Opposite

Chapter 16

A letter "o" automatically formed in Harlow's lip the moment she saw Tyson. The wind embrassed her as the trees dances with her emotions.

Bukod sa pagkagulat, kinabahan din siya. Her eyes seemed to jump when their eyes met. Hindi naman talaga niya kilala ang lalaking iyon ngunit ang lakas ng dating sa kaniya.

There was silence for a bit after Harlow called him by his name. Maging si Tyson din ay hindi makapaniwalang nasilayan niya ang dalaga.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" they said in chorus then.

Pareho pa silang nagulat sa kanilang katanungan. They laughed at the same time.

"Ikaw muna," Harlow said. "A-akala ko patay ka na..."

Really, all she thought was he was dead already. Though she was aware he really was. Pero ang tanong niya lang: was that the second time he died?

"Did Dukeh tell you that?" Tyson asked.

Harlow nodded.

"Patay na talaga ako, at alam kong aware ka na patay ka na rin," he said. "Pero kung iniisip mong namatay ulit ako dito sa Heallven, hindi totoo 'yon. Nawalan lang ako ng malay pagkatapos ng laro."

She tried to think of what he had told him. So, hindi pala talaga siya namatay sa Heallven? But, would it be possible to die for the second time in another world? Who knew?

"Paano ka pala nakalabas?" she asked.

"Dahil pinalabas ako ni Dukeh."

"Eh, 'di ba natalo ka sa laro?" she said. "It was clearly said that whoever loses, will be left in Plesingko. Pero bakit ka nakalabas?"

"Aren't you happy with it?"

"No, it's not like that. I'm just confused."

"Well Dukeh told me that he was just testing us."

"Testing?"

Tyson nodded. "Sabi niya na pareho naman daw talaga tayong makakalabas, ino-obserbahan niya lang tayong dalawa."

"Para saan ang observation?"

"'Yon lang ang hindi ko alam. I was to ask him all the questions running in my head to clear things out, pero pinalabas na niya ako at ibinigay sa akin ang papel na 'to," he raised the folded paper he was holding. "After that, hindi na rin ako nakapasok sa Plesingko."

Harlow's eyes grew bigger when she saw the paper. "Meron ka rin niyan?"

"Why?"

"Meron din ako!"

Harlow raised as well the paper she was holding. Ibinuklat niya pa ito at pinakitang maiigi kay Tyson.

"So that means you're also looking for Nicolas Ulas?"

"Exactly!"

They were both amazed and felt joyful when they knew they were given the same tasks and missions. Ibig sabihin, mas mapapadali iyon dahil magkasama sila, may mangyayaring tulungan.

They decided to find Nicolas when they were done talking. They had asked random people, but no one of them knew him. So, they just came up to an idea that Nicolas was perhaps unknown to the village. In spite of that, they didn't lose hope, just patience.

The following day, they were still finding him, they didn't stop nor took a rest. Malapit na ang araw na itinakda para sa misyon na iyon ngunit tila hindi nila magagawa. The Heallven was so wide for them to find him. Mabuti sana kung mayroon man lang sanang isang taong makapagtuturo sa kanila kung nasaan ang nilalang na iyon.

"I'm so tired," Harlow said as she sat down on the ground.

They didn't even eat rice. Tubig at prutas lang ang nagsilbing lakas nila, at paubos na rin. They had decided to take rest but they didn't have to, malapit nang maubos ang oras nila. Ano na lamang ang mangyayari kapag hindi nila nagawa? Would they die for the second time?

"Ano nang gagawin natin?" she asked. "Wala tayong ibang mapagtanungan. Kung sana meron dito sa mapa ang location ng Nicolas Ulas na 'yan, baka madali pa natin siyang mahanap."

"Baka ito ang sinasabi sa atin ni Dukeh."

"Na ano?"

"Na kailangan din nating maranasan ang paghihirap."

"Pero sobra-sobra naman na 'to. Hanggang sa kamatayan pala may paghihirap."

Tyson grabbed Harlow's back and hugged her. "It's okay," he said. "I'll be there for you."

That moment, Harlow started crying. Hindi siya iyakin, pero bigla na lamang tumulo ang kaniyang mga luha. Sa buong buhay niya, minsan niya lamang naramdaman ang pagkalinga mula sa isang lalaki na hinahangaan niya. She was actually a woman liked by every man she encountered, pero ni isa ay wala siyang matipuhan. Nagkaganito lamang siya nang dahil kay Tyson.

She thanked him and after that, they continued walking. As usual, nagtanong-tanong sila ngunit wala pa rin ni isa ang nakapagtuturo sa kanila ng lokasyon ni Nicolas. Hanggang sa sumapit na ang gabi ay wala pa rin silang napapala.

They ran out of water to drink, pero mabuti na lamang ay may mga gripo. Hindi nga lang nila sigurado kung malinis iyon, but it was okay for them as long as it would make them survive. This was a "survival of the fittest."

Kahit prutas ay naubusan na rin sila ngunit mabuti na lamang ay may mga bunga ang mga puno sa paligid. Hindi nga lang nila sigurado kung maaaring kumuha roon. But what could they do?

"Tyson," Harlow said.

It was midnight when they were still walking. Fortunately, there were lights in the surroundings.

Tyson looked at her and raised his eyebrows.

"Can we look again at the map? Baka may mahanap tayong information."

"Oh, sure."

Again, they observed the map. They thought maybe the map was made with hidden clues. Sabi nga ni Dukeh ay kailangan nilang maranasan ang paghihirap.

"Look at this," Harlow said when she found out something.

Tyson then looked at the spot where she pinpointed.

"It's a human skull. 'Di ba it symbolizes death?" sambit niya. "Sabi nila, kay Nicolas natin malalaman ang ating pagkamatay, so maybe it's his location."

Tyson nodded. "You have the point!"

They didn't waste time after that. Though they knew the place was a bit far from them, they went there. They felt excited and at the same time worried; they were worried they might made a mistake.

Nilakad nila ang lugar hanggang sa sumapit na ang kinabukasan. It was morning when they arrived there. Tumigil sila sa isang bahay kung saan ay may tatak ng buto ng tao sa may pinto.

"Baka ito na 'yon," Harlow said.

They knock on the door, but no one came out. They knocked again until some time, the door was opened. Iniluwa n'on ang isang matanda na may kulay puti at mahabang balbas. He was wearing a cream dress.

Pareho silang nakaramdam nang kaba nang makita nila ang taong iyon. Ilang segundo pa ang nakalipas nang magkaroon sila ng lakas ng loob na magsalita.

"Kayo ho ba si Nicolas Ulas?"