The Prowess Inside - COMPLETED

Chapter 11: A Good Night

HINDI ako makatulog kaya lumabas ako ng kwarto para magtungo sa likod kung saan naroon ang malaking kahoy. Napabuntong-hininga ako bago naupo sa gilid ng malaking ugat atsaka tumunghay sa napakagandang tanawin na nasa itaas. A sigh of satisfaction escaped my lips, there is nothing more beautiful than this lanscape at night. The moon and the stars invading the darkness is one of the best thing I’ve ever seen.

“ Bakit ka nandito? Balak mo bang lamigin magdamag?” A familiar baritone voice spoke habang isang mabangong amoy naman ang nanuot sa mga ilong ko.

“ What are you doing here Datu Pula? “ Balik tanong ko sakanya habang tinataasan siya ng isang kilay.

“ Hmm bakit nga ba?” Parang tangang tanong niya sa sarili. 

He looked at me seriously before he breathed heavily. “I’m wondering, are you always like that?” Tanong niya sa akin habang umuupo sa tabi ko, he left enough space para hindi magkadikit ang mga katawan namin. Nangunot ang noo ko sa tanong niya.

“ Always what?” I asked, almost whispering pressing my legs closer to my body. Sa halos isang oras kong pananatili rito tila ngayon ko lang napansin ang lamig ng simoy ng hangin. I sighed ang tanga ko rin kasi minsan para malimutan ang jacket ko. Ngayon ko pa talaga napiling kalimutan!

“Tsh,” Levis hissed then, the next thing I knew is that there’s something that hugged me from behind and it comforted my cold body. Maingat na ipinatong ni Datu Pula ang isang itim na jacket sa mga balikat ko bago niya ako tiningnan ng masinsinan. “Why ask for someone’s forgiveness when in fact he’s the one at fault?” Seryosong tanong niya sa akin na ikinangiti ko.

I stared at him for a while and there I noticed that he is on his PJ’s already just like me na natatakpan ng kanyang gray na hoodie jacket. I gazed his face and I can’t help but to admire those deep grey eyes na animong may apoy na tutupok sa iyo kapag natagalan ka sa pagtitig dito.

“I’m at fault too,” nakangiti pa ring sagot ko. “Dinuro ko siya at binato, ‘yon ang dahilan kung bakit ako humingi ng tawad, hindi naman porke’t siya ang nauna ay siya lang ang may kasalanan, may mga pagkukulang din ang mga salitang binitiwan ko at iyon ang dahilan ng mga salitang lumabas sa bibig niya,” seryosong ani ko habang hindi inaalis ang ngiti sa mga labi. I am pertaining to the scene I made kanina, uh crap nakakahiya ako, I know and I want to punch myself because of it!

“You see? I got more offenses than he does though he didn’t do anything that could harm me physically  and I should be thankful for that and be sorry for what I did,” I added habang nakatingin sa kanyang mga mata. I don’t know if namamalikmata lang ako or what pero I think I saw amusement in his eyes. Nagkatitigan kami ng halos ilang minuto at siya ang naunang bumawi.

“You are unbelievable,” he told me habang nakatingin na sa kalangitan. His eyes is really twinkling with amusement. Eh?

“If you think that I’m already unbelievable sa ganoon palang then you should see me do other things too,” ani ko habang nakangiti pa rin.

“ What do you mean?” He asked while his eyes is still gazing the magnificent view above us. Uh how I wish I know what he’s thinking baka kung ano ano nang sinasabi nito sa isip tungkol sa akin.

“ I do things that others think I couldn’t and the word unbelievable is an understatement,” I replied after a moment and he just chuckled.

“ Hey! What are you laughing at?” Nakakunot noong tanong ko sakanya. Ugh hindi ba siya naniniwala?

“ So we’re bragging now, aren’t we?” He asked playfully.

“Hindidi ka naniniwala?” I voiced out.

“Uh you don’t need to voice it out you know, I can read what your thinking,” wika niya in a matter of fact tone. “ And of course naniniwala ako but nakakatawa lang dahil parang hindi ako,” dagdag niya.

“ What do you mean?” Now it’s my time to ask.

“Uhm I don’t know but this past few days simula ng pumunta ako rito, I do things that I normally don’t,” magulo pa ring wika nito.

“ What? Like?” I asked, still confused.

“ I don’t usually believe someone, kung hindi pa naman kami ganoon ka magkakilala at wala akong makitang ebidensya, but I guess your different,” he told me and then realization dawn his face, he smiled na parang baliw atsaka nagsalita.

“Yeah your really different, kita mo? Hindi naman ako nageexplain o nagoopen up sa mga taong nasa paligid ko but recall what I just did tss,” he hissed again na tila naiinis though a smile still emerged on his lips. Tumayo siya atsaka nagpagpag ng sarili bago ako binalingan.

“Let’s go inside lumalalim na ang gabi,” sabi pa niya then he motioned his hands in front of me. Kinuha ko naman iyon upang mas mabilis akong makatayo. Matapos noon ay agad niyang binawi ang kamay mula sa pagkakahawak ko atsaka tumalikod ngunit bago pa man siya makahakbang papalayo, I got the courage to ask him the question he didn’t answer kanina.

“ Why are you here?”

He stopped from stepping halfway. A long silence followed ngunit kalaunan ay walang lingunang nagsalita siya. “I don’t know maybe because you are here?” He asked back na ikinatigil ko.

“ What!? “ Nalilitong ani ko. I heard him sigh before turning to me with a charismatic smile.

“Goodnight miss, sweet dreams,” he uttered before walking away.

Hahabulin ko sana siya para magtanong ng bigla akong napahikab at muling natigilan ng may naramdaman akong nalaglag mula sa aking mga balikat. Agad akong umuklo upang kunin iyon and then again my mouth gaped open when I saw the jacket he put on me.

“Hindi ko man lang nakuhang magpasalamat,” mahinang pagkausap ko sa sarili and then a small smile stretched on my lips when I remembered something as I stared at the cloth intently. Call me crazy or what but indeed it is a good night for me.