Opposite

Chapter 20

Harlow stood up and faced Tyson. She was so nervous, she didn't know why she felt that way. She looked at his pokerface.

"A-ah..."

"Magandang umaga," sabat ng lalaki, "ako si Farris."

Harlow looked at the man who spoke. He was genuinely smiling at Tyson, but Tyson didn't even gave him back a smile.

She looked then at the other side and the woman she was with was still there, looking at them.

"Harlow," Tyson said, "tara na." He held Harlow's hands.

"Sorry!" Harlow said to the two before she left with Tyson.

The two came back at Lupio's house. Hindi nila naabutan ang mag-asawa room dahil paniguradong nasa labas sila't may inaasikaso.

As soon as they entered the house, Harlow madly let go of her hands at Tyson's.

"What's wrong with you?" she said.

"Who's that man?"

"Huh?"

"'Yong kasama mo kanina."

"You heard his name, right? He is Farris. Nabangga ko lang siya kanina, so natapon 'yong mga kalat, and then he helped me," she said. "Teka, bakit ba ako nag-eexplain sa'yo?"

Napalunok si Tyson. "Sorry," he said in a lower tone. "I shouldn't have do that."

"Ano ba kasing problema mo?"

"Wala. Just go back outside, baka kulang lang ako sa tulog."

Tyson sat down and face-palmed. Harlow however, was just looking at him, confused why he was acting that way. She asked him if he was okay, and he answered 'yes.' She asked him for the second time to assure, and she received the same answer. She guessed there was really something wrong, but she didn't bother to ask anymore. She just left him inside and went back to the outside, hoping she could still see the two persons she left.

When she was out already, she went back to that spot. Gladly, the two were still there, cleaning up the mess and was about to go. So, she ran as fast as she could just to make them still.

"Oh, bumalik ka," Farris said.

Hinahabol niya ang kaniyang hininga kaya hindi muna siya nagsalita. When she could breath fine already, she spoke.

"Sorry sa nangyari kanina," she said. "Naabala pa kayong dalawa."

"Ayos lang 'yon," sambit ng babae.

"Let me just help you guys sa pagtapon. At ikaw Farris," she looked at him, "baka may ibang business ka pa at naabala kita, bahala na kami dito ni ate."

"Hindi, ayos lamang."

Since it was really okay for him, Harlow let him helped them two. After they throw the garbage, Farris said goodbyes to them.

Buong araw ring tumulong sa village si Harlow, pero si Tyson, hindi niya lang alam. She was so happy socializing with the people of Heallven. They were friendly, kaya hindi naging mahirap sa kaniya ang makipag-usap sa kanila. She didn't even felt the tiredness because she was enjoying doing things with them. Napapawi ang kaniyang pagod sa mga ngiti nila.

All throughout the day, she gained many friends, ni hindi na nga niya maalala ang pangalan ng iba sa sobrang dami. Basta kahit sinong makasalubong niya ay binabati niya. She knew she was totally a different person in Heallven. When she was still alive, she wasn't friendly, tanging si Maddie lamang ang naging matatag na kaibigan niya't nanatili sa kaniya.

Speaking of Maddie, she missed her so much. She wondered how she was doing right now. Sino na kaya ang lagi niyang kasama sa pagkain? Sino kaya ang lagi niyang kasabay sa pag-uwi pagkatapos ng trabaho? Kumusta na kaya siya?

While on the way to Lupio's house, Harlow didn't hold her tears anymore. Mabuti na lamang at medyo madilim na kaya wala nang makapapansin ng kaniyang luha. Unfortunately, someone could hear her sobs.

"Ayos ka lang?"

She was stopped from walking when someone spoke behind her. Maging sa pag-iyak ay napatigil din siya. She wasn't mistaken, someone could hear her cry. She turned around and she was overwhelmed with what she saw — a man wearing hat, so formal, familiar to her.

"F-farris..."

He smiled. "Ayos lang ba kung aayain muna kitang maupo roon?" He pointed the long chair in the side of the street. It was bright there because of the street lights.

"Sure," she answered.

And so, Farris offered his hands, then Harlow slowly put her hands inside his. Farris escorted her going through the chair. There they could see each other clearly.

"Gabi na, bakit nasa labas ka pa?" tanong ni Farris.

"A-ah... kakatapos lang kasing magtrabaho," she replied. "Pauwi na rin naman ako."

"Hindi ka ba sinundo ng lalaking kasama mo kanina?"

"No. I think he's mad of me, and I don't know why."

"Kaya ka ba umiiyak?"

"No."

"Eh, bakit?"

Again, her tears started to shed. So, Farris offered her a handkerchief. Tinanggap niya naman iyon agad saka pinunasan ang kaniyang mga luha. For how many minutes, walang ibang maririnig kundi ang mga hikbi niya. Walang sawa naman si Farris sa pagpapatahan sa kaniya. When she was fine yet, she dared to speak.

"I'm crying not because of him," she said, "I'm crying because I really missed my best friend."

Harlow told him everything about Maddie, and their friendship. She didn't care anymore of what she was spilling, besides, strangers won't judge you.

"Bago ka pa lang dito, ano?" Farris asked when she was done telling him stories.

She nodded. "And I'm still doing my mission."

"Kaya pala..."

"Kaya pala ano?"

"Kaya pala hindi ka pa sanay."

"How about you?" she asked. "Kailan ka namatay?"

"Matagal na, pero hindi naman gano'n katagal. Namatay ako sampung taon na ang nakakalipas."

"Hindi pa nga ganoong matagal 'yon. Don't you miss your family?"

"Syempre miss ko 'yong iba, pero unti-unti na rin akong nasasanay na hindi sila kasama. At isa pa, kasama ko na dito sa Heallven ang iba kong pamilya."

"Really?"

"Oo, 'yong iba kasi ay nauna na sa akin," sagot niya. "Sa totoo lang, hindi ko naman inaasahan na magkikita-kita ulit kami hanggang sa kamatayan."

"Bakit?"

"Kasi noong nabubuhay pa ako, hindi ako naniniwala sa ikalawang buhay. Ang alam ko lang, kapag namatay ka na, patay ka na, wala nang kasunod."

"Oh, I see," she said. "So you're happy because you're still with your family?"

"Masaya ako, pero hindi gaanong masaya."

"Bakit naman?"

"Dahil hindi ko kasama ang iba kong pamilya na yumao na."

"Huh?"

"Alam kong naguguluhan ka, pero hindi ko pa maaaring sabihin sa iyo. Mas maiintindihan mo ang mga bagay-bagay kapag natapos mo na ang mga misyon mo."

"Ganyan din ang sinasabi ng mga nakikilala ko dito sa Heallven. I have so many questions actually, but I won't bother to ask anymore because I knew you won't tell me the truth."

"Sorry."

"No, it's okay. I know it's not your fault."

"Utos lang din kasi sa amin ni Harra Granta."

Harlow raised her eyebrows when she heard of that name again. "Maybe she's your god here? I've heard her name twice," she said.

"Hindi ka pa ba inaantok?" pagliliko ni Farris sa usapan.

"Medyo inaantok na rin."

"Ihahatid na kita."

"Hindi na kailangan."

Both Harlow and Farris looked at the spot where the voice came from. Harlow was a bit surprised with the owner of the voice.

"Ako na ang maghahatid sa kaniya," Tyson added.

Harlow looked at Farris who was a bit shocked as well. Perhaps the man was wandering why Tyson was acting like that since the moment he saw him with her.

Farris stood up and walked forward to Tyson that made Harlow even more nervous. What would his serious face gonna do?

Really, Farris was in a serious mood, starting when Tyson came up.

"Magandang gabi."

Harlow observed Farris. She was so glad when he smiled eventually. Akala niya ay susuntukin na niya si Tyson dahil biglang sumeryoso ang mukha niya.

"Magandang gabi rin," masungit naman na sagot ni Tyson.

"Natutuwa ako't nakarating ka, may maghahatid na rin sa magandang dilag na 'to."

"Hehe," Tyson said sarcastically.

Bigla namang natawa si Harlow sa inasal ng binata, ngunit mabilis din siyang nagseryoso ulit.

Farrish looked at her and smiled. "Paano ba 'yan? Mauna na ako sa inyong dalawa."

Harlow stood up. "Thank you, Farris. Mag-ingat ka sa pag-uwi."

"Ikaw rin," he said. "Huwag ka na ring iiyak."

Harlow nodded and smiled. Afterwards, Farris left them two. Nang mawala na sa paningin nilang dalawa ang lalaki ay mabilis ding yumapak paalis ang dalaga.

"Hoy!" Tyson shouted.

Harlow stopped from walking and turned around him. "Hoy ka rin!" she glared.

"Hindi mo man lang ba ako hihintayin?"

"Ano ba kasing problema mo, ha? Kanina ka pang umaga, sa totoo lang."

"Stop questioning me about that," he replied. "Uwi na lang tayo dahil gabi na."

"Uuwi ako mag-isa ko!"

"Ano pa't sinundo kita kung di ka rin lang sasabay?"

"I didn't ask you to fetch me anyways!"

Harlow covered her mouth immediately when she noticed she talked so loud. Tahimik na sa labas at mukhang tulog na ang mga tao, pero kung makapag-ingay siya wagas.

"Please, Tyson, bukas mo na ako kausapin dahil wala ako sa mood," she said, trying to calm her voice.

Harlow then left at wala na ngang nagawa si Tyson para pigilan siya. Mabilis siyang naglakad para hindi siya masabayan nito.

When she arrived from Lupio's house, she assumed that the couple was asleep already, because of the serenity. So she tried to walk as silent as she could so that she could not bother them. Medyo nag-alinlangan pa siyang pumasok sa kuwarto dahil makakasama niya roon si Tyson, so she just chose to stay at the kitchen.

Wala pang ilang minuto ay nakauwi na nga rin si Tyson. Napansin siya agad nito, kaya tumigil muna ito sa paglalakad.

"Ba't ka nandiyan?" he asked.

"Kasi wala ako doon," Harlow answered.

"Harlow, hindi ako nakikipagbiruan."

"Tyson, hindi rin ako nakikipagbiruan."

He sighed. "Just go inside."

"Ayoko."

"Bakit ayaw mo?"

"Kasi ayoko."

"Bakit ba ang kulit mo?"

"Bakit ba ang kulit mo rin?"

"Harlow."

"Tyson."

"Ano ba?"

"Ano rin ba?"

"Ang kulit mo naman kasing kausap, eh."

"Ang kulit mo ring kausap."

Nagpatuloy lang sila sa pagsasagutan hanggang sa lumabas si Lully sa kanilang kuwarto. Nagising na nga.

"Bakit ang ingay ninyong dalawa?" she asked as she wiped her eyes.

"Sorry, Ate Lully," Harlow said. "Ito kasing si Tyson eh ang kulit."

"Ate Lully, siya ang makulit, kasi naman sinabihan nang pumasok sa kuwarto, ayaw pa rin niya."

"Bakit ba kasi?"

"Eh sa ayaw ko siyang katabi, Ate," Harlow said.

"Ano bang nangyari sa inyong dalawa at nagkakaganyan kayo? Talo n'yo pa ang mag-asawa kung magtalo."

"Ah basta hindi ako matutulog nang katabi siya."

"If you don't want to sleep with me, I'll just stay at the sala," Tyson said. "Mahihiga na lang ako sa sofa, kaya pumunta ka na sa kuwarto."

Dahil doon ay nakonsensya si Harlow. She would not like to sleep with him, but she did not want him to sleep at the sala as well. Baka kasi ay hindi pa siya sanay na matulog sa sofa. But, she would not like to stop him as well because she was still mad at him for acting so rude since the morning.

There was silence for a bit, at paliku-liko ng tingin sa kanila si Lully.

"Go and sleep," Tyson broke the silence.

"Sige na, Harlow, matulog ka na," sunod na sabi ni Lully.

Wala na nga siyang nagawa kung hindi ang sumunod. She went to the room and locked it so she could see Tyson's face no more. She laid down and tried to sleep, but she couldn't, hanggang sa ilang oras na ang nakalipas at hindi pa rin siya makatulog. She did want to sleep, but she could not. What the hell?

Paikot-ikot siya sa kama, iniisip kung kumusta si Tyson sa sala. She knew he was a rich man kaya hindi talaga sanay iyon na matulog sa mga matitigas na bagay, ganoon din naman siya.

Sa matinding pag-iisip ay hindi na rin naman niya namalayan na nakatulog na rin siya. Finally, she was at peace already.

Then, the morning came...

The morning wasn’t gray, but by soothing lavender and brilliant amber. The colors merged into neon pink and peach. 

Harlow was taking a good sleep, while Tyson just woke up. When he was awake already, he proceeded to the kitchen and made himself a coffee.

While stirring the coffee, someone knocked on the door. Since it was only him that was yet awake, he went to the door to open it.

He sipped some coffee first before opening the door. And when he was done, binuksan na niya ang pinto.

"Good morning."