The Worlds Between Us (TAGALOG)

Chapter Two | Intruder

Everything was arranged already. I went to get my things from the hotel early in the morning after waking up from that incident and it’s been two days since. Laking pasasalamat ko at hindi ko na kailangan mag install ng furniture at bumili ng iba pa except for groceries.

I just got back from groceries so I’m still arranging the foods I bought in the fridge. I played some classical music while doing my chores. After doing my chores I grabbed a glass to drink water. Matapos kong uminom ay nilapag ko muna ang baso malapit sa lababo at tumalikod para kumuha ng milk at cereal. I went back to the sink so I could wash the glass that I used but the glass was gone. Kinusot ko ulit ang mga mata ko at pagmulat ko, nakita ko yung baso na nakalapag ng maayos sa cupboard.

Biglang tumayo ang mga balahibo ko at nanlaki ang mga mata habang nanginginig na inabot ang baso. I observed it muna at inamoy yun. My heart drummed in nervousness when I smelled soap. Basa pa ang baso at halatang kamakailan lang hinugasan pero alam kong hindi ako ang naghugas neto.

My eyes wondered everywhere even in the corners of the apartment trying to catch a non-existent shadow. Wala rin akong maramdamang presensiya ng tao. Did the man wash this?

As my eyes continued to wander around, my eyes found the cereal and milk in the counter. I stared at it for a few seconds and then fixed my eyes on the newly washed cup. Hanggang sa may naisipan ako.

I poured milk and cereal in the bowl and started eating and after a few minutes of eating, I placed my bowl and spoon in the sink. I took a step away and focused my eyes on it. Hinintay kong magpakita ang lalaking nakita ko noong nakaraang dalawang araw pero sa isang minute ng paghihintay ko, wala pa rin.

Napabuntong hininga ako at tumalikod. How dumb of you, Marleigh. Of course, ghost can’t touch things. I massaged my temples and went to the sink again to wash the dishes that I dumbly placed, waiting for a miracle to happen.

Pero pagtingin ko nawala na ang bowl at spoon. I covered my mouth in shock.

“Oh my God…” I whispered.

The faucet was also turned off and the bowl and spoon floated in mid air until it was placed on the shelves perfectly. My mouth formed an ‘o’ as I stepped away from it as I grabbed another plate and placed it on the sink. Nakita ko ang pag-agos ng tubig at ang paglipad ng sponge habang nililinisan nito ang platong nilagay ko. Nakita ko rin ang paglipad ng plato na maingat na nilagay sa shelves. The faucet was then turned off kaya naglagay ulit ako ng plato sa lababo.

Bumukas ulit ang faucet pero this time, padabog nang nilinisan ulit ang plato. That’s when a hand suddenly appeared out of nowhere along with the other limbs until it formed into the man, I saw two days ago. He was wearing a white sando and a black short.

My heart drummed nonstop out of nervousness as I slowly stepped backwards praying that he won’t notice my presence. Holy, it’s true. Di lang kathang isip yung two days ago. The little sanity left in me screamed hysterically. His eyes looked at the plate angrily with his brows furrowed, irritation was clearly visible on his face. But besides that, his chiseled jaws, his pointed nose, his plump lips, his eyebrows, everything I see right now, is otherworldly.

He’s just so beautiful. Ang ganda niya rin siguro pag naging babae siya.

Di niya ba ko napapansin? Di niya ba ko nakikita? Padabog niyang nilagay ang plato sa cupboard. Napakamot siya sa ulo niya kaya mas lalong naging messy ang buhok niya.

“Hi?” Wala sa sarili kong sabi pero parang hindi niya narinig ang sinabi ko at nakatingin lang siya sa ‘kin. “Can’t you hear me?”

Pero nakatingin lang siya sa ‘kin. He stepped forward and my lungs stopped working for a moment as I also stepped backwards. I feel like my heart’s going to have a heart attack as I felt the Nakatani shelves behind me. I’m too frozen and breatheless to even grab a thing.

“A-anong gagawin mo?” Nanginginig kong tanong. Tinukod niya ang mga kamay niya sa magkabilang gilid ko. I closed my eyes and my fists clenced instinctively. Pero may kinuha lang siya sa gilid ko.

Kinuha niya ang halaman na malapit sa ‘kin at nilagay niya agad yun sa balcony para maarawan. My legs wobbled as I watched him water the plants on the balcony. I went to the counter for support and just sat there, watching him.

Mapayapa siyang nagdidilig sa mga halaman sa balcony at ilang mga minuto rin ang lumipas hanggang sa naisipan na niyang bumalik sa loob. He kinda looks cute and hot. His existence is terrifying and also questionable at the same time however, he looks so harmless for me. Even though the situation’s like this, mas nakakatakot pa rin ang bahay na kinalakihan ko. Everything and everyone is suffocating kaya laking pasasalamat ko dahil nakaalis na ‘ko sa impyernong yun.

Pagbalik niya matapos diligan ang mga halaman, dumiretso siya sa kusina at andito lang ako…nag-oobserba sa susunod niyang gagawin. He can’t see me? I tried to move around, testing if he can see me pero kahit anong gawin ko. Hindi siya multo dahil nakakahawak siya ng mga bagay. At higit sa lahat, di rin siya tao dahil nawawala siya. At kung multo nga siya, hindi siguro siya masama kasi di niya ‘ko sinaniban o tinulak mula sa balcony. Para lang siyang normal na tao.

Napamasahe ako sa sentido ko dahil nakakabobo ang mga nangyayari.

Pero what if he’s human?! My heart and brain debated kung tao ba talaga siya pero ang logical side ng brain ko ang nanalo. I don’t think anybody could explain as to why he could disappear and appear out of nowhere.

Bumalik ako sa realidad nang mapansin ko siyang kumuha ng frying pan. He took some chives, cheese, eggs, meat at iba pa mula sa fridge. Teka nga, groceries ko yan dba? What the hell, di ba siya nagtataka kung bakit may mga pagkain sa fridge niya na di siya ang bumili?

He put the stove in lowheat and cracked the eggs gracefully and mixed them. A not so long process passed and I continued to watch him cook. I tried guessing what he’s cooking hanggang sa nilagay nya yun sa isang plato. Ang hinala ko ay egg sandwich pero mali.

Nasa gilid lang ako, nanonood sa kaniya habang kinakain niya yung omelette na ginawa niya gamit ang groceries ko. Gamit ang pera ko. My heart ached and my stomach started to grumble. Kapal ng mukha niyang ang sarap ng kinakain niya gamit ang groceries ko pero di man lang ako nakakain. I almost drooled looking at him eating leisurely. Kumuha ako ng tinidor para kumuha rin sa kinakain niya. For sure he can’t see me. I’ve been around him for so long and he still didn’t notice me so hopefully di niya rin ako makikitang kumuha ng maliit na piraso.

“I’ll have some this please. Thankies.” I whispered as I was about to take some slices off his plate pero bigla siyang napatingin sa ‘kin. He’s not looking at me, right? Kampante lang akong nagpatuloy sa ginagawa pero bigla siyan nagsalita.

“Who are you?” aniya. My body took a screenshot as his deep voice echoed in the apartment. Naging yelo ang buong katawan ko at napatayo agad sa gulat. Omg, nakikita na niya ‘ko? Agad-agad kong nilagay ang kubiyertos sa counter.

“N-no, it’s me who should be asking that,” tapang tapangan kong sabi sa kaniya pero kanina pa talga ako halos di makahinga dahil sa palpitations ng puso ko. “This is my apartment.” I stated.

“Ah, so ikaw pala yung naglalagay ng plato sa lababo kanina. Was it fun irritating me?” Oof. “And what do you mean apartment mo? This is MY apartment,” aniya.

Mahigpit kong hinawakan ang yung tinidor ng ginamit ko habang naging kamao yung kabilang kamay ko. He was about to touch me pero tinutok ko sa kaniya ang tinidor.

“Wag kang lumapit! Tutusukin ko ang mata mo, sige ka!” kabado kong banta sa kaniya pero di ko talaga yan kaya gawin.

Dali-dali akong tumakbo sa kwarto para tumawag kay Miranda o sa mga guards dito sa apartment building pero agad niya akong nahuli. He held my wrists with a single hand as he pinned me against the wall.

“I’m handing you over to the royal guards,” he said.

“Wha—Ako? Aba’t—” naputol ang sinabi ko nang mapansin ko siyang unti-unti na naman nawawala.

“Intrude—” ang huling salitang narinig ko bago siya tuluyang nawala ulit sa paningin ko.

Great Marleigh, naging intruder ka na sa sariling apartment mo. Amazing.

Hinihingal akong napaupo sa sofa at tinurn on ang TV dahil wala na akong magawa pero ang ayaw kong gustong marinig at makita ay kusang lumabas.

ORSON CLAVERIA TO RUN IN 2022 ELECTIONS

Well known business man, Mr. Orson Claveria, revealed his plans ahead on the 2024 national election. The president commends Mr. Orson Claveria as well as the citizens.

“If they’ve been successful in business, they likely have been able to employ motivational leadership that could translate to government work,” according to Senator Alvarius. Orson Claveria also known as—

Agad kong pinatay ang TV at napatingin sa family picture namin. Yan. Walang ngiti o kahit saya ang makikita mo. Tanging mga tao lang na tinatawag nilang pamilya pero mga estranghero para sa isa’t isa. Good for me, I got to get out of that house. Kahit for once in my life, I wanted to find happiness. I wanted to know what love really is.

Because the love I felt was tragic and honestly, it was destroying me. And I really wanted to be free from that kind of love. Alam kong hindi lang business at soon, politiko ang sinasalihan ni papa. Alam kong nasasali sila mama sa mga illegal na gawain at hindi lang normal na mga transactions ang ginagawa nila. I never attempted to turn them in since before pa ‘ko makabigay ng information sa police, mahuhuli agad ko. Kahit ibigay ko pa sa pulis, parang wala lang yan dahil madami silang connections. At mga magulang ko rin sila. Their deeds will chase them and karma will wait for them at the end of the road.

I never really felt love like the purest love that I’ve always wanted and dreamed of. I daydreamed of friendly love or even that romantic love with the knight and shining armor but that’s too childish and delusional for me. I didn’t yearn for familial love since I was aware that I could never achieve it. All my friends were bought with money from elementary to high school kaya noong tumapak ako ng senior high, naghome school nalang ako. It was lonely at school but the loneliness I felt at home was more comforting even tho it was suffocating. At school, I didn’t want to be seen while I’m lonely but home was different. People won’t see me while I’m lonely. There’s a difference.

“Ma? Bakit ang daming kasamang babae si papa?” my oblivious nine-year-old self asked my mother, Agnes Claveria. Nakatingin kaming dalawa mula sa balcony habang nasa first floor si papa na may kasamang iba’t ibang mga babae at nakikipaghilakan sa kanila.

“Marleigh, pinapasaya lang nila ang papa mo,” sagot niya habang nagyoyosi sa tabi ko. Dinig na dinig ko ang mga tawa ni papa mula sa baba.

“Bakit ibang mga babae? Hindi ba siya masaya sayo mama?” inosente kong tanong sa kaniya.

“Marleigh ganiyan ang pagmamahal, susuportahan mo kung saan masaya ang asawa mo,” sagot niya uli. Masakit sa ilong ang yosi niya pero kinaya ko dahil minsan ko lang siya nakakasama. Di din kaya ng batang sarili ko na magreklamo dahil alam kong lalayo na naman si mama sa ‘kin.

“But I think that’s not right, mama. Papa is…papa is kissing other girls! He shouldn’t be kasi he loves you, mama. I read na bad daw ang king na nagkikiss sa hindi niya queen,” sabi ko habang tinuturo si papa na pinapalibutan na ng mga babae at papunta na sila sa loob.

“Shut up, Marleigh. That’s what love is. Kung masaya siya dapat masaya ka rin, that’s it. Mga bata talaga, puro nonsense pinagsasabi,” aniya at kinakaladad ako papasok.

“But it’s still wrong! Papa’s wrong, you’re wrong! I read that --” I insisted at napahinto siya at nanlilisik ang mga mata niyang tumingin sakin.

“Enough! San mo ba nababasa yan? Sa mga libro? Bobo kang bata ka, agad-agad kang naniniwala sa mga walang kwentang libro na yan!” sigaw niya.

“Yaya! Sunugin mo lahat ng libro na binabasa niya! Nakakairita!” sigaw niya sa mga katulong at agad-agad namang nagsitakbuhan sila papunta sa library.

“Nooooo!” umiiyak kong sabi at tatakbo na sana papuntang library pero hinila ako ni mama at lumuhod siya para pantay kami. Tumingin siya sa mga mata ko at itinaas niya ang kamay niya. The child me instinctively closed her eyes and was waiting for the impact pero minulat niya ang mga mata niya ng naramdaman niya ang mama niyang malumanay na hinahaplos ang pisngi.

“Marleigh… I’m always right, okay?” ngumingiting sabi ni mama at mas lalong napaiyak ang batang ako. Tumayo na siya at tumawa ng malakas. Naiwan akong mag isa habang nakatingin sa kanya na naglalakad palayo sa ‘kin.

Every single mistake they did to each other was repaid through material things. Same goes to me as well. The emotional support that I needed wasn’t there so I had to hold on to dear life every single day in that house.

My daily life was like swimming in the ocean without knowing how deep the water was beneath me but there are times when I wanted to sink. And every time I want to sink, I’d get my music journal. This notebook was where I wrote all my feelings and turned them into songs. Music was my comfort. I wanted to become a singer, a musician.

Completely different from what my parents attained and expected.

“Ma’am Marleigh, it’s time for dinner na po,” sabi ng isang katulong na sumundo sa ‘kin sa music room.

“Okay,” sagot ko at umalis na siya. Matapos kong magligpit, pumunta na ako sa dining room at bumungad sa ‘kin ang nakasimangot na mukha ng papa ko.

“You’re late,” aniya pero di ko siya sinagot at umupo na sa upuan ko.

Tahimik lang kaming kumakain sa ‘family dinner’ namin hanggang sa nagsalita si papa nang malapit na kaming matapos.

“Marleigh, you’re taking political science or business management,” he said.

I froze. His voice echoed through the whole dining room as I started to panic and struggled to maintain my calm composure in front of them. It’s not right for me and it never will. This isn’t just about obeying their orders but sacrificing the things I love the most and wanting to pursue music which I long yearned for. I knew a time like this would come and I prepared myself many times pero iba pa rin ang pakiramdam pag sa personal na.

“I’m sorry pa but I want to take music,” the whole room went silent as the three of us were in tension. I was waiting for papa’s reaction and finally, he reacted. Nabitawan niya ang kanyang mga kubiyertos at napatingin sa ‘kin kasama si mama.

“Pardon?” mababakas ang galit at awatoridad sa boses niya pero nanatili akong kalmdao kahit na halos manginig na ako.

“I want to take music, pa,” ulit ko.

“No. Let’s eat,” ani ni Mama pero nanatili kaming nagkatitigan ni Papa. His eyes screamed anger but I stayed strong despite the fear creeping inside me. Kahit kailan di ako tumanggi sa mga sinabi nila pero ngayon, iba ang sitwasyon.

“I’m not happy with your decisions without actually considering my own opinion about this. This is wrong. Everything is. Even if I did take it, I won’t be happy with it so please, Pa. Please let me take music.”

“Marleigh Claveria, tama na—” awat ni Mama pero mas nangibabaw ang boses ni Papa.

“No. Music is useless, Marleigh. Pag-aaralan mo ang mga sinabi ko at wala ka nang magagawa.” Pilit na kinalma ni papa ang sarili niya.

“But Pa, that’s where I’m good at and I’m happy with it! I’m confident that I’ll be someone big someday.” Depensa ko.

“I don’t care if you’re happy or not!” sigaw niya at tuluyan na niyang tinapon ang kubiyertos na hawak niya sa direksiyon ko. There he is. The violent father that I grew up knowing. “And you? Someone big someday? You’ll never be as great as this Claveria family! Kahit anong gawin mo, pwedeng pwede ka naming pabagsakin sa industriya kahit di ka pa nakakapasok. Your future depends on us!”

Nasaktan ako sa sinabi niya pero naramdaman ko naman talaga yun simula nung bata pa ako kaya di na ako nagulat. They don’t know the emotional damage they did to me was irreparable.

“Kung hindi mo kukunin, anong mangyayari sa reputasyon ng pamilyang ‘to?! Pamilya ng mga lawyers at businessman pero may wala akong kwentang anak na gustong magmusic?!”

“Isn’t it better than acting all noble despite your deeds in the shadows unbeknownst to the people who see you all as future leaders?!” walang control na sigaw ko sa kanila.

Tuluyan nang nagalit si Papa at tinapunan ako ng isa…dalawa…tatlong mga baso sa direksiyon ko pero hindi ako natamaan maliban na lang sa mga piraso ng mga basong nabasag na nagkalat sa iba’t ibang mga direksiyon.

Nilapitan ako ni Mama at sinampal ako. Di pa siya nakuntento sa isang pisngi at sinampal din ako sa kabila. Nilapitan ni Mama si Papa at hinaplos ang mga balikat para pakalmahin. Ah yes. The most supportive wife I’ve ever seen.

“Hon, kumalma ka,” sabi niya kay Papa pero di man lang tinablan ito.

“Was there ever a time where you didn’t see me as an object to advertise but as your daughter?” tanong ko sa kanilang dalawa. Di nila ako pinansin. Oo nga, all your life Marleigh ganyan na ang trato nila sayo, ngayon ka pa iiyak?

“You’re nothing without us, Marleigh. Kahit mawala ka pa sa pamilyang ‘to, hindi kami ma-aapektuhan,” ani ni Papa sa ‘kin.

“Pamilya?! Kailan ba ‘to naging pamilya?! Kahit kailan hindi ko naramdamang pamilya tayo! Kung ganito pala ang pamilya edi sana di nalang ako nagkapamilya diba? Kung hindi tayo Claveria, hahantung rin ba tayo sa ganito? Ayaw ko maging Claveria, Pa!” naiiyak kong sigaw.

That’s right. Even though this was an everyday feeling, it still hurts lalo na at nasabi ko na.

“Then don’t!” sigaw niya. “From now on, don’t ever claim that I’m your father! Wala kang kwentang anak!”

“Ba’t mo pa siya pinanganak, Agnes?” tanong ni Papa kay Mama bago umalis sa dining room. Walang reaction si Mama at hindi man lang ako tiningnan.

Agad na pumasok ang mga katulong na nanlalaki ang mga matang napatingin sa paligid at tiningnan ako na parang naaawa sa ‘kin.

“Yaya Chev, itapon niyo ang lahat ng gamit niya sa labas. Siya na ang bahalang mag impake at wag niyo siyang tulungan,” ani ni Mama sa mga katulong at umalis na.

Nag impake ako at bago ako makaalis, nakita ko si yaya Chev na naghihintay sa gate. She’s like family to me and the only one who I could open up to. Binigay niya sa ‘ken ang slush fund na inipon ko ever since I was young. Nagpaalam kami sa isa’t isa as if di na talaga kami magkikita. She was the only parent figure I ever had. Please be safe in this hellhole.

Everything was hard. It was hard losing my parents that never acted as parents to me. And it was also hard keeping myself in the process of wanting to be free from them.