So It's You (Filipino)

CHAPTER 4

A faint tap on my shoulder pulled me back to awareness. I yawned, forcing my swollen eyes to open, heavy with fatigue.

"Miss gising na andito na tayo. Kailangan mo nang bumaba."

Blinking hard, I rubbed my eyes until the old man's face came into view—the one who had spoken.

"Anong oras na ho?"

Tumingin ang lalaki sa kanyang relo at muling tumingin sa akin. "Alas onse na ho ng tanghali. Kailangan niyo na hong bumaba dahil may next batch pa ho. Binaba ko na ho mga bagahe niyo."

My eyes widened as I quickly exited the bus and grabbed my things. I cringed when my stomach growled. Then I walked and looked around to search for a restaurant or eatery nearby.

While eating my breakfast in a fast-food chain, my phone vibrates. I searched inside my bag pack and get it.

Mom.

I stare at the screen for a few more seconds, groaning heavily, and then turned it off.

After eating, I had quickly paid for it and left.

"Miss saan ang punta mo?" tanong sa akin ng isang may edad na lalaki.

"Saan ho ba ang sakayan dito papuntang Caramoan?"

Oh yes, I'm in Bicol right now. This is where my Nanny lives, well not sure where exactly. She took care of me since I was a little until I graduated elementary then left after her husband died. I remembered she told me she was somewhere in Caramoan. I forgot the full address, but I knew, and I believe she's still living there. I'll just ask some residents if they knew her. Her name is Aurora Perez.

The old man patiently explained the way. Grateful, I offered my thanks before climbing onto another bus.

Oh boy, I feel so exhausted. I never had a nice sleep last night.

The journey stretched into three long hours on the road.

"Miss, Caramoan rin ba ang baba mo?"

Tanong sakin ng isang babae na may hawak na sanggol. Katabi ko ito sa upuan.

I nodded, offering her a soft, grateful smile.

"Taga Maynila ka? Ang ganda at ang kinis mo kasi. Mukha ka pang mayaman. Pasensya ka na, hindi ko na napigilan sabihin sa iyo," anito at ngumiti na tila nahihiya.

I smiled awkwardly. "Salamat ho. Taga Maynila nga ho ako. Pero di naman ho ako ganun kayaman. Sakto lang ho."

Tumango-tango ito sa sinabi ko. "Balak mo ba magbakasyon dito? Naku maraming magagandang lugar dito lalo na mga beach resorts."

"Talaga ho?"

"Oo. Alam ko magugustuhan mo roon. Dumadagsa na rin ang mga turista doon. May mga taga Maynila ang nagsisipuntahan sa mga resort," anito.

I gave her a wide, warm smile. Now, I felt less afraid because of her friendliness. Somehow, I felt the excitement and peace within me.

I climbed down from the bus, offering a farewell wave to the woman who had just spoken with me. She returned the gesture with a smile.

What to do now?

"Excuse me ale, magtatanong ho sana ako. Kilala niyo ho ba si Aurora Perez?"

I approached a fish vendor by the side of the street, the scent of the sea clinging to his stall and her baskets brimming with the day’s catch.

"Ay hindi Miss eh. Pasensya na."

Kahit dismayado ay ngumiti pa rin ako. "Salamat ho."

I continued walking, asking people if they knew Aurora but failed. I went to every barangay hall to see if they had lists of people living in their area. I'm already losing hope. I felt hungry and tired. The heat of the sun makes my skin red, and it hurts. But despite those, I kept going. I need to find her before the dawn comes.

"Kaya ko 'to." I convinced myself and sighed heavily.

Lumapit ako sa isang matandang lalaki na may hila-hilang kalabaw.

"Manong, pasensya na ho sa abala. Tanong ko lang ho, may kilala ho ba kayong Aurora Perez dito?"

Binaba ng matanda ang hawak na balde na may lamang isda na ibebenta marahil sa bayan.

I showed him a picture of Aurora—she was holding a spoon, feeding me, a moment my mother had captured.

"Aurora ba kamo?"

"Oho. Kilala niyo ba siya?"

Mataman akong tiningnan ng matanda mula ulo hanggang paa, animo'y sinusuri ang itsura ko.

"Anong pakay mo kay Aring? Sino ka?"

Tila ay nabuhayan ang loob ko sa sinabi nito. Isa lang ang ibig sabihin niyon, kilala nito si Aurora.

"Aring? Kilala niyo ho siya?"

"Oo. Dati ko siyang kapitbahay pero lumipat siya sa isang isla para manilbihan bilang kasambahay. Pero wala na akong balita sa kanya ngayon."

Lumiwanag ang aking mukha. "Talaga ho? Saan? Pwede niyo ho bang ituro sakin?"

"Oo pero sino ka ba ha iha? Mukhang hindi ka tagarito."

"Ako ho si Fiona Dela Vega. Ako ho yung dating inalagaan ni Aurora noong bata pa ho ako. Taga Maynila ho ako."

Tumango-tango ito. "Ganoon ba? Anong pakay mo sa kanya?"

Natigil ako ng ilang segundo upang mag-isip ng pwedeng idahilan.

"Ano ho..uhmm..b-balak ko ho siyang sorpresahin. Matagal na ho kaming hindi nagkikita. Gusto ko ho siyang dalawin."

Tumango-tangong muli ang matanda. "Ganoon ba? Sige at ituturo ko."

Halos mapatalon ako sa tuwa sa sinabi ng matanda.

This is it! I need to find her and help me!

"Maraming salamat po!"

"Walang anuman. Malayo ang isla na kinaroroonan niya. Aabutin ka ng dalawa o tatlong oras kung sasakay ka ng bangkang de motor. Ayos lang ba yun sayo?"

"Okay lang ho. Ang importante ho ay makita ko siya."

"Sige, ikaw ang bahala. Kailangan mo mag arkila ng bangka kung gusto mo na bumiyahe ngayon mismo, kaso mahal nga lang bayad dahil ikaw lang naman ang magiging pasahero. O di kaya naman kung gusto mo eh hintayin mo ang sunod na bangkang babyahe papunta sa Tugawe Cove mamayang alas kwatro ng hapon para makatipid ka sa pamasahe."

Tumingin ako sa relo ko. Ala una na ng hapon. Tirik na tirik pa rin ang araw. Hindi ko na kakayaning pang maghintay ng ilang oras dahil sa pagod.

"Mag a-arkila nalang ho ako. Saan ho ba rito pwede? Sino ho ang pwede kong lapitan?"

"Si Berto. Kakadaong niya lang kaninang alas diyes mula sa dagat mula sa pangigisda. Pwede mo syang kausapin."

"Nasaan ho siya?"

"Puntahan mo siya doon sa isang tindahan sa may kanto. Sa kabilang baryo pa iyon at medyo malayo mula rito. Yung tindahan mismo ay pag-aari nila. May makikita ka naman doon na karatulang 'Berto Sari-sari Store'. O di kaya ay magtanong-tanong ka sa mga residente doon kung saan nakatira si Berto."

I smiled widely. "Maraming salamat ho."

"Oh, siya sige. Mag-iingat ka sa pag tawid ineng. Tingnan mo ang dinadaanan mo at baka matuklaw ka ng ahas."

"Oho. Salamat ho ulit."

Yun lang at tumalikod na ang matanda. I hurried off toward the place he had mentioned. Forty minutes later, I found a woman washing clothes, and I approached her to ask a question.

"Magandang hapon ho. Magtatanong lang ho sana, saan ho rito banda ang tirahan ni Berto?"

"Doon pa sa may kanto Ineng. Mahaba-habang lakaran iyon. Mga kinseng minutos mula rito."

I groaned silently. "Sige ho salamat."

"Walang anuman."

After another twenty minutes of walking beneath the scorching sun, I paused to rest beneath a large tree by the asphalt road. I glanced around, hoping to find someone to ask again, but the place was empty. Only towering trees and tall grasses surrounded me, with small huts and houses visible in the distance—too far to reach in my weary state.

I never walk this far before. This is crazy!

I whined then headed on again to my destination.

Nabuhayan ang loob ko nang makita ko ang karatulang tinutukoy ng matandang lalaki kanina.

"Oh my God this is it!" Halos magtatalon ako sa tuwa sa nakita ko. Pakiramdam ko ay nawala ang pagod ko at pananakit ng paa at likod.

I stomped my feet in excitement and walked faster. I need to cross the street to get there but as I do so.... A loud beeping sound shocked me. I saw a car approaching from behind me. I quickly jumped to the side.

"What a careless driver! Didn't even stop to let me through!"

My chest trembled with anger and fear. If not for that desperate dodge, I might not be alive now.

"Whew!"

I gasped for air and tried to relax for a few moments then looked to my right and left to see if there's another car approaching but none. I walked again and dragged my huge suitcase. It was unbearably heavy, but I had no choice but to keep going.

Nasa kalagitnaan na ako ng kalsada nang may...

Beeeeep!!!

What the h.....

I froze.

I stood frozen, my feet locked in place, my body numb with shock. Panic clawed at me—I didn't know what to do.

Noooo!

I just closed my eyes and waited for my incoming death.

Oh God please if this is my punishment for running away from home, then so be it. But please I still want to look pretty when I die. I don't want any scar on my face. Please!

A sudden crash echoed close to me. With hesitant breaths, I slowly opened my eyes to see what had happened.

Why am I not dead yet?

I held my breath and then looked around me. My heart throbbed as I saw him approaching me with heavy footsteps and a deadly glare. I could feel the asphalt shaking with his every step. My breath hastened when he stood tall in front of me.

"Are you blind? Suicidal?! You could've been killed! Seriously woman? Kung balak mong magpakamatay huwag mo 'kong idamay! What the hell are you thinking!?"

I gasped and opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out.

I froze on my spot as my body trembled in shock and fear. My knees were like jellies.

He raked his hair with his fingers while cursing which I couldn't be able to hear.

"Sorry..I-"

"Enough! You ruined everything! She got away! Damn it!"

Sino?

Napalunok ako at napatingin sa kotse niya. Halatang mamahalin ang kotse nito. Nasira ang harapan niyon habang umuusok ang makina. Bumangga ito sa malaking puno dahil sa pag iwas nito sa akin. Napansin ko rin ang kaliwang bahagi ng noo nito na bahagyang dumudugo dahil marahil tumama sa bintana ng kotse.

I felt guilty and frightened at the same time knowing that I may be dead by now if this handsome man didn't switch his car to the other direction. I could have been showering with my blood.

"You will pay for this!"

He said, grabbing my arm so hard that I even winced in pain. My eyes became watery.

"Don't you dare cry in front of me? You ruined everything! This is bullshit!"

My tears finally rushed down my cheeks. His face softened at the sight and abruptly let go of my arm.

"You won't get out of this mess. Mark my word, Miss." He said in a deep, growling voice.

I swallowed and gasped. I placed my hand on my chest. My sight starts to swirl around. I looked at the man walking towards his car. He kicked the wheel and shouted.

Unti-unting dumidilim ang paningin ko dahil marahil sa sobrang init ng sikat ng araw at sa sobrang pagkabigla sa mga nangyari kani-kanina lamang. May naririnig akong hiyawan ng mga tao ngunit pag lingon ko, tuluyan na akong nawalan ng malay.

======

"Okay lang kaya siya?"

"Sa tingin ko oo. Wala naman siyang galos. Salamat naman sa Diyos."

"Ang ganda niya noh? Mukhang artista."

"Wag ka maingay baka magising siya."

I heard faint voices of women, pulling me back as I forced my eyes open.

"Where am I?" tanong ko. Hilong-hilo pa ako ng mga oras iyon.

"Tawagin mo si Doc gising na kamo si Miss Beautiful, bilis!"

Agad tumalima ng takbo ang inutusan nitong babae na sa tingin ko ay nasa kinse anyos palang.

I struggled to raise myself into a sitting position when a male doctor walked in.

"Hi, I'm Doctor Paralejo. How are you feeling right now?" He asked while pointing a mini flashlight directly in front of my eyes.

Napalunok ako. "A bit dizzy. Where am I?"

"You're in my house," a deep, cold voice answered behind the doctor. He then, stood beside the bed, giving me a cold glare that brought bolts of electricity throughout my body. I felt my hands getting cold and sweaty.

"I bet she's fine now as I can see. I'll take it from here. You may go now, doctor. Thank you," dagdag pa ng gwapong lalaki.

"Yes of course," the doctor said, turned to me and smiled. He then nodded to him and left.

The tension and coldness inside the room increases when everyone left except him. Now it's just me and this handsome man with a dangerous look on his face.

I swallowed hard, then slowly climbed off the bed to gather my things. My head still throbbed, but I kept moving—I needed to get out of here as quickly as possible before it was too late.

"Where do you think you're going?" His voice was sharp with anger as his hand clamped around my arm when I moved past him.

I looked up and met his gaze, my voice trembling. "I need to go. I'm looking for someone an--"

He chuckled darkly, a smirk curling on his lips. "I don't care. My car is worth half your life. I brought you here after you collapsed, paid the doctor to check on you—and now you're leaving, just like that?"

My chest trembled in fear when his sharp glare hit me. I've never felt this kind of fear towards a man. No one did something like this, being angry at me because during my high school days, I can't remember how many times I punched my batchmates who kept on bullying me.