"The truth is, di ako taga-Kerle noong una. I grew up in this nearby planet na mas mahirap sa Kerle. I don't remember having parents. My earliest memory was sitting inside this junk shop, while this old lady stood at a counter, talking to creatures who seemed to be her customers. I would try to sneak out of her shop and explore the city. Believe me, mas mahirap pa ito sa Pilipinas."

Zaida sipped her drink and looked upwards at the heavens, thinking about how her life had been.

"Anong itsura ng dati mong tirahan?" tanong ni Luis.

"It's a place full of dust, rusty-looking buildings, and a yellowish sky. Ang mga kabahayan, kamukha ng mga barong-barong sa Pilipinas. I remember walking along the streets, bumping into different people and creatures. I remember stealing bread and trying not to get caught. But one time, the old lady I lived with, she caught me. Binuhat niya ako pauwi at pinalo."

Hindi mapigilan ni Zaida ang matawa.

"Kaano-ano mo yung babae?"

"Auntie or grandma, I can't remember. I once tried asking her where my parents were, pero ang sabi lang niya, wala na sila. She hated that she had to take care of me. As a child, I already know I was a burden to her. So, at the early age of seven, I planned my escape, even if there was no way for me to do so. Pero desidido ako. Alam ko kapag nanatili pa ako doon, paglaki ko, ibebenta lang niya ako at magiging parausan lang ng mga kadiring aliens doon. O kaya naman, magiging kagaya rin niya ako."

"May prostitusyon pala doon," kumunot ang noo ni Luis.

"Whatever crimes they do here, it's also present in another galaxy, at ikaw pa lang ang nakakaalam," ika ni Zaida.

"Kumusta justice system?"

"Sometimes napapanagot naman ang mga may-sala. That is the case for other planets. But in my hometown, they get away with it. Going back, when I was seven, I plotted my escape carefully."

Zaida breathed and continued.

"My grandma or aunt went to another town for some business. So naiwan ako sa junkshop na bahay rin namin. I quickly packed my few belongings and sneaked out. I wandered around the city, trying not to be seen or recognized, until I went out to the desert and came to this station. I saw this space vessel parked nearby, and recognized it as from Kerle. I know, because of some old books I've seen in the junk shop."

Zaida took hold of Luis' hand and allowed him to see her memories.

Sa nakikita ni Luis, may isang batang babae na nakatalukbong at may dalang satchel bag na parang gawa sa tela. He saw her roaming around and seeing a vessel about the size of a private plane on Earth. It looked like an Earth airplane, except for the oddly shaped wings, na x-wing style at patusok.

The young Zaida found out that the back door was open. She was able to go inside the cargo part. She hid behind a box and waited until the pilot went back to the cockpit. The little girl crouched behind the box and never got noticed by the pilot.

Luis saw Zaida's younger self sleeping for the most of the journey. When she woke up, the plane already landed in a hangar in Kerle.

Nagbukas ang back door at nang may kinuha nang kahon, napaupo at nag-inat ang inaantok na si Zaida. Doon niya natanto na kailangang niyang makaalis sa loob ng plane na di napapansin. Pero mukhang imposible itong mangyari.

"Paano ka nakalabas ng eroplano?" tanong ni Luis.

"Wait and see." Pinigilan ni Zaida na matawa.

Ang sumunod na eksena, tumayo si Zaida at tumalon pababa ng eroplano. Bakas sa kanyang mukha ang sakit nang tumama ang kanyang paa sa sahig. Pinilit nitong tumayo at tumakbo papalayo, ngunit agad siyang nakita ng isang trabahador sa hangar na naka-uniporme.

"Hoy bata! Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

Lumingon ang batang babae at gulat na tinignan ang tumawag sa kanya. Kahit masakit, tumayo siya at tumakbo papalayo.

Lumabas si Zaida sa hangar, at agad siyang natulala sa kanyang nakita.

Totoong nasa Kerle na nga siya. May mga gusali sa malayo na halos abot na ang kalangitan. Napapaligiran ang buong paligid ng mga matatayog na puno at mga kabundukan na may puting nyebe sa ibabaw.

Ngunit kailangan na niyang magtago. Narinig niya ulit ang boses ng humahabol sa kanya. Patuloy na tumakbo si Zaida papasok sa masukal na kagubatan, hanggang sa hindi na siya makita ng lalaking taga-hangar.

Binitawan ni Zaida ang kamay ni Luis.

"Pagkatapos kong magtago sa gubat, naglakad na ako sa city capital ng Kerle," pagpapatuloy ni Zaida.

"First time kong makakita ng buildings na di madumi, at mga flying cars. Dumaan ako sa isang bake shop. Pumuslit ako sa loob at sinubukang kumuha ng tinapay. Siyempre nakita ako ng may-ari. Dadalhin na sana ako sa awtoridad nila, lalo nang makita bihis ko, gusgusin. You know what happened next?"

"Ano?" Luis stared at her intently.

"Saktong pagpasok ng presidente ng Kerle, ang ama ni Alyx, si Doleer. Nakita ako na hawak sa likuran ng head baker. He asked the baker to stop harrassing me. Instead, Doleer bought bread and an entire meal. Doon ako unang nakakain ng masasarap na pagkain sa buong buhay ko. Tapos nalaman ko, kasama ko pinuno ng Kerle, nakapalibot sa amin mga bodyguards niya habang kumakain ako."

Zaida smiled as she recalled this memory.

"Doleer asked me where I'm from. I told him I was from the nearby planet and escaped, because my caretaker did not treat me well. I told him na balak akong ibenta bilang parausan paglaki ko, at ayokong mangyari iyon. So he adopted me. His wife was shocked bringing me home, pero she understood, especially when learning my background. I owe a lot to them."

"So sila nagpaaral sa iyo?"

Lumapit pa si Luis sa kanya.

"Oo, ganon na nga, they sent me to school and treated me like their own daughter. Akala kasi nila di na sila magkakaanak. But when I was ten, nagdalang-tao na ang asawa ni Doleer. That baby was Alyx."

"You did not feel jealous over her arrival?"

"Of course, I was jealous at first. Kadugo nila iyon eh. But Doleer talked to me and promised me that they still love me. I promised them I will study hard and make them proud. Later on, nawala na selos ko kay Alyx. Ang cute niyang baby, ang puti at ang kinis. Tinutulungan ko adoptive mother ko sa pag-aalaga sa kanya."

"Bait mo naman pala na kapatid." Luis smiled and held her hand. "Pero paano ka nakapasok sa military at naging bodyguard?"

"After ng junior high school years ko, ang senior high program namin is related sa career path. Pinili ko military school. I was seventeen then, and planning to be a soldier to defend Kerle. So I did the training for like, four years. I lived in a dorm with other girls. No one knew I was adopted by Doleer, because I used the only surname I remember from my childhood, Niraan. Zaida Niraan. Apelyido iyon ng nag-alaga sa akin sa home planet ko. I just told people that I have a rich uncle who helped me study."

Nanahimik si Zaida.

"Imagine the feeling of wanting to be loved and finally getting it? Ganoon naramdaman ko sa pamilya nila Doleer. I wished I could have pursued my military career, pero thank you ko na rin sa kanila ang pagsisilbi ko bilang bodyguard at right-hand woman. I remember Alyx as a kid, she really looked up to me as her elder sister. And I accepted that role with all my heart."

"You're a great person. I admire you for it."

Tumingin si Zaida kay Luis at ngumiti.

"Halika na, iuwi mo na ako sa apartment ko."

Sabay silang naglakad sa dilim, habang naaaninag ng mga poste at mga bituin sa kalangitan. Not a word was needed. Zaida let Luis hold her hand as they savored a slow walk together. Minsan, susulyap sila sa isa't isa at mapapangiti.

"You're here. Ang haba ng gabi natin," ika ni Luis. Nakatayo sila sa labas ng unit ni Zaida.

"Gusto mong pumasok? Dito ka na lang matulog," alok ng dalaga.

"Ah, malapit lang hotel ko dito, kaya naman lakarin. We'll still see each other. Nahihiya ako sa iyo, makikitulog ako, porke't tayo nang dalawa."

"Kunwari ka pa." Zaida poked his ribs and laughed.

"Ginagalang lang kita. Kung ano man naiisip mo, we can do that some other time."

Kumindat si Luis kay Zaida, na tuluyang natawa.

"Ito talaga, ang dumi ng isip mo! Alis ka na, goodnight!"

"Good morning," ngisi ni Luis. "Three-twenty am na."

"Good mornight," tawa ni Zaida.

Humalik ulit siya kay Luis bago ito umalis.

As she watched him go, the smile on her face showed the overflowing joy she felt.

Sa sarili niya muna inamin ang di pa niya masabi kay Luis.

Iniibig na kita, makulit na Earth guy.