The Prowess Inside - COMPLETED

Chapter 8: Fine

LUMABAS ako sa lugar na iyon ng hindi halos nakakain. Nandito ako ulit ngayon sa harap ng napakalaki, napakakulay at napakagarang puno upang pakalmahin ang sarili. I smiled bitterly as I recalled the words na nagmula mismo sa bibig ng mga magulang ko. I can’t believe that they seriously told me that though I expected worst kanina, ay hindi parin pala naihanda ng maigi ang sarili ko. They’re words still have that humongous impact in me.

A sigh of frustration escaped my lips as I realized that there are rivulets on my cheeks formed by my non stop tears. Crap! Simula nang bumalik ako dito ay puro luha nalang ang nadadatnan ko. Is this already a sign given by the Heavens? Should I back out!? But no, I already accepted it and backing out is a sign of cowardness. I need to prove myself to my parents. I want them to be proud of me even just for once.

Naupo ako sa duyang kahoy na naroon atsaka wala sa sariling napangiti. I can still clearly remember the memories of my childhood. I was taught by the Hizards on how to be a controller. They disciplined me, they told me to be vigilant and be responsible on how I act. They taught me how to fight, how to respect and to trust the Lord’s will. Tinuruan nila ako na ang lahat ng bagay ay may katuturan, lahat ay kailangang pangalagaan, lahat ay kailang irespeto, kahit ang pinakamababang tao o ang pinakawalang kwentang bagay pa sa mundo. They showed me how to love everything that God created equally, that even though someone harmed you, though you were hurt in the most painful way that you don’t even deserve, you should still forgive because you love what the Heavens created.

“Alam mo? Mukha kang timang diyan,” someone suddenly spoke. Hindi na ako nagulat ng biglang nagsalita si Walter sapagkat ramdam ko ang kanilang presensya na papalapit sa akin mula pa kanina.

“ Ba’t kayo nandito? You should have finished your breakfast,” I told the three guys standing in front of me but they just shrugged there shoulders.

“How ironic of you telling us that, when you’re the one who didn’t finish breakfast,” bigla ay nagsalita si Zach. I just rolled my eyes at him.

“ Seryoso, mukha kana talagang timang diyan! Tumutulo ang luha pero nakangiti!? Should I call the psychiatrist?” Paris seconded on Walter’s words. I glared at the three of them before I wiped my tears only to realize that my cheeks were already dry. I heard them chuckled then they decided to sat on the grass and a weird silence followed. Diretso ko silang tiningnan habang nakataas ang isang kilay bago binasag ang katahimikang namutawi.

“Why are you here? How about breakfast? Your parents?” Sunod-sunod na tanong ko, tiningnan nila ako ng matagal na tila ba may tinatansya.

“We don’t know, they just vanished after you said that you’ll accept the task given to you,” seryosong wika ni Paris.

“ Is that it? Don’t make me believe that crap.”

“ Yeah,” si Walter ang sumagot, ngumiti ito ngunit alam kong may mali roon. He’s smiling alright but I know those, it was not genuine enough to convince.

“You should be aware that I know how to spot liars,” seryosong ani ko sakanila diretso ang tingin sa mga mata.

Knowing that there parents are like mine, they won’t just leave without saying a word. I mean, I’m sure may sinabi ang mga ito bago nilisan ang lugar.

“Stubborn lady,” Zach frustratedly sighed before meeting my eyes with glares. Tiningnan nila ako ng masinsinan tila tinitimbang kung sasabihin ba nila o hindi ang mga salitang binitiwan ng kani-kanilang magulang. Ngunit ng mapagtantong wala akong planong sumuko ay napilitan na silang sabihin ang kung ano mang bilin sakanila. Tss! Marami nga talaga akong kailangang baguhin at ituro sa mga kalalakihang ito.

“Sabihin nalang natin?” Si Walter.

“Geh tutal maiinis lang din naman siya,” sabat ni Paris na parang walang pakealam. Nagtanguan muna sila at nagkatinginan pa ng halos isang minuto saka natawa. Aba’y mga walang modo! Mga baliw! Hindi ba nila alam na nandito pa ako sa harap nila?

“They said be careful, for everything is complicated, the chaos is near and we need to know what should we do,” seryosong dagdag ni Zach.

“What should we do!?” Gulat na tanong ko, bumuntong-hininga sila bago tumango.

“Ibig sabihin di rin nila alam ang gagawin!?” Galit na tanong ko. “ Aba’y wala silang plano pero pinapunta na tayo  rito!?” Inis na tanong ko.

“Uh yeah ganyan din ang tanong at reaksyon namin kanina but they just told us to calm down,” si Walter na ang nagsalita.

“Calm down!? Seriously! Calm down eh wala nga tayong kaalam-alam kung ano ang gagawin!” I shouted and they’re caught off guard because of my sudden out burst.

‘Tsk! Manahimik ka riyan, wag kang sumigaw abot hanggang dito sa loob ang boses mo!’ Iritang ani ng isang baritonong boses na paniguradong si Datu Pula.

‘And miss, don’t call me Datu Pula!’ Ani nito sa aking isipan sa mas iritadong boses. I smirked but then it didn’t stop my anger. Kung kanina ay umiyak ako ng dahil sa bigat ngayon ay gusto kong maiyak ng dahil sa sobrang galit.

Pinadalhan nila kami ng sulat, naiintindihan ko iyon sapagkat alam kong kailangan nila kami. Pero yung magpadala noon nang walang plano!? Gusto ba nilang mas mapadali ang buhay namin? Nasanay akong palaging may plano bago sumugod dahil alam kong magiging maayos ang lahat, may mabulilyaso man ay alam kong may sulosyon dahil sa plan B, pero ito? Akala ko ba matatalino sila? Bakit parang ang tanga naman ata ng act na ‘to?

‘Don’t jump into conclusions Clary,’  si Heart naman ngayon ang nagsalita.

‘Just make sure you’ll explain everything Heart, ‘  inis na sabi ko gamit din ang isip.

‘Yeah, yeah sure, at the library again dear, atsaka pakihinaan ng boses mo baka pagnagkataon ay marinig nina Curie at Fred na sumisigaw  ka, baka bumalik sila,’ pananakot ni Heart and then she laughed with the hint of evilness. Tsk! Kaasar!

Tumayo na ako atsaka binalingan sina Zach, Paris, at Walter. “Mauna na ako, I need explanation,” sabi ko atsaka pilit na ngumiti. “I’m sorry about my attitude, I’m just like that sometimes.”

“You fine?” Malumanay na tanong ni Zach tumango naman ako atsaka ngumiti ng napakatamis.

“Though you don’t look like one,” si Walter naman ang nagkomento.

“I’m okay, thanks for asking,” sagot ko.

“ If your not fine, you could always tell us,” si Paris naman. Nginitian ko sila isa-isa.

“We’re not close but you could still open up to us, we’ll understand,” si Zach. I can sense there sincerity and it actually felt good. Maybe that’s an advantage of meeting someone who doesn’t know you at all. They can’t judge you because they don’t know anything about your past.

“I’m really fine… I cried it all kanina,” nakangiting ani ko atsaka naglakad ngunit muling napatigil at nilingon sila ng maramdaman ko ang kanilang mga presensya na nakasunod sa akin.

“We deserve an explanation too, don’t we?” Tanong ni Walter atsaka siya ngumiti sa akin ng mapansin akong tumigil at tinititigan sila, bumuntong-hininga ako atsaka na wi-weirdohang ngumiti pabalok.

“Uh yeah?” Tanong ko pabalik, naikinatawa nilang tatlo. Mga baliw!