High Wind and Waves (Provincia de Marina Series #2)

Kabanata 31

Kabanata 31

High Wind and Waves

Mabilis ang takbo ng panahon kapag hindi ka talaga makapaghintay na umalis na ang isang tao sa buhay mo. Kaya lang, kung sadyang tinutukso ka ng tadhana, hindi naman sila kusang umaalis. No matter how you try to act blind about their actions, they all just felt real and sincere.

I never imagined Reeve would stay for a few months. It had been four months ever since he came here and he had been successfully doing his job. Lahat ng naituturo ko sa kaniya ay nagagawa niya rin nang tama at ipinapakita niyang naisa niya talagang gamitin iyon. He became close with the workers that I didn't think he'll need me anymore. Kahit na ipinipilit kong itatak sa isip na nagpapanggap lang siya, kinukumbinse rin ako ng mga kilos niya na gusto niyang manatili talaga rito.

"How is Aspen?" tanong ni Reeve sa akin habang busy ako sa pag-mo-monitor sa kondisyon ni Aspen, ang kanilang kabayo simula pa noong bata sila.

"She's still good. Medyo mahina ang heart rate niya. Kailangan lang i-monitor from time to time," sagot ko at inalis na ang stethoscope sa aking tainga.

"I heard from them that you've been attached to her. Ikaw raw ang palaging nag-aalaga?"

I hummed as a response. "Aspen had become a part of my childhood. Siya ang unang kabayong nasakyan ko kaya importante sa akin."

"She's a gift from us. She's roughly 10 years old when she arrived here. I was ten too, back then," kwento niya. Tinanguan ko iyon. I know that already. Hindi niya sinabi noon pero narinig ko na kay Isidore nang magtanong ako tungkol kay Aspen.

"She's already old kaya normal na rin naman na mag-decline ang activity ng kaniyang organs. She's just like us. When we become older, or when we reached our 30's, everything will start to decline. Even the things you enjoy before, you might not enjoy it anymore. Your perspectives in life, back when you were younger? Mag-iiba rin iyon. Aspen's just a little bit different because she's still Aspen. Tamed, beautiful, and smart."

Ngumiti ako habang hinahaplos ang kabayo. I never really expected myself to be attached to a horse or maybe even befriend it. Noong naging malungkot ako dahil sa pag-alis ni Reeve, kay Aspen ko sinasabi lahat ng hinanakit ko. Parang tampong bata lang naman at si Aspen ang naging nanay na sinusumbungan ko. But what can I expect as a reply? She's going to neigh or nicker and stomped her foot. Hindi man nakakapagsalita but it feels great to have someone or something to listen to your whims and heartaches.

Lumayo ako kay Aspen. She nickered a bit, her eyes turning sideways to look at me. Malungkot akong ngumiti. Sadly, horses don't really last longer than other animals. May ibang aabot ng 50 taon. But horses in the average could have a lifespan of 20-30 years. Swerte na ni Aspen na nakaabot siya ng 26 years, but she's already showing signs of aging. Kaya nang ma-alerto ako, parati ko ng imino-monitor. I can't lose Aspen so suddenly kaya sa araw-araw kong pagpunta, I've been talking to her. Mas naging madalas nang sabihin ko sa kaniyang hindi pa rin ako nagtitiwala kay Reeve.

"Ada," Reeve called my name as I was fixing my tools. Napalingon ako sa kaniya. I was mid-folding my stethoscope a bit. Ilalagay ko na sana sa bag.

"Bakit?" My forehead creased. He had a content smile on his face and I don't know why. Maybe it's because for the first time, we've been able to visit Aspen together. Sa tagal na ng kaniyang pag-stay rito, he was only able to join me today. Most of the time, si Ron talaga ang kasama ko at naiiwan naman siya roon sa reception.

"Thank you for taking care of Aspen," sinserong aniya at ngumiti sa akin. Reeve's eyes were gentle and gone was the mischief and pride. Para siyang maamong tupa na nasa harap ng kaniyang tagabantay. Reeve looked satisfied as if nothing else could ever compare to it.