06 | demons

Chapter Six. Demons.

Hindi pamilyar ang mga nagbabantay kay Galen. Noong una ay pinahinto siya nito, hindi dahil namumukhaan siya bilang kalaban nito sa korte kundi walang nakakakilala sa kanya roon. Pero nang sabihin ni Galen na siya na lang ang natitirang pamilya ni Vhallerine, bilang asawa nito, pinayagan siya. Hindi na humingi ang mga ito ng patunay.

“Kumusta ka rito? Nagdala sana ako ng pagkain pero bawal pa pala. Kumain ka na ba?” Galen asked his wife.

Vhallerine nodded and smiled. “Oo. Salamat. Ikaw, hindi ka busy? Inaaraw-araw mo ang pagpunta rito.”

“Wala na tayong oras eh,” diretsang sagot ni Galen, seryoso lang. Umupo siya sa harap ng kulungan ni Vhal.

Tumango ulit si Vhal at pilit na ngumiti. Dahil walang masabi ang asawa, ipinakita niya lang ang singsing kay Galen. Bahagyang napangiti roon ang lalaki pero agad ding nawala.

“Let’s do something.”

“Ano?” Tanong ni Vhallerine.

“Let’s write and exchange letters.”

Ten year old Vhallerine stared at him. She doesn’t understand what’s the point of writing something when they’re already talking in person. She wonder why do they have to do it. For fun? Okay. But that’s quite boring for her.

“Bakit hindi ka nagsasalita?” Twelve year old Galen asked.

“Isn’t it boring..?” Parang nagdalawang isip pa ang batang babae na sabihin iyon dahil baka ma-offend niya ang crush niya. She was looking at his reaction carefully.

Galen chuckled. “Maybe. But I like the feeling of reading letters for someone. Lalo na kung galing sa ‘yo. Marami rin akong gustong sabihin sa ‘yo sa sulat para kahit wala ako, nababasa mo. Ayaw mo ba? Ayos lang naman, iba na lang ang laruin natin.”

Parehas silang nakaupo sa maduming lupa ng playground. Naka-pink dress si Vhallerine at may malaking pink ribbon na clip. Si Galen naman ay naka-blue basketball ball shorts at putting t-shirt.

“Sige na nga. What should we write?”

“Anything you want to say.”

Tumango si Vhallerine at kinuha ang isa sa dalawang lapis na hawak ni Galen. Pumilas ng isang pirasong papel si Galen para sa kanya. Ibinigay agad ito ng batang lalaki sa kanya nang may malalim na tingin. Kumikinang ang mga mata ni Galen habang nakatingin sa batang babae na nag-iisip kung ano ang kanyang isusulat sa papel.

He started to write something for ”er. While writing, he was only watching her being serious about what she was writing. He smiled. This girl… She’s not just cute and beautiful… She’s a sight he would always want to see.

“Done!” Ngumiti si Vhallerine at ibinigay sa kanya ang papel. “Where’s yours?” Kumunot ang noo ng batang babae nang makitang wala na ang hawak niyang papel kanina na kanyang sinusulatan. Itinago iyon ni Galen sa likod nang makita ang ina ni Vhallerine sa likuran ng batang babae.

“Vhallerine!” Tawag ni Vanessa sa anak.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Vhallerine doon. “Oh my! I have to go, Galen! This is my letter. I will wait for yours. Tomorrow! I’m expecting it!” Paalam ni Vhallerine at inilagay sa kamay niya ang papel bago tumakbo papunta sa ina niyang masama ang tingin kay Galen.

“Bakit ba kasama mo na naman ‘yong batang ‘yon? Hindi ba’t anak iyon ni Gina?” Iritadong tanong nito sa kanyang anak na yumakap sa kanyang bewang pero hindi lang niya pinansin.

“Let’s go, mom,” Vhal glanced at him and smiled before going with her mother.

Natulala roon si Galen saglit tsaka bumaba ang tingin niya sa kamay niyang may papel. Madali niyang tinanggal ang pagkakatupi noon at excited na binasa ang sulat ni Vhal na maikli lang. Taliwas sa naisip niyang mahaba dahil mahaba ang sinulat niya para sa batang babae.

Vhallerine’s handwriting made him chuckle. It was cute, even he can barely read and understand what’s written in there, he was thankful he got to receive this kind of message from his crush.

Dear Galen,

I don’t know if I’m writing it right.

If may spelling is rihgt bkos your smart

And I’m not. But I hope so.

I want to say tank you for playing wid me.

Bkos you mek me happy.

Tagalog na lang pala hehehehe.

Salamat sa paglaro sakin kahit nakakatakot

Si mommy tignan minsan pero nakipaglaro ka sakin.

Ikaw lang friend ko. Sana wag ka umalis.

Sana maging doktor ako ikaw naman abogado.

Para pag nakulong kami ni mommy ipagtatanggol

Mo kami hehehehe. Jok lang naman.

May gerlfreind ka na ba?

Ako meron boyfreind e. Ikaw.

Jok lang naman ulit. Hehehe.

Bye!!

He chuckled again, he repeated it everyday like an affirmation every morning. Then he felt happy reading it.

He never got to give that letter to her until she left. And now that he has the chance to give it to her, he will. But he wants to add something in it.

“When’s your birthday again? It’s this month, right? Tapos na ba?” Vhallerine smiled at him awkwardly, she doesn’t even remember her husband’s birthday.

He nodded. “October 26. October 20 ngayon.”

Vhallerine’s lips parted. Her smile faded. That day is her execution. Nanlamig ang buong katawan ni Vhal dahil doon. Ang mismong araw ng pagkawala niya sa mundo ay birthday pa ng asawa niya. Paniguradong maaalala niya ito habang buhay.

She just stared at him, unable to say anything. He smiled at her to assure him that it shouldn’t be something she should be guilty for.

“Gale---”

“Sulat na tayo?” Putol nito sa kanya.

Tumango si Vhallerine pero nakatingin lang siya sa asawa niya. Tinitingnan habang nagsusulat dahil bawal pa siyang magsulat ngayon. Paglabas niya, tsaka lang siya makakapagsulat ulit at tsaka lang maibibigay ang letter niya para kay Galen.

Sa mismong execution niya pa talaga. Death penalty ang ipinatong sa kanya dahil maraming pamilya ang nag-akalang siya ang pumatay. Lalo na nang malaman ng mga ito na pinatay niya ang sariling ina.

He finished. Ipinakita niya sa asawa ang kanyang sinulat dahil bawal iyon isuot sa loob. Tsaka niya ibibigay sa personal, pag dumating na ang araw na kinatatakutan nilang dalawa.

Dear Vhallerine Tamara,

I am thankful for having you as my friend.

It was fun playing with you until the end.

That end is when your mommy comes. Haha!

My favorite game is habulan.

Because it’s either I’ll chase you or you’ll chase me.

We will just chase each other! Try not to be touched.

Or else… You’ll be the “taya”!

I want to be a lawyer for you.

One day, I’ll be a lawyer and you’ll be a doctor.

But if you don’t become one because you

Change your mind or some other circumstances,

I would still like you.

When that day comes, I wonder

If you would like me the way that I like you.

Well, it’s better if I finish school so someday

When we want to eat something I wouldn’t have to

Ask for mama’s money.

We will travel the world together!

I’ll stay with you forever. Remember that.

Even underneath the Earth!

I will follow you if you go on heaven.

Doon kita papakasalan.

(Edited, dinagdag ko lang.)

Well, we’re already married. I’m already a lawyer.

Natupad na ang gusto ko. Nagkita na tayo ulit.

I can’t wish for anything more but to stay with you

A little longer. If only I appeared earlier in your life,

Maybe it wouldn’t turn up this way.

We could’ve traveled the world together.

Maybe some other day? Some other night?

In some other life. I won’t have to try to recognize

You because my soul knows who you are.

In that life, we would live comfortably.

We will love each other freely without any of us

Behind the bars, waiting for that time.

I am mad, yes. Not to you.

But for the life you have.

I don’t know why you carried all of that

Burden all alone without asking for help

From anyone to save yourself. Because

You deserve to be saved.

How can you be so selfless?

You didn’t change a bit.

I loved you for being you before,

But I loved you more now.

Lalo na kaya kung nagbago ka?

Sana… Mapagbigyan tayo.

Bago ka umalis, bago mo ‘ko iwan.

Pahawak ng kamay ko tsaka mo pisilin.

Halikan mo ‘ko sa labi, tapos payakap nang

Mahigpit. Kasi matagal-tagal ang hihintayin ko

Bago kita makita ulit. Kaya ko ba ‘yon? Baka? Siguro.

Pero kung hindi talaga para sa ‘tin ‘yon,

Nakatatak ka lang sa kaluluwa ko.

Like a tattoo in a person’s skin.

You will stay with me. My mind,

My heart and soul.

Sorry for being dramatic.

Please keep this to your heart.

You know I do what I promised, right?

I promise I’ll find you. Marry you again.

Countless times. Give you a dozen of my kids.

We’ll start a family. Live happily.

Not this time. But some day.

I’ll accept you with your demons.

Keep this with you, before you close your eyes.

I am not accepting your decision for your fate

But if it will make your soul at peace, I will try and

Understand what path you choose.

I will stay with you until the end.

Not just because of your mom.

Til the end of us.

From your husband,

Galen Willer Zaldien.

Who loves you dearly.

Vhallerine just listened to him reading his letter out loud. She smiled.

“I’m sorry… This time, I’ll be the one who needs more time to write the letter. You can’t read or listen to it now.” Sabi ni Vhal.

“Ayos lang.” Galen smiled. He kissed his two fingers and planted it in her forehead.