*Note this story is in Tagalog
TOK TOK TOK
Ngumiti si Lana. Alam niya na may nag-iwan ulit ng regalo sa kaniya. Lumipas lang ang isang linggo matapos siyang bigyan ng kahong regalo at ngayon nagtataka siya kung ano naman ang laman ngayon. Napaisip siya kung mga mahahaling alahas ulit ang nasa loob nito. Ang kaniyang manliligaw ay hindi pangkaraniwan pero sa tingin ni Lana mayaman ang katauhan nito. Ang mga naunang regalong natanggap niya ay punong-puno ng mga tula, para iparamdam kung gaano siya kahalaga mas mahalaga pa sa mga alahas na ibinigay nito. Hindi pa nakikilala ni Lana ang taong nagbibigay sa kaniya ng regalo, pero nararamdaman niya na mayroon siyang busilak na kalooban.
Binuksan niya ang pintuan at kinuha ang kahon sa baba nito. Mas mabigat ang bagong regalo kung maihahalintulad sa mga naunang natanggap niya. Naglalaman ito ng mga patong-patong na gintong alahas: pulseras, kuwintas, at nakapaloob sa gitna ang kumikinang na singsing na may dyamante. Kinuha niya ang sulat sa ilalim ng singsing at binasa ang nakasulat dito, “Salubingin mo ako sa labas.”
Muntikan nang tumigil ang kaniyang puso sa kaba. Makikita niya na ang lalaking pinapangarap niya. Pakiramdam ni Lana na bato ang kaniyang mga paa, dahil hindi siya handa sa mga pangyayari at hindi maayos ang kaniyang pananamit, pero hindi niya na ito pinansin. Matagal siyang naghintay sa pagkakataon na makilala siya, at hindi niya mapapatawad ang kaniyang sarili kung palalagpasin lamang niya ito.
Nangarap si Lana kung ano ang magiging kinabukasan niya. Sa kaniyang isip, nakikita niya na malalagpasan nila ang mga pagsubok na maaari nilang harapin. Dagdag pa rito, naisip din ni Lana na tumatanda silang magkasama at mayroon silang malaking bahay at magandang pamilya. Nilabas niya ang singsing at sinuot niya ito, kasing ganda ng kinang nito sa liwanag ng dapit-hapon.
Tumakbo si Lana palabas at dahil doon siya ay natalisod. Narinig niyang may biglang sumigaw sa likuran niya. Pagkatalikod niya may nakatingin sa kaniyang maliit na matandang lalaking may balbas at tungkod. Nagkatinginan sila at sinabi ng matanda, “Heto ako aking mahal.”
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–TOK –TOK– TOK–
Lana smiled. She knew that the sound meant that she would be getting another present. It had only been a week since the last box and she wondered what was inside it this time. More rubies and pearls, she thought. Her secret admirer was never original, but it seemed he had expensive tastes. The boxes would also be filled with a poem just for her which made her feel more special than the glittering stones. Lana had never met the man responsible for her wonderful gifts, but she sensed that they were kindred spirits.
She opened the door and took the package from her doorstep. It was heavier than the other ones, and Lana couldn’t wait and tore it open. Inside there were piles of gold jewelry: bracelets, necklaces and in the middle, there was a gleaming ring embedded with a diamond. She grabbed the letter underneath the ring and it read “MEET ME OUTSIDE.”
Her heart almost stopped. She was finally going to meet the man of her dreams. Lana felt like her legs were stuck to the floor, she wasn’t prepared for any of this, she didn’t even have a good dress ready but that didn’t matter. She had waited so long for this
moment, she couldn’t forgive herself if she would just let it pass.
This was just like one of her books, the great moment when she would meet the love of her life and they would be swept away in the thrills of passion and wonder.
She dreamed of her future, what it would be. In her mind she could see the oceans and peaks they would travel to, the trials she knew they would face. She thought of a big house, a wonderful family and growing old together. She took the ring from the box and put it on; it was beautiful in the afternoon sunlight.
Lana ran outside and tripped on something. She heard a loud yelp from behind her and saw a very small old man with a long beard and a staff looking up at her. They looked into each other’s eyes and he said “Hello my love.”
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*Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a quarter of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by the majority. Its standardized form, officially named Filipino, is the national language of the Philippines, and is one of two official languages alongside English.
Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Emman Bernardino
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Emman Bernardino
Watercolor by Tara Singson
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