Chapter 4 -Mister Stranger

“It seems you are dressed for something. Where are you heading, Rain?” Agad akong napatingin sa living room kung saan nakita ko si kuya na nakaupo habang tutok ang mga mata sa television. I pause walking and face him. 

“Magkikita kami ng friend ko today, Kuya.” 

“I see. You want me to have you escorted with some bodyguards?” Mabilis akong napangiti sa sinabi niya. Kahit naman na madalas ay hindi kami magkasundo sa mga bagay-bagay ng twin brother ko ay ramdam ko naman ang love and care niya sa akin. 

“I don’t need any, Kuya Rufius. Hindi rin naman ako magtatagal. I will just hang out with my girlfriend at the mall. I’ll be back in a few hours.” 

“Alright. Mag-ingat ka, Rain. I can’t bear seeing you get hurt. Alam mo ang mundong ginagalawan ko, I will never forgive myself if you get entangled with it in any manner, twin.” I quickly headed towards him and gave him a quick hug from behind. 

“Thank you for your concern, Kuya. Don’t worry, nothing will happen to me. I will be fine.” I kissed his cheek before walking straight towards the door. 

From the moment I have discovered my brother’s wicked world, aaminin kong nagbago ang tingin ko sa kanya, nagkaroon ng pagbabago sa perception ko about him. I instantly saw him as a different person from the one I used to know. Hindi naman niya ako masisisi kung mag-iba ang tingin ko sa kanya dahil never in my wildest dream would I ever thought that he will be one of those villain that I just watched in action movies. Pero kahit na nagkaroon ng changes sa part ko, he didn’t. His treatment towards me was still the same. He was still my loving twin who always takes good care of me and always guides and protects me. Sinabi niya rin once sa akin na masama man siya sa ibang tao dahil isa siyang mafia lord, pero pagdating sa akin ay siya pa rin ang kuya ko na mahal na mahal ako. 

My bad perception about him evaporated as time went by. Hinayaan ko na lang siya sa gusto niya dahil wala naman siyang pinakita na masama sa akin kahit pa magkaiba kami ng mundong ginagalawan. But I admit that there were times that I was deeply worried about him. Delikado ang mundong kinabibilangan niya at anumang oras ay pwede siyang mapahamak at mawala sa akin. Yun ang bagay na madalas kong ipagdasal sa Diyos. Na sana ay baguhin Niya ang pag-iisip ng kakambal ko at manumbalik ito sa tama at magbalik sa tuwid na landas. I lay everything in God’s hand. I know that nothing is impossible to him kahit pa imposible sa tao. 

Although I am not a very religious person, I fear God to the fullest. Hindi ako perpektong tao pero sinisikap ko sa abot ng aking makakaya na maging mabuti hindi lang sa sarili ko, but also to others. My parents' teachings were carved deeply within me that I live with it daily. As much as possible, I want to live a simple and peaceful life. A life far from the world’s filth and unwanted decadence. I want a normal life and just be happy. Kaya nga kahit pa magulo at komplikado ang buhay ng kakambal ko, mas pinili ko pa rin na mamuhay ng normal. 

Pagdating ko ng mall ay nakita ko agad ang friend ko. We hug and exchange pleasantries before heading to our first stop as planned. Masaya kaming pumasok sa mga boutiques and look for stuff na madalas namin gawin kapag magkasama kami. Afterwards, after hours of strolling ay nag-desisyon kami na kumain para magkwentuhan. As we are walking towards the restaurant ay bigla na lang out of the blue ay may isang lalaki na bigla na lang bumangga sa akin. I tripped off sa lakas ng pagkakabangga niya that I landed on the floor. 

“Hey! Watch where you're heading, Mister!” Malakas na sabi ni Amelia sa lalaki bago ako tinulungan na makatayo. “Are you fine, Rain?” 

“Yeah, I think so.” 

Napatingin ako sa lalaking nakatayo lang at nakatutok ang mga mata sa akin. He wasn't moving and was just staring blankly at me. Parang wala siya sa sarili niya at parang lutang na lutang siya. Tinitigan ko rin siya at agad akong nakaramdam ng pagkabahala the minute our eyes met. There was something in his eyes that immediately troubled me. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng awa sa hindi ko malaman na dahilan. Something in his eyes tells me that he was deeply troubled and something was bothering him immensely. There was something in me that wishes to ease his suffering, but I castigated myself because he is a stranger. Pero nandoon ang urge sa akin to help him in whatever it is that was bothering him. 

“Aren’t you going to apologize to my friend, Mister? Nabangga mo lang naman siya.” Amelia said mockingly. Imbis na magsalita ay inalis lang nito ng tingin sa akin saka nagsimulang maglakad palayo. “Aba! What manner you got there, Mister!” I quickly held her arm to stop her from following the distressed stranger. 

“It’s alright, Amelia. Maayos naman ako. No need to make a scene.” I calmly said, trying to look alright kahit pa nababagabag ako sa nakita ng mga mata ko. 

“You sure, Rain? We should teach that man a lesson. Napaka-bastos niya. Wala siyang manners. Siya na nga itong nakabangga, hindi pa marunong mag-apologize. What kind of a man is he?” She ranted irritatedly. 

“It’s alright. Hindi naman ako nasaktan eh. I’m good, Amelia.” I said with a genuine smile before clinging to her arm. “Hayaan na natin siya. Mukhang may malaking problema yung tao. He looked unaware of his surroundings. He seems like floating in mid air. Let’s go. I’m starving.” 

“Tara na nga. Let’s not spoil our day with that brute.” 

Nakauwi na ako ay hindi pa rin mawala-wala sa isip ko ang lalaking nakabangga sa akin sa mall. I admit that he made an impact on me emotionally. Something inside of me got stirred and for the first time in my life, I felt pity for someone whom I didn’t know. A pity for a stranger who seemed doesn’t deserve it. Alam ko na may malaki siyang problema judging on the way he eyes looks. I may not know what it is, but I am sure that he is suffering badly. Ramdam ko ang pagkabahala niya. Ramdam ko ang sakit sa mga mata niya. I do not know why I am acting this way so suddenly, but there was a great urge in me to be of help to him. 

“Ano ang problema mo, Mister Stranger? Bakit parang pasan-pasan mo ang bigat ng mundo? What happened to you that made you look lost and miserable? With all honesty, you bothered me as well. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako naapektuhan ng ganito sa nakita ko sa mga mata mo. Alam ko, I can feel it, na may mabigat kang dala sa dibdib mo. Kung ano man yun, sana lang ay ma-survive mo ito. Sana lang you can get through it. Oddly, but I wish you well. I will pray for you, Mister Stranger. I will include you in my prayers. That God be with you and guide you as you go through this stage of your life.”