Intruded Trails (Van Doren Series #1)

Chapter Nineteen

Shattered

"Excuse me po!"

Napaigtad ako sa sigaw. Napahinto ako sa paglalakad nang dumagsa ang kumpulan ng mga bata sa harapan ko.

May pinulot sila sahig bago nagsisitawanang tumakbo ulit. Most of them even stopped and stared at me for a while before disappearing into the crowd. Isang babaeng bata ang huminto sa pagtatakbo at nahihiyang sinilip ako.

She's the one who yelled. Tumakbo siya ulit pabalik sakin at may kinuha sa loob ng maliit niyang dala-dala na supot. She pulled out her hand with tiny flowers.

"Ilagay niyo po!" Nakangiting nilahad niya ito sakin.

Nagtitigan kami ni Khaliel. Kumunot ang noo niya sa bata at umawang ang bibig. Akala ko ay magsasalita siya para sakin pero mas lalo lang nalito ang itsura niya nang makita ang hawak nito.

I shortly laughed at his reaction. Clearly, he doesn't know how to handle this and probably he never will. But really, Khaliel? Mas matagal ka pang nabuhay sa mundong 'to kay sa sakin. And yet, you don't know what to do in a festival.

"Maraming salamat!" I cheerfully thanked the child. Tinanggap ko ang mga nakataling bulaklak sa bawat isa.

It's a flower bracelet. Del Ario's invitation to people who'll join their festival today.

Malaking ngiti ang binigay sakim ng batang babae. "Grabe, ate, napakaganda niyo po! Sana all po talaga! I want to have eyes like yours. They're like stars po!"

Bigla siyang lumabi at hinawakan ang sariling mukha na parang nagtatago. "At... 'yung lalaki rin po sa likod niyo. He's really handsome po but he looks masungit. Did I do something wrong? Para siyang si lolo. He hates children. And your boyfriend's looking at me that way..."

I became speechless. Napanganga ako sa bata at simpleng nginitian nalang ito. I almost forgot how kids are like these days.

"Nagsusungit lang 'yan dahil wala siyang ganito..." I tied the bracelet of flowers around my wrist. "Thank you for this. Ano nga palang pangalan mo?"

"My name's Navya. Enjoy the festival, miss... uhm, who has an angelic face! Pakisabi nalang po sa poging kasama niyo para lang po sa mga babae ang bracelets," she giggled.

Natatawang tumango ako. "I will. Thank you, Navya..."

Ngumiti siya sakin at sinilip sa Khaliel sa likuran ko. Nagulat nang kinindatan niya pa ito bago kumaripas ng takbo.

I stood up properly before slowly pulling Khaliel's hand on my side. I stared at the entrance arch of Del Ario where the crowd is moving excitingly. I saw Navya run inside all by herself. Sa labas pa lang ng bayan ay dagsa na ang mga tao papasok. Paano pa kaya loob?

Can I take it? Of course. My parents... in there and I made sure I'll surpass anything to see them. One day eventually, they will learn to forget me. My sister, Thalia, could complete them again. Ito lang ang kailangan kong siguraduhin bago ako umalis rito.

I want them to be safe and happy just like they always are before when I didn't became the heavy burden.

"Do kids here normally do that?"

Nagkabit-balikat ako sa tanong ni Khaliel.

"Hindi naman. But she never saw someone like you. Someone who's face is to die for..." I joked. But it was more of the truth rather.

"I would say the same to you. Nakita mo na ba ang sarili mo, Khione? Nakaharap ka na ba sa salamin para pagmasdan ang anyo mo? You're face, you're body, you're everything, Khione. It is more than to die for. It is to worship on,"