Bridge Between the Verdant Lands

Barged In

Barged In

I don't know what's the occasion right now. Pagkalabas ko kasi mula sa aking silid ay ganito na ang nadatnan ko. Lahat kasi ng mga taga-sunod namin ay abala sa pagluluto. Ang iba naman ay abala sa paglilinis sa loob ng aming tahanan. They also brought outside the unused stuffs that they hid from the cabinet. Mga mamahaling gamit na inilalabas lang kapag may importanteng okasyon.

I asked to one of the helpers in our household. "May magiging bisita ba tayo? Ano'ng okasyon ngayon?"

A young girl responded, "ipinagbilin ng inyong ama na kailangan namin ayusin ang magiging piging mamaya. Aniya, bibisita ang Kamahalan upang suportahan sa naging tagumpay ng inyong ama, binibini."

Napatango na lang ako sa sinabi ng dalagita. Akmang magpapatuloy ito sa paglalakad pero mukhang may naalala siya. "May ipinasasabi rin ang inyong ama, binibini. Kailangan niyong maging presentable sa harap ng Kamahalan, at higit sa lahat ay huwag niyo rin kakalimutan ang panakip sa iyong mukha."

Iyon ay nagbigay galang na ito sa akin at saka na nagpatuloy sa gagawin. Sinundan ko na lang ang mga yapak ng dalagita at napabuntong-hininga.

It's not new for me. It has always been whenever we have an important occasion here. My father always repeating himself. Sa ganitong mga pagkakataon ako pinaka-iingatan ni ama. There's one time that a merchant visited my father. There was a chance that the merchant saw me—of course with my mask on—he immediately ask my hand from father but the latter denied it.

Because of that, the merchant was mad at my father and tried to get me. Dahil doon ay tuluyan ng nawalan ng timpi si ama. My father cut off the merchant's finger.

And his words roared like thunder, "I WILL NEVER GIVE YOU MY DAUGHTER!"

I was scared back then. I felt weak. I felt like I was nothing but a girl who needs protection, a girl who needs someone by my side. And everytime I looked at my father's sword, there's something fire lit inside me.

Kaya maliban sa panakaw-nakaw sa labas, at ang pananahi. I taught myself how to hold a sword. Apparently, I only have a wooden sword. I secretly carved it while making some wooden utensils for our home.

Thinking about the situation that what if my father knew what I was doing, and the daughter he was raising as a pure woman has a sword and always defying him whenever he was far away, what would be his reaction?

Magiging dismayado kaya si ama? Magagalit? Ano kaya ang mararamdaman niya kung sakaling ganoon nga ang mangyari?

I heaved a deep breath as if I didn't know what will be the results. Naturally, he would feel like that. I feel stupid to question it. Sinong ama ang magiging masaya kapag nalaman niya ang ginagawang pagsuway ng kanilang anak?

Subalit hanggang kailan ako magiging bilanggo sa tahanang 'to? Hanggang kailan ko pagkakasyahin ang sarili sa panakaw-nakaw na pagpuslit sa labas at hanggang kailan ko itatago ang pagkakakilanlan ko.

Is this really the reason why I'm alive? If mother was here...

"Malalim po yata ang iniisip niyo, binibini. May problema ba?"

Napakurap ako sa boses ni Isabela. Isa sa mga taga-sunod dito sa aming tahanan. Sinusuklay na niya ngayon ang itim at mahaba kong buhok na hanggang bewang ko. From my mirror, I could see my reflection and hers. I saw how curious her face was.

Marahan akong ngumiti at sinabing wala akong problema. Nang matapos niya akong suklayin ay nagsabi siyang tutulungan niya akong isuot ang aking kimono. Pero sa ngayon ay gusto kong mapag-isa.

"Tatawagin na lang kita," bilin ko kay Isabela.

She looked at me and to the mirror in front of me. It was just like she realized something. Alam din kasi niya kung bakit. She knows how my father reprimand me to hide my face.

She silently nods as she walks out of my room and I only heard the door close. Doon ko na tiningnan ang sarili. My father always told me that my mother and I was so much alike.

My skin is just like a snow. Soft and white. My lips is like the color of an apple while my hair is a black silky straight, that everyone might get an envy if they see me. And my eyes... were just like mother. It's like the blue ocean, another reason why my father fell on her.

I decided to wear my usual white kimono before I get emotional. Habang inaayos ang pagkakalagay ng laso sa harapan ng kimonong suot ay may naririnig akong ingay sa labas.

I thought that it was just kids playing around but a thought came on my mind. It's already evening. My father and His Majesty might be home soon, so it's impossible.

Ipagsasawalang bahala ko na sana ang mga iyon ng biglang may marinig akong kaluskos sa gawing bintana ko na nakasarado. At ganun na lang rin ang panlalaki ang mga mata ko na mula sa nakasaradong bintana ay bumukas iyon at sumulpot ang isang lalaki na nakasuot ng itim na kimono at may pa-trayanggulo na sombrero.

He immediately barged inside my room. Sisigaw na sana ako nang mabilis itong tumungo sa kinaroroonan ko at isandal ako sa pader at takpan ng isang kamay niya ang mga labi ko.

I was surprised by his immediate action. Hanggang sa unti-unting narinig ko ang mga boses sa labas.

"Nakita niyo ba?!"

"Hindi, mabilis siyang tumakbo!"

"Hanapin niyo! Hindi pwedeng malaman ito ng ating pinuno!"

At saka narinig ko na lang ang mga yabag nila palayo. I looked at this man.

"Hmmm!!!" pilit kong pagpupumiglas sa hawak niya.

"Please be quiet! I will leave sooner, just please..." Mahinang pakiusap niya.

"Hmmm!!!" I tried so hard to wiggle free from his hold but of course, he can dominate me easily.

Mula sa pagpupumiglas ko'y nakailan na nahulog at natumba ang mga ibang gamit ko sa sahig. Until I found my back on my bed. My eyes widen as I look up at him who is on top of me.

Hindi ako makagalaw mula sa pagkakahawak niya at sa kung paano ako nito titigan. This man's eyes were only looking at me. He blinked twice as he scanned me.

"Bakit ngayon ko lang nahanap ang isang tulad mo, binibini?" he said as he smile playfully. With his other free hand, he carefully caressed my face. "I finally found you, my lady."

With his touch and his words, I just realized something. My mask... I don't wear anything to hide my face!

This man... He's the only person who saw my face!