Supposed to be mag-isa lang akong pupunta sa bayan. Antonio is busy with the Katipunan stuff. Aling Isay and Mang Nestor are busy in the rice fields. But guess who tag along?

"Grabe pala kayong mayayaman. Konting lakad lang, pagod na agad."

Sino pa ba? There's only one person here who loves mocking me. Karlos.

I glared at him, "Ba't ba sumama ka, ha?"

He grinned, "I cannot let you die, y'know. Going to the town alone means danger for people like you."

Namewang ako at mataray siyang tinignan, "May gusto ka bang iparating."

"Well, people like are the type who easily gets into trouble because of their attitude," he mocked. "So, I have to be there to keep an eye on you."

"What am I? A kid?"

"Our age gap is nine-hundred and seventy-six years, so yeah, you're still a kid."

I looked at him, wearing an unconvinced expression, "You expect me to believe that?"

"I don't. Anyway, let's go. You have to be home before it gets dark." I got a glimpse of how his expression change before he turned his back. "The whole Manila is under martial law. And you're not dumb to not know what martial law means."

That's right. After the battle in Pasong-bato and San Juan del Monte, the spaniards declared martial law. Anyone they find suspicious will be thrown to jail without due process. I also heard from Antonio that the day after the battle in Manila, the members of the the Katipunan who were captured were shot to death. And now, they're imposing martial law.

"Bilisan mo na!"

I was pulled out from my thoughts at nag-umpisang maglakad.

Aling Isay asked me to buy vegetables in Mang Gorio's shop. I said yes. The old couple was really busy because it's the time of the year to harvest their crops. Antonio's very busy in the Katipunan. After the first battle, eight provinces also joined the revolution. Kaya kabi-kabila ang mga laban sa buong bansa.

I'm glad na hindi pa nasasali sa laban ang bayan na 'to. I don't want and I don't imagine myself being in a battle.

"Nga pala, Kristin."

"Could you at least use honorifics when saying my name?"

"Why would I? I'm hundred years older than you, you should be the one using honorifics."

"Argh. I hate you." I said, annoyed.

"I don't like you either." I rolled my eyes heavenward at naunang maglakad. I don't have to deal with a brat like him.

"Mukhang close na kayo ni Antonio. May payakap-yakap pa kayong nalalaman. Kulang nalang isipin kong nasa isang movie kayo. Kulang nalang popcorn."

I felt my cheeks heat up. I stopped on my tracks saka siya hinarap, "Y-you saw us?!"

He shrugged, "I can see everything."

Napatakip ako ng bibig. He saw us. The scene by the river. That awkward moment. I was hoping no one would see us. That'd be really embarrasing. Pero nakita ng walang-hiyang batang 'to. And now, he's teasing me.

I glared at Karlos. I wanna twist that tiny little head of his.

"Don't fall for him," nabigla ako sa sinabi nito.

"W-what?"

"I said, don't fall in love with him." he restated.

'Yung kaninang namumula kong pisngi ay mas lalo pang namula. Pakiramdam ko din natuyo ang lalamunan ko.

"What the hell? W-why would I fall for him? I-I won't!"

He gave me an unconvinced-look, "Really? You won't? Why did you waited for him like crazy? Why do you want to save him? Why do you look at him with-"

"I did it out of generousity! Out of compassion!"

"Why'd you look at him like he's the most important person in your life? C'mon, Kristin. Stop fooling yourself. You're falling for him. But then again, don't fall for him." he mocked.

"Me? Falling for him? Ha! I'm n-not! I'm not." I faked a luagh.

I feel like I'm being cornered. I feel like I'm being interrogated, accused for the crime I haven't done. I mean, why would I fall for Antonio? That's impossible! I'm a person who doesn't know love. I already accepted the fact that I'll never experience love.

"Wow," he looked at me like I was the weirdest person ever. "You're not just rude, you're also dense. Your denseness is overwhelming." then he continued walking.

-

We arrived at the town by noon. It was freaking hot. I didn't even bring an umbrella with me. And, 'di ako nag-apply ng sunblock!

Matapos bumili ng gulay kela Mang Gorio, I decided to go home. 'Di ko kinausap si Karlos the whole time. Mabuti nalang at tahimik lang siya. Wala akong planong makipagpatalo pa sa batang 'to.

We were about to leave the town nang biglang may bumangga sakin. Dahilan para mahulog ang basket na hawak ko.

"Fuck!" I picked up the basket at inilagay ang mga gulay pabalik sa basket.

Karlos didn't even bother to help me.

I stood up, ready to yell at the person who bumped me. He'll hear nonstop from me.

"You-"

"Bakit hindi ka tumitingin sa iyong dinadaanan?!"

No. He wasn't shouting at me. He was shouting at the girl in front of him. So, sila 'yung totoong nagbanggaan? Nadamay lang ako, ganun?

"P-pasensya na po, senyor. H-hindi ko po sinasadya." paghingi ng paumanhin ng babae habang nakaluhod.

From the looks of it, mukhang hindi kasalanan nung babae. I looked at the guy. He was a spanish civil guard, based on his uniform and the shotgun he's holding.

Instead of forgiving, he kicked the basket in front of her. Ang ilan sa laman ng basket ay tumama sa mukha ng babae. Ang ibang tao ay nanonood lang, at wala man lamang nagtangkang tulungan ang babae.

Wait. Petchay ba 'yun?

I looked at my basket. Shet. Wala na akong pera, I can't afford to buy another one. What would Aling Isay say? She'll think I'm irrespponsible! She trusted me to buy the vegetables and bring them home safe, without any scratches and stuff.

I inhaled, it's this guy's fault!

"Kristin." 'di ko na pinansin si Karlos at lumapit dun sa lalaki. Hindi pa man ako nakakalapit ay sinipa na naman niya ang basket nung babae, at nadamay na naman 'yung petchay ko.

Huminto ako sa harapan nung lalaki, "Ikaw!" I shouted while pointing my finger at him. I heard a few people gasp. "Binangga mo na nga ako, sinipa mo pa 'yung petcha ko! 'Di ka man lang nagsorry!"

"Kristin!" saway ni Karlos.

"At sino ka naman?" galit na tanong ng kastila.

"You heard the kid, I'm Kristin. Ako si Kristin. And how dare you bump on me, you even kicked the vegetable I bought. Alam mo ba na nagpakahirap akong maglakad papunta dito sa bayan? Alam mo ba kung gaano ko tiniis ang init mabili lang 'tong mga gulay na 'to? I'm a daughter of a freaking rich businessman, I'm not fit for this kind of job. But still I'm doing it! And you," I glared at him. "Dumagdag ka pa! 'Di ka man lang nagsorry! Mahirap ba sabihin ang sorry-"

Napaatras ako nang bigla niyang itinutok ang hawak na baril sakin, "Hindi ka marunong rumespeto!"

I gulped, but I kept my composure, "You expect me to get scared? Oh c'mon."

Naramdaman kong may humawak sa dulo ng suot kong saya, "B-binibini, h'huwag na. B-baka mapahamak ka."

I just rolled my eyes heavenward at ibinalik ang atensyon sa kastila. Pero napatawa nalang ako nang tumatakbo na ito palayo.

"Ha! Coward! Tatakbo ka rin pala!" Lakas ng loob na tutukan ako ng baril, tatakbo din pala.

Napasigaw ako ng biglang may umapak sa paa ko, "What the fuck, Karlos!"

"Antonio's not here, you've got no katipunero in shining armour to protect you right now! Kaya isipin mo ng mabuti ang mga aksyon na gagawin mo!" He said, irritated.

Napapangiwi ako sa sakit ng pagkakaapak niya. This kid, he's got guts! "You didn't have to step on my foot! It's that guy's fault! He bumped me and he even kicked the vegetable I bought!"

"Para sa isang petchay? Really, Kristin? You got yourself into trouble just for one vegetable? You should be thankful that you're with the God of Time. If it wasn't for me, you'll be lying on the ground, dead."

"You shouldn't have save me." napansin kong mas dumadami ang taong nanonood samin na para bang may live show.

Padabog kong kinuha ang petchay. Geez. Nadumihan na tuloy. Inirapan ko muna si Karlos saka nag-umpisang maglakad paalis sa lugar. Naramdaman ko namang sumunod ito sakin.

"Alam mo, 'di na kita papabalikin sa hinaharap." he threatened.

"Edi don't. I'll stay here and ruin history." I retaliated.

"You think you can do that?"

"I can."

"You can't."

"I can and I will, Karlos."

"You can't and you won't, Kristin."

"S-sandali!" natigil kami ni Karlos sa pagbabangayan nang biglang may sumigaw. Napalingon ako sa pinagmulan ng boses.

"Bakit?" mataray kong tanong sa babae kanina. Dala-dala na niya 'yung basket na natapon kanina.

Nang makalapit samin ay bigla siyang ngumiti, "M-maraming salamat nga pala sa pagligtas niyo sa akin kanina. Kinalaban niyo pa ang sundalong kastila kanina, naku-"

I raised a brow, "I didn't do it to save you. I did it for the vegetable." I corrected.

Iniisip niyang niligtas ko siya? Me? Save someone? Well, if it's Antonio, yeah I'll save him. But her? No, I won't. I'm not that soft to help other people. I don't do charity.

"Wow. So, you're the self-proclaimed hero of the vegetables?" sabat naman ni Karlos.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin, "I did not, say that."

"You did." he mocked.

Sasagot pa sana ako pero biglang nagsalita 'yung babae. "Hala. Kapatid mo ba ang batang ito?" natutuwang tanong niya.

"No-"

"Oo, kapatid niya ako."

Napatingin ako muli kay Karlos, "What the hell? You? My brother? Yucks."

"I don't want you to be my sister either. Yucks." I was about to kick him pero nagsalita ulit 'yung babae. Really, this girl. Sabat ng sabat. I wanna kick her too.

"Ako nga pala si Bernarda.Ngunit ang tawag sakin ng karamihan ay Burandai." I looked at the girl.

Nakangiti siya habang nakalahad ang kanang kamay. Her face is sweat. She's got brown skin and a messy hair tied into a bun. There are dark circles under her eyes. Halatang losyang na. Forgive me for being rude, but it's true. She is pretty pero parang antanda na niyang tignan.

Inirapan ko lang siya at nag-umpisang maglakad. I don't have time to be friendly. This heat is killing me. All I want is to go home right now.

"Anong ang pangalan mo?" halos mapatalon ako sa gulat nang biglang sumabay sakin sa paglalakad si Burandai. God, ambantot ng pangalan.

"What do you want?" I asked, irritated.

"Kakaiba kang manalita. Kristin ang iyong pangalan, hindi ba? Narinig kong tinawag ka ni Karlos na Kristin."

Hindi siya madaldal, promise. I don't like people like her. Mas binilisan ko ang paglalakad, pero nakahabol pa rin siya. Napatingin ako kay Karlos na mas nauna pa palang naglakad sakin.

This kid. 'Di man lang ako tulungan patahimikin 'tong babae.

"Napakaganda mo. Kulay dilaw din ang iyong buhok. Nakakamangha." she's talking like we're close friends. "Papunta ka rin ba sa baryo malapit sa paanan ng bundok? Naku, doon rin ako patungo."

'Yun nga, sumabay siya samin pauwi. And all she did was talk. 'Di ko siya kinakausap pero 'di siya tumigil. She talked about her sister, her pet the chicken, and other nonsensical stuff which I don't remember most of it because I don't care.

Mabuti nalang at sinapian ng kabutihan si Karlos at siya muna ang kumausap kay Burandai. Naririndi na din kasi ang tenga ko sa kadaldalan nung babae. Mukhang masaya siya sa kakatalak. Kulang nalang bigyan siya ng microphone at magset-up ng loud speakers para marinig ng lahat.

"K-kela Aling Isay ka nakatira?" tanong niya ng makarating kami sa bahay.

"Oo," inilagay ko ang dalang basket sa bench na nasa labas ng bahay saka umupo. Sumunod naman sakin si Karlos. I massaged my right foot. It hurts. Two hours of walking is damn tiring. Wala man lamang silang sasakyan dito o 'di kaya kalesa. Gusto talagang pahirapan ang mga tao. Geez.

Tahimik pa sa loob ng bahay. 'Di pa siguro tapos sila Aling Isay sa pag-aani ng palay. Wala pa rin si Antonio. Pero mabuti na rin na wala pa siya dito. After what happened the other day, I don't know how to face him. I'm sure I'll stutter while talkinng to him, it'll be really awkward.

I miss him pero mas mabuti ng wala muna siya rito, I need to sort out my feelings.

"Stop fooling yourself. You're falling for him."

I shook my head. I'm not falling for him. I will not. Reason? I don't know. I don't want to. Plus, it's impossible. I already said, we're from different timelines. And I've read novels about stuff like this, kaya alam ko na ang ending kapag mahulog ako kay Antonio.

"Dense." napalingon ako kay Karlos.

"What's your problem?"

"K-Kristin." tawag sakin ni Burandai.

I raised a brow, "Oh, bakit?"

"Ikaw ba'y kasintahan ni Antonio?" seryosong tanong nito.

Muntik na akong mahulog sa kinauupuan ko. And, my normal reaction, cheeks heat up, heart beats fast. Nakita kong napatawa si Karlos. I glared at him.

Why is she asking this all of a sudden? At wrong timing pa talaga.

Umiling ako.

Pero nagulat ako sa sunod na sinabi niya.

"Mabuti naman. Matagal ko na kasing gusto si Antonio."

-

I'm back! I spent those three days with God kaya 'di ako nag-update. Pero ngayon, ako'y nagbabalik. At pinapangako kong dadalasan ko ang update. :D

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