My Handsome Katipunero

KABANATA 10

Tatlong araw na ang lumipas nung umalis sina Antonio. Three days have passed and I kept myself busy. I helped Aling Isay with the chores which I haven't done in my eighteen years of existence. I played with the kids that lived near ALing Isay's house. I don't like kids because they annoy me, but I don't know what's gotten into me that I enjoyed playing with them. I also read the whole chapter about the Philippine Revolution. I get easily bored when reading history books, but then again, I don't know what the hell has gotten into me that I finished the whole chapter until my phone ran ouot of battery.

Three days have passed, and I'm here again. Waiting.

'Di ko na talaga maintindihan ang sarili ko. This is the first time I worried about someone. The first time I cared for someone na 'di ko naman kadugo. At sa taong kakakilala ko pa lang. This is not normal. Not normal at all!

"Kristin." napalingon ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses.

"Mang Nestor."

Naglakad siya palapit sakin, "Bakit nasa labas ka pa, hija? Masama sa babae ang manatili sa labas kapag ganito na kalalim ang gabi." nang makalapit ay ibinigay niya sakin ang hawak na kumot. "Ipinabibigay ni Isay, malamig at baka magkalagnat ka."

"Salamat po."

Naupo si Mang Nestor sa tabi ko, "Hinihintay mo pa rin ba si Antonio?"

Natigilan ako sa tanong nito. Naramdaman ko naman na uminit ang magkabilang pisngi ko.

I am waiting for Antonio.

Nakayuko akong tumango. Napatawa naman si Mang Nestor, "Alam mo, hija, bagay kang asawa ng aking apo."

"H-ha?!"

"Haha! Biro lang, hija. Biro lang."

Nagharumentado ang puso ko dahil sa sinabi ni Mang Nestor. Me? Antonio's wife? Just the thought of it made my heart go nuts. I mean- What the hell? That's just impossible. I'm not from this timeline. I'm from the future and he's from the past. That wouldn't happen.

I mentally slapped myself. Why am I thinking about marriage? Eighteen palang ako, what the hell?

"Pero gusto ko na ang magiging kabiyak ng aking apo ay isang tulad mo."

I faked a cough, can we stop the marriage thing? It's really awkward. "M-mang Nestor, 'di po ba kayo nag-aalala kay Antonio?" pag-iiba ko ng usapan.

Matagal bago sumagot ang matanda, "Nag-aalala. Sa katunayan ay gusto ko ng himatayin dahil sa sobrang pag-aalala. Pero may tiwala ako sa panginoon. Alam kong hindi niya hahayaang mapahamak ang aking anak." tumingin siya sakin at ngumiti, "Ganoon din ang iyong gawin, hija. Manalig ka at magiging maayos ang lahat."

Sa kabila ng dilim ng paligid ay maririnig mo sa boses ni Mang Nestor ang pag-aalala. This the first time that Antonio engaged in a battle. All parents would feel that way.

I've seen mom and dad in that state before. Nung nakidnap si kuya, sa kabila ng pagiging kalamado ay bakas pa rin ang pag-aalala nila. I've seen how desperate they were just to see Kuya Kevin, but they remained calm.

I understand what Mang Nestor feels right now.

Tumayo ang matanda at nag-inat, "Sumasakit na ang aking likod. Hija, huwag ka ng magtagal rito sa labas at pumasok na. Oh, pano? Mauna na ako sa loob."

Ngumiti ako at tumango. Nang makapasok na si Mang Nestor ay napabuntong-hininga ako. I looked at the sky.

I could see the milky way. The sky was so bright because of the stars. The fireflies added light in the darkness of the night. The cold mignight breeze is soothing but it couldn't calm my heart.