewing nonstop curses in my head. How can someone as good-looking as that have an attitude worthy of praises from Satan? To think I almost swooned because of his good looks and turns out he is this devil incarnate.

I immediately stopped when I realized that Domingo was here. Dahan-dahn ko siyang nilingon at nagtaka nung mapansing nakatingin pa din siya sa likod ng lalaking papalayo habang nanlalaki ang mga mata.

"Domingo, ayos ka lang ba?" tanong ko.

His mouth was gaped and looked dumbstruck. I tapped his soldier to get his attention.

"P-paumanhin, binibini. Ngunit ang taong iyon..."

I blinked, "Bakit? Anong meron sa taong yun?"

He swallowed the lump in his throat before answering. "Henry Hererro, ang taga-pagmana ng pinakaprominenteng pamilya ng ating lalawigan."

I wasn't surprised. He did look like he's some kind of young master. Sinabayan pa ng ugali niyang mapangmataas.

"Tapos?"

"S-siya ang taong dapat nating iwasan."

I suddenly felt curious, "Bakit?"

"Ang pamilya niya'y malaki ang pagtutol sa mga Amerikano kay't labis ang suportang ibinigay nito sa mga Hapong narito sa ating lalawigan," sagot ni Domingo.

I was surprised to hear that. So people like those exists. People who tolerates... No... supports the oppressor. Akala ko lahat ng pilipino sa panahong 'to, malakas ang pagtutol sa mga Hapon. Pero meron palang mga taong sumusuporta sa kanila. Kaya pala sumunod sa kanya yung dalawang sundalong Hapon kanina nang paalisin niya ito.

Wait... Yung ginawa niya kanina... Is it okay for me to take it as him saving me from utter doom? He dismissed the two soldiers who were chasing me.

Napakunot ako ng noo. Pero ayaw niya sa mahihirap. My clothes looked dull and cheap and I looked like a used rag after running like crazy. Mukha akong mahirap na walang matutuluyan, pero maganda. But instead of letting the Japanese arrest me, he dismissed them instead.

I'm confused. And if he hates the poor, what is he doing at the slums? Nagsusurvey gano'n? Kung sino sunod ipapatapon?

"M-mas mabuti pang bumalik na tayo, binibini. Huwag na nating i-ugnay ang ating sarili sa mga taong dapat nating iniiwasan."

Tumango ako. Despite the curiosity, I followed what Domingo said. Tamana naman siya. Dahil kung gusto kong mabuhay, mas mabuti pang iwasan ang mga taong magdadala ng panganib.

Pero...

I looked at the direction the Henry dude took.

Did that person play a big role in Ivanna's life? Or was this meeting completely coincidental?

-

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