Heaven's Revenge

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Lumabas sina Regiena at Alex ng kanilang silid. Nakasalubong pa nila ang mga kaibigan nitong sina Angela, Santi at Santo. Malawak ang ngiti ng tatlo. Hindi man lang nag- open ang mga ito tungkol sa magaganap mamayang gabi sa kabilugan ng buwan.

"Magde- date ba tayo ulit dito sa Las Casas?" Hindi na niya napigilan pa ang sariling tanungin ang lalaki. Dulot iyon ng mga napansin niya rito at sa mga kaibigan nito.

Isang matamis na ngiti ang itinugon nito. "'Yan talaga ang gusto ko. Pero ikaw ang iniisip ko. Isa kang normal na tao kaya naman gusto kitang i- treat para makapag- relax ka. You need to be physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually prepared." He told him those words by looking straight in her eyes without even blinking.

"A- anong gagawin natin?" Nauutal niyang tanong. Natuwa siya sa tugon nito but at the same time ay nahiya siya dahil parang nag- expect siya na magde- date sila.

"Tara!" Then he grabbed her right hand saka sila nagtatakbo palabas.

She was just staring at him. He seemed happy while running like a child with their hands tied together.

Nagtungo sila sa isa sa mga casa sa loob ng Las Casas. Medyo malayo iyon sa kanilang tinutuluyan. Sinalubong sila ng ilang staff.

"Pinagpalang hapon sa inyo binibini at ginoo." Bati ng isa sa mga staff. "Tuloy po kayo para sa isang nakakatanggal pagod na masahe."

Napatingin siya kay Alex na tangan pa rin ang kanyang kanang kamay. "Masahe?"

"Oo. Para ma- relax ang katawan. You deserve to be pampered." Tugon nito.

Kumain na muna sila ng pananghalian sa nakahandang table set- up sa labas. Iba't- ibang Pinoy cuisines ang mga 'yon.

Pagpasok sa loob ay nagpalit na nga sila ng suot saka nahiga sa kanilang massage table. May harang na kurtina sa pagitan nilang dalawa. Sa simula palang nang pagmamasahe sa kanya ay kinumusta na siya kaagad nito.

"Ayos ba Regiena?"

Ayos na ayos. Ilang stroke palang ng masahista ay napapaigtad na siya sa sarap. It was really pampering. "Ayos." Matipid niyang tugon.

Sa labis na sarap ng bawat hagod. Isama pa ang soothing music at amoy ng silid ay tuluyang nakatulog si Regiena. Sisilim na ng siya'y magising.

"Ang sarap ng tulog mo ah. Halatang nag- enjoy ka. Humihilik ka pa nga eh. Haha!"

Napatigil siya sa paglakad sa sinabing iyon ni Alex. "S- seryoso ba? Naghilik ako?"

"Oo eh. Haha! Ang lakas mo palang maghilik." Tugon nito na hindi man lang nagdalawang isip sa isasagot.

Napahawak siya sa mukha. Tinakpan niya iyon. "Naku dalian mo. Tara na! Nakakahiya!"

Sinundan siya nito. "Ano namang nakakahiya roon? Okay lang 'yun. Normal lang ang maghilik kapag pagod at kapag ganon kasarap ang masahe."

I get defensive and insecure

My own worst critic

Behind a closing door

I'm fragile and fractured, that's for sure

I burned myself down to the ground

Oh, can I ask of you

To treat me soft and tender

Love me hard and true

Keep my heart from building walls

So high, you can't get through

Treat me soft and tender

Ooh, can you love me like

Can you love me like

Can you love me like that?

Ooh, can you love me like

Can you love me like

Can you love me like that?

I'll just keep repeating it

In case you didn't catch me

Ooh, can you love me like

Can you love me like

Can you love me like that?

Can you love me like that?

You see the world in colors

I view it black and white

Paint me a picture

Out of the lines that

I live in all of the time

Treat me soft and tender

And love me hard and true

I burned myself down to the ground

Oh, can I ask of you to treat me

Soft and tender

Ooh, can you love me like

Can you love me like

Can you love me like that?

Ooh, can you love me like

Can you love me like

Can you love me like that?

I just keep repeating it

In case you didn't catch me

Ooh, can you love me like

Can you love me like

Can you love me like that?

Sunshine left today

Got caught in the rain all alone

Can you come and pick me up

From my blues or am I late to ask you?

Love me soft and tender

Ooh, can you love me like

Can you love me like

Can you love me like that?

Ooh, can you love me like

Can you love me like

Can you love me like that?

I just keep repeating it

In case you didn't catch me

Ooh, can you love me like

Can you love me like

Can you love me like that?

Ooh, can you love me like

Can you love me like

Can you love me like that?

Ooh, can you love me like

Can you love me like

Can you love me like that?

I just keep repeating it

In case you didn't catch me

Ooh, can you love me like

Can you love me like

Can you love me like that?

Para siyang batang walang pagod na sinundan ni Alex. Nang malapit na sila sa kanilang casa ay hinigit siya nito.

"Oh aano ka dyan?" Tanong ng lalaki.

"Papasok na ako sa loob. Babalik na sa kwarto natin." Tugon niya habang hindi makatingin sa mga mata nito. Sa mapulang labi lang ng lalaki siya nakatingin.

"Magandang pagmasdan ang paglubog ng araw. Tara panuorin natin ito habang kumakain ng hapunan." Anyaya nito.

Wala na rin naman siyang nagawa dahil tila kasama iyon sa plano nito. There was nothing to regret while looking at the sunset. Doon palang ay nabusog na siya. Then she noticed from her peripheral eye view that he was looking at her. Paglingon naman niya rito ay umiwas ito ng tingin.

"Ganda no?" Sabay nitong tanong.

"Oo ang ganda ng sunset." She responded.

"Ang ganda mo."

She returned back her eyes to him. Sa pagkakataong iyon ay nagtagpo na ang kanilang mga mata. Ilang segundo rin silang nanatiling magkatitigan. Hanggang sa sabay nilang binalik ang atensyon sa papalubog na araw.

"Maganda ka naman talaga eh." Sambit nito.

May kung anong nagsiliparan sa kanyang tiyan. Mabilis din na kumabog ang kanyang dibdib. Kasing bilis ng tuluyang paglubog ng araw at pagbalot ng kadiliman. Hindi ganoon kadilim dahil nagbabadya naman ang maliwanag na sinag ng bilog na buwan.

Lumuhod sa kanyang harapan si Alex.

"A- anong ginagawa mo?" Tanong niya.

Kinuha nito ang kanyang mga kamay. Banaag niya sa mukha nito ang pag- aalala. "Iba ang gabing ito sa lahat ng gabi Regiena. Ang kabilugan ng buwan ay maaaring panganib ang maging dala sa iyo. Sa huling pagkakataon ay pwede ka pang umurong. Ayokong mapahamak ka."

Isang pilit at matipid na ngiti ang naging kasagutan niya. "Hindi ba't po- protektahan mo naman ako? Nagtitiwala akong hindi mo ako pababayaan Alex. No pressure. Kung anuman ang mangyari ay hindi mo kailangang ma- guilty. Ginusto ko rin ito. May gusto akong malaman. At gusto ko rin kayong tulungan. Wag ka nang masyadong mag- alala. Lalaban tayo mamaya."

Isang malalim na buntong hininga ang pinakawalan nito. "Poprotektahan kita sa abot ng aking makakaya. Hindi ko hahayaang may mangyaring masama sa iyo. Pangako 'yan Regiena."

Nagmamadaling gumulong ang gabi. Natatakpan pa ng mga ulap ang ilang bahagi ng bilog na buwan. Bumalik na sa kanilang silid upang maghanda. Naroon na't naghihintay sina Angela, Santi at Santo.

"Mamaya ka na lumabas Regiena. May senyales ang buwan kapag pababa na ang Mahiwagang Babaylan. Parang may mga alitaptap na pababa mula sa liwanag ng buwan. Doon natin isusuot sa iyo ang damit ng pananggalang at saka ka uupo sa palanggana. Kailangang matapos ang misyon sa loob ng tatlumpong minuto bago pa bumalik sa orihinal na bigat ang damit." Lumapit ito sa kanya. "Mag- iingat ka. Alam kong nakaantabay sayo si Alex. Ngunit nakaabang din kami."

"Salamat."

Pagsilip nila sa bintana bago maghating- gabi ay dumating na ang senyales na pababa na ang Mahiwagang Babaylan. May tila liwanag ng milyong alitaptap ang bumaba mula sa buwan.

"Tayo na."

.........

All those days watching from the windows

All those years outside looking in

All that time never even knowing

Just how blind I've been

Now I'm here blinking in the starlight

Now I'm here suddenly I see

Standing here it's all so clear

I'm where I'm meant to be

And at last I see the light

And it's like the fog has lifted

And at last I see the light

And it's like the sky is new

And it's warm and real and bright

And the world has somehow shifted

All at once everything looks different

Now that I see you

All those days chasing down a daydream

All those years living in a blur

All that time never truly seeing

Things, the way they were

Now she's here shining in the starlight

Now she's here suddenly I know

If she's here it's crystal clear

I'm where I'm meant to go

And at last I see the light

And it's like the fog has lifted

And at last I see the light

And it's like the sky is new

And it's warm and real and bright

And the world has somehow shifted

All at once everything is different

Now that I see you

Now that I see you

..........

Ah ah, oh oh

Ah ah, oh oh

Ah ah, oh oh oh oh

I can hear you but I won't

Some look for trouble

While others don't

There's a thousand reasons

I should go about my day

And ignore your whispers

Which I wish would go away

Oh, oh, oh

Ah ah, oh oh

Oh

Ah ah, oh oh oh

You're not a voice

You're just ringing in my ear

And if I heard you, which I don't

I'm spoken for I fear

Everyone I've ever loved is here within these walls

I'm sorry, secret siren, but I'm blocking out your calls

I've had my adventure, I don't need something new

I'm afraid of what I'm risking if I follow you

Into the unknown

Into the unknown

Into the unknown

Ah ah, oh oh

Ah ah, oh oh, oh

What do you want?

'Cause you've been keeping me awake

Are you here to distract me

So I make a big mistake?

Or are you someone out there

Who's a little bit like me?

Who knows deep down

I'm not where I'm meant to be?

Every day's a little harder

As I feel my power grow

Don't you know there's part of me

That longs to go

Into the unknown?

Into the unknown

Into the unknown

Ah ah, ah ah

Ah ah, ah ah

Oh, oh, oh

Are you out there?

Do you know me?

Can you feel me?

Can you show me?

Ah ah ah ah

Ah ah ah ah

Ah ah ah ah

Ah ah ah ah

Ah ah ah ah

Ah ah ah ah

Ah ah ah ah

Ah ah ah ah ah

Where are you going?

Don't leave me alone

How do I follow you

Into the unknown?

..........

You think I'm an ignorant savage

And you've been so many places

I guess it must be so

But still I cannot see

If the savage one is me

How can there be so much that you don't know

You don't know

You think you own whatever land you land on

The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim

But I know every rock and tree and creature

Has a life, has a spirit, has a name

You think the only people who are people

Are the people who look and think like you

But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger

You'll learn things you never knew, you never knew

Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon

Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned

Can you sing with all the voices of the mountain

Can you paint with all the colors of the wind

Can you paint with all the colors of the wind

Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest

Come taste the sun sweet berries of the Earth

Come roll in all the riches all around you

And for once, never wonder what they're worth

The rainstorm and the river are my brothers

The heron and the otter are my friends

And we are all connected to each other

In a circle, in a hoop that never ends

How high does the sycamore grow?

If you cut it down, then you'll never know

And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon

For whether we are white or copper skinned

We need to sing with all the voices of the mountain

We need to paint with all the colors of the wind

You can own the Earth and still

All you'll own is Earth until

You can paint with all the colors of the wind