Once Upon A Twilight [ONGOING]

2. The Refuge

[MATTHEW]

I uttered a dark oath under my breath.  

Kanina pa nakaalis ang babaeng iyon ngunit hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nawawala sa isip ko ang hitsura niya nang sumakay siya ng tricycle.  

And Lord knows where that girl was going.  There was too much hatred in her eyes when she looked at me for the last time. Ngunit sa halip na matakot ay naawa pa ako sa kanya. It was a foreign feeling.

I was completely surprised when I saw her outside my gate.  At kung hindi lang dahil sa suot ng babaeng iyon ay hindi ako magdadalawang-isip na hilain siya papasok ng bahay ko and put some sense into her mouth.  

But I was more concerned about my reputation than kissing her.  

But that girl was so talkative and rebellious for her build. Parang nasa five feet five lang ata ang babaeng iyon at nakapagtatakang hindi siya natakot sa akin.  Katunayan ay sinasagut-sagot pa niya ako kanina.

The nerve! Dahil sa magkahalong galit at inis ko sa kanya ay hindi ko na matandaan ang pangalan ng taong hinahanap niya. Who was she looking for? Sigurado akong pangalan ng babae ang binanggit niya. But I chose to ignore her. Kaso sa halip na ma-ignore ko siya ay kabaliktaran ang nangyari. Dahil lalo ko lang naiisip ang babaeng iyon.

And I hated myself even more.           

Dahil napakaganda niya. Regal-looking and with class.  Hindi ko alam kung totoong kulay berde ang mga mata niya o dahil lamang iyon sa suot niyang salamin kaya nagmumukhang berde. I was fighting the urge to pull her into a tight embrace when she touched my arm. Mabuti na lang at agad niyang binawi ang kamay niya sa braso ko. Otherwise, hindi ko na alam kung nakapagpigil pa ba ako. Baka hindi na. Baka wala sa sariling nayakap ko na siya at nahalikan doon mismo sa labas ng gate namin. 

That would have been a sight to behold. And it would have cost me my life kapag ginawa ko nga ang bagay na iyon. Especially with the outfit she was wearing. It was enough to deter me from making any untoward moves kahit pa tahasan niya akong sinagut-sagot. She even looked straight into my eyes for crying out loud. Ang alam ko kasi bawal silang makipagtitigan sa mga lalaki na hindi nila kadugo.

I shook my head. Lagi kong tinitingnan ang damit na suot niya to remind me that she was off-limits. Iniwasan kong magtama ang mga mata namin para hindi ako makalimot na hindi ko siya dapat nilalapitan if I still value my life. 

I honor the tribe's code. Their women are to be respected. Isa lang ang dahilan kung bakit ganoon ang suot ng babaeng iyon kanina. She was part of the ethnic group na naninirahan sa border ng Safar Estate. That's why she was off limits. 

Pero nahihirapan pa rin akong kalimutan siya. Her hair had a certain reddish hue.  She looked like a goddess standing in front of me as the clouds started to move around. Nasa mataas na bahagi kasi ng Dansalan ang Safar Estate kaya natural lang doon ang pagbaba ng ulap. Nahulog ang kumbong niya kanina sa lupa kaya napansin ko ang alun-alon niyang buhok. Hindi yata niya namalayan iyon dahil hanggang sa nakaalis siya ay nananatiling nasa lupa ang kulay itim na kumbong.  I picked it up when she was completely out of my sight. And inhaled its scent.  She smelled like sunshine after the rain. So fresh and inviting.                

I gritted my teeth to keep myself from uttering a dark oath. She reminded me of things I never wanted to feel or even remember. That was why I had to drive her away. 

I hated her guts. But what I hated more was the fact that I can't get her out of my mind. Ano bang masamang hangin ang nagdala ng babaeng iyon dito sa Safar Estate? Hindi pa naman bukas sa publiko ang lugar na ito dahil hindi pa tapos ang renovation. Kaya nakapagtatakang napadpad ito roon. Halatang hindi siya tagarito dahil kinailangan pa niyang kumatok sa gate para hanapin ang sinomang hinahanap niya. If she was part of the ethnic tribe, she would have gone to their elder or any respectable man to help her.