I was feeling the cold wind when someone touched my hand. I know, I may not see him but I have this feeling that it is him. I always feel that someone aim to protect me every time I'm in trouble and whenever I feel sad.
Sometimes, I prayed that I can see him, In that way, I will be able to ask about certain things that are hard to explain.
The sun is almost covered by the moon. Sunset. My favorite time of the day, May mga araw na gusto ko na agad matapos, May mga oras na gusto ko na agad lumipas ngunit hindi ang pagkakataong ito. Masyadong makahulugan ang ibig sabihin saakin ng Paglubog ng araw.
It's perfect, honestly more beautiful than sunrise and I could write an Argumentative Essay just to prove my point. Sunset is much more glorious than Sunrise. It's refreshing and the aesthetic behind the sun is absolutely gorgeous. Indeed.
There are times that I don't want to see the world but this Sunset has so much beauty to snob. It's a perfect view for a young girl like me with a shattered heart.
Tumayo ako at pinagpagan ang sarili nang matapos ang pag lubog ng araw. It's evening now. I hate it.
I stood up with a heavy heart, my precious time is over now, It is time to face reality.
"Ipasok 'yang mga yan!"
The young girls were forced to kneel and face mud. By our people. And I am part of this.
My heart is racing rapidly and I can't breathe properly. I've been here for 13 years for a living.
Tumaas ang mga tingin ng mga babae saakin at tila nanghihingi ng tulong. I was frozen. I couldn't say anything nor feel anything because I was so scared, to be here, to be part of this.
I was born and raised here, inampon ako ng mga taong naninirahan dito dahil nakita nila ako noong sanggol ako, Perhaps, I wish they didn't saved me.
I couldn't get out of here, I have to save my people, my friends, and the victims.
The girls were having a hard time to scream because of the handkerchief on their mouth, Pinasok sila sa hindi gaanong kalakihan na kulungan, masikip at madilim.
I'm 13 and since the day that I was adopted, I understand everything that they do, that we did. They say I'm the heart and the eyes of this Nation. I disagreed. How can I be the heart of this Nation when my heart is full of guilt and sorrow. Nothing but loneliness, sadness...
We sell girls for a living. While I, as the "Eyes" of this Nation. Should see what they must do in order to protect our people.
"Ano, May mangyayari ba na masama?" Nakangisi ang kababata ko na si Haku. We're both adopted, actually, all of the teenagers here were adopted.
Tumango ako.
"Matagal na dapat tayong nakaalis dito kung hindi lang malambot ang puso mo." My tears are escaping from my eyes. I'm not a crying person but my weakness is hearing someone to say that I'm weak for this. Not literally though.
"Ayoko. Leaving them is a sin. I've been a sinner since the day I helped them, This is the least that I can do. To keep them alive."
"Living here already feels like living in hell. Don't make their life miserable. You're being selfless but you're actually being selfish. They wanted to die, you know that." He sighed.
"You've been helping us since you were born. It's time to help yourself, Calamity." I smiled at him, weakly. "You're planning to do something, aren't you?"
He smiled wickedly.
"Why don't you 'see' it so you can tell me if it will going to be successful?"
I'm scared.
"You're always scared," He really is intelligent. He always knows what's going on inside my head, he never fails.
"Bakit hindi ka humingi ng tulong sa anghel na sinasabi mong nagbabantay sayo?" Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. Noon ko pa sinasabi na mayroong anghel na nagbabantay saakin ngunit lagi akong tinatawanan. Masyado daw imposible at hindi na makatotohanan.
"I can't... Call him yet... He's dangerous and..."
"Wow... You didn't deny that you really can summon an angel, I'm expecting you to say that he can't help you." I know he's intelligent, but I don't know... Baka hindi siya maniwala saakin. Premonition is different but to Summon an angel? That is on another level of being different.
"Baka hindi ka maniwala saakin, o baka hindi ka naniniwala." He raised his eyebrows and chuckles. "I always believe in you, Cali."
"Also, I think you must call for his help, It is time."
His chinky eyes give him life although his eyes are the opposite.
I placed both hands on my chest, praying... The most powerful weapon.
"Listen carefully... We'll plan everything first okay? And I need your help." He held my hand tightly. "You need to see my future, Calamity..." Binitawan ko ang kamay niya noong narinig ko ang hiling niya, Kung ano man ang mangyayari, hindi dapat iyon mabago. It's God's Plan. At isa pa, natatakot ako sa magiging kapalaran niya.
"Oy oy oy! Ano 'yan? Ba't may pag hawak ng kamay?" Ngumisi ang isa pa naming kababata na si Kira
"Pinagsasabi mo?" Tumawa nalang ako sa kanilang mag pinsan. They're both half Japanese. "Hmp! Tawag kayo ni Bato!"
Ang seryosong si Haku ay mas lalong sumeryoso.
Pag labas namin ay sumalubong ang mga lalaking naka suot ng pormal na kasuotan, malayo sa suot naming lahat. Nag katinginan kaming tatlo, "Whatever it is, just go with the flow. Alright?" Tumango kaming dalawa ni Kira at napalunok.
"Andito na pala kayo!" Tinawag kami ni Heneral gamit ang masayang boses, malayo sa magagalitin na Heneral.
"Mr. Gustave, Ito ang mga alaga ko... Si haku, Kira at ito naman si Calamity!" He was excited while introducing us, same energy when he's selling the girls.
Ang Mr.Gustave na tinutukoy niya ay nakatingin ngayon saakin na tila may malalim na pag-iisip. Ang hangin ay umihip kasama na ang mga halaman at dahon sa puno.
He's here. Beside me.
"Calamity! Itong mga 'to ang tutulong sainyo sa kolehiyo, kapalit noon syempre ang serbisyo niyo." Malaki ang ngiti at tila walang sinoman ang makakapigil sa kanya sa pagiging masaya.
"What service?" Haku asked in an ill-manner that's why i grip my fist. This ain't going well. "Haku! Ano ka ba..." Hilaw na ngumiti si Heneral sa aming lahat ngunit ang mata niya ay sumisigaw ng hindi pagkakatuwa.
"I heard that your intelligence is not normal, as well as your cousin..." Ngumiti siya sa kanilang dalawa at tumigil siya saakin, nagtagal ang tingin niya at mapanuri.
"Doc, this is Calamity, the one that I'm talking about."
"The special kid?"
Mr. Gustave gave me to the doctor, I can see his future... For me. He will use me for his business.
Lumingon ako kay Haku, only that he's looking at me too. He whispered, "I know."
Natapos ang pag-uusap na matiwasay at wala namang sapilitan na naganap, dahil hindi naman kami pinilit. Kinausap lang kami tungkol sa edukasyon namin o kung ano pa man.
Pinikit ko ang aking mga mata at saka dinama ang lamig ng hangin. Some times, I wished that I never exist, kung ano man ang dahilan kung bakit ako nabuhay, bahala na. All i know is that I need to live this moment and I need to live. I might not know my purpose yet but I know my worth.
Haku held my hand tightly, "We will survive this one, I promise you." Niyakap ako sa likod ni Kira. Napangiti nalang ako, My future is not based on others but it's all because of me and my choices. I will always be scared but I have these two. I need to fight.
"Fight for yourself this time, Cal. Be selfish for once. It's a once in a life time oppurtunity, We can't lose this chance." I nodded at Kira. I know. It's just me and my conscience. Pang habang buhay iyon, ngunit kung hindi ko gagawin iyon, paano nalang ang mga pangarap ko?
"Matulog muna kayo. Bukas ng umaga ko sasabihin ang plano ko."
Niyakap ko ang sarili ko sa malamig na hangin, hating gabi na kasi at manipis pa ang kumot ko. Si kira ay kasama ni haku sa pag pa-plano. Sa totoo lang, hindi ko talaga alam kung nag pplano ba talaga sila o nag kkwentuhan lang.
I closed my eyes at pinatong ang aking kamay sa aking dalawang tainga, The girls were screaming, asking for help.
I grip my fist. This is the last time that I'll Hear this. I promise.
Nagising ako sa tilaok ng manok at saka sa gising ni Kira. She told me to shut my mouth and so I did.
It must be 4 in the morning.
Sinundan ko lang si Kira na tahimik na naglalakad patungong lawa, Nakita ko si Haku doon na mukhang kalmado naman.
Haku did not greet me like the usual but instead, He goes straight to the point.
"Hindi mahirap mapikot si Bato. I'm way higher than him, The people here aren't that kind of an observer, they didn't guard well, The only problem would be time and you." Kumunot ang noo ko sakanya.
Anong klaseng plano ito?
"The main problem is you... " Kumunot lalo ang noo ko, "We need your cooperation, Calamity. We're going to escape here and we're going to live a normal life like what we always wanted to be."
Tumango ako. Alam ko na iyan.
"Pack your bags, Kira, Cali."
"Lalabas tayo at makakaalis dito, alam ko ang daan."
Ginawa na namin ang araw-araw naming gawain ngunit hindi parin ako mapakali, I really need to see the future, if changing the future means winning then I'll risk it. This is my advantage, to know what will happen.
My premonition depends on myself, I can see the future by dreaming or looking right into your eyes and sometimes... I just see it.
This time, I'm going to fall asleep.