𝑁𝑜 𝑇𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐵𝑎𝑐𝑘

C h a p t e r 1 9

Lifting the bag to my shoulder, I took a quick glance on the mirror and went for the door, opening it in haste as I saw the time. Sigurado, baka papunta na sa waiting shed si Gabriel. Baka ma-you're 15 minutes late ulit ako pag nagtagal pa ako dito.

As I went down the stairs the view of my cousin filled my gaze, a toast in her hand as she took a seat.

"Good morning, Ate!" Bati ko.

"'Morning Grace!" She took a bite off the bread, "Off to church?"

"Opo ate," Tumango ako, "See you later po!"

"Oh, eh bakit 'di ka man lang ba kakain? Hindi ba't sinabi mong till afternoon ka do'n ngayon?"

"Ah, ano po kasi may i-memeet ako ngayong morning. Baka malate po ako pag kakain pa ako, Ate," I forced a laugh.

"Grace nama-" Her words were interrupted, gazing upwards to the stairs as we heard her husband's voice. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. Agad siyang tumayo at binalot ng tissue ang dalawang loaf ng tinapay. "Sige, alis ka na, Grace. Baka 'di ka na palabasin ng Kuya mo kapag nalaman niya kung sa'n ka pupunta."

I nodded in urgency and took the bread from her hand in haste. Pagkakuha ko nito ay tumakbo na ako patungong pintuan. As soon as I was I able to close the door behind me, a sigh of relief escaped my lips.

Hay, mabuti nalang at 'di ako naabutan ni Kuya Dan. Napabuntong hininga nalang ako. Anghirap talaga magkaroon ng asawang iba ang paniniwala. Minsan naaawa nalang talaga ako kay Ate. Kahit gustohin man niyang umattend ng church, hindi naman ito papayagan ng asawa niya. Kumunot ang noo ko. Hindi ba't illegal ang ganon? Tsk, but then again, alangan namang i-demanda ni ya 'yong asawa niya dahil do'n. I know she won't be able to do so.

I swiped the strands of hair upon my face and began to walk, glancing upward as I took each step. The skies threatened rain, a thick fog shielding the blue skies from sight.

Sinimulan kong kainin ang tinapay, savoring its sweetness as I walked, and before I knew it, it was the tissue alone that was left in my hand. Ang caring talaga ni Ate, mabuti nalang at ibinalutan niya ako nito. Pinunasan ko ang labi at inilabas ang tubig mula sa bag. Pagka-inom ko nito, I took a step and resumed to walk.

After a few turns, natanaw ko na rin ang waiting shed, and sure enough, he already stood there - denim jeans and a leather jacket topping his maroon shirt.

I walked towards him, returning his smile as I approached. Goodness, kailan kaya ako masasanay sa mga ngiti niyang 'to? After months of getting used to his stoic expression, seeing him smile is like finding gold in a pile of mud.

"Good morning!" Bati ko, "Oh, akala ko ba sasama si Janice? Sa'n siya?"

"Ah," Tumango siya, "Oo, sasama daw siya pero mamaya sa Youth Service siya a-attend."

"Ah ganon ba?" I nodded in percipience. "Okay sige. Kung ganon, tara na? Fifteen minutes nalang magsastart na yung service eh. Maglalakad pa tayo."

"Sige," He took a step forward and walked beside me, gaze forward as we advanced.

Hindi ko mapigilang ma-excite na pupunta na siyang church. I know full-well how God moves mightily in our church, and I can't wait to see how he finds it. I bit my lip in incitement, mind in a cloud of thoughts, when suddenly, I felt a cold bead of water upon my arm.

Inangat ko ang paningin, at sa pag-angat ko nito isa pang butil ng tubig an bumagsak sa aking mukha. Ito na nga bang sinasabi ko. Hay. Ilang sandali pa at sunod-sunod na ang pagpatak ng ulan. Immediately, I scurried my bag for my umbrella, lifting in haste as I felt more drops of rain against my skin.

Inilipat ko ang tingin kay Gabriel, "May payong ka, Gabriel?" I surveyed his frame as I asked. He carried nothing - not even a bag.

Umiling siya, "Wala eh,"

I returned my gaze to the pastel pink umbrella in my hand. Susme, angliit pa naman nito! I shut my eyes momentarily and swiftly opened the umbrella, stepping closer to him as I lifted it above our heads. I winced in embarrassment, feeling the drops of water against my legs. Sana pala hindi nalang ako nagpalda ngayon. This umbrella is barely helping!

"Kahit huwag mo na akong payungan, Grace," I heard him speak, "Mababasa ka niyan,"

Umiling ako, "Eh paano ka naman? Mabuti sana kung malapit lang lalakarin natin,"

I shifted my gaze and glanced sidewards. Hala, palakas ng palakas ang ulan. I took in a breath, taking hold of my arm as I felt a cold gush of wind.

I returned my gaze to him as I felt him brush against my side. I stared in confusion. Anong ginagawa nito? He slid the jacket off his torso ang held it by its collar.

"Nay garud," I slightly tensed in where I stood, feeling the warmth from the cloth as he wrapped the jacket around me. "Gamitin mo muna at nang hindi ka mabasa ng husto."

He began to walk again, taking the umbrella in his hand and placing the other on my shoulder as he pulled me close. For a moment I couldn't speak, struck wordless from his gesture. Agad niya rin naman itong ibinaba, but even as he did so, the distance between us was already extinguished.

Napalunok nalang ako at tumango, still trying to come up with something to say. But my efforts failed. My brows furrowed, gaze downcast as I thought. Since when? Since when had he learned to make a woman's heart flutter like this?

Inangat ko ang paningin at nakita ang basang-basa na niyang balikat. A guilty sigh escaped my lungs. Hay, dibale. Ilang minuto nalang makakarating na kami sa church.

Every breath of air I took mingled with his scent that emanated from the jacket, making me all the more aware of his pleasing fragrance. Mariin kong ipinikit ang aking mga mata. Huhu, ayoko na. Kung noon I was assured nothing between us will take place, now it was whole different story. He was a different man. Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari, but I could sense in my spirit, he was not the same Gabriel I've met, and the fact made me all the more nervous.

Lord... Lord please calm my heart. How do I deal with this?

I lifted my gaze and was overjoyed as I finally saw the Church's gates, its metal rails filling my perception.

"Do'n tayo," Sambit ko.

Naglakad kami patungong simbahan at agad na ring pumasok sa pinto. The warmth of the church building immediately overwhelmed my skin, providing my body the comfort it so greatly desired.

Sa pag-angat ko ng paningin agad namang bumungad ang muka ni Pastor Melchour. He stood right upon the church's entrance, and as soon as he laid his eyes upon us, wonder instantly tainted his face.

Bakit kaya ganito itsura ni pasto-

My eyes widened upon realization, and immediately I pulled the leather jacket off my body and handed it to Gabriel in haste. Pastor Melchour lowered his head, hiding the smile in his face before it widened. Lalo tuloy akong nahiya. Hay! Pastor naman eh. I bit my lip and forced a smile. Hayaan mo na nga, Grace! It was only a jacket and nothing more.

I hoped...