Charmed by the Unseen

Chapter 8: Stay for Freedom

Hindi mawala wala ang lapad ng ngiti ko habang naglalakad pabalik sa resort. I feel so happy today without a freaking explanation. Hindi na ako nagpahatid kay Juan Carlos. Baka makita pa siya ni mommy at kung ano pa isipin nun.

"Hoy!"

"Ay, pusang duling!" Inis kong hinampas sa mukha si Brent na bigla nalang sumulpot sa may likuran ko. Tumawa lang siya ng malakas na lalong kong ikinainis.

"Tangina naman Brent oh! Ba't kaba nanggugulat?"

"Ang lawak kasi ng ngiti mo eh. Para kang tanga!"

I rolled my eyes at him and stormed away. Ang ganda na sana ng mood ko kung di lang panira 'tong pinsan kong walang kwenta.

"Si mommy?" I asked and turned back to him.

"Kanina ka pa hinahanap. Kaya nga ako nandito eh kasi hinihintay kita. Nauna na sila ni mommy sa mansion. Sa'n kaba kasi galing? Nag swimming kaba?"turo niya sa damit kong medyo basa.

Medyo natuyo na rin naman siya ng hangin kaya hindi na ga'no kahalata.

"Hindi" simpleng saad ko. Wala na akong planong mag kwento. Baka ano pa masabi ko. "Halika na nga! Umuwi na tayo"

At dinner, everyone seemed calm and at ease. Tahimik lang kaming kumakain until Tita Marga decided to break the silence.

"Brent, have you packed your things? Your flight is at 8:00 in the morning tomorrow" she asked her son who just took a bite on the steak.

"Uh, mamaya na. Si Ally nga hindi pa nag iimpake eh" turo niya pa sakin.

"I didn't bring a lot of things kaya hindi problema yun. Unlike you, halos dinala mo na lahat ng damit mo dito. Akala mo naman vacation ang sadya" I fired back.

"Oh about that" my mom interrupted. "Your Tita Marga and I actually talked about it earlier. Since wala na si Mama and Brent's gonna be in Manila for his summer classes, we decided na maybe you could stay here in Samar with your Tita para may makasama naman siya dito. Just this summer vacation lang naman Ally"

Tita Marga and mommy stared at me with hopeful eyes habang gulat naman ang mukha ni Brent.

"What? That's so unfair! Why does Ally get to have her vacation tapos ako wala?" Reklamo ni Brent.

"You have summer classes! It's your fault you let yourself fail the sem. I don't know what's wrong with you Brent Angelo! What were you doing in Manila? I swear if you still fail your summer, goodluck of finding someone else to support your education!" Tita Marga sternly said.

Napakamot nalang sa ulo si Brent.

"But how about you mommy?" I asked. "Sinong kasama mo sa bahay? Who's gonna go with you on your check-ups? Dad's not gonna be home for like three weeks?"

"Well, I think I can handle that" Brent shrugged. "Since your gonna be staying with my mom, pwede ko namang samahan din si Tita sa inyo. At least, hanggang makauwi na si Tito Enrique."

"That's so sweet of you Brent" my mom said and smiled.

"So what do you think Ally?" Tita Marga asked. "It's gonna fun"

"Sure! I'm staying then!" I smiled.

Lihim akong nagdiwang. The idea of me staying in Samar is like hearing heavenly trumpets. That just means that I'm gonna be having a lot of time to explore the places I want to visit. I smiled. I have been praying for this moment. Na hahayaan ako ni mommy na manatili sa isang lugar na hindi sila kasama. And Juan Carlos. I may have plenty of time to see him. The thought excites me. Er? Why am I even thinking of him?

That night, I was super excited about the adventure that awaits me so I started searching for places I could go to while in Samar. Naghanap ako ng malapit lang para Tita Marga will allow me to go. I was dying to see Quatro Islas and Kalanggaman Island but those are in Leyte so I skipped them for now. Maybe next time when I'm free to roam wherever I want. After searching through the net, I came up with a short list.

•Sohoton Caves

•San Pedro Bay

•Pangi Falls

•Amandaraga Falls

I texted Freya and told her that I'm gonna be staying with my Tita. She was kinda sad about it since it was our first summer na hindi magkasama. But she was happy on the part that I'm finally, though not totally, being able to breath freely and enjoy nature like I've always wanted.

It was already around 10:30 pero hindi pa ako dinadalaw ng antok. I was still scrolling on my i********: feed when a notification popped.

@keithlopez started following you.

Out of curiosity, I clicked his profile.

@keithlopez

2,089 followers 17 following

Chour! Sana all maraming followers. Ako kasi kaunti lang, hindi rin naman kasi ako mahilig mag post. Hindi kagaya ni Freya na umiikot ang mundo sa social media. I stalked her cousin. Kaunti lang ang posts niya. Mostly mga travels. May sa Pilipinas at may sa ibang bansa din. There was something common in his pictures kahit iba iba naman ang context nun. Green environment or bodies of water. So this guy is also into nature huh? Hmmm I think magkakasundo kami. I clicked follow back.

Matutulog na sana ako ng bigla siyang mag chat.

@keithlopez : what's up?

@allyherrera : k lang. Ikw ba?

@keithlopez : good as well

@allyherrera : ah, gawa mo?

@keithlopez : thinking of you? Jk haha

My brow automatically raised because of his message. Alam ko namang hindi seryoso yun pero bakit naman siya magjojoke ng ganun? Topakin din siguro 'tong si Keith gaya ng pinsan niya.

@allyherrera : lol

Yun nalang nasabi ko. Nag out narin naman siya kaya pinatay ko nalang ang phone ko. I turned off the lights and dimmed the lampshade. Binaon ko ang sarili ko sa malambot at mabango kong unan. I was hoping to get a nice dream tonight but good dreams do get rid of me.

I found myself on the same beach kung saan ako dinala ni Juan Carlos. Maganda parin ang lugar, mas mapuno at mas malawak nga lang kaysa sa nakita ko nung pumunta kami dun. Then I saw a woman. Nakatalikod siya sakin dahil nakaharap siya sa dagat. Her soft black hair draped down her shoulders to her back. Nakasuot siya ng asul na bestida. She seems to be waiting for someone.

"Ariella" a voice of a man called from behind me kaya humarap yung babae. Saka ko lang nakita ang maganda niyang mukha. Matangos ang ilong at natural na mapupula ang labi. Para siyang mestiza. I turned around to see the person she was looking at. Pero hindi ko makita kong sino yun dahil malabo. I can only see a figure of a man but I cannot make out his face.

Tumakbo yung tinawag na Ariella at yumakap dun sa lalaki. "Akala ko hindi kana babalik"

"Nangako ako sayo diba? Tutuparin ko yun kahit ano pang mangyari" sagot ng lalaki.

"Pero paano kapag nalaman nila ang tungkol sa atin?" Nangangambang tanong ng babae. Nanginginig siya habang hawak hawak ang kamay nung lalaki.

"Wag kang mag alala. Poprotekhanan kita. Pangako ko yan" sagot ng lalaki. Napayakap na lang si Ariella sa kanya.

Tiningnan ko lang sila ng may biglang sumabog na napakalakas sa may likuran ko, dahilan para tumilapon ako sa buhangin. I was trying to move and get myself away from that place pero hindi ko na naman maigalaw ang katawan ko.

Napako ang mga mata ko sa kung ano yung sumabog. It was lightning. Tinamaan ng kidlat ang isang malaking bato kaya nahati ito. Biglang nagdilim ang langit, kumulog at kumidlat. The sea which was peaceful like a second ago, now rages wildly. The waves looked like they would devour me any second. Then the air shimmered. Isang nakakasilaw na liwanag ang lumabas sa nahating bato kaya pinilit kong takpan ang mga mata ko. Napaka liwanag nito na para bang kaya akong bulagin nun kapag tumingin pa ako.

Then the flashing light starts to fade and a form of a woman began to take shape. My body starts to shiver. Lumalamig ang hangin habang lumilinaw ang hitsura nung babae. Nagsisitayoan ang mga balahibo ko sa katawan habang tinitingnan siya. Itim ang mahaba niyang bestida at may dala dala siyang mahabang tungkod. Her hair was in a bun with curly strands of hair dropped from both sides of her face. She was beautiful but her presence radiates power, authority and fear.

With fierce eyes clearly full of hate and anger, she pointed her finger at the couple.

"Aglawin!" Sigaw ng babaeng nakaitim.

Takot na nagtago sa likod ng lalaki si Ariella.

"Ang ginawa mong ito'y isang kataksilan sa Hukuman!" singhal ng babaeng nakaitim.

"Maguayen, tama na! Wag mong gawin 'to! Mahal ko si Ariella. Pabayaan mona kami." Pagmamakawa ni Aglawin.

Tumawa ng malakas si Maguayen. "Pagmamahal? Ang isa kagaya niya'y walang lugar sa isang katulad mo! Huwag kang maging tanga Aglawin!"

"Hindi ko siya iiwan! Ikaw ang wag maging sakim Maguayen! Sarili mo lang kapakanan ang iniisip mo!" Balik ni Aglawin habang pinoprotektahan si Ariella sa likod niya.

Mas lalong lumitaw ang poot sa mga mata ni Maguayen. Nanlilisik ang mga mata niyang tinitigan ang dalawa. Parang apoy ang kanyang paningin. Mas lalong nagliwanag na parang apoy ang kanyang katawan. "Kung gayon nararapat lang na kayo'y parusahan!"

"Aglawin, tinatanggalan kita ng kapangyarihan sa loob ng limampung taon! At sa panahong yaon, hindi ka makakatapak sa mundo ng mga mortal. Mukukulong ka sa Guindara na puno ng paghihinagpis. At ikaw babaeng mortal!" Turo niya kay Ariella.

Napaluhod si Aglawin sa harapan ni Maguayen. "Maguayen, parang awa mo na. Wag mong gawin to. Ako nalang ang parusahan mo. Parang awa mo na" Kahit hindi ko makita ang mukha ni Aglawin, alam kong umiiyak siya. Napaluhod narin Ariella habang naluluhang humahawak sa kanya. Ngunit tila nabibingi si Maguayen sa pagmamakaawa ng lalaki. Itinuloy niya ang sumpa.

"Ang buhay ng kagaya mong walang silbi ay siyang sumisira sa batas ng panahon! Magkakaroon ka ng sakit na kailan man ay hindi malulunasan. Mabubuhay kang puno ng pait, sakit at paghihirap. Kasusuklaman ka ng lahat sa iyong paligid. Dahan dahang manghihina at malalanta ang iyong katawan. Hanggang sa ikaw ay maging abo at tuluyang maglaho sa kawalan!"

"Maguayen waaaagggg!" sigaw ni Aglawin. Itinaas ni Maguayen ang hawak na tungkod at kumidlat at kumulog ng napaka lakas na parang mabibingi na ako dahil dun.

May itim na usok na lumabas mula sa katawan niya at pumasok sa katawan ni Ariella na napasigaw dahil sa sakit na naramdaman. "Ang sumpang ito ay walang katapusan! At hindi mababali ng kahit anong kapangyarihan" Then she let out an evil laugh, so loud that it lingered inside my head.

Nawalan ng malay si Ariella na agad sinaklolohan ni Aglawin.

I regained control over my body. Tatayo na sana ako para tulungan yung magkasintahan pero biglang lumingon si Maguayen sa direksiyon ko. My body froze. Her fierce eyes pierced inside me. Ramdam ko ang talim ng mga titig niya. Itinutok niya ang tungkod sa akin...

I gasped! My body felt sore. I got up and tried to catch my breath several times. What kind of dream was that? It felt so real.

Like that dream has something to do with me?

And my life...

***

Sumasakit ang katawan ko. Pakiramdam ko galing ako sa rambolan kagabi. At hanggang ngayon, parang naririnig ko parin ang halakhak nung babaeng nakaitim sa panaginip ko. At kagaya ng mga nagdaang panaginip ko, hindi ko maalala ang pangalan niya at nung mga tauhan sa panaginip ko.

I grabbed my phone. It's 4:00 am. Maagang aalis sina mommy ngayon kaya sigarado akong naghahanda na sila. Lumabas ako ng kwarto at nakita ko si Brent na mukang kagagaling lang sa shower. He playfully rolled his eyes at me before entering his room. Napailing nalang ako at bumaba na sa kusina.

Nadatnan ko si Tita at si mommy sa kusina na nagtitimpla ng kape. May pinag uusapan siguro sila dahil nagtatawanan sila. I just gave them both kisses on the cheeks bago ako nag timpla ng kape at bumalik na sa kwarto.

Uminom ako ng kape habang naglalaro sa phone ko kaya hindi ko na namalayan na umaga na pala. Somebody knocked on my door na agad kong pinagbuksan.

"Aren't you going to kiss me goodbye before I leave?" Nakangiting saad ni mommy.

Agad ko siyang niyakap and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. Nakabihis na siya. I glanced at my phone. It was 5:10 already. Papalitaw na rin ang araw.

Inihatid namin sila mommy hanggang sa may gate. I hugged her tight and wished her a safe trip home.

"Wag kang magpapasaway sa Tita mo ah? Update me always and do take care baby."

"I will mom" I smiled at her. Saka lang ako nagpaalam kay Brent na malapad ang ngisi, as usual.

"Humanda ka, susunugin ko bahay niyo" he smirked.

I let out an amused laugh. "I'm gonna miss you Brent"

"Mamimiss din kita Ally, take care!" Tinapik niya ang balikat ko.

Pumasok na sila sa loob ng van. We bid each other goodbye. I uttered a silent prayer in my mind na sana safe silang makauwi ng Manila. When the van was no longer within sight, bumalik na kami ni Tita sa mansiyon.

"Pack your things Ally. Dalhin mo na lahat ng gamit mo" Tita Marga said the moment we entered the house.

Napatigil ako. Where in world are we going? Nakita siguro ni Tita ang hitsura ko kaya nagsalita siya ulit.

"Sa beach house sa resort tayo pupunta. Dun na muna tayo mag i-stay. You see, I'm a very busy person and most of my meetings with my clients are held there. I think kasi hassle na masyado kong uuwi pa ako rito every night diba? At saka baka mabagot ka rito. At least sa resort, you can roam around kasi malawak naman yun at who knows? You can even make friends with the guests" she smiled at me and started to step on the stairs.

"Um, Tita?" I swallowed, scared of what I was asking.

"Yes honey?"

"Um, I was thinking, since I'm gonna be staying here for like two months, well, I was hoping you'd allow me to visit some tourist spots? Kahit yung mga malalapit lang. I promise I'll be careful" I pouted.

Tita Marga slowly stepped towards me with a worried expression which made me nervous.

"Oh Ally, about that..." she seemed hesitant to say it pero sinabi niya parin. "Matinding bilin ng mommy mo na I shouldn't let you roam around. She thinks it's not safe"

I sighed. I knew it. It's my mom after all. She would make sure that I'd behave the way she'd want me to.

"But, you're mom is not here, is she?" Tita Marga grinned.

I got baffled. "What do you mean?"

"Alam mo ija, I know how much you love this place. And Samar has a lot to offer!" Her face litted up. "Hindi ko ipagkakait sa'yo ang pagkakataong ito."

"You mean, you're letting me go?" Excited kong tanong.

She nodded. "Yep! But you're not allowed to go to far places. Dapat alam ko kung saan ka pupunta kaya you need to tell me your travel plans. And you're not going alone. Baka patayin ako ng mommy mo pag may nangyaring masama sa'yo"

"So you're coming?" I smiled.

"Oh no dear, I told you I'm busy with the resort. I don't have time for those things. I'd love to show you around, but you know, work comes first!" She winked at me.

"So who's coming with me?" I asked in confusion.

"I know someone who knows this place well. Our maid Aling Susan. She lives in an upper brgy and she can show you around. Don't worry mabait siya. She'll be a nice tour guide. And I trust her better than I trust those real tour guides"

I hugged Tita Marga and I felt her hands wrapped around me.

"Tita, I-" naiiyak na'ko sa tuwa. Shuta kailan pa'ko naging dramatic? "I don't know what to say"

Tita Marga tightened her hug and softly rubbed my back. "Hush honey, I only wanted you to feel the things that your parents deprived you of. Pero sana wag kang magagalit sa mga magulang mo. They may be overly strict with you but they only wanted to keep you safe. Remember that"

After the short talk with Tita, agad na akong nag impake ng mga gamit ko. I took a shower and dressed myself bago ako bumaba. Tinulugan ako ng driver ni Tita na maisakay ang mga maleta ko sa SUV.

Mabilis kaming nakarating sa resort. Dumiretso kami sa beach house at agad kong hinanap ang magiging kwarto ko. The beach house was elegant. Mas maliit lang siya ng kunti kaysa dun sa mansiyon. Kulay puti ang pintura at modern ang disenyo. Binuksan ko ang bintana at humampas sa mukha ko ang malamig at maaliwalas na hangin mula sa dagat.

And for once in my life...

I felt so free.