Kabanata 2

Ang tunog ng alon sa dalampasigan ay naghahatid ng katiwasayan samahan pa ng asul na kalangitan. I tied my mid-back length hair up sapagkat tinatangay ng hangin ang mga hibla nito. Despite the sunny skies, I was chilled by the sea breeze.

Ito ang isa sa rason kung bakit napili kong tumira rito sa isla. Apart from the kind and friendly natives, siguradong mabubusog ang mga mata mo sa mga tanawin na handog ng isla.

"Caroline," mahinang pagtawag ni Camille sa akin kaya napalingon ako sa kanila. The plate with leftovers means they still haven't finished eating. Paubos na ang chicken barbeque pero mukhang kalahati pa lang ng kanin ang naubos nila. Tss!

Thought that they had a serious topic to talk about, nilagay ko ang basong may lamang cola sa lamesa. Pero mukhang nagkamali ako because they're now showing me some silly smiles.

"Caroline, bagay kayo ng lalaki kanina. Mabait na, gwapo pa!" Camille giggled, slapping Joy's shoulder as if she was thrilled about her ship. "Para siyang... hmmm... knight in chanting ba."

Joy rolled her eyes. "Knight in shining, Camille. Knight in shining armour." 

"Ahuh, natumbok mo, ligaya!"

Ugh, these girls!

"I don't need that, ladies. Kaya kong ipagtanggol ang sarili."

"Gwapo nga 'yon, Camille... pero aminin natin na malakas ang appeal noong lalaking may magaspang na ugali. Hindi rin mapagkakaila na bagay sila ni Caroline," biglang sabat ni Joy na parang wala ako sa harapan nila.

I groaned. "That's absurd, Joy!"

Tumango si Camille para sumang-ayon. "Hindi sila bagay, no. Opposite attracts, eh, parehos silang ma-attitude."

Marami pa silang pinag-usapan pero pinili kong ibaling ang atensyon sa dagat.

You'll immediately recognize the man's inappropriate behavior based on what happened earlier. He's the kind of person who uses the money to put a plaster on the mouth of his victims.

But now, I'm trying to retain in my memory the guy who saved me. He's quite familiar pero hindi ko na tanda kung saan at kailan kami nagkita. Though, I feel something not nice from him— parang may balak na masama.

While waiting for my acquintances to finish their meal, I enjoyed seeing some birds flying above the bluish sea.

I remember when I was a kid, I felt jealous of a bird.

Maybe some people would find it ridiculous.

Bumabalik na naman sa aking alaala ang mga masasakit na salita mula sa ibang tao noon. Comparing my abilities because I'm Sheen and I should not do any mistakes...

"It's just a simple execution, Sheen. Hindi mo pa rin magawa nang maayos!"

"Anak ka ba talaga ni Chales? You're fucking weak!"

"Ikaw ang magpapabagsak ng pamilya niyo! Wala kang kuwenta!"

Wala akong magawa kundi ang umupo at umiyak na lang sa sulok ng training room. Those words may not new to me but it didn't miss a shot to hurt me emotionally.

Nangilid lalo ang mga luha ko when a hand softly patted my back. I know that this is the person I treasured the most. The person that loves me like her own daughter. The only person that cares and understand me in my whole life existence.

"Isa kang tunay na Miral but based on what I'm seeing, you're proving them right on the words they're yelling at you." She slowly held out her hand towards me. "Stand up and look for the key that will open your cage. Introduce everyone who truly Caroline Sheen Miral!"

Sa mga alaalang iyon, mas lalo kong na-miss si Aunt Leydda. Siya lamang ang kakampi ko noong nasa mansion pa ako. Palagi niya akong pinagtatanggol kapag napapagalitan ako ni mommy at daddy. Sadly, I couldn't even say goodbye to her when I fled and came here.

"Malaking pera siguro ang nakuha ng kaibigan niyo, no?"

Natigil ang aking pag-iisip nang narinig kong nagtanong ang tindera. Nailipat ko ang tingin sa aking mga kasama na ngayo'y kinakausap ang babae.

"Ale, wala po siyang natanggap na pera," sagot ni Joy at kinagat ang huling barbeque.

Hindi makapaniwalang tingin ang iginawad sa akin ng tindera. "Miss, hindi ka binigyan ng pera nung lalaki?"

I looked at her in confused. "Sinong lalaki?"

"Iyong may-ari ng kotse na malapit ng makabangga sa'yo. Hindi pa rin pala nagbago 'yon. Mag-ingat ka na lang, miss," may paalalang sabi ng tindera bago umalis at naglakad papunta sa kabilang lamesa.

Ipinagsawalang bahala ko nalang ang sinabi nito. Bakit naman ako matatakot? Ladies and gentlemen, wala akong kasalanan. That man should even be grateful and I'm not an opportunist.

When Joy and Camille finished eating, we went to a small shop to buy the scrunchie they like. Magkasama rin kaming umuwi and they decided to stay outside the house first. We sat in a couple of plastic chairs and watched the kids playing in the sand. Some was playing volleyball, ang iba ay nagtatakbuhan, and some chose to sit on the sand while waiting for the sunset.

Isang buwan na ako rito sa Isla Vierra. Sa aking pamamalagi ay wala naman akong naging problema... kanina lang. I was trained in reflexes and how to calculate things in such situations for me to react correctly in times of danger. Alam kong kaya ko pang makaalis sa kinatatayuan ko kanina na hindi nasasaktan. People who are not trained will expect me to get hit by that car.

Minutes passed, I was left alone in the chair waiting for the spectacular sunset as Joy and Camille returned home. Naramdaman ko ang paggalaw ng upuan sa aking kaliwa when someone suddenly sat down.

"How are you?"

I looked at it right away and was startled to learn who it was. I quickly averted my gaze, hoping he wouldn't notice how surprised I am.

"Is your conscience starting to visit you?"

Taking a glimpse of him, I won't deny that his side-view was marvelous. The structures of his face that seem perfect is beyond real. His straight-edged nose and symmetrical pinkish lips. His clean-shaven jawline also caught my attention.

But it doesn't mean I have feelings for him. His physical appearance might be the best but his attitude is way far from being good.

Sampung segundong katahimikan ang namayani...

"I have no offense against anyone. Why would conscience visits me?" he said remorselessly, ang paningin ay nasa dagat. Akala ko wala na siyang planong sumagot.

Suddenly, surroundings was filled with laughter and excitement when a lot of people gathered on the shore to watch the setting of the sun.

I don't want our conversation to prolong so I left him alone and went to my room. I sat across the window to watched the beautiful scenery this afternoon. Sa unti-unting paglubog ng araw, iilang kulay ang makikita hanggang sa mapalitan ito ng buwan. Ilang minuto nalang, hahalili na ang kadiliman sa kahel na kalangitan.

"Caroline, nandito ka ba?" Hearing someone calling my name, wala akong choice but to went out from room and open the front door.

"Oh, good afternoon, Tita Mila. Is there any problem?"

She smiled and handed me a food container, which I'm sure was filled with food. "Dumating kasi ang anak ko at maraming pagkaing dala. Naisipan kong dalhan ka rito kasi parati nalang cup noodles ang kinakain mo. Masama sa health yan, anak."

I smiled back at kinuha ang inabot niya saka nagpasalamat.

"May anak po kayo?" I asked out of curiosity. Sa pagkakatanda ko, wala siyang nabanggit na anak noon at ang kasama lamang sa bahay ay ang pamangkin na sina Joy at Camille.

"Oo, tinuring ko na rin kasing anak 'yon. Nandito siya kanina." Lumilinga-linga pa si Tita Mila para hanapin ang sinasabing anak nito.

"Ayon!" Nalipat ang tingin ko sa lalaking nakatalikod nang itinuro niya ito. "Cade! Cade!"

"Ilagay mo muna ang pagkain sa lamesa, Caroline. Tatawagin ko lang si Cade." Umalis ito at nagpunta sa kinaroroonan ng anak.

Pumasok muna ako sa kusina at inilagay ang food container sa lamesa. Hindi nagtagal ay narinig ko na si Tita na may kinakausap sa labas.

"I already knew her, tita," sabi ng pamilyar na boses.

Dali-dali kong hinakbang ang mga paa at napag-alamang tama nga ang hinuha nang makalabas ako.

"Carol, ito pala si Cade, ang anak ko," masayang pagpapakilala ni Tita Mila. "Cade, ito naman si Caroline. Ang gandang bata nito."

I rolled my eyes nang makita ang nang-iinis na ngiti ng Cade. "Kung gaano kayo kabait, gano'n naman kasama ang anak niyo, Tita Mila. No offense."

"Magkakilala ba kayo?" Palipat-lipat na tingin ni Tita Mila sa amin, naghihintay ng sagot.

"She's accusing me, mama." Parang batang walang kalaban-laban na nagsusumbong itong Dave. Nakakapit pa sa kamay ni tita.

I smirked. "Wow! Umamin ka nalang kasi. Matapang ka sa paggawa ng problema pero hindi mo naman kayang harapin."

"It's because wala naman akong kasalanan. Bakit ako aamin sa kasalanang hindi ko ginawa?"

 At pinakita na nga niya kung gaano siya kawalang-hiya.

"Now you are telling me you're not at fault?" I scoffed. "Then I'm not at fault too if I will shoot you now. You are stupid because you're blocking my sight. That reason would be enough, right?"

His lips twitched as he drew closer and lowered his head to level with my face. "Try me, lady."

Gosh! Calm down, Caroline.

Enhale. Exhale.

I slowly closed my fist and was about to punch him on his face pero si Tita Mila ay agad pumagitna sa amin. The arrogant guy maintained his straight face and hindi man lang siya nasindak sa ginawa ko.

"Mga anak, kalma muna tayo ha. Ano ang ibig mong sabihin, Caroline? Malapit kang mabundol kanina... tapos si Dave ang may kasala—"

"It was his stupidity that put her in danger, auntie," aroganteng saad ng Cade.

"Cade, mag-usap nga tayo," istriktong sambit sa kaniya ni Tita Mila. "Magpahinga ka na, Caroline, sigurado akong pagod ka. Pasen—"

"Hindi naman po kayo ang may kasalanan. Magpapahinga na po ako."

Tita Mila smiled and walked first, leaving Cade standing in front of me. Mabuti at alam ni tita ang ibig kong sabihin. Tahimik lang itong Cade but the way he looked at me now, para niya akong pinapatay sa kaniyang isipan.

What an opportunity!

I composed myself first, unti-unting kinuyom ang kamao and after a second, my fist flied then it landed on his face. Nawalan siya ng balanse ngunit kaagad na nakabawi. His face darkened. Dali-daling lumapit si Tita Mila na may takot sa mga mata. Pinakalma nito si Cade at sinenyasan akong pumasok na. But before I went inside, I saw how tense Cade's jaw was.

"You're going to pay for this, brat," he said ruthlessly.

"Wala akong inutang sa 'yo kaya wala akong pagbabayaran." I stand firm and looked at him confidently. I also flipped my hair before I walked gracefully inside. Through the window, kita ko ang mga batang naglalaro sa baybayin. I'm sure they didn't notice the amess at all. Pero wala naman akong pake kung nakita nila.

Napalingon ako sa bedside table when I saw my phone screen lights up. Bumaba ako sa kama to checked it just to found out that it was a text from an unknown number. Kaagad kong sinirado ang lahat ng kurtina at tinignan ulit ang hawak na cell phone. 

Unknown Number:

Being enslaved by the past is not the same as being free. Know everything you meet, surely others are not true to you. Take care.

d.a.v.