Llana's point of view
Hula
Ilang linggo na ang lumipas mula nang magtapos ako. After the celebration, I decided to travel with my parents to Manila and stay there for weeks. Lalo na at hindi nakadalo ang nakababatang kapatid noong graduation ko.
Ilang texts at tawag na rin ang natanggap ko mula sa mga kaibigan dahil sa biglaan kong pag-alis. Tuwing gabi, kinukulit ako ni Lexi na sumama sa mga lakad nila.
"Really, Llana? Bigla kang umalis nang hindi nagpapaalam, ah. If I know, tumatakas ka lang. Ayaw mong sumama kasi magagalit ang boyfriend mo." pagmamaktol niya gabi-gabi sa kabilang linya sa t'wing tinatanggihan ko siya.
"Hindi, Lex. Promise, pagbalik ko babawi ako sa inyo." paliwanag ko.
Hindi tulad ng iniisip nila, Nathaniel wasn't that strict when it comes to me. He allows me to do things i've always wanted to do as along as it wouldn't lead me to danger. He keeps on telling me that he wanted me to enjoy life I never enjoyed before. Besides that, he knows that I have a life on my own. We know the limits and we have trust for each other. And that's the important things that keeps us stronger.
"Hay naku! Basta, ah. Sinabi mo 'yan." paninigurado niya.
I can almost imagine her pouting her lips while saying those words.
My phone beeped and it was a text message from my younger sister telling me to keep safe while travelling back to Roxas. I smiled and texted her back.
Humawak ako sa barandilya sa may gilid ng malaking barko at pinagmasdan ang asul na kalawakan. Kasabay ng pag-ihip ng mabining hangin ay sumasabay ang aking buhok at tila sumasayaw sa indayog ng hangin.
Magandang pagmasdan ang iilang pulo na napaliligiran ng kalmadong karagatan habang may iilang malalaking barko pa ang dumaraan.
I've always love this. The fineness of the sea that reminds me of him. It's unpredictable changes and it's danger despite of it's beauty.
I missed him. Three weeks living without him feels like months.
I wonder what he's doing right now. I wonder how he had been for those three weeks without me. Surely, he's doing so much works with their business. Knowing him, he's a man who wouldn't let any piece of work still unfinished. Papagurin ang sarili huwag lang mapabayaan ang trabaho.
Napanguso ako. I can imagine him sitting on his swivel chair with brows furrowed. So cute.
I was smiling myself and imagining things when suddenly I felt a hand on my right shoulder. Nagulat ako at napahawak sa dibdib ko. Then, an old woman held my hand, looking my palm as if she's seeing something there.
I don't want to be rude. Kahit natatakot ay hinayaan ko siyang gawin ang anumang ginagawa niya.
"May darating." sambit niya habang nananatiling nakatitig sa aking palad. "At may isang buhay na hindi pa man nagtatagal ay agad ding babawiin..." nakakapanindig balahibo niyang dagdag.
Agad akong dinapuan ng takot at kaba. Inalis ko ang kamay ko sa kaniya. Ang kaniyang mga mata'y unti-unting tumitig sa akin.
"Ingatan mo ang isa pang buhay na ibibigay sa'yo. Kung sinong darating...siya ang magiging panganib sa buhay niyo..."
I swallowed hard.
"Pasensiya na po, lola. H-hindi po ako naniniwala sa hula, eh." kinalma ko ang aking sarili. I opened my sling bag and get a cash in there. "Ito po, la. Mag-ingat po kayo pauwi." I held her hand and placed the one thousand bill on her palm.
Bago pa siya magsalita muli, agad ko na siyang nilisan.
No one could tell what life is waiting for us tomorrow and so for our next days in life. We made our life as what we wanted it to be. We made our own destiny, and we shouldn't believe for any other's predictions. Sometimes, they just go beyond their imaginations.
