Even If It Means A War (Chaotic Series #1)

Kabanata 36

Even If It Means A War

Kabanata 36

"Tangina ka dead end."

I immediately turned my head to look at Rems across.

"Sige, subukan mong ibigay 'yan sa'kin, isusumpa talaga kita!"

Nagtatabas kami ng mga sanga ng manga dahil wala kaming magawa. Kanina, mga damo ang tinabasan namin. We also cleaned the huts, and now we were removing the protruding branches.

"Ma, look!"

Lumapit sa akin ang tumatakbong si Roine. Nakalahad ang kamay niya at may ipinapakita sa aking kung ano roon. Naningkit ang mga mata ko para tignan kung anong klaseng bagay ang kumekembot-kembot sa palad niya.

"Buntot 'yan ng butiki. I saw it on the wall."

My eyes widened and I quickly descended from the aluminum ladder. "Let it go! You shouldn't be catching those! Where is it?!"

May tinuro siya sa malayo. "It's on the wall of the clubhouse. I was just trying to catch it, but its tail got severed. It escaped."

"Drop it on the ground! Bilis!" itinaktak ko ang kamay niya. "It's bad to catch lizards! Your stomach will ache!"

He raised an eyebrow and brushed his hands. "I said sorry," he pouted and hugged my waist. "Nagugutom ako."

I took off the gloves from my hand and placed them on the step of the aluminum ladder. Hinawakan ko si Roine sa kamay at nagmartsa kami tungo sa clubhouse.

"Nagugutom ka ulit? Naubos mo na 'yung ginawa kong cookies kanina, and you had rice before that. Nagpapataba ka ba, Roine?"

Humalakhak siya at tumalon. "I'm just hungry! I'm craving garlic potato crisp!"

We entered the clubhouse and I soaped his hands to wash them. Nagluto ako ng gusto niyang kainin.

It's been a week, and from what I heard from the Vendivils, they haven't caught whoever did the crime. Araw na ang lumipas pero ang balitang 'yon, sariwa pa rin. Their dead animals were replaced. Unlike what Lolo did before, they did not pull their workers out. 'Yon ang balita sa amin ni Simon.

Iniwan ko si Roine sa clubhouse. Papa texted me that they will be coming home the day after tomorrow. I continued with the remaining work. Rall was the one managing their business now. He told me that he will temporarily stop his external work. Mr. Talio and Shell will be his last clients because he wants to focus on their farm again.

Magbi-birthday na rin si Rems sa mga susunod na linggo.  Hindi niya pa sinasabi ang nakabukod niyang plano para sa sarili. I expect Lolo to have a simple celebration for her. That's usually what happens on our birthdays.

Naging mabilis ang palit ng mga araw. Ate Kristina and I were dealing with the businesspeople. Compared to Rems and me, she was more familiar with everything, though, she's busier because she has business in Manila. Pinag-iisipan ko na rin ang ireregalo kay Rems para sa birthday niya.

Isang beses pa kaming nagpunta sa Albay para may sadyain doon tungkol sa negosyo. Ate Kristina just took me along, and we stayed there for a day. Mas naging mahigpit naman kami sa pagbabantay. Lalo na dahil may naganap muling lasunan. Sina Lolo na kahit hindi pa tapos ang bakasyon, nag-aatubuli nang makabalik dahil sa pag-aalala.

Inayos ko ang butones sa butas ng uniform ni Roine habang banat na banat ang ngiti. Today is Roine's first day of school!

"If you need something, just ask your teacher, okay?" paalala ko kay Roine nang matapatan namin ang malaki nilang classroom. "Teacher Julie will text me if you need anything, then Mama will come right away. Are we clear, huh?"