Ikapitong kabanata

"Apologize to him."

I looked at the ceiling, remembering what Karlos said. Apologize to Antonio? I know, I feel bad about my action towards him a while ago, but I'm not the type of person who says, "Sorry". I'm always right. I'm never wrong. That's why, I don't apologize.

I sighed. And this makes me feel uneasy. I've never been like this before. So, why? Why am I feeling this now? Ba't parang nakokonsensya ako?

Is it because he was nice to me the whole day I was with him? Is it because he saved me? Or is it becaese I am greatful-

Goodness.

I... I haven't thank him either. I hurt his feelings. And now, I'm being bothered by my conscience. Two words are bothering me. "Thanks" and "Sorry". Two words that I don't know how to say. These words, they'll get rid of the guilt I'm feeling.

"Aish!" padabog akong bumangon mula sa pagkakahiga. "Magso-sorry lang naman ako eh. Madali lang naman sabihin. Sorry, Antonio. Tapos! 'Yun! 'Di naman sinabi ni Karlos na kailangang sincere." napasabunot ako.

I can't do it. I want to do it, but I can't. I feel like, it won't be enough. Plain sorry isn't enough. I stood up. I should, cool my mind for me to think properly. This whole thing is driving me nuts.

I went out of the room. Napansin kong tahimik na ang buong bahay. Tulog na siguro sila Aling Isay. Baka tulog na din si Antonio.

Lumabas na ako ng bahay at dumiretso sa may pino ng mangga. Buti nalang at kahit papano ay maliwanag ang paligid dahil na rin sa bilog na buwan. Nang makarating sa may puno, naupo ako sa damuhan.

I closed my eyes. The cold breeze was touching my skin. It was cold but it felt amazing. Calm. The environment in the past is much better than my timeline. Dito, walang air pollution. Tahimik ang gabi. And what made it better? I looked up. The stars, the starry sky. I could see the milky way with my own naked eyes. 'Di na kailangan ng telescope or dslr camera para makita mo'to.

And another thing that made the night beautiful was the fireflies. 'Di mo man abot ang mga bituin sa langit, parang naabot mo naman ito dito sa lupa dahil sa mga alitaptap.

I inhaled, It's been a long time since I felt something this peaceful. Last time I felt this was with my brother.

I miss my family.

I wanna go back already.

"Bakit narito ka pa sa labas? Malalim na ang gabi." napalingon ako sa nagsalita. Ngunit agad ko ring iniwas nang malaman kung sino ito.

"A-ah, nagpahangin lang." nauutal kong sagot. Damn.

"Pumasok ka na. Maya-maya'y maglilibot na ang mga sundalong kastila, kapag nakita ka nila rito ay maaari ka nilang dakpin." matapos niyang sabihin 'yun ay naramdaman kong naglakad na siya palayo.

So, he's giving me a cold treatment?

I stood up at hinarap siya, "A-antonio!" napahinto naman siya ngunit hindi niya ako nilingon.

I swallowed my saliva as I tighten my grip. It's now or never. I don't want my existence erased and I don't want to be bothered by the guilt I am feeling.

"T-tungkol sa s-sinabi ko kanina, ano..." I looked down. I can't look at him when I say these words. "A-ano... P-p-pasensya na. 'Di ko sinasadya. I-I didn't mean it. I-it's just that, a-akala ko nagiging pabigat na ako sa inyo. And it made me feel like.. like I'm weak. And I don't wanna be weak. Pasensya na sa inasal ko kanina-"

"Ayos lang." I looked up. Nakaharap na siya sakin, nakahawak sa batok at nakatingin sa ibang direksyon. i guess it's his mannerism. " 'Di ko man maintindihan ang ilan sa iyong sinabi, nararamdaman ko namang taos-puso ang iyong paghingi tawad. Kaya, ayos lang."

When his eyes landed on me and his lips formed a genuine smile, I felt like a heavy weight was suddenly lifted from my shoulders. And without knowing it, I smiled. Then, another word came out from my mouth, "Salamat, Antonio."

"Walang anuman." nakangiting sabi nito. "Pumasok ka na. Masama sa babae ang manatili sa labas sa ganitong oras, binibining Kristin."

Tumango ako, "I-ikaw?"

"May pupuntahan lamang ako."

-

I slept well last night. Pagkatapos na pagkatapos kong makausap si Antonio ay agad akong bumalik sa bahay at mabilis na nakatulog. And now, I woke up feeling fine. When I opened my eyes, I was hoping that I was already in my room, but I was wrong. I'm still here. In the year 1896.

Ga'no ba katagal akong mananatili dito? Karlos, what's his problem? 'Di ko talaga maintindihan kung bakit niya ako dinala dito. He's a God of Time, he must be punishing me. But for what reason? I value time. I don't waste time. So, why?

That kid, 'di mo talaga mabasa ang batang 'yun. For a kid, he's too matured. And because of that, nakakairita na siya.

"Hija?" napalingon ako sa nagsalita.

"Aling Isay, bakit po?"

She was standing at the door, wearing that gentle smile on her face. Aling Isay sure is a kind old lady. She always have this warm and comforting smile. Iba siya sa mga matatandang kilala ko. The oldies at our neighboorhood are annoying, too strict, at parang palaging may menopause. "Halika ka na at kakain na tayo."

I returned the smile, "S-sige."

After that, she went out.

I'm starting to get comfortable around them. And I only met them two days ago. This is new. I don't get too comfortable with my friends. I'm afraid that if I get too close they'll betray me. I have trust issues. But with these new people around me, I feel something different.

I looked at the window. It was already dawn. And people are already outside, working. They sure wake up early.

Kinuha ko ang phone ko sa ilalim ng unan. I opened it and I looked at the time.

11:35 pm. July 11, 2016

What?

I blinked. What the Heck? My phone is working but why is the date and time-? Oh God! I can't change it! What the hell is happening? Sigurado akong dalawang araw na ang lumipas mula nang mapunta ako rito, and today is my third day. And my phone says it's still July 11? Dapat July 14 na ngayon.

Geez. this doesn't make sense at all. This whole time travel thing is darn complicated and confusing.

I shoved my phone inside the pocket of my skirt. Bahala na muna. Tatanungin ko na lang ang batang malignong 'yun pag napagdesisyunan niyang magpakita. I still got a lot of questions in my mind that I want answered, and that brat haven't told me everything.

I stood up at lumabas sa kwarto. Tumambad agad sakin ang kusina at sila aling Isay na naghahanda ng pagkain.

"Hija, may problema ba? Namumutla ka."

"O-okay lang ako." Doon ko lang napansin na wala si Antonio. It's so early, nasa labas na agad? "N-nasan po si Antonio?"

"Nasa labas siya, hija. Inihahanda ang kalabaw na ipagbibili sa bayan." Nakangiting sagot ni Mang Nestor habang inaayos ang hawak na itak.

"Ah, sige po. P-puntahan ko lang siya."

" 'Di ka ba muna mag-aagahan?"

Umiling ako, " 'Di na po. Sanay na kong 'di nagb-breakfa- I mean, nag-aagahan."

Wala ng nasabi si Aling Isay kaya lumabas na ako ng bahay. Agad namang hinanap ng mata ko si Antonio. And there he is, under the mango tree (Special mention, UMT).

Tumakbo ako palapit sa kanya. "Good morning, Antonio!" I greeted. Nakapagpagdesisyon na ako, I'll befriend everyone here. Magpapakabait ako. Hindi ako magmamaldita. Kahit inis na inis na ako, pipigilan kong hindi mabulyawan ang kung sino mang mang-iinis sakin. Kahit nabubwiset na ako sa kagwapuhan ni Antonio, titiisin ko. Para makabalik sa hinaharap, I have to behave. Because if I do this, baka ibalik ako ni Karlos sa hinaharap.

I'm good at pretending, so this will be a piece of cake.

"Ah? A-ano?" nagtatakang tanong niya.

Great, 'di nga pala siya marunong ng english. 1896 na 'to, 'diba? Wala pa ang mga amerikano? Wait. Ano bang nangyari sa 1896? Saka sa 1897? It's something about the KKK. I can't really recall it. Was I spacing out nung diniscuss nung history prof namin ang tungkol dun?

I shook my head lightly. Pakialam ko ba sa mangyayari ngayong 1896? I'm not from here, 'di ako makikialam. All I have to do is get my ass out of here.

"Sabi ko, magandang umaga." ulit ko.

Napangiti siya, "Magandang umaga rin, binibining Kristin."

"Anong ginagawa mo?" tanong ko. Great, Kristin. Stop asking the obvious. You see, he's having a good time with his pet the carabao. Being nice means being dumb. Tsk.

"Ah, naghahanda. Pupunta ako ng bayan ngayon, ipapagbili ko itong kalabaw namin."

"Pwede ba kong sumama?"

Lumapit siya sa may puno ng mangga at tinanggal ang pagkakatali sa kalabaw, "Sigurado ka ba? Mahaba-haba ang lalakarin pababa ng bayan. Aabutin ng mahigit dalawang oras."

What? "Wala ba kayong sasakyan dito?"

Natatawa siyang napailing, "Naku, wala. Saka mas tipid kong maglalakad ka nalang papunta ng bayan."

"Ganun ba? Sasama pa rin ako."

And then. napahawak siya sa batok niya. Yup, I'm right. It's his mannerism. "Hindi naman sa pinapaalis kita, pero, hindi ba nag-aalala ang iyong pamilya? Dalawang araw ka ng nawawala."

Here we go again. I crossed both my arms in front of my chest, "Nagpaalam ako sa kanila na mawawala ako saglit. So really, there's no need to worry." I sighed. " 'Wag kang mag-alala, 'di ako masamang tao. 'Di rin ako pabigat. Just... Hayaan niyo kong makitira sa inyo." I don't have anywhere to go. At hindi ko alam kung hanggang kelan ako mananatili dito. It's better to have a place to stay.

"Ganun ba? Maaari kang manatili dito hanggang kelan mo gusto." saka siya nag-umpisang maglakad palapit sakin habang hawak ang tali nung kalabaw. Ngumiti siya habang hinihila ang kalabaw, "Tiyak na ikagagalak ng aking lolo't lola na mananatili ka pa ng mas matagal rito. Ikinagagalak ko rin na pinagkatiwalaan mo ako. At," then his eyes landed on me. "masaya akong makakasama pa kita ng matagal."

I felt my cheeks heat up. Agad naman akong napatakip ng mukha. Gosh! What the hell was that? Mas lalong umiinit ang magkabilang pisngi ko, my heart beating fast. I think I look like a red tomato right now.

Why am I reacting like this? He just said he's glad that I trust him. He just said that with a genuine smile on his face. It's normal, so why?

I looked at him between my fingers, he's looking at me with a worried expression on his face. Bloody hell, why do I find it cute? My God, anong nangyayari sa buong sistema ko?

I closed my eyes when he started walking towards me. Gosh! My stomach's fluttering as if they were waving. My heart races even faster. What the fuck! This is freaking me out. What's with this weird feeling?

"Kristin, ayos ka lang ba?" nag-aalalang tanong niya.

"O-okay lang ako." saka ako tumalikod. I can't face him. He would see how red my face is.

"Ika'y namumula. May lagnat ka ata."

"Wala! Sandali lang, may kukunin lang ako." This is freaking embarrassing! This is the first time I acted weird in front of someone.

"Sigurado ka ba, binibini?"

"O-oo!"

"Binibini-"

"Ayos lang nga ko!"

"Pero-"

"Aish! You shouldn't say stuff like that to someone you just met!" He looked at me like I've grown a head. Great. He doesn't understand me, "Language barrier, biggest problem in time travelling!" I hitched my breath, "And please stop looking at me like that!"

Tinalikuran ko siya. This is not me. This is so not me. I am composed when talking to guys, I don't freak out. But with Antonio, I'm acting really weird. Ano bang meron sa kanya for.me to act this way? He's too ordinary, he's too plain, too simple. He's not a hollywood actor. He is handsome, but not worth swooning over.

Why am I feeling like this? And it's creeping the hell out of me.

Naibaba ko ang kamay ko when I heard him laughing. I looked over my shoulder to see him laughing his ass out.

Howndare he laugh at me.

"Problema mo?" mataray kong tanong. My heart still beating fast, and my cheeks still red.

But no matter how much I try to act like a bitch, seeing him laughing like an angel, all the bitching aura was all washed away in an instant.

And darn it.

-

Hi. Did you like the chapter? I hope you did. To show your support for the story, feel free to click the vote button. Thank you. :D