Karmic Hearts

Chapter 4

I still think that everything that happened last night was a dream. And for the first minutes of that morning, I actually believed it. Kung hindi ko lang naabutang nag-aalmusal ang buong pamilya ko sa kusina, iisipin kong bumalik na sa normal ang lahat.

Simangot akong naupo sa tabi ni Kuya. I sighed when I saw his red string. It has a faded edge, meaning malayo sa kanya ang soul mate nya. But she's just a few houses away from him. Sina Mama at Papa naman, matibay at kumikinang ang gintong tali, which means na okay sila. Maybe. Cupid didn't get a chance to tell me about the different strings because I kept asking questions and we got sidetracked.

Pero dahil magaling akong manghula, medyo may idea na ako kung ano ang ibig sabihin nila. The gold strings must mean that the couple are soul mates and have already found each other. My parents have that kind of string and they've already been married for 27 years. But what confused me was that Kyle and Gizelle have that same string and yet...they're not married. So does commitment not mean marriage?

"Good morning!"

"Good—" I stopped myself when I realized who it was. Damn it! He went inside the kitchen through the backdoor like a normal person; I actually thought he was human!

"May sinasabi ka?" Antok na tanong ni Kuya. He's not a morning person. Panggabi kasi ang pasok nya sa trabaho. Kaya hirap na hirap sya kapag nandito sa bahay nina Mama dahil required kaming gumising nang maaga para makapagsalo-salo sa agahan. Naglasing pa sya kagabi kaya halatang kulang na kulang sya sa tulog. At dahil minsan lang kaming umuwi, nakakahiya naman kung hindi namin pagbibigyan 'yong kagustuhan nina Mama.

"Sabi ko, good morning, Kuya," palusot ko. Pinandilatan ko naman si Cupid na sumandal sa kitchen counter sa likod ng Papa ko.

He grinned and waved at me.

You're early, I wanted to tell him. Akala ko gabi pa sya pupunta. Tulog pa ang diwa ko ngayon. Pasado alas syete pa lang kasi.

Better start your day early, I heard a male voice. Wait. Was it his voice?

Napamaang ako sa kanya. And then I heard the same voice say hey na may kasama pang pagtawa.

Okay. What just happened? Why do I hear your voice inside my head?

Para makapag-usap tayo kahit maraming tao, sagot niya.

We could have done this earlier! I told him. Hindi ko na sana kinailangan pang lumabas ng reception hall para lang makausap sya.

This wouldn't be possible if you didn't agree to do your mission, he explained. Kaya nang pumayag ka, nagagawa na natin 'to ngayon.

So...ibig sabihin, kagabi...

Cupid shook his head. I can only hear your thoughts when you speak to me directly. I mean, I can breach your private thoughts, if I want to, but I choose not to.

Wow. Salamat ha.

He laughed. God, I wish he couldn't hear how much I like his laughter.

"Hoy." Siniko ako ni Kuya. "Kakain ka ba o tutunganga na lang? Mauubos na 'yong ulam."

Siniko ko sya pabalik. Hindi pa kami natapos doon. Naggantihan kami nang naggantihan hanggang sa mainis si Papa. Tumigil na lang kami nang mapagalitan pareho. And all the while, Cupid was watching, laughing, and coaching me on how to make my elbow jabs more painful.

--

Nang matapos kaming mag-almusal, naiwan ako sa kusina para maghugas ng pinagkainan. Cupid stayed with me so we could talk. I told him about my concern regarding the strings. I also told him about my understanding of the stages of connection. I got most of it right, save for the last bit.