Chapter 33 TIME OF UNEXPECTED

I opened my eyes and I was kissing a man I forgot his existence.

“Who are you?” I calmly said. I wasn’t shocked because I wouldn’t kiss a guy for no reason. And besides, ang lakas nang tibok ng puso ko.

“Krio, the man who promised you love,” he said.

“What? Really?” I asked, I was confused.

“Yes.” Abot tenga ang ngiti nito, his dimple show off. He get the video recorder at binigay ito sa akin.

“This is the witness of our I love you’s. You can watch it. Everything was there.” Kinuha ko ito at umupo ito sa damuhan. I watch it and forward it in a few minutes. Hindi ko na tinapos ang video, kilala na ng puso ko kung sino siya.

He offer his hand, an invitation to sit with him. Umupo ako. Nasa likod ko siya and he put his arms around me. We are here sitting like a couple.

“Are we a couple already?” tanong ko sa kanya.

“Whatever you describe this moment of ours,” sabi nito habang nakatingin sa mga mata ko. His ocean blue eyes are sparkling.

I smiled at him and just lean on him. He hold my hands.

“Are you happy right now? With me by your side?” tanong nito sa akin.

“Sobrang lakas nang tibok ng puso ko. I can feel my heart is happy,” sagot ko naman sa kanya.

“You know, Leyra. I didn’t even imagine that this day would come. You don’t know how happy I am with you. I fell in love with you because of the little things you do that you don’t have any clue you are doing,” he said. Our eyes were only glued on each other.

“I know our love isn’t ordinary, just like everyone else. But, this is still love. This is gonna be hard for both of us, but I know this would be easy if we have each other. I loved you more for casting your fears and take the risks with me. Rest assured that I will fight for the love we have,” wika nito sa akin kaya medyo naluluha na naman ang mga mata ko.

“I will too. Please, don’t get tired of me.” I caressed his face. He hold it and kiss it.

“I will never,” he pledge. Humiga kami sa damuhan. I lay on his chest. His hand are caressing my hair. We are looking at the stars.

We take this moment and loving the serenity. I didn’t realize how romantic it was to be peacefully inclined on this kind of love.

While laying on Krio’s chest, may kung anong matigas na bakal akong naramdaman sa bulsa ko. Napaupo ako.

“What is it?” tanong niya. Kinuha ko ito, and it was a ring.

“Where did it came from?” I asked.

“It was Rivahngare’s ring,” he said and I was a bit shocked.

“Rivahn? Did we met him?” I questioned.

“Yes, Leyra. Earlier. Don’t worry we’ll see him again,” saad nito at kinuha ang singsing sa akin. Pinatalikod niya ako at kinuha ang kwentas ko na may singsing. Inilagay niya ito sa leeg ko; as a pendant.

“You got two rings from the Atticus. Weird. Looks like you’re collecting their lost love.” He chuckled.

“Both have engraved of Lo sóbras.” He hissed. “Actually you already have three rings from the Atticus.” He looked at my hands with the engagement ring Klio have given me. Hinawakan ko ito. Kukunin ko na sana pero pinigilan niya ako at hinawakan ang kamay ko.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“I will get it. I know you and I have a real deal. It’s kinda disrespecting on your side if I still wear it. Maybe, Klio would understand,” malumanay na sabi ko.

“It’s okay. You can wear it,” sabi nito.

“Really? Are you sure?” tanong ko. I can’t believe he was so understanding.

“Keep it. Until you find out the truth,” he said and gave me a plain smile. Pinasuot na niya sa akin ang kwentas.

“Oh, wait!” He get something in his neck. It was a gold necklace. He show it to me.

“Here, take it,” sabi nito. Isinuot niya ito sa akin.

“My mom gave it to me when I was a kid. Ito lang ang tanging alaala na iniwan sa akin ni Mommy,” wika nito at medyo nalungkot.

“She died?” I asked.

“Yes. My Dad killed her.” Nagulat ako nang sabihin niya ‘yon.

“W-what?” He gave me a faked smile.

“Abusive relationship. You know, the risky part of loving someone you didn’t know who will turn into evil,” he said.

“I’m sorry,” I said and comfort him. I hold his face and caress it. He hold it tightly. I can feel the warm in his hands.

“It’s okay.” He smirked. Hinawakan ko ang pendant gamit ang kanan kong kamay.

“Why are you giving this to me? Kung ito lang ang tanging alaalang iniwan sayo ng Mommy mo?” tanong ko sa kanya.

“Because you’re as important as Mom.” I feel overwhelmed when I heard that. I didn’t know I mean so much to him. When a guy see your importance as his mom, know that your worth is a whole blessing, because that means a lot.

“Thank you so much. What is this?” I asked while looking at its pendant.

“It’s a celtic love knot,” he said smiling.

“This is beautiful.” Abot tengang ngiti ko. Ngayon lang ulit nakaramdam ang puso ko ng ganitong saya.

“As beautiful as you,” he said. I looked at him deeply looking at me while saying those words.

“Tama na! I can’t stop smiling. Sobrang kinikilig na ako.” We both chuckled. He hugged me from my back.

“Do you know what that means?” tanong nito sa’kin. I gazed at him with curiosity.

“There is no starting point or end point on that pendant, than means eternity. Just like my love for you, Leyra,” wika nito kaya hindi ko na mapigilan ang mga ngiti na namumuo sa mukha ko.

“Hindi ko akalain na makakaramdam ulit ako ng ganitong saya. Thank you!” I softly said. He respond a kiss on my head. I get my camera and I took a photo of us, with the necklace he gave was visible. I write something at the back.

“Anong date ngayon?” tanong ko.

“It’s September 12, 2021.”

“What time?” He look at his watch

“ It’s 1:59 but you can exactly put 2 AM. The exact time where we call this place,” sabi nito. I write it down on the back of the photo.

~ 09/12/21. Exactly 2AM. Kriogri Lanieri gave me a necklace as a sign of his eternal love. I found new love. I found a purpose to begin with.~

“That’s so sweet, Leyra,” saad nito and his cheeks turn red.

“This is the least that I can do to make you feel that you matter to me,” sabi ko.

Humiga na kami ulit. We did nothing but feel the serenity while the night sounds asleep. Well, unfortunately I always forget everything every 15 minutes but he reminds me of it. He was just reminding me of everything, looks like I was a kid who wanted a bed time stories.

“Are you ready to go home?” he asked me.

“I guess.” I smiled at tumayo na kami. He kneel kaya nagtaka ako.

“Anong ginagawa mo?” tanong ko.

“Sumampa ka sa likod ko.” I get it now. Sumampa na ako. Hindi naman ako mabigat, for sure, kaya ng katawan niya at sakto lang naman ang katawan niya.

He carry me on his back habang naglalakad kami. He even tell me some corny jokes, but it was really funny the way he tell it.

“How did the barber win a race?” tanong nito.

“What?” nagtatakang tanong ko.

“He knew a shortcut!” He chuckled. Loading pa ang aking brain system sa sinabi niya. Until I realized it was a joke. I laughed hard kahit corny ng joke niya. Hinampas ko siya.

“Walang hiya ka! Joke pala ‘yon? Ang tagal nagprocess sa utak ko,” saad ko. “Bakit naman kasi sa may problema sa utak ka nagjoke?” pabirong tanong ko kaya natawa kami pareho.

“Want to hear a construction joke?” tanong ulit nito kaya napaisip na naman ako. Napailing ako. Tumawa ito.

“Oh never mind, I’m just working on that one.” Ang slow ko maprocess ang mga joke niya. Pero natatawa ako the way he told it.

“Yung joke mo pang matalino lang yan e’. You’re stressing my amnestic brain!” natatawang saad ko sa kanya.

“But, I like it. You make me happy,” sabi ko.

“You’re just in love with me.” Pang-aasar nito. Hinampas ko ulit siya.

Nakarating na kami sa kotse. Binaba na niya ako at pinagbuksan ng pinto. Pagkapasok niya, umalis na kami agad.

The calmness of the road in this hours is so relaxing. After a few minutes of driving, may muntik na kaming masagasaan dahil tumawid nalang ito nang hindi namin namamalayan. Bumaba kami ni Krio.

“I’m sorry! Are you okay!?” nag-aalalang tanong ni Krio.

“Yeah! Sorry!” sigaw lang nito at nagmamadaling tumakbo, nagtaka kami kaya we followed his direction, doon nakita namin na may mga taong nagkukumpulan.

“What’s going on?” tanong ko kay Krio.

“I don’t know,” he replied. Lumapit kami sa kanila at doon bumulagta sa amin ang nakakatindig balahibong pangyayari.

A body of five men found crucified naked on a road. Their arms had been tied to a wooden pole and their penis cut off and stuffed in their mouth.

A message was pinned on their body. The message reads:

~ This happened to me for being a rapist and it is going to happen to all the scandalmongers. Be aware that this is not a game.~

What the hell is happening? This is supposed to be a time of peace but it became a time of unexpected.