Within the Walls

Chapter 19

 “Sumakit tuhod mo riyan habang nakatayo, umupo ka muna rito.” Gregorio called to me as he ascended the steps, asking me to sit down on the couch while we wait.

 I hesitated. Darting my head back and forth to the living room and to the door. Two of the men I care about is outside the most perilous era of the Philippines. Yeah, Aurelio has connections but my father doesn’t, well, he may have but he’s not from here. He looked distinct from the people who lived here. Thoughts raced in my mind of their well-being. Every sound around me being maxed out, the clopping of hooves outside struck as a rifle firing in the distance.

 “I can’t take this.” I muttered to myself as I hurried down the stairs.

 As I reached the door, the servant blocked my way. He shook his head, glaring at me. “Banggit ni Ginoong Placido’y ‘di ka pinapapayag na umalis.” He dictated to me my father’s instructions of not letting me pass.

 “Sige na, kailangan ko sila makita.” I insisted him for me to pass through, my eyes pleading and my breath hitching as the clopping hooves reminded me of something else. But, he only shook his head, no emotion present.

 I sighed then I remembered the lawn. The stone walls were about a inch or two taller than me and it was lined with potted plants. I flashed a grin at the servant’s face. Charging to the backyard door, my bakya trudging the dirt when I found an opening. A part of the wall that was just my height.

 “Perfect.” I muttered to myself, hearing the servant’s cry with his footsteps behind me.

 I stepped on one of the potted plants, using it as a stepping stool, my hands on the wall, hoisting myself up, first my legs then my whole body. Then, dropping on to the uneven bricked road.

 “Ow.” I mumbled as I hurriedly stand up, brushing off the dust before rushing into the streets.

 Then, it hit me. I don’t know where Aurelio would go. My running stance faltered into a slow stroll into…into.

 “Where am I?” I muttered to myself as I turned my head around every direction. I can’t see a street name or anything, it was still morning so I didn’t feel the need to be wary of my surroundings.

 “Sh–” 

 Men in grey uniforms with a rifle hanging on their shoulders emerged from in front of me. Conversing with each other while clutching the strap of their rifle. I swung my head around, eyeing every establishment present in the street I’m in.

 There! I announced to myself, a large door with the words ‘Corregidor Hotel’ written next to it. I inched toward the door, making sure I’m staring directly into the hotel to avoid the looks of the guards. Once inside, I let out my breath that I was holding in since I saw those two.  

 Hiding behind the large door, I peeked my head out, seeing the two guards stopping at the hotel’s entrance. Their gaze forward. Instead of a hyperventilating heart, curiosity rushed on my mind. Watching closely at the two Spaniards. Suddenly, a man wearing a bright white suit with matching slacks and brown leather shoes stood in front of the two. His face obscured by the white flat hat, nodding to the two men. He brought down his hat, grabbing a piece of paper from within. Now, I can see his face clearly.

 He looks familiar, I thought to myself trying to place him to any of the men I met while I was here but nothing comes up.

 His clutched the paper on his palm, both extending their arms in a brief handshake, and they walked past each other.

 That was…weird, another thought rushing through me.

 “Binibini?” A sudden tap on my shoulder.

 “Jesus!” I stumbled backwards, clutching my now-shaking heart that breathed incessantly as I stared with widened eyes on to the man in front of me. Hilariously, he got startled as well by the hushed peep he grunted, giggling from that small fact in my mind. Instead of thinking about my face right now that maybe contorted into the funniest shape there, I simply chuckled. Maybe it’s this place rubbing off me, and maybe the fact no one knows me maybe contributing to it.

 The man tilted his head, total look of confusion evident.

 I straightened my body, clearing an imaginary lump in my throat. “Paumanhin–” I apologized, then, cutting myself off when an idea popped into my head. They must know about Aurelio, he’s prominent around these parts after all.

 “Nakita mo po ba si Aurelio Liwayway?” I asked about Aurelio’s whereabouts, a beam in my face.

 “Ano po muna ang pangalan niyo?” He asked about my name.

 “Ligaya. Ligaya Josefina.”

 “Ah! Narito po siya, nasa isa sa aming mga silid. Itala niyo po muna ang pangalan niyo roon.” He pointed on to the reception, requesting me to register my name on the thick book with a quill that was inserted into a bottle of ink.

 I eyed the quill, and gazed on to the man that was now behind the desk, seems like he’s waiting for me to write my name. I haven’t written with a quill before. Well, first times for everything. I fingered the feathers before picking it up, remembering the films I watched that used these before. I dabbed it on the bottle, then wrote my name like a pen. Surprisingly, it felt like a pen, and there, I wrote my name smoothly on the rough paper.

 I gazed at the man, he nodded and he escorted me onto the stairs. “Akyatin niyo lamang po at ang kanyang silid ay nasa pinakadulo.” The man smiled after explaining that Aurelio’s room was on the far end of the hallway upstairs.

 I thanked him, in Tagalog, and headed up the stairs. Grazing my fingers at the white walls that had a rough texture just like the paper. Stairs that looked like at Aurelio’s house, clacking my bakya as I ascended. Then, I reached the top. At my right, a capiz window again that was wide open.

 “He’s at the far end.” I uttered to myself as I strolled through the quiet hallway.

 There. His room. I knocked on the door. “Aurelio?”

 No reply. “Aurelio?”

 Then, the door crept open, revealing an Aurelio that peeked his head out, like he was checking the surroundings and not even looking at me. But, he gazed towards me. He stood up straight, and a visible gulp at his throat.

 “Hi.” I uttered, and smiled, slightly a longing pit in my stomach pleasured when I found him and him smiling back. But, replaced immediately with worry. “Wait, is my father there?”

 “Your father?” He rolled his eyes, “no, he’s not here.”

 “Wait, if he’s not here, then…” I stared back onto the long hallway, eyes widening.

 “Is something wrong?”

 “My dad, he ran after you…”

 He pursed his lips, looking down on the floor with a hesitant yet angered expression.

 My foot one step in front of me, ready to sprint out the hotel. “Come on, help me find him!”

 “Okay.” He paused before agreeing, creeping out the door and closing it behind him. “Let’s go.”

 And here we go again, just like when we met, I running forward, and him catching up with a racing breath.

 Don’t worry dad, we’re gonna find you.

 Heart filled with a heavy weight that I had to clutch my hand with, feeling like I was stabbed with bayonets and shot with rifles.