In The Arms Of An Angel (ON HOLD)

CHAPTER 79

"Okay, sabi mo eh. Aayusin ko na tutulugan natin."

Then RJ abruptly turned away to go to the tent. Dei was left feeling confused.

"Anyare dun?! Bipolar lang? Kanina ang kulit ngayon bigla na lang magwowalk out? Teka nga..." She thought deciding to follow RJ to confront him about his behavior.

When she got to their tent she saw him arranging the sleeping bags and he placed a rolled up blanket in between to create a barrier. He was about to get out of the tent when he noticed her.

"May problema ba tayo, RJ? Kanina lang ang saya ng kwentuhan natin tapos bigla kang magiging pormal uli sa akin. May nagawa or nasabi ba ako na di mo nagustuhan?" She asked him as he passed by her. He stopped in mid step and sighed before he turned towards her.

"Sorry, medyo nagtampo lang ko na di mo sinagot yung tanong ko ng diretso." He softly answered looking like a little boy explaining to his parent.

"Alin? Yung kung may hinihintay akong loved one? So feeling mo meron? NBSB, remember?" She nonchalantly muttered. He smiled.

"Well, on second thought actually meron pala pero malabo na yata kaming magkita uli..." She uttered while wishfully scanning the horizon. His brows knitted again.

"S-sino naman yun?" He asked, again sounding like a petulant kid. She looked at him with a sad smile.

"My dad. Iniwan nya kami bata pa lang ako at di ko na alam nasaan sya ngayon. My mom won't talk about him and I can't look for him coz I know masasaktan si Nanay if I do that." She shared. She has never talked about her dad to other people except with Val. She don't know why she is telling him these things now. His expression softened.

"I'm sorry to hear that. Gusto mo bang pag-usapan natin? I'm a professional listener. And free ang session na ito for tonight. Sa ibang araw may bayad na." He said which made her chuckle softly.

They went back to the fire and sat side by side. They chatted about her family until their conversation returned to the main reason they came to the mountain.

"Do you honestly believe it's just my subconscious mind expressing through dreams my hidden emotions or desires kaya nangyayari lahat ito? How do you explain what happened to me kanina? Paano ako napunta sa batis na di ko alam? Its almost the same thing that happened that night when we first met on the same place. Kaibahan lang I remember following a fireball into the forest that time." She asked him softly.

"As I said this mountain is known for supernatural activities. Yung batis kung saan kita natagpuan kanina, it's known as the 'Path of Rituals'. Doon sinisimulan ng mga pilgrims kapag Holy Week ang pamamanata nila. Dun din madalas magpunta ang mga tao na may gustong ipanalangin or hilingin. They say na malakas ang spiritual energy sa lugar na yun. Doon din naglalagi ang mga tinatawag nilang mga 'tagabantay' or spirit guides. Sila ang nagsisilbing bantay ng bundok na ito. Isa yung batis sa favorite spots ko dito. Dun ako naglalagi kapag gusto kong mag-isip or magdasal kapag nandito ako." He shared. His story triggered a memory for her.

"Speaking of 'tagabantay', yun ang naalala kong pakilala mo sa akin nung nagkakilala tayo. Iniligtas mo ako nun sa may bangin nang madulas ako at muntik na mahulog. Since then halos araw araw na kita nararamdaman o nakikita sa paligid ko o kaya sa panaginip ko kahit nung nakabalik na ko sa Manila. Could they possibly be just hallucinations or totoong nangyari. Kung totoo, paaano?" She asked confused.

"The Psychologist in me is saying yes it's possible that they may just be hallucinations brought about by trauma because of your accident...how sure are you that it's me? I'm flesh and bones. Hindi ako kaluluwa, Dei. I was in a coma for six months after my accident. Kahit sandali di ako nagising that time. Well, I've heard of people having out of body experiences during coma or deep sleep but there's really not much studies conducted yet to prove or at least confirm their veracity. I would still like to believe you're just dreaming. But something is telling me na may kinalaman ang aksidente nating dalawa dito sa bundok sa sagot sa mga tanong natin." He was looking at her intently as he said these.

"Ang contradicting nung sinabi mo, alam mo ba?! You thing I was hallucinating pero you believe in those supernatural activities. Psychologist ka nga talaga, medyo mahirap intindihin!" She told him straight.

"May dahilan at paliwanag sa lahat ng bagay dito sa mundo. Humans just love romanticizing things." He argued.

"Wow! Bitter much, kuyah?! What about fate...or destiny? Have you considered the possibility that it was destiny at work here?" She asked him.

"Well, life has dealt me with a lot of painful experiences that I'm not really sold on the concept of destiny anymore." He admitted.

"Napakajudger mo naman kay mareng Destiny! Ano ba nangyari sa'yo para maging ganyan kaampalaya ang pananaw mo sa tadhana?" She jokingly asked.

"My childhood friend and now ex-girlfriend made me believe that we were destined for each other. I practically lived for her. Binigay ko lahat ng gusto nya. I prioritized her over my family to the point na nag-aaway kami ng parents ko coz they don't like her for me because of her attitude but I did not listen to them. Sa huli, pinagpalit nya lang ako sa iba at ang ibinigay lang nya na rason sa akin is that I was not good enough for her. I felt worthless. That night, I got extremely drunk at nagmaneho akong lasing papunta sa kanya to beg her to have me back. My parents and younger sister got so worried for my safety, sinundan nila ako. Ang lakas ng ulan nung gabing yun. They met a car accident and died on the spot. Sa isang iglap, nawala sa akin ang buong pamilya ko. Kasalanan ko bakit namatay sila. Kasi naniwala ako sa destiny na yan! So ngayon sabihin mo sa akin dapat pa ba akong maniwala?!" He asked her bitterly. She can clearly see the pain etched on his hazel eyes. Her heart constricted with sympathy.

"I-I'm sorry for your loss." Was all she can say. He chuckled humorlessly.

"Alam mo bang wala akong pinagsabihan tungkol sa totoong nangyari nung gabing yun? Sa iyo lang ngayon. Kahit sina lola Linda di ko makuhang magconfide kasi baka itakwil nila ako. Pero sa'yo parang ang daling magkwento. At yun ang nakakatakot sa'yo, Dei. I don't get attracted to a woman that easily. I usually have to get to know someone well first. But when I first saw you...parang matagal na kitang kilala. Parang kilalang kilala ka ng puso ko. I'm so drawn to you. And that makes me really confused and scared of you." He confessed in a whisper. But she heard every word. Her heart ached as she looked at him.

"I don't understand why but I will do my best para maniwala ka uli sa destiny, RJ." She promised to herself.