"Mabuti naman. Matagal ko ng iniibig si Antonio."

I hitched my breath. It felt like everything went silent. All I could hear was the beating of my heart and the whistling of the wind.

My mind could not process what the girl said. Para bang ayaw nitong tanggapin ang sinabi ni Burandai. It's like my mind went blank and I don't know what to say and how to react.

"I did not.. see that coming." Karlos whispered under his breath.

I was just staring at her. I opened my mouth but it seems like no words were coming out. Did I lost my voice?

"Kristin?" I shook my head nang muling nagsalita si Burandai.

I composed myself bago tumayo, "Ganun ba? P-pasok na ko."

Eh ano naman ngayon kung matagal mo ng gusto si Antonio? Pakialam ko ba? Go ahead! Love him, love him forever. I don't give a fuck.

But.. Why am I annoyed?

I picked up the basket of vegetables and was about to go inside the house nang biglang may tumawag kay Burandai.

Slowly and apprehensively, I held my breath as I lifted my eyes and stared directly at the guy who just arrived.

"Bernarda?" I could see the amusement in his eyes as he repeated her name.

"Antonio!" inilapag ni Burandai ang hawak na basket saka nagmamadaling lumapit kay Antonio.

My eyes widened when Burandai hugged him. But shocked me the most was when Antonio returned the hug.

What is this feeling? Seeing them hugging each other like they're long lost childhood-sweetheart, was somewhat, irritating. But I couldn't remove my gaze from them. Gusto kong iiwas ang tingin ko but I can't. I was rooted to the ground.

Antonio must've noticed me. He smiled. It made me blush. Dropping my gaze, I felt my heart pound. It made me uncomfortable. Mabilis akong naglakad papasok ng bahay. Inilagay ko sa kusina ang dalang basket at nagmamadaling pumasok sa kwarto.

Pagkasara ng pipnto ay agad akong napasandal at napahawak sa dibdib. I breathed in and out. Feeling ko mauubusan na ako ng hininga.

"Jelly?" halos mapatalon ako sa gulat nang biglang lumitaw na parang kabute sa harap ko si Karlos.

"Stop popping out like that, you stupid kid!" Nagmula ata ang batang 'to sa angkan ng mga kabute. Can't he do a proper entrance? Something na normal at hindi beyond ordinary.

He chuckled, "You're jealous, right?"

I raised a brow, "What?"

"Nagseselos ka."

Something swirled in my stomach. I faked a cough, "W-why would I be? I-it's not like I like him or anything-"

He stifled a laugh, "Did I already tell you that you're denseness is overwhelming? If I did, I'll tell you one more time." bigla siyang sumeryoso pero nandiyan parin ang ngisi sa mga labi nito. "You're denseness is overwhelming."

Inirapan ko lang siya saka naglakad palapit sa kama, "I'm not dense."

"To be honest, wala namang rule na nagsasabing 'bawal ma-inlove'." I stopped on my tracks but I didn't bother to look back. "Kahit na sa anong sitwasyon, once na tumibok ang puso mo para sa isang tao, 'di mo na 'to mapipigilan."

I gulped. My heart thumped, "W-why are you telling me this?"

I heard him sigh and the place went silent. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag ng mapansing umalis na ito. Napaupo ako sa kama. Bakit ba palagi niyang pinagpipilitan na gusto ko si Antonio? And he keeps on calling me dense. I don't like Antonio. And I won't fall for him. 'Di naman ako mababaw na babae. I won't fall for someone I just met. He doesn't have any effect on me.

"Oh c'mon. Stop fooling yourself, Kristrin." I chastised myself.

Who am I kidding? It's already been two months. Two months na akong nandito. At sa loob ng dalawang buwang 'yun, mas nakilala ko si Antonio. I know his pas, the things he likes, the things he doesn't like, his mannerisms, his hobbies, I know a lot of stuff about him.

I feel 'weird things' for him.Not a bad weird, but a good weird, y'kno what I'm saying. I always have trouble when he smile, laugh, everything. Everything he does makes me feel like there are ten billion butterflies in my stomach, he make me feel like the whole zoo is inside me.

I admit, I'm attracted to him.

But, that doesn't mean I love him...right?

I raked my fingers through my locks.

But I was irritated when he hugged that rotten vegetable. I'm referring to Burandai. She looks like a rotten vegetable. Messy hair tied in a bun, sweaty, and the way she the way she dresses, she looked like an old woman with fifty children. Heck, even her name stinks!

And gosh! The way she clings on Antonio, Goodness. 'Di sila bagay. Can't she see that she's way below Antonio's level? Antonio is like a prince and she's.. she's some ugly maid in the castle. I'm itching to pull her hair-

I trailed off. My eyes grew wide.

I'm acting like I'm jealous.

I'm acting like I'm freaking jealous!

Crap.

I shook my head at the thought while slightly tapping both my cheeks.

No, Kristin. You're not jealous. You're just concern. 'Di lang naman ikaw ang nasasayangan sa magandang genes ni Antonio kung mapunta lang ito kay Burandai. It's normal for you to react that way.

No need to panic.

I let out a huge sigh. This is crazy. freaking crazy.

I looked out the window.

Two months...

In two months, the revolution broke out in different towns and provinces. Luckily, this town haven't started the revolution. I've read in the newpapers published by revolutionary groups that eight provinces started the revolution after the battle in San Juan.

I remembered my history professor said, that the eight rays of the sun in the Philippine flag represents these eight provinces. I'm sure.. hundreds of people died.

Mabuti nalang at hindi kasali si Antonio sa mga laban. He and the other members of the Katipunan in this town decided that they'll start attacking the spaniards after Bonifacio give them orders.

Napahiga ako sa kama.

I'm tired. Thoughts were mixed up in my head but I still ended up falling asleep.

* * *

"Kristin... Kristin." I groaned when I felt someone gently tapping my shoulder.

I slowly opened my eyes at si Aling Isay agad ang nakita ko. "Hija.."

"A-aling Isay."

She smiled, "Halika na't maghahapunan na tayo."

"S-sige po. Susunod nalang ako."

She nodded efore leaving the room. I sat up. Lifting my hair off my neck, I looked outside the window. The sun was almost back in its bed. I must've slept for an hour.

I sighed saka bumaba ng kama at tinungo ang pinto.

One thing I learned about the people here is that they have their dinner very early. Bago pa tuluyang lumubog ang araw ay dapat nakapahapunan na. And they even sleep very early.

Most of their food is vegetable. And yeah, napurga ako kakakain ng gulay. I eat vegetable because most of my dinner back home is vegetable salad. But the vegetable here is different from the vegetable back home. They look like grass, like they grew out of nowhere and Aling Isay picks them up and cook them.

Napahinto ako nang makarating sa kusina.

"Bloody vegetable." I whispered under my breath when I saw the girl sitting beside Antonio.

It's the rotten vegetable.

What the hell is she doing here? It's almost night time and she's still here? Wala ba siyang uuwian? 'Diba ba siya nag-aalala na baka kanina pa siya hinahanap ng mga magulang niya?

Wow. You're the one to talk, Kristin. E ikaw nga, dalawang buwan na dito.

But I have a valid reason for being here. But this girl, this rotten vegetable, she's here just to fling with Antonio? Heck, she's being clingy! Akala ko ba ang mga babae sa panahong 'to mahinhin, may delikadesa.

I cleared my throat. Lahat sila napatingin sakin.

Antonio smiled at me, and goodness, something swirled in my stomach. I removed my gaze from him, I'm gonna melt if didn't. I composed myself and looked at Burandai, I crossed both my arms across my chest.

"Upuan ko 'yan." I said. I also sit beside Antonio kapag kumakain kami. So basically, that's my seat.

Napansin ko namang nagulat siya at napatingin kay Antonio na para bang hindi alam ang gagawin. I rolled my eyes heavenward. She should just change seat and stop acting like she doesn't want to.

"Ah. Kristin, dito ka nalang umupo." Aling Isay presented habang tinatapik ang upuang nasa tabi niya.

"Magkababata silang dalawa at dalawang taong hindi nagkita, kaya hayaan na muna natin." natatawang saad ni Mang Nestor.

Kung sa bahay pa 'to, nagdabog na ata ako. Wala na akong nagawa at naupo nalang sa tabi ni Aling Isay. I started eating while throwing daggers at Burandai. She's being clingy again. Well, yeah, for others it doesn't look clingy but for me, it does.

She's always looking at Antonio, smiling at him and putting food in his plate. Buti sana kung maraming pagkain sa mesa, e tuyo lang naman at sinabawang gulay. She's acting like a good wife and it's irritating.

I looked at Antonio. He looked like he's enjoying it. He's even laughing. And heck, his laugh is freaking sexy. His voice is a mixture of rough and smooth. It's very deep yet soothing. Makes the hair on the back of my neck stand.

"K-kristin, nasan nga pala 'yung kapatid mo? Si Karlos." I was chewing my food pero bigla ko itong nalunok dahil sa tanong ni Burandai.

I cooughed and was about to get the water but Antonio handed it to me. Mabilis kong ininom ang tubig.

Fuck. This. Girl. Does she plan on killing me? Why ask that question all of a sudden. And where's Karlos? For the love of God, bakit ngayon pa siya missing-in-action? Kung kailan tuloy kailangan siya saka naman siya mawawala. Pero kung 'di ko naman kailangan ang presensya niya saka naman siya lilitaw na parang kabute.

I put the glass on the table while rubbing my chest.

If I tell them that he went home, they'd think I'm irrespponsible for letting my 'younger brother' go home on his own. Plus, I told Antonio that I only have one elder brother.

Gosh, Karlos. You messed up everything.

I faked a cough, "Ah! 'Di ako makahinga, pahangin lang muna ako."

Great excuse, Kristin. You made them worried.

"Sigurado ka, hija?" Aling Isay asked. Nakangiti akong tumango.

"Kristin.." I looked at Antonio pero agad ko itong inalis at lumabas ng kusina.

He should stop looking at me that way! He should stop looking at me with those eyes of his! I feel like he's looking through me and searching for my soul na pilit namang tumatago.

He should stop looking at me with that worried expression, umaasa tuloy ako. I already know na nasa nature na niya ang pagging maaalalahanin, but still. Umaasa ako na iba ang tinging binibigay niya sakin.

Geez! Kristin, get a hold of yourself! May isa ka pang problema!

Nang makalabas ng bahay ay pumunta ako sa may puno ng manga. It was already dark but the fireflies are lighting up the place.

I sighed. Paano ko sasabihin sa kanila na 'di ko naman kapatid si Karlos? Geez. That kid is being tactless sometimes. I thought he was a god. He should be perfect.

"Not all gods are perfect." Mukhang nasanay na ako sa biglaang pagsulpot ni Karlos. "Only one god is perfect, and you know who that is."

I sat down. I'm exhausted, I don't have te energy to argue with this kid.

"You call yourself a god but you're not perfect." I felt him sat beside me.

"God of Time, god of Love, god of Harvest. That's what people call us. But we're not God. We're merely angels."

"But you introduced yourself as a god."

He chuckled, "I know. Sorry 'bout that."

Bending my legs close to my chest, I rested my cheek on my knees while looking at Karlos. "Ano ng sasabihin ko sa kanila. Alam ni Antoniona isa lang ang kapatid ko at 'di ikaw 'yun?"

I pouted. I'm too tired to think rationally. Napapansin ko lately na parang palagi akong pagod. Na parang gusto kong humiga nalang palagi at matulog.

Karlos and I were facing each other. I get to study his face. He really is a cute kid. When he grow up, I bet he'll be the most popular boy in town. With those pale skin of his, that cute nose, the rosy cheeks, and those soft lips. And his hair, just by looking at it, you'll know that it's soft and silky.

Honestly, I want a younger brother like him. Not his attitude but his personality and his physical traits. I would walk around town with my head held high telling everyone that his my brother.

"Stop looking at me like that. you'll fall for me." he said, with a smirk on his lips and an amused look in his eyes.

I rolled my eyes heavenward at ibinaling ang tingin sa ibang direksyon. For a kid, he sure is a sly one. "I'm no pedo. I don't like boys that are younger than me."

"I'm older than you. Nine hundred years."

"Yeah right." I closed my eyesand rested my chin on my knees. "There's only one person I would gladly fall in love with."

"And that would be.. Antonio?"

And for unknown reason, I answered yes.

-

Mga bes, rank #3 na tayo sa historical fiction. November 14, 2016. Wahahaha. xD

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