Opposite

Chapter 14

FLASHBACK

"FLASH NEWS. Isang kotse ang natagpuang wasak sa karsada ng Rilen matapos itong mabunggo sa isang humaharurot na trak. Samantala, hindi pa nakukumpirma ang mga biktima."

William and Rosetta were in their office, taking breakfast, when they have heard about the news on the radio.

"Sa Rilen Road lang pala 'yang aksidente, honey," Rosetta said.

"Yes, unfortunately," William responded. "Ang dami na talagang nangyayaring aksidente ngayon, 'di rin maiiwasan. Kaya kailangan lagi nating mag-ingat, pati ikaw."

"Well I'm taking good care of myself. Sa anak lang natin ako nag-aalala kasi mahilig mag-shopping 'yon at kung umuwi pa minsan ay gabi na. Eh kung hindi mo ba naman sana kinukunsinti."

"Ayan ka na naman."

"Pero kumusta na kayo date nila ni Tyson," she giggled. "I wonder what's their topic right now. Tawagan kaya natin?"

"Ano ka ba? Makakaistorbo lang tayo sa moment ng dalawa kung tatawagan pa natin."

"Sabagay."

When they were done eating, nagsimula na rin silang magtrabaho. Everything was going smooth, not until someone called William.

As soon as he held the phone, he greeted the person on the other line. Nang magsimula nang magsalita ang kausap niya, unti-unti na ring gumuho ang mundo niya. And at last, it was said on the other line:

"Doc, dead on arrival."

END OF FLASHBACK

Harlow folded the paper she was holding and started walking back to Plesingko, hoping she would enter again. Unfortunately, the door couldn't be opened. In spite of that, she tried calling out for Dukeh. Nagtagal din siya ng ilang minuto roon sa may pinto, ngunit hindi na siya pinapasok pang muli. Siguro nga iyon na ang huling beses na makapapasok siya roon.

The she remembered, before she exited the Plesingko, Dukeh told her that all her questions were written down on the paper, so she tried finding the answer, pero nabigo siya.

Napaupo na lamang siya dahil sa pagkabigo. Ano na ang gagawin niya? Wala siya sa tunay niyang mundo. Saan siya titira? Ano ang puwede niyang kainin eh wala naman siyang trabaho? Paano na?

She started to cry knowing that she wouldn't survive in the world of Heallven. Ngunit sa kabila niyan, ang pinakamalaking tanong talaga sa sarili niya ay: "Am I a living dead?"

Halos sumabog na ang ulo niya kaiisip sa mga puwedeng kasagutan sa kaniyang mga katanungan, until the woman who talked to her a while ago came back.

"Oh, nandito ka pa rin?" she said.

Harlow didn't respond.

"Hindi ka pa ba bumalik kah Dukeh?"

"I came back to him and he gave me these." She showed to her the tokens and the folded paper. "Anong gagawin ko rito?"

"Hindi niya ba sinabi sa'yo?"

"Sabi niya gagamitin ko daw ito sa paglalakbay ko. I don't even know what journey is he talkin' about."

"Eh, binasa mo na ba 'yang nasa papel?"

Harlow expressed hesitation. "Not all."

"Oh, 'yon naman pala. Paano mo malalaman kung hindi mo babasahin lahat?" she said. "Pero siguro mabuti pa kung tumuloy ka muna sa bahay ko, alam kong pagod ka. Magpahinga ka muna."

"Wait, sorry, but I don't know you. How would I trust a stranger?"

The woman smiled. "Talagang wala ka pang kaalam-alam sa Heallven, pero lahat ng bagay ay maiisip mo rin sa tamang panahon. Huwag kang mag-alala, mapagkakatiwalaan mo ako. Isa pa, wala ka pang bahay na matutuluyan."

Harlow looked directly at the woman and examined her.

The woman chuckled. "Pangako, mabuti akong mamamayan."

Dahil mukhang mabait naman ang babae at mapagkakatiwalaan, napapayag din sa huli si Harlow. And so they went to the woman's house. The moment she saw her house, she was amazed. Actually, the houses in the village were almost the same in figure and everything, namangha lamang siya sa loob ng bahay.

The interior was just designed minimal, but elegant. May mga halaman sa loob. There were also paintings of tropical leaves. Everything was pleasing to the eyes. The house was made of woods, yet it looked sturdy. So far, so good.

"Mag-isa mo lang ba rito?" Harlow asked as she sat down on the sofa.

"Oo," the woman said, "hinihintay ko pa kasi ang pamilya ko."

"Huh? Why? Nasaan ba sila?"

"Hindi ko maaaring sabihin, eh."

"Bakit naman?"

"Basta malalaman mo rin balang-araw."

Harlow heaved a sigh. Mukhang marami talaga siyang kailangang alamin sa Heallven. No one of that world was telling her reasons, and things about it. Kung hindi siya mismo ang hahanap ng kasagutan, wala siyang mapapala.

"Oh siya, gusto mo bang magkape?" the woman asked her.

She nodded.

The woman proceeded to the kitchen and after some minutes, she came back holding a cup of coffee. Harlow thanked her.

"Ano pala ang pinagkakaabalahan mo sa buhay?" the woman asked Harlow as she sat down as well.

"I'm a nurse. Actually, I came from a Doctor Family, so that's why."

"Kamangha-mangha naman 'yan, malamang ay kilalang-kilala ang pamilya niyo sa mundo niyo."

"Ah, hindi naman, but my father is the one who is really well-known among us."

"Ah."

"Ikaw, anong pinagkakaabalahan mo?"

"Dati akong guro, pero ngayon ay hindi na."

"Why?"

"Dahil hindi ko na kailangan ng pera para mabuhay sa mundong ito."

A pucker formed between Harlow's eyebrow. "Paano mo nasabi?"

"Kasi ibinibigay na ng Heallven ang lahat ng pangangailangan ko."

"Eh? How about your passion?"

"Itinutuloy ko pa rin. Tinuturuan ko ang mga bata rito sa nayon, kung ano man ang mga bagay na kailangan nilang matutunan."

"Oh well, that's great. But you're not working anymore as a professional right?"

"Oo."

"So you're not also being paid with that?"

"Oo."

"And that's okay to you?"

"Syempre naman, malaki na rin ang utang na loob ko sa Heallven."

Harlow sipped a coffee as she was trying to connect all the information she had gained from the woman. Sigurado siyang may rason kung bakit nangyari lahat ng iyon sa babae.

"Can I ask a question?" Harlow said when she was done sipping her coffee.

"Oo naman, basta kaya kong sagutin."

"What really is Heallven?"

The woman hesitated to answer. She didn't talk for awhile not until Harlow repeated her question to her.

"H-hindi ko kasi puwedeng sabihin sa'yo lahat ng patungkol sa mundong ito, pero isa lang ang iiwan ko sa'yo."

Napalunok si Harlow. She was so nervous of what she could not, at the same time she was excited.

"Ang Heallven kasi..."

"What?"

The woman took a deep breath. "Ang Heallven ay ang mundong patutunguhan ng tao pagkatapos niyang mamatay."