Opposite

Chapter 24

Harlow looked at Lupio and Lully, confused. There seemed to be weird with how they were acting and speaking in front of her. Again, she asked them the same question, hoping they would answer.

After turning his gaze to Lully, Lupio looked again at Harlow. "A-ah, meron ba? Kami lang n-ni Ate Lully mo ang magkausap dito."

"Ah... gano'n ba, Kuya Lupio?" Harlow said. "Parang may narinig kasi akong ibang boses, so I went here to check it out."

Lully got up from the bed and walked towards the two. "Baka naman guni-guni mo lang 'yon, Harlow," she said. "O baka naman hindi mo lang ako masyadong nabosesan."

"Maybe."

"Bakit ba hindi ka pa tulog?" Lupio asked. "Nasaan si Tyson?"

Harlow sighed. "Ayun, he's at the kitchen, washing the dishes. Ang kulit niyo po, eh. Sabing ako na ang maghuhugas pero ayaw niyang magpatalo, kaya hinayaan ko na lang."

"Hay naku, kayo talagang dalawa!"

"Anyways, I'm going to the bed na, baka nakakaistorbo na po ako," Harlow said. "Goodnight to the both of you!"

The couple said their goodnights to her as well before she proceeded to the room. Pagkapasok niya roon ay humiga agad siya sa kama. She tried to sleep as fast as she could while Tyson wasn't arriving yet, pero ilang minuto na ang nakalipas at hindi pa rin siya nakatulog.

The bed cover was so messy because she couldn't stop turning around. Pagulong-gulong at paikot-ikot siya, hindi mapakali. Mahirap nga naman talagang makatulog kapag marami kang iniisip at kapag may gumugulo sa iyo.

After some time, Tyson entered the room which surprised her a bit. His clothes, from up to the bottom, were so wet.

"Naligo ka ba?" Harlow asked.

"Naghugas ng mga pinagkaininan, parang 'di mo naman alam," he answered as he walked through the cabinet.

"Eh, basang-basa ka para kang naligo. Ganyan ka ba talaga maghugas ng plato?"

Tyson got some clothes and exited the room. He didn't answer her question, and just proceeded to the bathroom.

Halos umusok naman ang ilong ni Harlow sa inasta ng binata. She punched the pillows for how many times and disorganized the bed cover. Para siyang nawala sa katinuan dahil hindi siya nito pinansin.

She promised herself when he would come back, she would not speak any single word to him. She would not stare at him. She would just assume that he was a ghost that she couldn't see.

Pagkalipas nga ng ilang minuto ay nakabalik na rin si Tyson, nakapalit na rin. He looked at Harlow, confused of what she was doing.

"One little, two little, three little fingers,

Four little, five little, six little fingers,

Seven little, eight little, nine little fingers,

Ten little fingers here."

She was singing the ten little fingers like a kindergarten! Tamang gamit din lang siya ng mga daliri niya habang kumakanta.

"One little, two little, three little fingers,

Four little, five little, six little fingers,

Seven little, eight little, nine little fingers,

Ten little fingers here."

She repeated singing the song.

Hindi na nakaalis si Tyson sa kaniyang puwesto dahil nakatingin lamang siya sa dalaga. He wanted to laugh, but he tried his best not to, hindi pa sila bati.

He went to the bed and sat there. "Anong ginagawa mo?" he asked her.

But instead of answering, Harlow just continued singing. Hindi niya pinansin ang binata, ni hindi man lang tiningnan.

"Parang ewan," Tyson said.

"Five little monkeys jumping on the bed

One fell off and bumped his head

Mama called the doctor

And the doctor said

No more monkeys jumping on the bed."

Hindi na napigilan ni Tyson ang tumawa nang ibahin ni Harlow ang kinakanta niya. She was even dancing.

"Bakit ka ba tuma-" Harlow covered her mouth when she realized she did something unacceptable.

She turned around to Tyson.

She talked to him, but just cut off.

Wala na, finish na.

"Potangina talaga," she gasped.

Tyson laughed. "What's wrong with you?"

She gave him a sharp look. "Huwag mo nga akong wina-what's wrong what's wrong with you diyan! Sinira mo ang plano ko! Goodness!"

Nagkunot-noo si Tyson. "Anong plano?"

"Hindi ba obvious? Hindi dapat kita papansinin kasi hindi mo ako pinansin kanina!"

Tyson laughed again.

"Oh, tawa-tawa mo diyan?"

"You're funny!"

She glared at him.

"Akala ko kasi hindi tayo bati kaya hindi kita pinansin kanina."

"Sino bang nagsabing bati tayo?"

"Ah, so hindi pa tayo bati?"

"Malamang hindi pa!" she glared. "Naiinis pa rin ako sa'yo sa pinapakita mo kay Farris. Like why? Why are you being rude to him? Wala namang ginagawang masama sa'yo ang tao."

"So you find me rude when it comes to him?"

"Yes, you're rude. Bakit ka ba ganyan?"

"Hindi pa ba halata?"

"Ang ano?"

"Hindi ka naman manhid, 'no?"

"Look, Tyson," she said. "I can't understand you, please say it direct to the point."

There was silence...

They were staring directly at each other's eyes. Sobrang payapa ng paligid na tanging ang mga isinisigaw lamang ng kanilang mga puso ang maririnig.

"Harlow..." Tyson said. "I'm jealous, can't you see?"

Again, there was silence...

Tyson became even more nervous of Harlow's serious face. He could see he would be rejected for this, so he prepared himself and his heart that was going to shatter in pieces again.

The world seemed to be moving slowly the moment Harlow opened her mouth. "Tyson..."

Sa pagbigkas pa lamang niya ng kaniyang pangalan ay nagwala na ang mundo niya. He liked it when she spoke his namez though he knew he wouldn't like the next thing she would say.

"Tyson," she said again, and then she suddenly laughed.

The serenity that filled the place was took over by her loud laughings. Wala siyang pagtigil sa pagtawa hanggang sa mamula na ang kaniya buong mukha.

Tyson looked confusingly at her. "What's funny?" he asked.

"Akala ko ba ako ang nakakatawa rito, eh bakit parang mas nakakatawa ka pa?" she laughed.

Nagkunot-noo si Tyson.

"May asawa na si Farris."

Biglang tumalon sa saya ang puso ni Tyson nang marinig niya iyon kay Harlow. But, he wasn't sure yet if she was just kidding or what, so he better didn't show the little happiness in his heart.

"May asawa?" he asked.

"Oo, may asawa na 'yon. Ano ka ba?"

"Pero bakit lagi kayong magkasama?"

"Simply because we're friends. Actually, humihingi siya ng tulong sa akin para sa surprise niya sa asawa niya sa susunod na araw. Kaya 'yon, lagi rin kaming magkasama."

"Then what about the bouquet he gave to you the other day. What's the meaning of that?"

"Normal pala rito sa Heallven na kapag nagkaroon ng bagong babaeng kaibigan ang isang lalaki ay dadalhan niya 'yon ng bulaklak kinabukasan at para na rin kumustahin."

"But I thought he's courting you."

"Hindi nga," she said. "It's just a sign of friendship. Natatawa nga siya sa'yo, eh."

"Why?"

"Kasi pinagseselosan mo siya."

Tyson chuckled. "Sorry, I didn't know."

"Pero naiinis pa rin ako sa'yo kasi hindi ka pa nagso-sorry sa kaniya," she glared.

"I was to ask sorry to you on the early morning, but he came, kaya wala na rin akong nagawa."

"Bakit sa akin ka magso-sorry? Sa kaniya dapat."

"Eh, kasi nga hindi ko alam. But I promise when I see him again, I will ask for his pardon."

Harlow gave Tyson her simple smile. She was happy she speak with him again. She realized she missed him. Hindi pala kompleto ang araw niya nang hindi siya nakakausap.

"Harlow, I'm sorry," he said.

"For what?"

"For hiding my feelings for you, and for being scared with rejection."

Harlow's eyes became teary the moment she heard that from him. She couldn't explain why, but she knew there was happiness in those tears forming.

"I'm sorry, too," she said.

"For what?"

"For choosing to be numb and for not hearing my heart." Her tears started to shed down through her cheeks.

Tyson hugged her. "Shh..."

"I'm sorry!" she yelled. "Mas pinili kong maging manhid kaysa pakinggan ang nararamdaman mo at nararamdaman ko. I'm just scared as well."

Mas lalong hinigpitan ni Tyson ang kaniyang pagkakayakap sa dalaga. He didn't get tired of comforting her. He was so happy, he couldn't explain, but he also wanted to cry.

Ilang minuto rin ang itinagal ni Harlow sa pag-iyak, but she was glad that finally she was able to speak her heart, that finally she was able to say her feelings.

They were both sorry of their fears. Indeed, fears has a great impact in every individual. It could make a person the weakest he could be or the strongest he could be.

"Pero hindi pa tayo tapos," Harlow said as she wiped her tears.

"What is it?"

"Sino 'yong babaeng pumunta rito kanina?"

Tyson smiled. "You're jealous, oh?"

"Hindi ah," she glared. "Pero ang ganda niya, in all fairness."

"She's Amora," he smiled. "Ang ganda niya, 'di ba?"

"Oo nga, SOBRANG GANDA."

"Pero wala pa ring mas gaganda sa'yo."

"Hindi mo ako maloloko. Sino siya?"

He chuckled. "She's just my friend. Remember the mission?"

"Yes, I could still remember. Akala ko pa naman KAIBIGAN ang hinahanap mo dito, hindi kaibigan."

"No, since I was in the Plesingko, I already found my kaibigan."

Harlow's cheeks were suddenly kissed pink like a spring rose, the blooming colour so cute against her skin. She looked away and found a distraction at the window.

"Look at the small dots glittering from above," she said as she walked through the window.

Tyson followed and looked as well up above. He smiled knowing he finally told his feelings to the lady he liked. He turned his gaze to Harlow that was still looking at the night sky. She was beautiful as always, he thought. Her eyes were filled of joy, they were shining.

After looking at the sparkling glitters, they went back to bed to sleep. Finally, both of them could close their eyes without doubt. Finally, they could rest well themselves after the intense hiding of feelings.

Morning came and they woke up early. They went to the kitchen right away and made each other a coffee.

"Ang sarap palang magkape kapag pinagtitimpla ka," Tyson said as he smelled the great aroma of his coffee.

Harlow smiled and was about to speak when suddenly, Lupio and Lully came out of their room. They were still wiping their eyes, but were shocked when they saw the two.

Dali-dali silang pumunta sa dalawa at pinakiramdaman ang mga ito. They were surprised of the fact that the two were already talking.

"Bati na kayo?" tanong ni Lully na abot langit ang ngiti.

The two started telling the couple on how they get there. Sinabi nila ang lahat, pati ang nararamdaman nila para sa isa't isa.

The couple were happy for the both of them. Akala nila ay wala nang balak magkaayos ang dalawa, pero mabuti na lamang ay gumawa na daan ang tadhana upang maibalik sa dati ang ugnayan nila.

"Sa susunod, pag-usapan ninyong mabuti ang problema para hindi kayo nagkakaganyan, ha?" Lully said.

"Tama, dapat talaga pinag-uusapan ang mga bagay-bagay para hindi humantong kung saan-saan," Lupio added.

The two told them they already learned their lessons, and they were all happy for that. After some time, they went out to go back to work and to fulfill their mission as well. Tatlong araw na lamang ang natitira at makakaalis na sila sa lugar ng Willow.

Harlow and Tyson parted their way with the couple. They gladly helped the people clean the village. They made friends, not only because of the mission, but because they wanted to.

Sa pagkakataon na iyon ay mas masaya ang dalawa sa pagtupad ng kanilang gawain. They realized it was better to do things when you were with someone you have the same interests with.

Everything was going smoothly, not until...

"Harlow!"

The two were busy working with random persons when someone just suddenly shouted. They looked at the person who owned the voice, and they found Farris.

He was still a bit far from them, but his voice was loud enough for them to be heard. He was running, and as he came closer and closer... Harlow could see there was something different.

His brow was furrowed and he was swinging his hands. He moved differently.

"Farris, b-bakit?" Harlow asked.

"M-may p-problema..." he stuttered.

Even Tyson was worried of him acting and speaking so weird. Marahil ay mayroon talagang isang malaking problema kung bakit siya nagkakaganoon.

"Anong problema?" Harlow interrogated.

"S-sina Ate Lully at K-kuya Lupio..."

Tumalon sa kaba ang puso ni Harlow. Even Tyson couldn't breath properly.

Harlow asked him what had happened to them. She waited for his answer for how many seconds, because he didn't respond right away.

"Patay na sila..."