1894 AND A DAY

Past Lives Met

It was a bright Saturday morning, malamig ang hangin at slow motion na nahuhulog ang mga dahon ng akasya sa kinauupuan ni Val. He was wearing a PE uniform na may nakaburdang FAD sa left side ng white na jersey T-shirt. He looks very innocent na kalmadong nakaupo sa bench. He felt so much grateful to have found the spot because he was just waiting for an hour to pass bago pumunta sa university gymnasium.

Aminado siyang kinakabahan siya. But since the day he saw the poster ay hindi na siya mapakali, there was something inside him that wants to join the Taekwondo team pero nagdadalawang-isip pa rin siya. How can he join such a sport that requires mental sharpness and physical agility? And to think na wala siyang ibang hobby but to stay at home and read books, kakayanin ba ito ng katawan niya? He couldn’t help himself from thinking worse and awful situations that might happen to him.

On the other hand, maybe he was just too confined within the habit of being alone most of the time. But he was thinking na kung sasali siya sa club ay hindi na mauulit ang pagiging clumsy niya sa lahat ng bagay—including that day na nadapa siya at muntik nang masagasaan ng sasakyan.

From his spot, he has an amazing view of a ten-storey main building. He squinted at the sight of the metal that forms the name, Universidad de Don Manuelo. It’s just perfectly attached there for maybe centuries and that always amazed him. Now, he’s really convinced na rito na niya bubuoin ang kaniyang college memories.

He was still enjoying the sight when a girl in uniform appeared out of nowhere.

“I am Phoebe Imperial.” Nakangiti itong nakatingin sa kaniya.

“W… what?” Val muttered in an awkward manner.

“And you are?” She seems very casual while standing in front of Val. Her above the knee pleated skirt matched her long legs and slender frame. The look on her face doesn’t show any reaction but a wide smile on her lips.

Val was still surprised by the sudden appearance of this girl and doesn’t know what to say. And how would he react when in fact this is the first time a stranger actually wanted to know him.

“Noong 1889 pa nang itayo ang building na ‘yan, well, ginamit na kumbento during the Spanish era.”

Phoebe sat next to Val like they’ve been friends already.

“You know what, ang daming myths ng school na ‘to. I researched some of them and I’ve read over the internet na Don Manuelo, apparently, the owner of this university was a priest. Well, not until he was stoned to death.”

Val was waiting for her to continue but it was awkward for him to make it obvious.

“If you’re interested to know the reason why, it’s because Don Manuelo is gay and that was enough for his hypocrite fellow priest and the congregation to sentence him to death.”

Valdis looked at the building again. He was thinking that maybe that is the reason why he feels something is strange with that name.

“I am Phoebe, LGBTQIA+ Advocate. You are?” muling pakilala nito na ngayon ay nakalahad na ang mga kamay sa kaniya.

“Val- Valdis Constelo.” He accepted her hands and shook it.

“Valdis, strange name, but it means “rule” or “goddess of the dead” in Latvian origin.”

Val thought that Phoebe must be a bookworm or just really smart.

“How do you know that?”

“I am fond of reading name origins, that’s why.”

Phoebe is a sophomore Literature student. She’s a Dean’s lister on her first year and even had an opportunity to go to Madrid for a workshop program. Her intelligence and confidence can really bring her anywhere. However, this is the reason why she doesn’t have much friends. Because of her high self-esteem and self-belief it is mistaken by everybody for her being arrogant and boastful.

“Don’t you have a class?” She stood up in an abrupt. “FAD, yes, architecture?” tanong nito na nakatitig sa suot niya.

“I don’t have a class but I’m going to the gym.” He lowered his gaze. “Not Architecture, it’s Fine Arts.”

Tumayo na rin siya at inayos ang pagkakasukbit ng bag sa kaniyang likod. He looked at his phone to check the time.

“Phoebe underscore Imperial, small letters.”

“What?”

“That’s my IG account. DM me if you’re free.”

Bago pa man siya makasagot ay nakaalis na ito.

“How strange. Ngayon lang kami nagkita but she already gave me her IG account,” bulong niya sa sarili.

Nagsimula na rin siyang maglakad papunta sa gymnasium. What Phoebe shared to him earlier about the university’s dark secrets kept bugging him.

“Poor Don Manuelo, he must have really suffered noong nabubuhay pa siya.”

Muli niya sinulyapan ang building. Then he walked straight down the alley that separates the football court from the main building. Only a few students can be seen around. When he reached the corner, he saw the entrance. It was dim lighted na tila nakadagdag pa sa kaba na nararamdaman niya.

When he was finally inside the gym ay kaagad niyang hinanap ang left corner kung saan makikita ang registration table at may dalawang member ng club na nag-a-assist. Sa likuran naman ay isang lalaki ang nakaupo nang pormal, naka-cross ang arms at halos hindi kumikibo. He’s wearing a V-neck shirt na kahit pa nakaupo ay halatang well toned ang katawan nito.

He approached the table at ngumiti.

“Hi. I’m Valdis Constelo,” nakangiti niyang sabi.

The members assisted him to write his details on the folder neatly paced above the table.

“This guy can’t be serious,” bulong ni Cali sa sarili. Mula nang makita niya ito sa school entrance na muntik nang masagasaan ng kotse ay nakadama na siya ng pagkainis sa tuwing naiisip at nakikita niya ito. And out of all the places na puwedeng mangyari ang muntik nang aksidenteng iyon ay sa school entrance pa talaga.

This sudden flashing back of memories bumped into Cali’s mind again that caused him to grasp. He felt a sudden pain in his temple. He put his hands on his head but the pain didn’t stop, and again, he was into a trance of some sort of recollection from the past na hindi niya maintindihan kung bahagi ba ito ng kaniyang nakaraan o isang masamang panaginip lamang na pauli-ulit na bumabalik sa kaniyang kaisipan.

“Mahabag kayo sa kaniya, ako na lamang ang inyong parusahan! Wala siyang ginawang kasalanan sa Diyos! Manuelo!”

Halos sumabog ang didbdib ni Antonio habang nakikita niyang nakagapos ang mga kamay at may busal sa bibig si Padre Manuelo. Labis siyang nagmamakaawa na huwag itong saktan. Nakapanlulumo na makita niya ang lalaking minamahal na pinahihirapan at umaagos ang mga luha.

“Susungin sa kumukulong asupre ang kaluluwa ni Manuelo dahil sa kaniyang pakikiapid sa kapuwa lalaki. Ganoong bagay din ang mangyayari sa ‘yo, Antonio! Hindi karapat-dapat sa mga mata ng Diyos ang uri ng inyong pagkatao. Mga kampon kayo ng demonyo! Kayo ay mga isinumpa at salot!” mariin ang mga salitang wika ni Monsenyor Diosdado na halos pandirihan ang pari na napaliligiran ng maraming tao.

“Tama! Si Padre Manuelo ang nagdadala ng salot sa ating lugar!” sigaw naman ng isang lalaking katabi ng monsenyor. “Ang dapat sa kaniya ay batuhin hanggang sa kaniyang kamatayan!” wika nito na nakangisi.

Sinabunutan ni Cali ang sarili. Hindi siya nagkakamali. It was in the main entrance where that part of this recollection happened. Pauli-ulit na lumilitaw ito sa kaniyang kaisipan. This is may be the reason why he really hates this guy. Ganoon pa man ay pinilit niyang pakalmahin ang sarili. He could not behave like this in front of him.

“Thank you for signing, Valdis Constelo. We will contact you na lang if we finalized na the schedule for orientation and training,” sabi ng isang member at nakipagkamay ito kay Val. “By the way, I am Rave Castro and I want you to meet Cali, Calypso Imperial” dagdag pa nito at tumingin sa likuran.

“So you wanna be part of this team?”

Nagulat si Val nang bigla itong tumayo at nilagay sa magkabilang bulsa ang mga kamay. Dahan-dahan itong lumapit sa kaniya. Seryoso at diretso lamang ang tingin nito.

“This guy looks familiar,” bulong ni Val sa sarili. “But why does he look annoyed by my presence?”

Cali stopped a few inches towards Val. Sa ganitong posisyon ay nagkalapit ang kanilang mga mukha. Seryoso niya itong tinitigan. He noticed that Val’s face remained calm and full of innocence. He surely hates this guy.

“Are you sure you wanna be part of this team?”

“Y-yes,” answered Val.

“Well, before we accept you, there is a test that you need to pass.” Cali was surely doing this to challenge Val. He hates him for being weak and vulnerable. Everytime na naaalala niya ito sa school entrance ay mas lalo siyang naiirita.

“Cali, what are you doing?” tanong ni Rave sa kaibigan pero sa halip na sagutin ito ay nagpatuloy lamang ito sa pagsasalita.

“You need to jog for 20 rounds sa buong gymnasium without a break. Only then will we accept you.” Seryoso pa rin ang mukha nito.

“Are you sure about that?”

“Didn’t you hear me? Ayaw mo?” Cali said in a sarcastic voice.

“No, I mean… yes.”

Inilapag naman ni Val ang kaniyang bag sa registration table at tila nahihiyang inayos ang suot habang nakatitig kay Cali na ngayon ay hindi pa rin umaalis sa kinatatayuan nito.

“How can this guy act like this kung wala naman akong natatandaang… ” biglang nanlaki ang mga mata ni Val nang maalalang si Calypso Imperial ang lalaking humila sa kaniya mula sa entrance gate nang muntik na siyang masagasaan.

“Hindi ako nagkakamali. It was him,” muling bulong niya sa sarili.

“What are you waiting for, Mr. Valdis Constelo!” sigaw ni Cali nang makitang tila natulala pa ito habang nakatitig sa kaniya.

“Y-yes,” tanging sagot ni Val matapos mahimasmasan.

Bahagya niyang pinilig ang ulo and started running. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na magjo-jogging siya but he was so determined to be a part of the club. Patutunayan niya kay Calypso Imperial na kaya niyang tapusin ang 20 rounds.

He has gone for ten rounds pero nararamdaman niya nang sumasakit ang kaniyang mga tuhod. Basang-basa na rin ng pawis ang suot niyang jersey T-shirt.

“You can do it, Val. Patunayan mo sa Calypso Imperial na ‘yan na deserve mong mapabilang sa Taekwondo team,” bulong niya sa sarili.

On and on, he went for more couple of rounds hanggang sa isang round na lang ang kailangan niya. Nakatayo pa rin si Cali at naka-cross ang arms habang sinusundan ng tingin si Val.

“This guy is really terrible. How can he continue jogging for 20 straight rounds na hindi man lang nagpapahinga,” bulong ni Cali sa sarili habang nakatingin kay Val na ngayon ay patungo na sa kaniya. Hindi maikakaila ni Cali, but he wanted to admire Val’s qualities—ang mapungay nitong eyelashes at maamong mga mata. Sumasabay rin sa kaniyang pagtakbo ang wavy at chestnut niyang buhok. Lumilitaw din ang maputi niyang balat sa pawisan niyang jersey.

Nang malapit na ito sa kaniya ay ngumiti ito na para bang tuwang-tuwa dahil natapos niya ang 20 rounds.

“I got it,” halos pabulong na sabi nito. After a few seconds ay bigla na lamang itong natumba subalit bago pa man ito bumagsak sa sahig ay nasalo na siya ni Cali. Inalalayan niya ang katawan ni Val. His head rested on Cali’s shoulder.

Dahan-dahan namang nagmulat ng mga mata si Val at tinitigan ang mukha ni Cali na nakatunghay sa kaniya.

“Antonio,” he mumbled and closed his eyes again. 

Nabigla si Cali sa kaniyang narinig.

“Manuelo?” sagot ng kaniyang utak.