The Girl In The City Of Hinterland

KABANATA 3

Kabanata 3.

Naiwan akong mag-isa nang matapos nilang gamutin ang sugat sa aking paa. Nag-paalam si 'Kuya Elioth' na kakausapin daw niya si 'Grandma' para payagan ako sa pagpasok sa Academy.

Hindi ko alam pero sigurado ako na akala ni 'Kuya Elioth' na gusto kong pumasok sa Academy kaya ako lumabas. Iyon agad ang naisip niya at hindi ko alam kung bakit.

Napakadaming tanong ang bumabagabag sa akin kanina pa. Why am I here? What is this world? Where is this world? Ni hindi ko alam kung anong uunahin. Magtanong man ako ng magtanong sa aking sarili ay wala din akong mapapala.

My life became a mystery in an instant. Parang kahapon lang ay nasa orphanage pa ako at masayang nakikipagbonding sa aking sarili.

Mas pinili kong i-tulog ang lahat ng tanong sa aking isip. Nagbabakasakaling magising sa kakaibang panaginip na ito.

"I didn't know that you felt lonely here."

Naalimpungatan ako dahil sa boses at sa kamay na gumugulo sa aking buhok. Nang imulat ko ang aking mata ay bumungad sa akin ang malungkot na si 'Grandma'.

Hindi ko na dineny pa sa aking sarili na ito na ang aking reality. Kahit ano pang pilit kong alamin ang lahat ng bagay na nangyayari sa akin ay sigurado akong walang makakasagot.

If I go around telling people that I am not originally from here, I am sure that they will deem me as a crazy lunatic. How great is that? I would rather face the reality before I go crazy.

Surely, everything feels unreal. From the monsters to everything I've encountered so far. The silver lining here is that I have a family here. I am the same person I know of.

I would rather live with a stranger who loves me because I am his sister and a Grandma who cherish me than a rapist who destroyed my mother's life. I am not even thankful that I have a father like him.

"Grandma." I sat on my bed. Grandma looked at me with worried expression plastered on her face. She's evidently pretty even with her wrinkles and all.

"Don't worry darling, your brother already went to the Academy to personally enroll you. I know that is what you want, right? The reason why you suddenly leave the house barefooted was because you felt lonely here. I understand," pahayag ni Grandma.

Hindi ako nakapagsalita dahil hindi iyon ang dahilan. Galing ako sa ibang lugar na malayo sa mundong ito. Pero hindi ko iyon masabi kaya tumango na lamang ako.

"I am a bit sad and happy because you are finally leaving this house. You are no longer a timid and shy person. I still remember the time when you refused to go to the Academy and insisted to just study at home with me," nakangiting pagkukwento ni Grandma. Nanatili akong nakatingin sa kaniya habang pinapakinggan ang malambing niyang boses.

"Let's pack your things. I can only see you once a month from now on. Be a good girl and don't forget to look after your health," pagpapatuloy pa ni Grandma sa akin bago siya tumayo.

Tumayo na rin ako. Kinuha ni Grandma ang maleta sa ilalim ng aking kama. Hindi ko alam na may maleta sa ilalim non. I have never experienced being at school. Like Elara here, I am homeschooled too, or should I say that the orphanage is not rich enough to send kids to school? Not even in public school. When my mommy was alive, we could only afford tutors for a college student who needs urgent money. There was no public school in our community at that time. After all, my mother was hiding from everyone.

"There's a lot of small clothes here," pahayag ko habang kami ay nag-iimpake.

"You never wanted to throw your old things away," usal ni Grandma. Nangunot ang noo ko. I wanted to ask why but I stopped myself from asking a question that I should answer myself.