Charmed by the Unseen

Chapter 10: Revelations

Hindi ko na alam kong anong nararamdaman ko. Ang alam ko lang, lahat ng tao kabilang na ang pamilya ko, ay naniniwalang nababaliw na ako. Kanina pa ring ng ring ang cellphone ko sa lapag sa tabi ko pero hindi ko yun sinasagot. Umiyak lang ako ng umiyak habang nakasandal ang likod sa kama.

Somebody knocked on my door but I don't feel like opening it. I know it's Tita Marga but I'm in a state where I could no longer face anyone. Even my family.

The door still opened, gumamit siguro si Tita ng spare key kaya niya nabuksan. She hurried towards me with worried expression.

"Ally! Oh my god! Kanina pa kita hinahanap, sa'n kaba galing?" Bakas ang pag aalala sa mukha niya. "Alam mo bang nag aalala na sayo ang mommy mo? Diyos ko! Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko. Hindi ko alam kung saan ka hahanapin!"

Napaupo na rin siya sa sahig habang pinapatahan ako. Sa sinabi niya, alam kong alam niya na rin ang tungkol sa video.

"Tita...I-I don't know...Tita h-hindi yun-" I wasn't able to speak clearly dahil sa patuloy kong paghikbi. Tumingin ako kay Tita Marga na nagmamakaawa.

"Hush ija. Nandito lang ako. Nandito lang kami ng pamilya mo, okay?"

"Tita...the video...that's not true..."

Yumakap ako sa kanya. She hugged me back while trying to calm me down.

"Shhh it's okay Ally. It's okay" I rested my head on her chest while still sobbing. Hindi ko na yata napipigilan ang sarili ko. Tita Marga asked a maid to get a glass of water. Hindi nagtagal, pumasok si Aling Susan sa kwarto na may dalang tubig. She handed it to me which I drank immediately. Pero hindi parin ako napatahan nun.

"Ally, I don't know what's going on but if something is wrong, you can tell me. I'm here to listen, okay?" she smiled, but still worried.

Tumango lang ako.

"Stay here. Wag kang aalis ng beach house. I know someone who can help you. Dr. Acebedo is the best psychologist in the region. She can help" sabi niya na ikinataas ng kilay ko.

"What? What do you mean? Tita I'm not crazy! You don't have to get me a doctor! Tita okay lang ako!" I insisted. Why would she get me a psychologist? No! I'm not out of my mind!

"I know ija" she tried to calm me down. " But your mom said that it'd be best if you see someone. Just to be sure"

"To be sure of what? That I'm not insane? Tita please, you don't have to do this. Hindi ako baliw! Tita!" I grabbed her arm.

Tita Marga was surprised by my action. Kahit ako din nabigla. That was disrespectful of me. Agad ko siyang binitawan and she gave me stares of either worry or fear.

"Dito ka lang Ally. Wag kang aalis,okay? Babalik ako agad I promise!" She hurried outside the door. Sinundan ko siya agad pero ni lock niya ang pinto.

"Tita! Open the door! Please!" I cried. I pounded the door a million times. "Tita please! Maniwala naman kayo sakin. Hindi ako baliw. Bakit niyo ba to ginagawa sakin? Tita!" I yelled and continued hitting the door. But it was no use. I've been locked up. My knees weakened and I fell down on the floor. Patuloy lang na dumadaloy ang luha ko habang pinupukpok ang pintuan at patuloy na nagmamakaawa na pagbuksan nila ako.

I was crying so hard I wasn't able to think straight. I feel so lost and defeated. In a split-second, my world crumbled and I was left in the bewilderness. I don't understand everything. Kanina ko pa paulit ulit iniisip ang mga nangyari. Parang kailan lang, ang saya-saya ko, tapos bigla nalang ganito mangyayari.

***

Ilang oras na akong nakatunganga dito sa sahig. Hindi pa bumabalik si Tita. Malalim na ang gabi pero naiiyak parin ako. Tita Marga had locked me up. Pinabantayan niya pa ang paligid ng bahay to make sure na hindi ako tatakas. It was ridiculous for me. Was that really necessary?

I remember those girls who saw me in that cottage. Alam kong sila ang may gawa ng video na yun dahil sila lang naman yung nakakita sakin. I wanted to be mad, but there is something more bothering than that video.

Life is indeed full of surprises. At ngayon, pinagpipyestahan na sa social media at ginawang katatawanan ang pagmumukha ko. It felt terrible. Pero hindi yun ang masakit. Mas nasasaktan ako sa isang katanongang hindi ko magawang masagot. Ang lahat ba ng ito ay...ilusyon ko lang?

Hindi ako mapakali. I have so many questions I need answered. Dun lang ako matatahimik. And I won't get the answers I need here. Isang tao lang ang makakasagot nito lahat.

Si Juan Carlos.

I stepped out in the veranda and tumingin sa baba. Nasa second floor ako ng bahay at mga ilang metro din ang taas nun. May ilang guard na inilagay si Tita sa may bakuran kaya nahirapan akong maghanap ng tyempo. Bumalik ako sa loob ng kwarto at kumuha ng jacket at flashlight. Hindi ko alam kong tama pa 'tong ginagawa ko pero I'm left with no choice. At this moment, it's now or never.

Ilang sandali pa ang hinintay ko ng tawagin yung pinaka dulong guard ng isang kasamahan niya. That's it! That's the time. Ginawa ko yung mga ginagawa ng mga characters sa mga movie kapag tumatakas. Ginamit ko ang kurtina, blanket at bedsheet ng kwarto ko para makababa. I hurriedly sneaked into the dark corner when my foot hit the ground. Lumingon-lingon ako sa paligid. Walang tao. Agad akong kumaripas ng takbo palayo sa beach resort. I need to get away as much as possible.

Hindi ko alam kung saan ako papunta. I lit the flashlight and stormed into the night. It was a stupid idea kasi hindi ko naman alam kung saan ko siya hahanapin. Natisod ako ng bato kaya nadapa ako sa buhangin. Mangiyak-ngiyak akong tumayo. My flashlight lit the path ahead of me, I don't really recognize where I was but I started calling out in the dark kahit hindi ko naman alam kung nandito siya.

"Carlo! Carlo lumabas ka! Magpakita ka sakin! Carlo!" I called out. Nothing happened. There was silence except for the crickets. "Carlo, ano bang nangyayari? Parang awa mo na lumabas ka!" I cried out in dispair. Gabing-gabi na. Wala na siguro siya rito. Ano naman kasing gagawin niya dito sa ganitong oras? Mas lalo akong napahagulgol.

"Ally"

Tumalikod ako para harapin yung nagsalita. There he was, standing in front of me. He looked sad and troubled. He stared at me with expressive eyes na hindi ko mabasa. I threw him my phone.

"Ano yan?" I yelled, both mad and confused at the same time. Tiningnan niya ang video na nakaplay doon. He didn't react. Nakatayo lang siya sa harapan ko habang titig na titig dun sa phone.

"Anong ibig sabihin niyan?" Singhal ko ulit. "Sabihin mo nga sakin ang totoo! Totoo kaba? Do you even exist? Kasi hindi ko na alam ang iisipin ko eh! Hindi ko alam! Hindi ko naiintindihan ang nangyayari! Bakit? Bakit-"I wasn't able to finish what I wanted to say because it led me crying again. I looked at him with pleading eyes. He just met my gaze and attempted to approach me but I stepped back.

"No! Lumayo ka sakin! Just answer my question! Totoo ka ba?" I cried out. He just remained standing there, a meter away. But his eyes speaks something. There was pain in them.

"Sumagot ka!" I yelled. "Carlo baliw ba ako? Sabihin mo sakin bakit kita nakikita tapos sila hindi! Ano kaba talaga? Multo kaba? Ano? Sumagot ka putangina! Are you real or am I just imagining things" my voice broke. "Are you just...are you just a product of my imagination? Dahil ba to sa schizophrenia ko kaya may kaharap ako ngayon?" I covered hy hands on my face, unable to contain my crying.

"Hawakan mo ako" he said. It was a plea.

Hindi ako gumalaw. I just stared at him.

"Ally, hawakan mo ako" sabi niya ulit. But I didn't do anything. To my surprise, kinuha niya ang palad ko at inilapat sa dibdib niya. It was like electricity. It sent impulses on my body.

"Anong nararamdam mo?" Mahinang tanong niya sakin.

"Y-your heartbeat" I stuttered. Dahan-dahan ko siyang tiningnan. Hindi ko alam kung anong meron sa mga mata niya that made stop crying. His presence calmed me down. Hindi ko inalis ang kamay ko sa dibdid niya.

Ng walang pasabi, he grabbed me into his arms at niyakap niya ako. My eyes started crying again as I felt his warm embrace. I rested my head on his chest and closed my eyes. It was soothing. I can hear his heartbeat. It felt real.

"Hindi ako multo" mahinang sabi niya. "Totoo ako, Ally. Totoo ang nakikita mo. Hindi ako patay, hindi mo ko ilusyon at lalong hindi ka baliw."

I looked up at him.

"Kung ganon bakit hindi ka nakikita ng ibang tao? Bakit ako lang ang nakakakita sayo? Explain that to me kasi wala akong maintindihan. I think I-I'll lose my sanity"

Kumalas ako sa yakap niya at tiningnan siya ng deretso. He sighed before sitting down on a rock. He gestured me to sit beside him.

"Maniniwala kaba sakin kung sabihin ko sayo ang totoo kung ano ako?" Sabi niya ng makaupo na ako.

"Just tell me" I said while staring the sea at nilalaro ang flashlight sa kamay ko.

I heard him took a deep breath.

"Isa akong diyos Allysandra"

Hindi ko alam kung tama ang narinig ko! Diyos? As in D-I-Y-O-S? I think it just made my head ache worse. Napalingon agad ako sa kanya, my face filled with question marks.

He let out a soft laugh before looking at me. "Sabi ko na hindi ka maniniwala eh"

"What are you talking about? Isa kang diyos? You mean, ikaw si?" I pointed at the sky, hindi parin makapaniwala sa sinabi niya. Pero natawa siya which confused me even more.

"Hindi Ally" napapailing siya at mukhang natatawa pa rin. "Ang Diyos na tinutukoy mo ay ang Diyos ng lahat ng bagay. Siya ang Panginoon ng sanlibutan. At Siya ang Diyos na dapat sambahin ng mga tao" he smiled.

"So hindi ikaw si Lord?"

"Hindi. Isa akong diyos ng kalikasan. Mga taong nagpapanatili ng kontrol at balanse sa mga bagay dito sa mundo. Pero hindi kagaya Niya" he pointed up. "hindi kami dapat sambahin. Siya lang dapat ang sinasamba ng mga tao at wala ng iba"

"So you're basically a god? Like those in greek mythology?"

Tumango siya.

"Wait," I raised both my hands as a stop sign. So he's a god! Like a god-god? Like Zeus? Poseidon? Eeesshhh! May nag eexist pala talagang ganun?

"Alam ko mahirap paniwalaan" bumontong hininga si Juan Carlos. "Sa paglipas ng panahon ay dahan-dahang nakakalimutan ng mga tao na totoo kami. Hanggang sa naging kwento na lang at tuluyan ng nakalimutan"

I can't believe what he just said. It was so unreal. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko i po-process ang mga sinasabi niya. But a part of me wants to believe him. Na totoo 'to lahat at hindi isang panaginip lang.

"So if you're a god then you have powers? Like magic?"

Tumango siya."Pero nalilimitahan din yun. Kung diyos ka ng dagat, ang dagat lang din ang kapangyarihan mo, hanggang dun lang yun"

"So what can you do?" Na curious ako bigla. He looked at me which made me concious.

"Hangin" tipid niyang sagot. Like there ain't much to share about it. That's actually cool. So ibig sabihin pag ginalit ko siya pwede niya lang akong pitikin at hihigopin ako ng hangin palayo.

"But you can show yourself to other people, right?" I asked. Makulit na ako sa pagtatanong ko but I was hoping he'd say yes.

"Ooh. Pero hindi yun madali Allysandra. Hindi naman talaga dapat nakikita ng mga tao ang kagaya namin. Nakatago kami sa mata ng mga kagaya mo"

But I can see him. How's that?

"Marahil nagtataka ka kung bakit mo ako nakikita. Hindi ko rin alam. Pero may iilang tao nga siguro ang isinilang na may kakayahang makita ang mga bagay na may kababalaghan. Pero iilan lang. May kaakibat na kapahamakan ang kakayahang yan. Matinding ipinagbabawal ng Mataas ng Hukuman na magkaroon ang mga diyos ng koneksyon sa mga mortal"

"Yet you're with me. Why?"

"Ewan ko" he looked away. "Matagal ko ng gustong-gustong sagutin ang tanong na yan. Pero hindi ko magawa." He picked up a stone and threw it on the sea. "Siguro dahil may naalala lang ako sa'yo. Isang pangyayaring ayaw ko ng maulit"

I heard pain in his voice. Na para bang matagal niya ng dinadala yun at hindi niya lang masabi. Then it came to me like a flood. The vision hit me so fast. And realization came inside my head. The dream rushed at me, clear as the wind.

My heartbeat pounded heavily as I faced him, realizing his real identity.

"I-Ikaw si Aglawin" I said. He was the man in my dream. The one who was cursed by an angry goddess.

Tumango siya. "Ako nga. Hindi na ako magtataka kung paano mo nalaman. Pero tapos na ang lahat ng yun. Malaya na ako ulit" he smiled back.

The dream felt so fresh that I can still feel it. It must've been painful. Ngayon ko lang narealize ang lahat. Kung bakit niya ako pinagtatabuyan dati. Kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng sakit na nakikita ko mga mata niya. He lost the woman he loves, he lost his powers for fifty years and he was locked up in a place I don't remember. It must've been hard for him.

I remember Ariella. Juan Carlos loved her so much he was willing to take all of the goddess' wrath. I don't know why, but I felt a sting. A slight pain. I have never felt anyone loved me like that. My parents love me but it was never like it. My friends love me but it was platonic. It was not that kind of love that would sacrifice everything for someone.

"Mahal na mahal mo talaga siya no?" I smiled. Hindi ko alam kong na gets na kung sinong tinutukoy ko.

Hindi siya sumagot. He just stared at the sky. I heard a sigh then he spoke.

"Mahal na mahal. Mas mahal ko pa siya kaysa sa sarili ko" he finally said after a long awkward silence.

I nodded. I expected that. Ba't ko pa ba kasi itinanong.

"I need to go" sabi ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ba ako nasasaktan. I just want to leave.

"Handa ka ng harapin ulit ang pamilya mo?" He turned to me na nakakunot ang noo.

I shrugged and smiled bitterly. "Hahayaan ko nalang silang gawin sakin ang gusto nila. Wala na rin naman akong magagawa. It's too late. Everybody thinks I'm crazy now"

Tumayo siya at tumitig sakin. There was no more pain in his eyes, there was hope in them.

"Hindi pa huli ang lahat. May kilala akong makakatulong sayo"

I raised an eyebrow "Sino?"

"Ang diyosang matagal ka ng gustong makita"