"A-ano?"

Corazon placed the embroidery she was holding on the table, "Hindi ba nabanggit sayo ni Antonio?" Umiling ako, "Hindi maaaring maging kasapi ng katipunan ang kababaihan. Maliban na lamang kung ika'y kaanak ng isa sa mga kasapi nito."

"I-ibig sabihin, h-hindi ako pwedeng manatili rito?" nauutal kong tanong. I wasn't aware of this condition. Antonio never mentioned it. That guy. He was being reckless when he brought me to the Cry of Balintawak. Hindi ba siya natatakot na baka ispiya ako ng mga kastila? Na baka traydorin ko siya?

"May nagsasabi sakin na pagkatiwalaan ka."

I bit my lower lip when I remembered what Antonio said when we were at the riverbank.

"Huwag kang mag-alala, Krisistin. Hangga't hindi mo pa alam kung paano ka makakauwi sa inyo pwede kang manatili rito. Saka tinanggap ka nila ng walang pag-aalinlangan, kaya parang parte ka na rin ng pamilya nila."

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag. Hindi ko alam na may ganung kondisyon pala ang katipunan. Would I be put to death if they found out that I wasn't part of Antonio's family?

Family, huh?

I smiled at the thought. They don't know me that much but they consider me a part of their family. This is what it feels to be trusted? Does it always give a light feeling?

"Kahit na 'di ka kamag-anak ng isa sa mga kasapi nito, basta't mapagkakatiwalaan ka at handa kang magsakripisyo para sa bayan. At kung hindi ka magtataksil."

That, I would never do. Unless I want to change the future that is.

But wait, does that make me a katipunera? Is it called Katipunera?

Speaking of family..

Inayos ko ang pagkakaupo sa kama, "Corazon, malapit ba talaga sa isa't isa sina Antonio't Burandai?" I asked.

Tumango siya at inilagay sa ibabaw ng mesa ang hawak na karayom at naglakad palapit sa aparador na nasa tabi ng kamang kinauupuan ko, "Oo. Simula nung pitong taong gulang pa lamang sila ay palagi na silang magkasama. Maghapong naglalaro. Ngunit pagtuntong ng ate Burandai sa edad na dise-sais ay pinagbawalan na itong lumapit kay kuya Antonio."

"B-bakit?"

"Nagmula sa principalia ang pamilya ni ate Burandai. Isang kahihiyan para sa kanila ang pagkakaroon ng relasyon sa isang indio na tulad namin."

"Principalia?"

Napakunot ang noo niya, "H-hindi mo alam kung ano ang principalia?"

"Well, I know that they are of principal class, from the term itself. But to hell with it, I'm not from this timeline."

"Ah.. Ano?" naguguluhang tanong nito.

I faked a cough, "Ibig kong sabihin, nakalimutan ko."

Nice excuse but she doesn't look like she believed it. "Ah ganon ba. Ang principalia ay ang kinabibilangan ng mga taong namumuno sa mga pueblo at mga barangay. Ang tawag sa kanila'y principales. Sila ri'y mayayaman at nagmamay-ari ng mga lupain."

"You mean that bitch is from the upper class?!"

Mas lalo siyang naguluhan dahil sa tanong ko. I cleared my throat, "Sorry, I mean.. Ang pamilya ni Burandai ay mga principale?"

"Ganun na nga. Ang ama niya'y isang gobernadorcillo. Ang ilan naman sa kanyang mga tiyuhin nama'y mga cabeza de baranggay. At kanyang mga kapatid na lalaki'y nakapag-aral na sa espanya."

Well, that was surprising. That explains her outfit the last time we talked. She came from a noble family.

The title "Two-faced bitch" suits her.

Pero nung una ko siyang nakita sa bayan, 'di naman siya mukhang nagmukha sa mayamang angkan. In fact, mukha siyang mahirap. She looked like a teenage mom with ten children and no husband to support her. She looked nothing like a high-class woman.

"Pero nakita ko siya noon sa bayan. 'Di naman siya mukhang mayaman. Muntik pa nga siyang paputukan ng baril nung isang kastila."

Pinulot ni Corazon ang saklay ko at ibinigay ito sakin, "Iyon ang paraan ni Ate Burandai upang makatakas sa kanila at makipagkita kay kuya Antonio."

"Makipagkita?" tumango siya at umupo sa upuang kinauupuan niya kanina.

"Simula noong pinagbawalan si ate Burandai na makipagkita kay kuya Antonio, labis na nalungkot ang dalawa. Kaya gumawa sila ng paraan upang makasama ang isa't isa. At ito'y sa pamamagitan ng patagong pagkikita."

Well, that hurt.

It felt like my heart was being squeezed.

So gay. A part of my brain said. But, that's what I feel. It felt like large hands are squeezing my heart, crushing it to tiny pieces. I was righ. Burandai is Antonio's love interest. At narealize niya palang. No one cpuld blame him. He doesn't know the feeling of liking someone. People like that exist. I was one of them. And now, I'm not.

Wow. Indirect rejection hurts more than being rejected directly.

"Boto ako sa dalawa. Halos lahat ng tao, gusto sila para sa isa't isa."

Ouch. After realizing his feelings, maybe he'll court her. Ask her hand in marriage. I bet he'll do everything just to be with her. Just like the love stories in the past. Pure.

"Pero alam mo, Kristin," Corazon looked at me. "Noong dinala ka rito ni kuya Antonio, habang nasa bisig ka niya at walang malay, may kakaiba akong naramdaman."

I blinked, "Eh?"

"Tila ba lumabas kayo sa isang nobelang aking binasa," lumapit siya sakin at hinawakan ang isa kong mamay saka ngumiti. "Kung sakaling kayo ang tinadhana para sa isa't isa, huwag mo siyang iiwan."

I was taken aback. I was lost for words.

Fate? Fate is drunk when he thinks binding a girl from the future and a boy from the past is right.

But, we'll never know. Fate is unpredictable.

I looked at Corazon's hand holding mine.

Angel of Fate, if you exist, give me answers. Tama ba ang nararamdaman ko para kay Antonio? Tama bang mahulog ako sa taong nagmula sa nakaraan?

"Don't fall for him."

A knock on the door disrupted my thoughts. Sabay kaming napalingon ni Corazon sa pintuan ng silid. Nakatayo doon ang isang matandang babaeng may ngiti sa kanyang labi.

It was Tandang Sora.

"Corazon, narito si Santiago."

I felt Corazon stiffened with the mention of the name, 'Santiago'. She let go of my hand at bumalik sa upuang kinauupuan niya kanina.

"A-ah. Susunod na lamang ho ako."

Tandang Sora gave me a warm smile. She's really nice. She treated my wound, made food for me, and she even helped me get to sleep when I was bothered by a nightmare.

At her pld age, she supports the Katipunan selflessly. I heard she gave sacks of rice and carabaod tp the katipunan. She also cured wounded Katipuneros risking her life in the process.

"Hindi la sa pakikipaglaban maipapakita ang pagmamahal mo sa bayan."

She reminded me of my brother. My brother may not be a soldier, but he joined dangerous medical missions in order to save lives. Same as Tandang Sora, she doesn't use weapon. Instead, she opened her home to the Katipuneros without expecting anythong in return.

"Ako'y mauuna na sa labas. Sumunod na lamang kayo," she said saka lumabas ng silid.

I looked at Corazon nang huminga ito ng malalim. Akala mo uubusin na ang lahat ng hangin sa mundo.

"May problema ba?" tanong ko. Her face turned grim, her shoulders slumped. She looked like she was weighing the world on her shoulders.

She shook her head, "Nakabalik na pala si Santiago."

"Santiago?"

She nodded, "Kababata namin nina kuya Antonio. Limang taon ang tanda niya kay kuya Antonio. Simula noong makabalik siya mula Espanya, palagi na siyang dumadalaw samin."

"Galing Espanya.. Illustrado rin ba siya?"

Muli siyang umiling at niligpit ang tinahing damit, "Oo. Pumunta siya ng Espanya upang mag-aral ng medisina."

"Kilala niya ang Tandang Sora, alam ba niya ang tungkol sa katipunan?"

"Kasapi siya ng Katipunan."

"Oh."

Her lips formed into a tight smile. Itinabi niya ang mga inayos na damit, "Halika na, Kristin. Lumabas na tayo."

Kahit na nagtataka ako dahil sa pagbabago ng ekspresyon sa mukha nito, tumango na lamang ako.

-

Tandang Sora's house was pleasant. It's a two-story house. The upper level of the housr is the main living area. The whole second floor is surrounded by large windows. The window sashes have shell panes instead of glass panes. It can be opened wide or closed for privacy. I saw Corazon closed the large windows at night but she left the small shuttered windows below the large windows opened. The upper level of the house has wood walls while the lower level is finished with stone walls.

In the lower level of the house is Tandang Sora's large makeshift windows and the dining table. Sacks of rice and stocks of food are also store in the lower level of the house.

The house allows more light making the atmosphere light and pleasant. The furnitures are well-furnished kahit na gawa lang ito sa kahoy.

Corazon stopped on her tracks when we arrived at the living room. I looked at her and she was looking at the man standing at the balcony beside Tandang Sora. Nakatalikod sila samin at mukhang nag-uusap.

The guy must be Santiago.

Tandang Sora noticed us then ah gestured something to the guy dahilan upang lumingon ito samin. I gulped when his eyes landed on me. He looked like a noble. His black hair was fixed. He has a fair complexion so I'm guessing he's half. He was wearing a black waistcoat over a white shirt and a black trousers.

A shy smile appeared on his lips when his gaze landed on Corazon. He walked towards us without removing his gaze from the girl. But Corazon remained still, her face holds no expression.

Nang makalapit samin ang lalaki ay inabot nito ang kamay ni Corazon and he kissed the back of her palm.

"Binibining Corazon." he uttered.

"Ginoong Santiago."

Santiago definitely has chinese blood. His eyes and skin complexion is chinese but most of his feature are that of a filipino.

He's a gentleman.

And I like gentlemen. Well-groomed, well mannered, and they look smart. I'm interested in Old England, kaya siguro ako naa-attract sa mga taong tulad ni Santiago.

Agad kong inalis ang tingin sa kanya at dumako ito sa lalaking pumasok sa bahay.

I felt my stomach twist and turn. He was carrying a sack of rice on his shoulder. He dropped the sack when Tandang Sora called him. He was wearing a white loose cotton shirt with long sleeves and a round, open neck, with three buttons down the chest. Two of them were unbuttoned. The sleeves were rolled upto his elbows.

Antonio isn't a muscled man. He's got broad shoulders, strong arms, and competent hands. Nakaya niyang magbuhat ng isang sako ng bigas. He even carried me papunta dito sa bahay ni tandang Sora. He looked like he can protect everyone he loves, everyone he cherished.

Beads of sweat trickled down his face. I watched as his chest panted up and down because of exhaustion. But still, a smile appeared on his lips while talking to the old lady.

"Why's he so hot?" I muttered, unconsciously.

"It is, indeed, pretty hot today."

"Yeah." I agreed, still staring at Antonio.

Antonio is the epitome of a perfect man. He had a kind of face that'd stopped anyone in their tracks. He was handsome, and on the inside he was...

"Beautiful," I muttered.

"Indeed. This is a very beautiful house."

"Yeah-"

I looked at Santiago. He was looking at me with a grin plastered on his face. Corazon looked at us with a confused look.

"Corazon told me you are Kristin. I am Santiago. Pleased to meet you."

I gasped.

Holy crap.

Napaatras ako. I did not remove my gaze from him. Nawala ang ngiti sa mukha niya, napalitan ito ng pag-aalala. "Is there something wrong?"

"Kristin-"

And I tripped. I landed on my butt and felt my wound ache.

Nakita kong mabilis na tumakbo palapit samin si Antonio at sumunod naman si Tandang Sora.

"Kristin," Antonio carried me to the nearest chair. He bent down at tinanggal ang telang nakabalot sa sugat ko. I must've hit something when I tripped dahil dumudugo na naman ito. "Bumukas na naman ang sugat mo."

Hindi ko pinansin ang sinabi ni Antonio, I was looking at Santiago. I gave him a confused look, "You understand me?"

"I do," Santiago answered.

Nagtataka namang napatingin samin sina Corazon at Tandang Sora. Antonio was busy with my wound.

"You understand what I said?"

He nodded and he glanced at Antonio, "Yes." Then he looked at me with a smirk on his face.

-

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