MEETING FATE

CHAPTER 4

Horses!? She watched the approaching animals and their rider coming towards her. It was so close that the dust on its heels envelope her and suffocated her. She could only stare in disbelief. Then someone dragged and rolled with her on the side path and they rolled together into the six feet side ditch. He put his hand on his mouth and his whole body pinning her to the wet grassy ground. She can hear the long procession of horses passing by. She cannot look since the man with her pinned her like a vise. She could only stare at his cold black eyes, and his lower face covered with a black bandana to hide his identity. The longer she stayed pinned by his body, the feel of uncomfortable feeling heating her. She can feel the strength and the leanness of him but she was too terrified to move less he would hurt her.

              The last contingent of the riders passes them by without a hitched. When they were gone, she looked at the man who could be her savior or captor.

               “Who are you? Why I’m here? What is this place?” she asked in rapid question as she felt him easing her grip on her body. He removes his hand from her face. “Who are those people? Why are there horses here?”

               His eyes looked amused at her question. His once cold eyes glowed in amusement. “It should be me who should ask. Why did you put yourself on the path of those men, especially wearing only this?” His gaze traveled on her small form insolently. She pushed him away embarrassed by the look in his eyes.     

              “How dare you? This wedding dress …” she trailed when she looked down, she realized she was only wearing a long thin fabric that was wrapped around her naked body. “Where is the wedding dress?!”

              “Have you gone crazy? That’s no wedding dress your wearing.” He stood up and looked around his surroundings. “If I, were you, wear some decent clothes. This place is no good for women especially someone who looks like you.”

              “What do you mean? Why? How did I look?”

             “You like asking questions, aren’t you? “His eyes raked at her body indifferently. “Beautiful…pretty…is that what you want to hear?”

               Gabi flushed at his description of her. “Well…I don’t think I’m pretty.” She stood up too and her bones creaked in protest as she pushed herself up. “God, my body hurts.”

              He watched her curiously and said matter of factly, “You have short hair. Uncommon for women. And you also act differently… you’re more outspoken than your contemporaries.”

              “Well, this is what you call women’s lib in the 20th century. We don’t take shit from men like you.”

               He stared at her for a long time and said, “But it’s 1891, and what is women’s lib?”

               Her face drains all color, she whispered in panicked, “Your kidding, right? Is this some kind of joke? Is this April fool’s day? Are you trying to dupe me?”

               “No, this is April 12, 1891. Are you sick? You seem out of mind right now.” He touched her forehead. “I should get you to a doctor, your color looks ashen.”

               “I think I’m going to faint …again.” The blissful darkness enveloped her.

            The laughter of the children and women echoed from afar. Did her mother have a visitor? Sometimes on Sunday, her parents will entertain some people who just come over and talk business or gossip. She moves her arm but her bones throbbing by the man who pulled her from the ditch. Oh, God! The man. She must be dreaming. Slowly, she opens her eyes. She looked around…it was unfamiliar to her. The bed was intricately carved and there was a tulle-like fabric to keep off the mosquito or insect. The windows are huge and there was a stained-glass detail of a rose flower pierced with a sword. Hugging the rose and sword was an angel. She took a deep breath, steady…steady…it’s a dream! Hysteria caught on and she laughed like mad while her eyes sting with tears.

               “Are you alright child?” she turned and met the gentles soulful eyes of an elderly woman. She was wearing an embroidered soft fabric. A rosary hung on her neck which was gracefully long. Her hair she holds in a bun with an intricate pearled bun.

               “Who are you?!” she asked in alarm. “Why I’m in a strange house?”

              “My son said that you asked too many questions…it seems true.” She smiled while tying the muslin fabric at the side of the bedpost. “I’m Dona Elena Marquez and this is my house. My son Raphael brought you home.”

               This can’t be true. She was just fitting the wedding gown in the cinema toilet. Why was she here? “I’m sorry but I can’t help it. I think I just got crazy or I’m in a nightmare. I’m not from here. You won’t believe me if I tell you that I live in the year 2020.”

               Dona Elena worriedly touched her forehead, “You must have bumped your head on something…”

              “No ma’am, my year is 2020 ---we have cars!” the elderly woman frowned at her. She elaborated, “A car is like a horse. It ran so fast but it was fueled by gasoline. It’s made of metal. “Are you hungry?” she asked her worriedly.

              That must be it. She only eats sandwiches; she should have eaten more. Maybe her sanity will return when she has eaten a big meal. “Yes, I’m very hungry. Food that’s what I need.”

              Dona Elena brought her a bowl of congee soup. She stared at it and look at her host. “Can you give me more? Like pork or chicken or beef. I want to eat. Maybe I feel like this because I have not eaten properly.”

               “Don’t worry child, I get you something heavy. Just try this okay.” She left her in a flurry. Gabi sat on the bed and eat the bowl of congee and eat it with gusto. She forgot how good it was and clean. The woman can cook, she admitted happily.

             After eating, she tried to close her eyes again and counted until one hundred “One…two…three…four…” when she reached a hundred, she slowly opens her eyes. She saw the same huge room with expensive furniture and the window stain glass and a man who was leaning on the door jamb watching her in amusement. She knows those eyes anywhere.

              “You! Why I’m here!”

              “You fainted. I don’t want to leave you there so I brought you home.” He moves towards her and moves closer to her. He studied her face, noting the soft curve of her cheeks, her dainty lips, and her almond round eyes with a speckled of liquid brown around her pupil.

              She pushed him back. “How dare come near me!”

             “I have been much nearer.” He smiled crookedly, “Remember our tumble?”

              She groaned, “How could I forget?”

              He sat down beside her on the bed. “So tell me your name.”

              She looked at the man beside her. Her eyes stinging with tears. She doesn’t know how to return home in her year. She wanted to go home. “Please help me go home.”

             “I am at your disposal senorita. You are my guest and I promise to help you all I can. Now, just tell me your name. Who are you?” Raphael looked at her with those unreadable eyes. What are secrets hidden n those black eyes? She can’t believe herself; she was stuck in the 18th century and she could not focus because she was having a crush on an ancient man.

               She was blushing and avoided those eyes, “I’m Gabi Ariola. I’m eighteen and I live in Galas. We have a small grocery and a rice mill. I work in a cinema as a volunteer. It was there that this happens to me.” Out of nervousness, she blurted those words. He was still looking at her, studying her every move. He did not even react when she told him a summary of her life.

               “Gabi…you have a strange name but I like it. It soothes you. Gabi means night. “She looked at him in surprise at his correct guess. Usually, people assume it was a nickname or even a plant name but he correctly guesses her name. The only Ariola I know lives close to the riverside. They are a prosperous clan. A rich family. The son is my best friend. He would come later. I will introduce you to him later at the party.

               Her heartbeats. Her father told her once that they come from a rich family but something happen that their whole wealth was confiscated and left them penniless. They were sold to slavery. He was a descendant and until his father ran away, they had not recovered his wealth. Is this one the Ariola his father was talking about?

               “What’s the name of this place?”

               “Sta. Filomena…”

               She gasped. This was the old name of Galas. This is her hometown in the 18th century.  “Are there Moran’s living here?”

               “Yes, they own the rice mill here. A very rich and powerful family.”

              “Did you invite them to the party tonight?” Gabi asked excitedly. “Are they coming?”

               He coldly stared at her. “No, we are not friends and will never be.”

             She stopped herself. Raphael looked furious at the mention of her mother’s name. “Why are you mad at them?”

               Raphael stood up abruptly, “There are only a few rules in my home that my guest adheres to. You can stay with us for as long as you want. The first requirement is that you never mention that family name in front of me. If you can do that simple task, I’m sure we will get along well.” Then he left her staring at the back of the furious man.