Discovering Summerland

Prologue

Shadow

I watch the snowflakes in the air drift with the wind. Careless. Free. Puffs of lamp back fell like snowflakes too— except that it was of a black color, and definitely not something to be astounded of. It drifted in corners as it  continues to be blown in the breeze, curling in tiny whirlwinds over the cobblestones walls. Cold air blew from my mouth the moment I sighed in frustration.

"Hindi pa ba tapos ang pinagagawa ko, Georgia?" Napatingin naman ako sa bumanggit ng pangalan ko. Ah, one of my customers.

Maliit na ngiti ang binigay ko sa kanya bago tumango. I motioned to tell her to wait before I entered back in my smithy, what Soulless call for a blacksmith's shop. I wiped the dirt off my hand before picking up the necklace she asked me to fix.

Nang lumabas ako, napansin kong nawala s'ya bigla. Naglinga-linga ako sa paligid at nakitang nakikipagusap na pala s'ya sa ibang mga tindero. Hindi ko naman alam kung lalapit ba ako sa kaniya, o mananatili lang sa puwesto ko't hintayin s'yang bumalik. Pinagmasdan ko naman ang buka ng bibig nila at napagtanto kung anong pinag-uusapan nila.

Because of that, the small smile in my eyes faded. I sat quietly in one of the alcoves of the outside wall of my smithy as I continue hearing their gossips. I personally designed this alcove because I like solitude, but I also wanted to take a look of what was happening in the streets.

"H'wag kang magpagawa riyan! Alam mo namang walang kinabibilangan na tribo 'yan. Pa'no kung makulam ka pa?" Ani ng isa. Napansin kong s'ya pala ang kalaban kong blacksmith shop. He is probably spreading my story to people because of his jealousy.

"Walang tribo? Ibig sabihin ba n'on ay natanggal siya sa tribo? Isa ba s'yang kriminal?" Kuryoso namang tanong ng customer ko. Umiling ako, bagaman hindi n'ya nakikita.

The other man sighed. "Hindi ko rin alam! Kung ako sayo'y h'wag kang magtitiwala d'yan. Pang-huling beses mo nang magpapagawa sa kaniya, ah."

I let out a soft chuckle because of that. Such shame. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ba kailangang manira ng ibang tao para lang gumanda ang sariling imahe n'ya. He could've just offered his own service without dragging mine down. Ad Hominem.

Napatingin akong muli sa kanila nang mapansin na hindi na sila nagsasalita. D'on ko lang napagtantong napatingin na pala sa'kin, marahil ay narinig ang maliit kong pagtawa. My competitor looked at me with such sharp eyes, and I just shrugged it off.

Lumapit naman sa'kin ang nagpaayos sa'kin ng kwintas. Binalik ko naman ang ngiting kanina'y nawala.

"Kukuhanin ko na ang kwintas, tutal nakapagbayad na naman ako," aniya at hinablot sa'kin ang kwintas. She flinched the moment our skin made contact, and I wondered why. Was she afraid of me? Or does she disgust me because I do not belong to any tribe? Whatever the reason is I believe she has judged my character poorly.

Napatango nalang ako at kumaway sa kaniya. Matapos niyang mawala sa paningin ko, nagmuni-muni nalang ako ulit ako at napatingin sa sahig. The ash continued to fall and it was very evident to the floor. Sometimes, I imagine myself as the ash, or the wind, or the snowflakes itself. A thing without thought, capable of not thinking, caring, or hurting.

But then, I realized that even the smallest particles can contribute pain, too.

Natigil naman ang palaisipan ko nang makarinig ng ingay mula sa kabilang dulo ng kalye. I heard shuffling feets, then the wind suddenly blew heavily. Napapikit ako sa posibilidad na maaari akong mapuwing, at itinaas ko rin ang kamay ko sa ibabaw ng mata ko para protektahan ito sa humahampas na mga alikabok.

The trapdoor at the neighbor shop snapped open  and I jolted in surprise. Napahawak pa ako sa puso ko, at saglit na nanlaki ang mata. Mabilis naman akong tumungo sa loob ng smithy, at sinara ang mga pinto at bintana. Sinara ko na rin ang kurtina kaya't hindi na rin nakaraan ang maliit na liwanag mula sa mga lamp post.