The Ravages of Time

Kabanata 28

Kabanata 28

The Second Dilemma

Thousands and hundreds of sparkling sunshine stars are what should have greeted us as we made our way to the top. But our shoulders dropped when a plain blank sky met us tonight.

My shoulders dropped as I hung my head low out of disappointment because I'd seen no stars tonight, not even one. However, the streetlights of the village gave us the light. Gave us the chance to see each other's faces in the middle of the night.

"Okay lang 'yon, kahit walang bituin. Nandiyan ka rin naman," Tariq uttered, who was sitting next to me.

I looked at him with a frown on my face.

"Lagi ka nalang bumabanat, alam mo 'yon?" singhal ko sa kanya. Narinig ko ang mahinang niyang pagtawa dahilan upang mapangiti ako.

"The sky's so dark..." I whispered.

"Alam mo..."

"Hindi ko pa alam," pang-eepal ko sa kanya. Medyo sinamaan niya ako ng tingin.

"Kapag sa probinsya, nakakatakot umakyat sa bubong ng alas dose ng madaling araw. Alam mo kung bakit?" he uttered.

"Why?"

"Baka kasi paggising mo may tiktik ka nang kasama," he answered and burst into laughter.

My forehead creased.

"Wait... what? Tiktik? What is tiktik? Also... the manananggey? How about wakwak? Is there a difference between those three?" I asked him.

"Hindi dapat nating pag-usapan 'to, pero dahil nagtanong ka, sasagutin ko. Basta sabi ni Nanay ang manananggal ay may hati sa katawan..."

I nodded as I waited for him to continue.

"Iyong wakwak naman daw ay parang ibon, pero 'di pa 'ko nakakakita no'n. Ang tiktik naman ay... 'di ko alam. Basta alam ko mga uri sila ng aswang," he answered, not satisfying me.

"Oh, so you guys in your hometown are scared that's why all of your neighbors close their doors early at night like six in the evening?" I curiously asked.

"'Di naman, gano'n lang talaga sa 'min. Sinasara namin ang pinto kapag sumapit ang gabi dahil madilim na sa labas. 'Di tulad rito na parang hindi natutulog ang mga tao," he replied.

I keep on nodding.

"Ang sabi rin ni Nanay, kadalasan, gwapo raw and binibingwit ng mga 'yon. Kaya natakot tuloy ako."

My lips frowned even more and looked at him, glaring. He just replied to me with a chortle.

"Anong tingin na 'yan? Totoo naman, gwapo naman talaga ako," he added.

I gasped and massaged my nose bridge. "I wasn't informed that you have that mahangin side, huh?" singhal ko.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang bigla niyang inilapit ang mukha niya sa 'kin dahilan upang mapalayo ako nang kaunti.

"Bakit, hindi ba?" pagmamaktol niya na animo'y isang bata. He even slightly pouted his lips.

"Yeah, I admit, you're handsome pero... jejemon ka." Mismong pagkasabi ko no'n, nalaglag ang panga niya.

"Jeje...mon?" Tila hindi niya maintindihan.

I sighed. "Glad, you didn't know what it meant..." I answered and chuckled.

"Hindi ko alam kung ano ang jejemon. Ang tanging alam ko lang kasi ay mahalin ka," banat niya ulit.

"Tigil-tigilan mo nga 'yang banat mo. Masyadong makaluma, puwede nang isabit sa museum," singhal ko sa kanya.