Chapter IV – Another Getaway

Hindi maalis ang mga ngiti sa labi ko nang makabalik ako sa vampire city. Kasama ko si Chiro and he is on his bat form. Agad naman akong nilapitan ni Praise nang makita niya kaming dalawang magkasama.

"Hala, Ate! Hinanap mo talaga siya ng buong araw?" namamanghang tanong niya. Napatingin muna ako kay Chiro bago tumango kay Praise.

"Oo naman!"

"Saan mo siya nakita?" she asked and she stared at Chiro. "Bakit ka umalis bigla, Chiro?"

Lumipad si Chiro papunta kay Praise at sumampa sa balikat niya. Inihilig niya ang ulo niya sa leeg ni Praise and I couldn't help but smile. They look so cute together.

"Iiwan ko muna si Chiro sa'yo, okay?" sabi ko kay Praise as I patted her head.

"Okay, Ate!" masaya niyang sagot bago ako tumalikod.

I headed to my room. I have lots to write about what I have experience outside. Ayaw kong may makalimutan akong detalye. Hindi ko pa alam kung kailan uli ako makakabalik pero saka ko na iyon iisipin. Ang gusto ko lang ay mailabas ko ang saloobin ko through writing.

I opened the door and almost jumped when I saw Mommy sitting on the bed.

Uh oh. This doesn't look good.

"Where've you been?"

I've immediately bowed my head. I can't met her eyes because I am afraid she might see through me.

"I've had looking for Chiro the whole day," I answered quietly.

"Why are you even looking for a pet? You're a princess, Raia. Let the servers do their job!" she said with knitted forehead.

"Chiro is not just a pet, Mommy. He's been part of the family before I was even born," I answered.

Tumayo naman siya at humarap sa akin. Tiningnan niya ako ng maigi at parang kinikilatis. I even heard her sniffed.

"You smell different,"

"Nagpunta po kasi ako sa loob ng gubat. I'll go get a shower first," akma akong aalis sa kinatatayuan ko pero hinawakan ni Mommy ang braso ko.

"I can feel different aura on you, Raia. Tell me, did you, perhaps, used the key?" nagdududa niyang tanong at agad naman akong napailing.

"How can I use the key if I don't even know where the portal is located?" I said confidently.

Haay. Bakit ba ang talas ng pakiramdam ni Mommy?

"I'm going to tell you one thing, Raia. Pumayag akong ikaw ang maging keeper of the key because I trust you. Please don't do anything that could tarnish my trust in you, got it?"

"Yes, Mommy."

"I want you to be the crown princess because you're fit for the position. You are after all, my first child."

"I understand po," mababa kong sagot.

Lumabas si Mommy sa kuwarto at naiwan akong mag-isa. I immediately double locked my door and went to the bookshelves near my bed. Kinuha ko ang notebook ko pati ang ballpen ko.

It feels so good that I have something to look forward into. For the first time in my life I feel so excited about life.

***

"Come again, Princess?"

"I want to go out again," sabi ko kay Chiro na sa ngayon ay naka anyong-bata.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Will you go out with me?"

"Are you sure, Princess? Pero kailangan kong bantayan ang portal habang nasa labas ka," sagot niya.

"But I want you to see what's outside. Hindi ba talaga puwede?" I ask.

"Basta hindi dapat tayo matagalan dahil hindi puwedeng naka-bukas ng matagal ang portal nang walang nakabantay,"

"Sige-sige!" excited kong sabi.

Chiro and I teleported ourselves through the open road. Sobra akong excited dahil marami akong gustong i-discover ngayon. Plus, kasama ko pa si Chiro. Mas maganda kapag may kasama ka.

Inilabas ko ang susi sa bulsa ko at kusa itong nag-ilaw. A yellow and white thread connects the key to the threshold. Slowly, the portal opened. It cannot be seen by the naked eye. But when you crossover the portal, you could feel an energy. You could see a quick flick as if you entered to another dimension.

Magkahawak ng kamay kami ni Chiro nang lumabas sa portal. Sobrang higpit ng pagkakahawak niya sa kamay ko at hindi ko mapigilang hindi mapangiti.

This kid beside me may act so cool, but he is still afraid on what's waiting for us outside.

"Walang pinagbago," I heard him say kaya nagbaba ako ng tingin sa kaniya.

"Nakalabas ka na dati?" gulat kong tanong.

Isang malapad na ngiti ang ibinigay sa akin ni Chiro bago niya ako hinila para maglakad.

Tiningnan ko lang siya habang masayang naglalakad. What exactly is Chiro? Bakit parang ang dami niyang alam? Gustong-gusto ko man siyang tanungin, alam kong hindi naman niya ako sasagutin. If he does, he'll just left me more curious.

Nakarating kaming ciudad. Magkahawak kami ng kamay ni Chiro habang naglalakad sa side-walk. Just like the other day, people are busy with their own business. Nilagpasan namin ang mga lugar na napuntahan ko na. Sa katabi ng plaza ay may park kung saan may mga bata na naglalaro. Sa tabi ng park ay may school na sa tingin ko ay isang Montessori school.

"Chiro, gusto mo ba diyan?" itinuro ko ang park at nanlaki ang mga mata niya at hindi maitatago ang pagniningning nito.

"May playground sa vampire city pero kahit kailan ay hindi pa ako naka-gamit do'n kasi isa lamang akong hybrid-bat."

"You are not just a bat, Chiro. You're a family. So why don't we play at the park for us to enjoy?"

"I will not say no to that, Princess!" masaya niyang sabi kaya natawa ako.

"Don't call me princess here, Chiro. In this world, I am just Raia Grendel. Okay?"

"Got it!" he said with thumb ups.

Pumasok kami sa park. There are swings, seesaws, tree house, monkey bars, slide with play house, and pyramid. The kids was being supervised either by the mother or maids.

Nakakainggit lang kasi kahit kailan ay hindi ako pinayagan noon ni Mommy para maglaro sa park kasama ang ibang mga bata sa vampire city. Ni hindi nga kami noon nakakapaglaro ni Priela kasi lagi akong may princess lessons. Literally, my childhood was taken away from me.

"Princess—I mean," napakamot siya ng ulo at natawa naman ako.

"Call me Ate Raia for today," I said that made him cringe.

"Princess, I am literally older than you,"

"Yes, but physically talking, I look older than you. Anybody can think you are my baby brother...or son,"

"Baby brother is fine, Ate Raia," he said with sarcasm.

"Ang cute mo talaga, Chiro!" sabi ko at kinurot ang pisngi niya.

"Alam kong cute ako," ismid niya.

Natatawang pinanuod ko si Chiro na tumakbo papunta sa slide. Naupo naman ako sa wooden bench at pinapauod ko ang mga bata. Takbo dito, takbo doon. They are so care-free that I wish I was them.

"Is that your son?"

Nagulat ako nang may nagsalita sa likod ko. lumingon ako habang nakakunot-noo.

The man was leaning against the tree. His left hand is inside his black trousers. His undercut hair was brushed up that made him look neatly handsome. He was tall, there's no doubt on that. And nice bod, I must say.

"My brother," I answered.

Naningkit naman ang mga mata niya at lumapit papunta sa akin. He was now standing in front of me. napatayo tuloy ako dahil ang tangkad niya talaga. And now, standing in front of him, hanggang balikat niya lang pala ako.

"Brother?" he scoffed. What's the matter with him? "You don't have a baby brother, Heather!"

Heather? Heather na naman?!

"I am not Heather, Mister!" umiirap kong sabi.

"Yeah, right!" he said with smug look.

"A lady also mistaken me as Heather. Believe me, I am not that girl." Kalmado kong sabi kahit naiinis ako sa way nang pananalita niya.

"I don't believe this," he murmured. He look at me perilously and for a second, kinabahan ako. "You don't take me as fool, Heather! You've fooled me once but not this time."

"You don't understand. I'm not Heather! My name is Raia! R-a-i-a! Raia!"

"I bet that kid is three years old. Same as the year you broke up with me. Tinakasan mo ba ako dahil sa batang iyan?" tanong niya.

Gusto kong sapakin ang lalaking nasa harapan ko. He's so damn persistent.

"Hindi kita kilala, okay?!" singhal ko. ipinikit ko nang mariin ang mga mata ko para itago ang pamumula ng mga mata ko. God, he's provoking me!

"Puwede ba, Heather! Stop lying! Your sister called me last night and she told me she saw you. Hindi lang pala ako ang tinakasan mo kundi ang pamilya mo? Paano mo sila natiis ng anim na buwan? Ah! Oo nga. Ako ngang boyfriend mo natiis mo ng tatlong taon, bakit hindi ang pamilya mo, hindi ba?"

"You're ridiculous!" I said exasperatedly. "Mga Adik ba ang tao dito sa mundong ito? Isang beses mo pa akong tawaging Heather at makikita mo ang hinahanap mo!" galit kong sabi.

This is so frustrating. Okay, given na na kamukha ko ang Heather na iyan. Pero hindi ba sila makaintindi? Ganito ba katigas ang ulo ng mga tao? My God! They are making me so angry!

"Is everything okay, Ate Raia?" napatingin ako kay Chiro na nasa likod na pala ng lalaking kaharap ko. "Is he bothering you?" nakakunot noo pang tanong ni Chiro habang papalapit sa akin. Hinawakan niya pa ang kamay ko at kung hindi lang siguro siya isang bata sa paningin ko, iisipin kong pino-protektahan niya ako.

"Everything's okay, Chiro," I said feining a smile. "Tara, umalis na tayo,"

"You're not going anywhere, Heather. Iuuwi na kita sa inyo!" singit ng lalaki kaya tiningnan ko siya ng masama.

"Hindi kita kilala! Mahirap bang intindihin iyon?! Gusto mo ba ipaliwanag ko pa sa'yo word by word ang katagang 'Hindi ako si Heather?' Hindi ba well-educated ang mga tao dito?!"

"Heather—"

"ANO BA!" galit kong sigaw. "I am not Heather! God! You, people are making me crazy! Don't give me a reason to stop visiting your world because I won't give you the satisfaction to ruin my second day in this city!"

Hinigit ko ang braso ni Chiro at mabilis na naglakad palayo sa lalaki. Galit na galit na ako. if only I could borrow Prea's passive power, kanina pa siya nawala nang parang bula.

"What was that?" tanong ni Chiro habang naglalakad kami.

"I don't know. Yesterday, a lady called me Heather and now that man. Nakakainis na! Next time hindi na ako babalik sa ciudad na ito. I will change my route!"

Nakita kong palingon-lingon si Chiro sa likod namin at alam kong tinitingnan niya ang lalaki.

"Kawawa naman siya," I heard Chiro said.

"I don't care,"

"He must've missed that Heather girl so much. Look at his face, he is so desperate," napatigil ako sa paglalakad at tumingin sa likod ko.

My eyes automatically zoomed-in and stared at his face. Ilang beses siyang bumuntong hininga habang nakatingin sa kawalan. Bigla tuloy akong na-guilty dahil sa mga pinagsasabi ko sa kaniya.

"Am I too harsh on him, Chiro?" I asked.

"Yes. He look so brokenhearted." Sagot niya pa at mas lalong nanlumo ang puso ko.

"Should I apologize?" tanong ko at kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi.

"Yes."

"Fine," mababa kong sabi bago ako naglakad pabalik.

Nakita ko siyang may kinuha sa bulsa niya at may pinindot-pindot. Bumuntong-hininga muli siya bago niya ibinalik sa bulsa ang hawak niya.

"You don't have to convince him that you're not the girl he was referring. Just plainly apologize," sabi pa ni Chiro.

"I will do that," I said while my eyes was fixed on his handsome face.

Ilang metro na lang ang layo niya sa akin nang may lumapit na babae sa kaniya. Napatingin ako sa kamay ng babae nang ilingkis niya ang braso niya rito.

"Nandito ka lang pala. Bakit ba bigla ka na lang nawala?" I heard the girl said.

"May nakita lang ako..." he answered.

Napatingin naman ang babae sa gawi ko at biglang nangunot ang noo niya. biglang humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa lalaki na naging dahilan para mapatingin din siya sa akin.

"What is she doing here, Scythe? Siya ba ang sinasabi mong nakita mo?" the girl asked.

"She is," he answered while staring back at me.

The girl smirked at me then glared.

"Ang kapal naman ng mukha mo magpakita sa boyfriend ko?" then her gaze went down and her smug look went wider. "At may anak ka na pala. Tell me, bunga ba iyan ng paglalandi mo?"

"Stop it, Vida," he said.

"She left you. She run away from your wedding and you're still taking her side? Sino ba ang girlfriend mo ngayon, ha, Scythe?" tila naiinis niyang sabi.

"She's not Heather. Nagkamali lang ako kanina," sagot niya at tumingin sa akin. "Pasensya ka na, Miss. Aalis na kami," sabi niya.

Hinila niya ang babae na nagngangalag Vida. Hindi ko alam ang nararamdaman ko. Para bang gusto ko siyang habulin. Gusto kong sabihin na okay lang na isipin niyang ako si Heather.

Ah, nababaliw na ako.

"Wait!" I said without thinking.

Oh, God. Nababaliw na nga 'ata ako.

Sabay silang napalingon at mas lalo akong naguluhan nang magtama ang mga mata namin.

"W-what if I am Heather?" I said and I almost heard Chiro's gasp.

"We don't care, okay? Puwede ba lubayan mo na kami!" pagtataray pa ng babae pero hindi ko siya pinansin. Sa lalaki lang ako nakatingin.

"I know it's you," he said then beamed before walking away.

"I've got this feeling that you are going to see him again," Chiro said and I smiled.

"Me too, Chiro. Me too."

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