Within the Walls

Chapter 7

 The bell rung signalling the end of class. Along with the murmurs from within the class, and the h noisy hallway. The sound of chairs scraping as everyone raced out of the door. But, I remain seated, still daydreaming about Restituto’s warm smile, his mellow voice that flutters my heart to a wonderland.

 “Ligaya!”

 A hoarse voice broke my reverie.

 “Ooh–wh–what?”

 Right in front of me is our previous teacher, not Ms. Giya sadly, who has her cerulean fan on my desk as she apparently slams it without me noticing.

 “Ang lalim ng iniisip ah, sino ba yan (Seems like you’re letting your daydreaming, who is that?)”

 Instantly, I look away and my cheeks flush a deep red. Thrusting all my notebooks and pens in my bag, I sling it on my shoulder. I snatched the camera on the desk, smiled at my teacher and waved goodbye. My mind wanders to the thoughts of Restituto and I’s scene from earlier.

 I was literally swept off my feet. Speed-walking through the hallway, the mental note from earlier appeared. I have to take a picture of Intramuros again. Which means I have to face Spaniards and past Filipinos, especially Aurelio Liwayway.

 Come to think about it, the two almost look alike. The only difference was that Restituto has a scar on his eye and his hair was white–don’t know if its natural or dyed. While Aurelio had no scar and jet black hair.

 I didn’t even notice I’m already at the entrance. Piercing eyes examined as I walked through the campus, I try my best to look straight ahead but I can faintly hear whispers of my name and it was getting to me. I speed-walked outside and let out a sigh of relief as I head on to Intramuros.

 “Para!” I hailed the passing jeepney, who slowed down and let me in.

 I sat near the entrance of the jeepney, peering through the entrance. I observe the pavement crowded with students, either in pairs or in a group. Chatting with each other, some laughing, and some doing crazy movements I can’t even describe, making me giggle softly.

 “Intramuros!” The driver shouted.

 I head down the entrance of the jeepney and I am back with the dark, dilapidated entryway with a metal plaque in the center.

 ’INTRAMUROS’ in a bold font.

 I strolled the historical streets near the wall, reading each information board with curiosity as I clutched the camera near my stomach. A thought comes to my mind as I examined my camera if I can relive those moments written on the board. The scary thing is if I don’t meet Aurelio, he wields so much power during those times. He got me out of that statue fiasco, as well as the Fort Santiago.

 I think I should buy a normal camera. I sat at a nearby bench, not even noticing it’s already night time. The lights hanging from the tears flickered to life, revealing a beautiful assembly of lights. It was captivating, holding up the camera, I peered into the viewfinder and felt for the shutter, pressing it.

~1890 - ??? - Intramuros, Manila~

 A flash of light momentarily blinded me. As I brought down my camera, the scene around me changes. The trees with lights were gone, replaced with a black, metal lamppost emitting an orange fluorescent light.

 I stand up quickly and my eyes dart from side to side to see rustic stone houses with their signature Capiz windows. But, only one building was alight, the whole street it was built on was illuminated as well. Three stone entryway emitting a bright light to where people clad in elegant attires stroll inside, merrily talking with their partner. Men in barong tagalogs with filigree designs, women in baro’t sayas of varying colors with mesmerizing designs.

 My mouth agape as I look back onto my camera, which has printed the photo in full clarity. I look at it and it was the picture of the trees. I look back up at the building, its lights escaping through the multitude of windows of modern flair. My eyes examined the buildings grandiosity, a mixture of white and brick red, with two flags fluttering in the breeze at the second floor’s exterior wall.

 I walked closer and a lilting, dulcet melody of a piano and violins enamored by hearing. An inviting, mellow waltz calling unto me. I decided to take a photo, lifting the viewfinder to my eye, I feel a gentle tap on my shoulder. I turned around me to see.

 “Aurelio?” I asked with a high-pitched tone.

 “Ligaya! Saan ka nagpunta at bigla kang nawala? (Ligaya! Where did you go? You’ve vanished rather suddenly.)” He lifts up one of my hands and places a quick kiss.

 I blush a deep scarlet, the same color of the dress of one of the guests. Aurelio saw what my eyes saw and a grin appeared on his face.

 “Maari ba kitang maisama sa loob? (May I bring you inside?)”

 I tilted my head a little and checked what I was wearing. I’ll stick out like a sore thumb wearing in these.

 “Umm…ngunit ang suot ko.”

 He eyes me from head to toe, while scratching his chin. He nods and gestures me to follow him. He places his fist on his hips, and I rest my arm around it. Feeling his thick arms, I fluster quite easily since I haven’t done this to anyone before.

 “Mayroon akong kakilala na mananahi, maaring mayroon siyang damit para sa iyo (I know a tailor, he might have something for you).”

 We walk through the uneven bricked pavement, passing by wooden houses, stone houses, mansions. All lined with the same lampposts from earlier. Hooves clopped as kalesas with a lone lantern traipsed the streets. It was quiet, not deafening, but comforting.

 “Narito na tayo (We are here).”

 A small fountain at the center of the stone lawn decorated with flowers of different colors. I turn to my left and saw stone stairs that led to a short walkway, leading to a wooden door. The stairs could only fit one person at a time, so Aurelio gestures me to go first with a bow. As we reached the wooden door, Aurelio excuses himself to go in front. He knocked on the door three times and it emitted a muffled groan from inside.

 Metals clanging together, and the door opens for us. Aurelio motioned me to go inside and I am met with a large wooden interior of yellows and browns. Glass cases filled with baro’t sayas and barong tagalogs. It’s almost as if it was glowing, an exquisite display of clothes left my mouth open in amazement.

 “Tubig? (Water?)” Aurelio hands me a wooden cup.

 I nodded and took a quick sip, the cool liquid refreshing my body. I held the cup as I wander further into the house, more and more array of clothes took my breath away.

 “Aurelio, sino na naman ito? (Aurelio, who is this?)” A grumpy, low voice said.

 Aurelio turns around, flashing a smile on his face. “Ah! Mang Narding! Siya po si Ligaya (Ah! Mang Narding! She is Ligaya.).”

 I turned around to see a slumped man with a grey beard, wearing a salakot and holding a wooden cane with shaky hands. His other hand behind his hunched back as gazes at me.

 “Kayrikit na babae. (What a beautiful woman.)” He smiles.

 “Narito po kami sapagkat nais po naming dumalo sa salu-salo (We are here for we would like to go to a ball),” he paused as he looks around the room, “at nais ko po na ipasuot sa aking binibini iyon (And I would like for my partner to wear that.”

 I follow the direction of his index finger and he points to the most spectacular dressed I’ve ever saw. A scarlet, sequin baro’t saya that twinkled even without any light pointed at it. Silver filigree designs on the shoulder that screamed elegance.

 Mang Narding nods and slowly walks to the glass case, his cane thumping with his feet.

 “Nagkakahalagang isang-daang piso. (It costs 100 pesos).”

 Aurelio digged on his pockets and retrieved his wallet, fishing out a 100-peso bill and gave it to the old man, who opened the glass case with a key he was holding for a long time. Aurelio brings down the dress and presents it to me. I was out of words, I wasn’t able to stop him from buying since he just kept on going.

 “Aurelio, hindi ko matatanggap iyan. (I can’t accept this.)” I raised my hands in decline.

 “Isang munting regalo ko sa iyo, sapagkat ikaw ang unang binibini na nakapagtibok ng aking puso. (A simple gift for you are the first who made my heart flutter in a long while.)” He casts a shy smile, as he looked away from me, his arm still outstretched holding the dress.

 What.