CURSED

1- Bleik

Present

Maliksing nagtago si Bleik sa likod ng isang madilim na eskinita. Sa kamay niya ay ang matigas na tinapay na ninakaw niya sa isang tindahan. Hinabol pa siya ng babaeng may-ari pero hindi siya nito nasundan.

Ilang saglit muna siyang naghintay at hindi nga nagtagal ay nagpupuyos sa galit na bumalik ito sa loob ng tindahan.

Nakahinga ng maluwag si Bleik. Her sealed lips were trembling as her gloved hands held the bread tightly. Panis na naman sana 'yung tinapay. Itinatapon na lang ng may-ari. Bakit ayaw pang ibigay sa mga mahihirap na katulad n'ya?

These middle class people would prefer to throw their stale food to the dumpster and let rodents and stray cats eat them than give to the poor people. They thought they were a lot better. Rich people here in their city didn't act like that. They give to the poor. They always had feeding programs or free medical drives. Pero iyung mga middle class? Sila ang mapagmataas.

Huminga ng malalim si Bleik. Naalala nanaman kasi niya ang kanyang mga magulang. They had a big house. They had maids, cooks, gardeners, drivers. And a lot of food. They had a lot of food. She had a wonderful life.

But that was four years ago and it felt like a really long time ago. Her life was different now.

Muli siyang sumilip mula sa pinagtataguan. When she was sure that the coast was clear, she ran as fast as she could towards the Slums of the city of Harkans.

This part of the city was dirt poor. Dito nakatira, or itinapon, ang lahat ng mga unwanted (criminals, prostitutes, orphans, old people). May makikitang basura sa bawat sulok ng daan, mabaho ang buong lugar.

The Slums had four old dilapidated buildings (they used to be hotels) that formed a circle. All had thirty stories and had no paint. In the middle was a round fountain that didn't work and was instead full of trash and moss. Doon sila tumatambay. Sa mga building nakatira ang mga unwanted katulad ni Bleik.

Sa Building #2 siya nakatira, floor fifteen, room 1504. Hindi gumagana ang elevators doon kaya kinailangan niyang akyatin ang hagdanan. By the time she reached her floor, she was soaking in sweat. Free workout. Great.

"Bleik, may pagkain ka?"

Napalingon siya sa matandang lalaki na nakaupo sa plastic na upuan sa gitna ng pinto ng silid nito. Sa harap mismo ng unit niya ang unit nito. Si Mr. Dobb. He was about fifty-five years old. For them, people in the Slums, that was old. Kadalasan kasi sa kanila ay namamatay sa gutom o malubhang sakit katulad ng sipon at ubo. Or infected paper cut.

Kinapa ni Bleik ang tinapay sa kanyang bulsa. Hindi iyun kalakihan pero hindi rin niya makakayang iwanan na lang ang matandang nagugutom.

She broke the bread in two pieces and handed one to the old man who immediately grabbed it.

"Salamat, Bleik. Salamat. Ilang araw na rin akong nagugutom," anito saka kumagat na. Medyo nahirapan pa nga ito dahil sa tigas ng tinapay at iilan na lang ang natitira nitong ngipin.

Ngumiti si Bleik saka pumasok na sa kanyang silid. Sinalubong siya ng isang batang babae na pitong taong gulang na. Si Kari.

"Bleik," Kari had short brown hair and big blue eyes. Katulad niya, morena ito. Natives of Ribenly had tan skin.

Itinaas niya ang hawak na tinapay kaya nanlaki ang malalaki na nitong mga mata. Iniabot n'ya iyun sa bata at agad itong tumakbo sa kusina para ibabad ang tinapay sa tubig para lumambot man lang ng konti.

Their unit was small. It had faded flowery wallpaper, nabaklas pa sa ibang parte. May maliit silang kusina, maliit na refrigerator, isang pang-isahang reclining seat na napulot niya sa dumpster sa bayan. Sa isang sulok ay naroon ang isang twin bed at ang mattress na naroon ay nagmamakaawa nang itapon. And there was a door for a shower room.