BUMALIK ang isip ko sa kasalukuyan.
Ipinilig ko ang ulo at saka ko lamang nakita kung nasaan na ako. Sumulyap ako sa medyo makipot at malubak na daan. I curiously examined the old sign above. The paint has faded and looks old -fashioned.
Welcome to Dimali Terminal.
I looked around. There is a strange presence in the area and I can’t explain it. Is there a vehicle passing by here? Why does it seem like nothing? Seems like an abandoned place.
I just waited on the road for over three hours. I sighed as I spotted an old car and stopped in front of me. A rude old man looked out the window. He looked at me lazily. "Cars are rare here in Dimali, so come with me while you still have a chance," his gaze hovered over the suitcases I was holding. Napatitig ako sa kaniyang mga mata at nakita ko na hindi naman siya masamang tao. Sadya lang na supladong matanda.
I nodded quickly. "Are you new here? Do you have a relative here?" he seemed to be an investigator. I was silent for a moment. If I say no, I feel like he won’t force me. But maybe no more tricycles here at night. Sa ganitong sitwasyon, hindi ako p'wedeng mamili. So I just nodded.
He hurried out and carried my luggage inside the car. Gusto ko pa sanang magtanong ngunit natahimik na lang ako, dahil mukhang tatarayan niya lamang ako.
While on the trip, I couldn’t help but frown at what we were going through. Is there really a town here? Bakit walang katapusang talahiban ang nakikita ko? The road is also rough. Obviously the government is not even paying attention to the road. It was getting dark and it looked like the trip was long. Bawat poste ng ilaw ay halos may kalumaan na, patay sindi habang dumadaan kami. I yawned as I caught sight of the big sign above. Napasinghap ako.
Welcome to Dimali Town.
I curiously looked out the window and amazed at the night markets. Many people walk along the road and shop with some families.
I looked at the old man when the car stopped on the sidewalk. “There’s an apartment on the first corner,” he pointed to the little house just a few meters away from us.
I was quietly nod. "You can rent an apartment one night. Bukas mo na lamang hanapin ang sinasabi mong kamag-anak." There was no emotional in his eyes. He picked my luggage down. Magalang akong nagpasalamat sa kaniya. He just nodded at me. I held the payment to give him but the car started to leave. I gasped.
Naiwan akong nakatanga at nakatingin sa papalayo niyang sasakyan. Anong nangyari? May pambayad naman ako! Mabuti na lamang at nakapagpasalamat ako sa kaniya. I took a deep breath and turned my gaze all around. It's past eight o'clock in the evening, but many people are still shopping on the sidewalks here.
I frowned at the food they were selling. What food is this? Vegetables and fruits? I don't know that there are fruits and vegetables like this in the Philippines? I just shrugged and continued looking for dinner to buy.
I had hopes of seeing an old bakery. Biglang kumalam ang sikmura ko dahil sa gutom. Pinagmamasdan ko ang mga tinapay sa bubog. I'm still wondering because their breads are different here. "Iha, are you going to buy something?" asked a woman while smiling. I glanced at her and was stunned because we were both in the same attire. I stared into her green eyes. Napakaganda at nakakahalina.
"Are you all right?" Nagtatakang pukaw ng matanda sa akin. Tumango ako dahil nagtataka na siya sa pagkakatulala ko. Lumihis ang tingin ko at bumaling sa bubog.
"Have you chosen anything yet? Oh, our breads here are delicious." She smiled offering to me. I just quietly nodded and showed her the bread I liked. I liked the heart shape, it looks delicious because it is sprinkled with cheese on top. I also bought water, a different brand because I couldn’t understand what was written.
I noticed, why would they be so good at the English language? It's really strange because people here are seem to have educated.
I pulled the money out of my wallet and handed it to her. But when she saw the money I was holding, she frowned. She looked at me from head to toe, when I met her gaze, she quickly averted her gaze. "You're from sapiro, iha. No. We don't charge you." She seriously explained to me. She had been smiling before, but now there was no trace of emotion in her eyes.
Muling napaawang ang mga labi ko sa pagtataka. Anong nangyayari sa mga tao dito? Inakala yata nila na taga sapiro ako. Wala ako sa sariling pagiisip habang naglalakad.
My lips parted again in astonishment. What is happening to the people here? They must have thought I was from Sapiro. Mukhang libre yata kapag taga sapiro. Pero saan ba itong Sapiro? I was out of my mind while walking.
I looked at the young people singing to one side. "Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!" nagtatawanan sila habang umaawit. But they stopped singing because of the man's shouting. "Stop that! Didn't I tell you we're not allowed to have fun!" disgusted growl of an old man. Suddenly the five young people fell silent.
What?! What nonsense is that? Kailan pa ipinagbawal ang pagkanta ng happy birhday? At kailan pa ipinagbawal sa tao ang maging masaya? Hindi na ako nakapagpigil sa sarili at napapamura na lamang ako. I glanced at the five young people. Mababakas ang pagkapahiya at pagsisisi sa ekspresyon nila. "I'm sorry, it's Ayesha's birthday today. We were just having fun," the girl explained shyly.
"Kahit pa! Hindi dapat kayo nagsasaya ng ganito! Masama ang kalagayan ng mga kasama natin, pero parang wala lamang ito sa inyo. Focus on the war instead," pangangaral sa kanila ng matanda. I stopped walking because I heard what the old man said.
My jaw literally dropped. At war? Seriously? What is this place? Fortress of the rebels? I was suddenly intrigued. Ngunit mabilis akong lumayo at nagmamadaling pumunta sa apartment na tinutukoy ng matanda. No. Hindi dapat ako nakikisali sa problema nila. Mas marami akong problema na kailangan sulosyunan. I need to sleep and tomorrow I will find Mrs. Carmela Dimacuha. I want to get out of this weird place. I don’t want to get involved in the war they say.
I knocked softly three times on the door and it immediately opened. The woman frowned. She folded her arms and leaned against the door as she watched me. "Rent?" she asked me lazily. It's a good thing she doesn't ask questions. Sa pag-iling at pagtango ay nagkakaintindihan pa rin kami. If they were rebels in the country, it would have been better for us not to know each other.
She threw the key at me. "Hey, go to the next door. Don't pay anymore, just don't ask because I won't answer you. Papatuluyin kita ng libre pero ngayong gabi lang. Hindi ka p'wedeng magtagal dito," seryoso niyang paalaala. She closed the door in front of me. Napailing ako. Hindi naman talaga ako magtatagal dito. Hindi ako baliw para sumali sa mga rebeldeng katulad niyo at sumama sa gera.
I am not crazy to join the rebels and go to war.
This is fucking insane.