The Worlds Between Us (TAGALOG)

Chapter Three | Existence

I was staring at my laptop for a while. One step at a time. Baby steps to reach my dreams. Thinking about the conflicts I had to go through before I achieved this situation, everything was worth enduring and fighting for. And now here I am, 10 minutes nervously waiting for the results to get released whether I got accepted by my dream school or not.

10 days has passed since the ghost and I have encountered. Di ko sure kung ghost ba talaga pero yun muna ang tawag ko sa kanya. Wala namang nangyari maliban na lang sa paminsan mins ana paglutang ng mga gamit dito sa loob. Siguro hinahawakan niya yun, di ko lang siya makita.

I’ve come to the conclusion na di siya harmless, pero di ko pa rin babalewalain ang pangbibintang niya sa ‘kin na ako ang ‘intruder’ sa apartment ‘niya’. Pero di rin ako magpapa kampante sa isang mala multong lalaki na hindi ko nakausap ng maayos.

I applied in SCA since this has been my dream school ever since I was a kid seeking for comfort through music. It’s the best school for students who wish to study music and arts. Famous international artists came from SCA as well, encouraging international students to enroll so the standards were set higher. It’s clearly the best school for me and Claveria family doesn’t really have any connections here as far as I know so it should be safe for me as well.

I inhaled air as much as I could and I basically stopped breathing as I pressed ‘enter’. Di ko muna minulat ang mga mata ko sa kaba dahil baka di ako accepted. Di ako ready mareject at for sure masasaktan ako sa disappointment from expecting too much.

I slowly opened my eyes and read their email and I had to repeat it thrice since I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Dear Miss Claveria,

On behalf of Saint Cecilia’s Academy, I am happy to congratulate you on your acceptance into our prestigious school. Our school has the been the best in the field of music and arts ever since it was established, and we only accept the very best students into our school. We believe you students have great potential and it would be an honor to nurture your potential to the fullest.

To complete the enrollment process, you are required to submit your support documents along with the attached forms. Please contact the admission office for any questions you may have.

Once again, we are happy to offer your admission into our school and feel confident that you will make a strong addition to the academy.

Thank you for choosing Saint Cecilia’s Academy.

Sincerely yours,

Richard David.

Agad akong napatayo at tumalon talon after confirming it. Finally! I took my first baby step to reaching my goals! I finally feel like I could be free sooner.

The word ‘free’ was hard to achieve but I think it’s possible as long as I stay on track and persevere as much as I could.

Napatingin ako sa baby picture ko and whispered, “Kita mo ‘to, Marleigh? Ilang taong pagtitiis, makakamit mo na yung gustong gusto mo,” sabi ko habang nakangiti ng sobrang laki, parang mapupunit na ang mga labi ko.

This calls for a celebration! Kulang nalang magpafiesta ako sa saya but since I’m alone, I thought maybe I should bake a cake for myself. This should be enough.

I started to gather the ingredients and eqipments that I could find. Tiningnan ko ang bawat cabinet kung may mixer ba at malaking pasasalamat ko nang maroon nga akong nakita.

I started humming some random songs while I was almost half done. Maglalagay na sana ako ng icing nang biglang tumunog yung doorbell. Agad-agad akong pumunta sa pintuan kung sino pero tanging mail lang ang nakita ko sa ilalim. Agad ko tung pinulot at nagdadalawang isip kung titingnan ko ba o ilalagay ko lang sa gilid.

What if galing ‘to kela papa? They already found me? They bothered to find me?

Masyado akong nagiging paranoid pero kahit may nagsasabi sa utak ko na wag galawin, tiningnan ko pa rin.

To: Rehan Balmores

Address: L687, Sunset Apartments

Paulit-ulit ko ‘tong binasa at nagbabakasakaling pangalan ko talaga yung nakalagay kaya binasa ko ulit. Bakit parehas kami ng address?

Baka ako si Rehan Balmores?

Wait no, I’m Marleigh Claveria.

I’m sure eto yung address ng flat ko. Maybe it’s for my roommate. Wait no, ako lang mag-isa dito. Agad akong bumalik sa tamang pag-iisip. Para kay Mr. Ghost? Napatingin ako sa mail at parang mababaliw na ako.

How can a ghost have mail? Pero hindi namant talaga siya multo. He can touch things and he cook and eats too. So, its like he exists. Pero nawawala din siya.

My head started to get dizzy, thinking in circles and still, walang napupuntahan na punto.

If this is really his, maybe I should just leave this here in the living room. At kung talagang sa kanya ‘to, this confirms two things

First, he exists in an unexplainable way. Somehow. And second, his name is Rehan.

Bumalik na ako sa kusina matapos kung ilapag sa mesa ang mail at nagpatuloy sa paglalagay ng icing. This may not be the best decor, but I tried my best.

I wish I was in a movie. Yung mga core memories ng bida kasama ng pamilya niya. Kagaya ng mga nakikita kong mag ina na nagbebake habang ang saya nila tingnan. But that’s just wishful thinking.

Congratulations Marleigh!

Eto ang nilagay ko sa cake since no one’s here to congratulate me but myself. At the end of the day, all I have is myself.

I smiled in satisfaction as I savored the moisty chocolate cake that I made. Pumunta na ako sa kwarto matapos kumain at manghugas. It was late at night at masyadong marami ang nagawa ko kaya for the next day muna yun.

Maaga akong nagising dahil maglilinis pa ako dito sa loob ng apartment. Wala namang bisita pero maganda pa rin sa feeling pag malinis ang paligid. I was about to make breakfast nang mapansin kong ay wine.

For sure, hindi sa ‘kin to. Maybe kay Rehan ‘to. I was about to place it in a safer place but stopped midway when I saw a note.

“Congrats, Marleigh! I don’t know what happened but congratulations! This wine’s for you. (If you could see and drink it though) P.S. Kinain ko yung cake mo ;>”

I don’t know if I should be touched or mashock dahil sa ganda ng handwriting niya. But I could do both. Agad akong pumunta sa fridge para tingnan ang cake at ¼ na nga lang natira kasama ang isang piraso ng papel sa tabi ng cake.

“Ang sarap ng cake mo, hindi ko sana gagalawin pero nilandi niya ako. And I’m sorry for last time. -R”

Nakatitig lang ako sa sulat niya, doubting if he’s the same person. My last impression of him was his uh, should I call it defensively aggressive side? I mean he seemed shocked rin sa presence ko.

Tiningnan ko yung table sa sala kung nandun pa ba ang mail kahapon at nang hinanap, nakita ko lang sa drawer na nakabukas na at wala nang laman kundi envelope.

It’s confirmed. May sarili siyang identity.

I held the notes tightly. Rehan Balmores, what are you?

A few days later, I did my chores as usual. I decided to binge some kdramas after cleaning up pero halos makatulog na ‘ko pero nagising ang ako nang biglang bumukas ang pinto kaya napasigaw ako sa gulat. Naalala kong hindi lang pala ako mag-isa dito kaya kumalma ako at tumayo. I held the door knob and slowly closed the door. I went to the living to continue chilling in the sofa only to see piles of paper on the table. Kumuha ako ng isa at nakitang sketch ito ng isang renaissance na building. Kumuha rin ako ng isa pa and I was amzed about his ideas when it came to buildings, churches, houses, and landscapes. Ang galing niya.

Oh? Architect?

I thought about his appearance and he is young. He must a few years older or we’re at the same age. He must be taking architecture. His style looks clean and he’s also masculine, handsome, hot, I—

Ano ba, Marleigh? Get a hold of yourself.

The door opened again and a floating architecture plate was placed in front of me carefully along with the pile of papers scattered around. Another batch of art materials also appeared, floating in front of me.

Who’s holding this? Si Rehan na naman ba? But I can’t see him…

Right. He’s neither ghost nor human.

Ano bang gagawin niya? Ano kayang itsura niya ngayon?

I guess his doing his plates today. Pumunta ako sa kusina daladala ang laptop para hindi ko siya maistorbo. Pinagpatuloy ko ang panonood sa kdrama sa kitchen counter and stared at the juice that I was drinking.

Napatingin ako sa sala na paminsan-minsan may isa o dalawang mga papel na lumilipad. Once again, I looked at the juice and an idea popped inside my head.

Kumuha ako ng isang baso at nilagyan yun ng juice. Dahan-dahan akong pumunta sa salad ala-dala ang baso ng juice. Kumuha ako ng ballpen at sticky note at nilagyan ng sulat.

‘Thanks for the wine. You’re Rehan right? You seem busy so I thought maybe I should share my juice.’

Maingat ko tung nilagay sa table kung saa walang papel at mga gamit niya. Baka matapunan ko ng juice ang mga ginawa niya, jusmeyo, papatayin ko nalang sarili ko bago ako masumpa ng kasama ko dito sa apartment.

I can’t identify what he is, as of now. But one thing’s for sure is that he lives normally like any other people do. Could he be an immortal? A vampire? Maybe? Shape-shifter?

I shook my head in disbelief. It only happens in fiction. But what if they really did exist? 65% of earth’s land hasn’t been explored yet. Maybe they do exist.

Bumalik ako sa kusina at tiningnan ang juice kung mapapansin niya ba o hindi. I bet he won’t notice it. 5 minutes, 10 minutes to 30 minutes pero di pa rin nagagalaw. Maybe he can’t see it?

Habang pinagpatuloy ko ang pagbibinge watch, nagulat ako nang biglang may baso na walang laman sa tabi ko. May sticky note na nakalagay sa baso kaya kinuha ko ito.

‘Yep, I’m Rehan :0 I like the juice btw. Thanks. May extra ka ba diyan? Can I have one pitcher?’

Oh wow. Nagustuhan niya. It’s just cheap juice tho. Wala na rin akong juice dito.

I went to the cabinets to find myself a pitcher. Nilagyan ko ng malamig na tubig ang pitcher at nilagyan ng sticky note.

‘Unfortunately, wala na ‘kong juice dito. Have some water tho.’

Nilagay ko ito sa may table pero sinigurado kong di ko nababasa ang mga papel. Aalis na sana ako nang biglang tumunog ang pitcher as if it’s trying to catch my attention. When I looked back, I saw a pen floating as it hits the glass pitcher, making a sound. May sticky note na namang nakalagay kaya bumalik ako sa sala at binasa ito.

‘Thanks again. Can’t you see me? I can clearly see you :0’

He can see me? Ba’t ako hindi? I stood up to get my pen and sticky notes. The pitcher will serve as our freedom wall.

I opened my ballpen and was about to write something when a sticky note appeared on the pitcher.

‘What are you doing?’

My face got distorted as I compared my handwriting to his. My handwriting’s decently clean but his was…his was like it was printed. Parang ayaw ko na tuloy magsulat at umiyak na lang sa gilid.

‘I’m writing obviously. You can see me but I can’t ;>’

I saw a pen standing so I assumed he’s writing something.

‘I know. I’m curious. What are you?’

‘Wdym?’ I replied in confusion. I was about to sit down but I didn’t notice the brushes scattered on the floor. I accidentally stepped on it and was about to fall. I was waiting for the impact but I felt a warm touch behind my head, protecting my head from the floor as I was about to fall down.

When I opened my eyes, all I could see was him looking down at me with his bright brown eyes with a hint of green when it got hit by the sun’s light from the window. His touch was very gentle as if holding something made from glass. It was as if his touch could relieve me from every stress. And now, I can finally see him up close.

So, this is Rehan Balmores.

An hour passed and now, we’re at the kitchen with him silently watching me cook. What’s strange is, I could see him much longer than before. He remained visible and touchable.

“What?” tanong ko sa kaniya. He’s been staring at me for a long time habang nakaupo siya sa counter. His bright brown eyes that seemed like gold, looked at me in fascination. His messy hair remained as it was before. Sinusumpa niya ba ako ngayon? Ano kayang iniisip niya?

Napatingin ulit ako sa kanya at ganun pa din ang posisyon niya. I sighed while I stirred the hot pot of soup.

“Stop staring at me, you’re creeping me,” I spat out while I slightly glared at him.

Narinig ko siyang tumawa ng bahagya. What the heck, that was kinda hot. Inalis ko ang tingin sa kanya at pinagpatuloy ang ginagawa ko. It’s like the more I stare at him, the more I can’t stop.

“Please stop. It’s uncomfy.” Sabi ko sa kaniya. He smiled in amusement habang nilalagay ko ang niluto ko sa bowl naming dalawa.

“Oh sorry. Nagtataka lang kasi ako kung bakit nakakapagluto ang isang multo,” aniya.

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. I stared at him again if he was bluffing. Ako? Multo? He was the one who appeared and disappeared out of nowhere. Am I also a ghost in his perspective?

“What are you talking about?” I asked him/

“You appear and disappear out of nowhere, aren’t you a ghost?” aniya. My brows furrowed in confusion. Huh?

“What? You’re the ghost. You’re the one who appears and disappears out of nowhere. Tuwing mag-uusap tayo noong mga nakaraang araw, nawawala ka agad. Nagjojoke ka ba?” sabi ko sa kaniya at umupo sa harap niya.

“Was that even considered talking? For someone who threatened to gouge my eyes out, isn’t it funny? Nobody would even dare say that to me. Hindi mo ba ‘ko kilala?”

“I don’t but I know the basics. You’re Rehan Balmores, right? Currently studying architecture, as far as I know,” sagot ko.

Tumango siya sa ‘kin at pinakita ang ID niya. Kinuha ko ito at tiningnan ang mga detalye. Rehan Balmores ang nakalagay at sa ibaba ay may “Architecture II”. Parang normal lang naman ang ID sa unang tingin but the more I look, the more weird it was. Tiningnan ko ang pangalan ng paaralan niya to see kung nasa Big 5 universities ba siya since mukhang mapapadpad siya sa mga malalaking unibersidad. Pero nagulat ako nang Mabasa ko ang pangalan niya. I have never heard of this school before To be precise, walang ganitong paaralan dito sa Pilipinas.

Unibersidad ng Kahariang Las Filipinas 1876

“Binabaliw mo ba ‘ko? Walang paaralan na ganto dito,” sabi ko sa kanya. He looked at me in confusion bago tinuro ang ID niya.

“That ID is legitimate. That ID was issued a month ago. Tingnan mo.” Tiningnan ko ang likod ng ID niya at totoo ngang last mont pa ‘to with the same year as today.

“This is clearly fake. Umalis ka dito sa apartment ko. Parang may sarili ka namang magarang buhay.” Sabi ko at sinipsip ang ginawa kong sabaw dahil malamig na siya.

“What are you talking about? This is my apartment. I also rented this a month ago. I have proof.” Aniya at kinuha ang phone niya. Oh wow, the latest model.

I observed him habang nagscoscroll sa phone niya para ipakita sa ‘kin ang proof niya. For sure, he’s not a ghost. It’s like he’s human.

“See? I posted this a month ago.”

Pinakita niya sa ‘kin ang phone niya. I took the phone he offered so I could see his proof at totoo nga. It was on his i********: feed. He was facing the sunset as the sun-kissed him delicately, his hands on the railings, and his hair was messy as always. Parehas lang ang design ng balcony at totoo ngang sa balkonahe ko nakuha ang picture na ‘to. I can clearly see the succulent plants that I see at my balcony.

May pinakita rin siyang picture ng isang kontrata kung saan nandun ang perma niya at ng manager ng building. At isa pang picture na katabi niya ang isang babae.

“Isn’t this Manager Miranda Chua?” tanong ko sa kaniya at tinuro ang babaeng katabi niya.

“Huh? That’s Manager Mikylla Chou,” sagot niya sa ‘kin. What? They’re two different persons? I would believe it if they said they were related by blood.

What the hell is happening? Sobrang nalilito na ako sa mga nangyayari ngayon.

Kinuha ko ang phone ko at tinype ang username niya sa Heartgram.

@rehanbalmores_

I waited for the results pero walang lumabas. “Private ba ang account mo?” tanong ko sa kanya.

“Hindi,” aniya at lumapit sa ‘kin. Medyo lumayo ako dahil parang nakakaintimidate ang figure niya for some reason.

“Can I have my phone back?” agad kong binigay sa kaniya ang phone niya.

“What’s your username?’’ tanong niya sa ‘kin.

“@claverleigh_” sagot ko sa kanya. He searched my username pero wala ring results.

“Hindi rin private ang account ko.” Sabi ko sa kaniya. Mas naiintindihan ko pa ang Calculus kesa sa mga nangyayari ngayon.

Nagtataka kaming napatingin sa isa’t isa, both doubting each other’s presence.

“It’s as if you don’t exist,” sabi niya sa ‘kin. Tumingin siya sa ‘kin gamit ang mga matang puno ng kuryosidad. “What exactly are you, Leigh?”

Leigh. It’s been a while since I heard that.

“Sabi mo sayo tung apartment na ‘to, nasaan ang patunay mo.” Sabi niya sa ‘kin.

Pumunta ako sa isang drawer para kunin ang mga papeles naming ni Miranda. Pinadalhan niya ‘ko ng copy noong nakaraang araw dahil baka kakailanganin ko daw. Binigay ko to sa kaniya at pareho kaming umupo sa sofa. Bigla siyang napatayo kaya nagulat ako. Binasa niya ulit ang kontrata as if he was confirming something. He looked at, with eyes that seemed to calculate everything in its surroundingincluding me.

“Anong tawag sa bansang ‘to?” tanong niya sa ‘kin.

“Uh, Philippines? Pilipinas?” I hesitated before answering him. Bakit di niya alam?

“Kaharian o Republika?”

“Republika of course,” sagot ko.

“So, Republika ng Pilipinas?”

“Uh, yes?”

“How the f**k is this possible… Republika ng Pilipinas? Everything was true…” he muttered and massaged the bridge of his nose.

“Ha? Why? What happened?” nalilito kong tanong sa kaniya. “Taga-ibang mundo ka ba? Ofc everything’s true.”

His brows furrowed in confusion but after a few moments of silence, he suddenly stood up kaya nagulat ako sa kaniya. “That’s it! Ibang mundo!”

“That’s it…that’s it… that’s it…” he kept on repeating it at nanatili lang akong tahimik sa tabi niya. Oh God, mamamatay ba ‘ko? Anong ibig sabihin niya sa ‘ibang mundo’ at ‘that’s it’?

“This kinda makes sense now. Kaya nangyayari lahat ng ‘to dahil may posibilidad na napunta ako sa ibang mundo,” sabi niya. Tuluyan na ngang lumutang ang utak ko sa pinagsasabi ng lalaking katabi ko ngayon. “I know this is beyond logic, pero wala akong nalalaman na Republika ng Pilipinas. Everything here is peculiar to me.”

Oh no. Baka mabaliw na nga ako tulad ng mga past tenants ng flat na ‘to. I’m unable to process everything he said. His bright brown eyes lit up with passion as if he was a child that just discovered his new favorite toy to ask santa for.

“I’m not from this place, Marleigh,” he said. “Ang tawag sa bansang to ay Republika ng Pilipinas pero sa mundo ko, ang tawag sa ‘min ay Kahariang Las Filipinas,” patuloy niya.

“Kaya hindi mo ko kilala dahil hindi ako nag-exist sa mundo mo, until now. My world is different from yours. And to properly introduce myself,” he stood up and opened the curtains revealing the cityscape that I always found pleasing. He looked at me along with the sun’s light glowing on him. His bright brown eyes that seemed to be gold lit brighter than ever.

“I’m Rehan Balmores, Anak ni Haring Aurelio Balmores ng Kahariang Las Pilipinas.”

A prince?