The Last on the List [completed]

Chapter 7

"Eloi, question. May alam ka bang province na may palayan?" Dylan phoned me up at five just to ask this one. He was also chewing something.

Everyday upon waking, I said this mantra in my mind, 'The world takes care of me. And I let it do so.' It's my little ritual to start the day in a good place as much as possible. But today, inunahan ako ni Dylan. 'Province' evoked in me a memory I wanted no replay of. But because I wanted to start my day in a good way, I let my mental grip loosened. For his sake.

"Meron. Sa probinsya namin sa Quezon."

"Good," sabi niya. But it felt like sa kanya lang ito 'good' and not for me. "For my fourth item, gusto ko magtanim ng palay."

Just as I thought. "Dylan, palay? Palay talaga?"

"Why do I feel like ang liit ng tingin mo sa mga magpapalay?"

Ngayon, siya naman naka-misinterpret sa response ko. "Hindi sa gano'n –"

"I live in a 'golden' world with a golden spoon in my mouth. 'Yong tipong magsasabi ka lang ng kung anong gusto mo, ibibigay na agad sa'yo. I would always take things for granted, even in things as simple as rice, if I couldn't fully grasp what it takes to grow one."

Napangiti ako. He could have chosen anything far more interesting than planting rice. Then again, the logic behind every item of his choice was in and itself interesting. So I finally gave in. "We're just right on time. Season ngayon ng pagtatanim do'n sa amin."

"Good! Aren't we lucky? I will pick you up today."

"Okay," sabi ko.

But really the response wasn't for Dylan. It was for me. I was trying to convince myself I was going to be 'okay' 'pag nakarating na roon. I guess, I would just ask Lolo to ask his friends na hayaan si Dylan patulungin. As long as I stayed inside the house, I'd feel safe. Hindi ako matri-trigger by anyone or anything that made me leave Quezon in the first place.

Akala ko maagang darating si Dylan but he sent a message na on the way pa lang siya. Almost lunch time na. So I knew kailangan ko pang magdagdag ng isa pang set ng damit dahil panigurado sa ikalawang araw pa kami makauuwi, which meant bukas pa makapagtatanim si Dylan.

"Pasensya na, may doctor's appointment ako kanina," he said nang iparada niya ang SUV sa harap ng apartment. "Tinanong ko pa kasi kung okay lang bang magtanim ng palay. He said yes as long as may baon akong sodium in case ma-cramp."

I blinked. "Speaking of, puwede mo ba kung hintayin? Two minutes lang."

I did not wait for his go signal. Umakyat uli ako sa unit at nilabas sa drawer ang gamot na nakabote. Sa tote bag ko lang ilalagay mga gamit ko. Chances were, baka mabasag ito kaya naman pinagpalit ko ang laman nito sa nasa plastic lang na cylindrical. Then I went down.

"Ano 'yong binalikan mo?" Dylan asked; I quickly showed him. "Ascorbic Acid."

Nang mabasa niya na, I crossed his SUV, which was a mistake dahil nabusinahan na naman ako nang 'di oras. I forgot na sa likod na nga pala ako dapat iikot.

"Last mo na 'yan, ha?" sabi ko nang makapag-seatbelt.

Dylan just grinned. I felt warm knowing I caused it.

"Bili muna tayo ng lunch at stock hanggang bukas."

"Tutuloy tayo sa bahay nila Lolo. May pagkain na ro'n. Hindi na tayo kailangan pang bumili."

"But let's buy snacks anyway. Kainin natin sa biyahe. Saka 'di pa 'ko naglu-lunch."

Hindi na ako nanlaban. He parked his car in front of a convenience store, beeped his car before going in. Kinawayan ko agad si Dylan nang makita ang rack ng kanyang favourite snacks. I almost made myself get caught.