Bridge Between the Verdant Lands

Sorry

Sorry

"OUR CHIEF-GENERAL IS HERE! HAIL TO OUR HERO! HAIL TO OUR VICTORY!"

As soon as my father arrived at our village with his troupes, all of the people hailed his name and victory. My father is a Chief-General soldier of the Kingdom of Sidero.

As much as I wanted to join them, all I can do is to only listen. Ang magagawa ko lang ay maghintay kay ama sa loob ng aming tahanan. I don’t know how many minutes I've waited before I heard the door open and my father’s footsteps.

Kaagad kong niyakap si ama.

Feeling my father's warmth, it's been a while. Like the usual, kapag umuuwi siya, may dala siyang regalo para sa akin. This time, it's a music box.

"How did you get this?" ani ko na parang bata lang katulad noon na sabik na sabik. I felt excited as I opened the music box. Its music quickly prevailed to our ears.

It's like a Lullaby... calming and soft.

"I bought that near in town of Gredejo, they have lots of antiques and I was thinking that you might like them so I chose them. And, sure I'm right. Nagustuhan mo ba?"

I nodded as I listened to the music box. "I'm very glad, father."

He patted my head, and he said that we can continue our talk inside. Naghiwalay muna kami ni ama. Ako papunta sa aking silid, habang siya'y sa kanya. He needed to change his clothing to his usual blue kimono from his warrior gears.

I carefully placed the music box on my table. Tiningnan ko muli ang regalo ni ama. It was rose gold-colored and has an intricate design. Habang pinagmamasdan ko ang bagay na iyon, ang kaninang ngiti at galak na nadarama ay unti-unting napawi.

Napaupo ako sa kama. This pretends happiness drained me. I was glad that my father came back home without any bruise, the only thing is, hindi ko na maaring gawin ang ginagawa tuwing gabi kapag wala si ama.

I was forbidden to go outside, nor see my face by an outsiders. I don't know why. Basta't palaging sabi ni ama ay para lang iyon sa akin. Para ma-protektahan ako. He didn't know that whenever he is far away, every late evening, pumupuslit ako sa labas— sa bubong ng tahanan namin

Sinubukan ko naman kasing gawin ang mga ginagawa ng mga tao sa labas. Pero sa tuwing susubukan kong ilapat ang mga paa ko sa lupa, hindi rin natutuloy. It was like my conscience keeps whispering to me. Kaya pinagkasya ko na lang ang sarili sa mismong bubong ng tahanan namin.

It's way funny that I found it amusing, to have a little freedom. Hindi ko man mararamdaman ang pakiramdam ng lupa sa sarili kong mga paa. Maari na rin sigurong maramdaman ko naman ang hamig ng hangin at ang tanawin ng gabi sa kalangitan.

It's way easier to get inside dahil sa bintana ng silid ko ako dumadaan. Though, sinunod ko pa rin naman ang isa pang bilin ni ama. Ang takpan ang mukha ko.

Marami kaming napag-usapan ni ama habang kumakain ng hapunan. Napag-alaman kong naka-alyansa na nila ang kaharian ng Laden. Akala ko nga ay hanggang doon matatapos ang usapan. At bilang kilala ko si ama, hindi nito kaliligtaan ang para sa kanya'y napaka-importante.

Subalit hindi ko naman mapigilan ang hindi kabahan. Lalo na nung nagtanong siya.

"What were you doing when I was away?" he said why cutting the beef meat on his plate.

I tried to be casual as I answered him. "Nitong mga nakaraan ay nahiligan k ang pagtatahi. I'm making a scarfforo this upcoming winter. Gusto niyo bang makita ama?"

I am praying that he would believe it. And the stitching is true. Maliban sa panakaw-nakaw na paglabas tuwing gabi ay inihanda ko na ang ganitong sitwasyon. Like a cover-up. Pero totoo rin namang nagtatahi ako ng scarf para sa parating na tag-lamig mga ilang buwan na lang.

I may be a bad daughter, but can you blame me? All my life is like a prison in this home. Nakaya kong hindi ipakita sa tao ang mukha ko, pero paano naman ang kahit na katiting lang ng paghahangad na makita ang labas?

"Really?" Father's tone was like unsure. "Wala kang ginawang iba?"

I chuckled of my father's statement. Kahit ang hatid niyon ay libo-libong kaba but I chose to act like nothing.

"Father... Don't you know me? Did I ever lie to you?" It was like something lump in my throat when I said that. I feel sorry and at the same time, my mind keeps saying that it's the right thing to do for now.

Patawad ama...

Iyon lang naman sa ngayon ang masasabi ko. Because at the end of the day, narito man siya o wala, I still have to obey my father.