Along the way ( Province #1 )

Kabanata 2

Road after road, it's an unending road. Leading me to a place where I didn't expected to be.

Each side of this road used to be surrounded by large and tall trees. Served as a shade that comes through burning light of the sun. It used to be like that. Though, changes makes it more better. It gives a clear view on the sun that was directly hitting our car windows.

Tinaas ko ang isa kong kamay at hinarang sa mata ko ang sinag ng araw na nang gagaling sa labas. I slightly open my fingers and it gives me a one of kind picturesque of a house.

A simple house in the middle of the lively grass, the grass was illuminated by a burning sunlight, kung saan mas tumingkad pa ang kulay ng pagka berde ng mga ito. The house was simple, it was mixture of a wood and stone.

Bawat tahak sa kalsada na dinadaanan namin ay may pagkakahawig, sa bawat pyesang ginamit sa kanilang mga bahay. The only difference was their style.

I smiled when I saw a goat and cow eating some grass near the tall tree. Matagal na rin pala simula nang makakita ako ng mga hayop na inaalagaan sa damuhan.

Sa Manila, puro mga aso o hindi kaya'y pusa ang mga inaalagaan ng mga tao doon. Somehow coming back on here makes me happy.

As my thought wanders, I didn't realize that we had arrived. Changes... You really had the guts the power to dominate everything. Your just one single word, how did you manage to turned everything so different?

That thought sink in my mind as I looked at the house in front of me. My lolo's house, the small house used to be made by full of woods. But just like the other. It is mix with stone along with solid wood.

The house was now a two storey house. Though, the house was still surrounded by different trees that provided food. Ang harapan ay napupuno ng mga iba't- ibang klase ng gulay. I never thought that there will be a lot of food in here, a kind of healthy foods.

Hindi siguro tumatanda ang mga tao dito. Dahil puro prutas at gulay lang ang nakikita ko sa paligid. Well, I still doubt that. The car stopped in front of the large gate, waiting for us to come through. Nang mabukasan ang pintuan ay pinarada ito ni mang Jun sa may garahe.

Ang simoy ng hangin ang bumalot sa pang amoy ko pagka labas ng sasakyan. The strong wind blew my air. Every stems of the trees with dried leaves, easily falls down as the wind swayed them. Finally found it's perfect rythym, it swayed into different directions.

The cold breeze of the wind created music, no lyrics nor rhyme. It's just pure whistling, but enough to make me smile after a long ride.

Nakita kong may lumabas na matanda sa loob ng bahay, hindi ito pamilyar sa akin. Marami na rin palang mga bagong nadagdag na tao na hindi ko kilala dito. Kipkip niya ang laylayan ng bestida niyang suot habang tumatagaktak ang pawis sa sentido at noo.

"Hija, nandiyan ka na pala, halika't kanina ka pa hinihintay ng lolo mo," she smiled at me. "Ipapakuha ko na lang kay Narcing ang gamit mo. Halika't nagluto ako ng makakakain"

The old woman seems nice, she had this warm smile that makes me remember my mother. Sinuklian ko siya ng ngiti, at sumunod sa kanya sa loob.

If I'm not mistaken, there's a bird cage attached to the side of the door. I wonder where it is now? Is it gone? Hope not...

Paborito ko pa naman titigan ang mga ibon na iyon tuwing wala akong kalaro nung bata pa ako.

The house was now filled with antiques, and some legacy pictures, hanging on the wall. Attached to the side of the stairs. Every door was made of solid wood, limitado parin talaga ang makikita mong pyesa na gawa sa bato.

Lumiko kami sa kaliwa at nakita kong may matandang nakatalikod sa amin na nakaupo sa harapan ng lamesa, habang nag babasa ng dyaryo.

And the moment I landed my eyes to this old man, I knew it's my Lolo.

"Lolo.."

I walked towards him and he instantly bore his eyes to mine. His strict expression together with his eyeglasses, reminds me when I was just 8 years old. Magpapakandong ako sa kanya at kukuhanin ang salamin, his presence were initimidating. But I always find it welcoming.

He warmly smiled at me and walked towards me as well. "Ang apo ko, dalaga na,"

I scoffed. "Lolo, you always say that to me, kahit bata pa ako dalaga na ang tawag mo sa akin,"

I will always remember that, tinanong ko siya kung bakit dalaga ang tawag niya sa akin. Ang sabi lang niya, dahil ako daw ang ka isa-isahang niyang apo na babae. Naalala ko pala na puro pinsang lalaki lang pala ang meron ako. Nasaan na kaya ang mga 'yon?

Lolo gave me a tight hug and extend his arm at me, I grab it and blessed.

He once said that I should blessed especially if that man or woman is old. It's a sign of respect. Until then, it always sinked in my mind.

"Halika't kumain na tayo, Flora, pakitawag na kamo ni Narcing si Tiantian,"

I forgot, dito pala nakatira ang isang 'yon kasama ni lolo. Hindi ko napansin na wala pala siya dito kanina pa. Nasaan na kaya ang isang 'yon?

"Ay, señor, pinapasabi pala ni Tiantian na bukas na raw ho siya makakauwi. Night swimming daw po nila ngayon ng mga kaibigan niya,"

Night swimming? Sounds fun! It's a bar night out for me. He's literally diving in the water, while I'm drowning in loads of alcohol.

"Ang batang iyon talaga, ang tigas ng ulo,"

Pinapahirapan siguro masyado ng bwisit na 'yun si Lolo. Half of his hair was already consumed with white.

Napaghahalataang isang malaking stress lang siya dito sa probinsya. Kung sumama siguro siya sa States, kasama si Tita at Tito, hindi masyadong dadami ang puting buhok ni lolo. If I see that prick, ewan ko lang talaga!

Nakita kong lumabas na si 'Nang Flora at sinabing aasikasuhin pa ang bakuran. Sabagay, napansin ko ring napakadami nga dapat linisin doon. Ang daming tuyong dahon na naka kalat sa sahig.

I grab the spoon and fork to eat, when lolo spoke. "Do you know the real reason why you're here Hija?"

Tinignan ko siya at sinuklian ng malungkot na ngiti. His strict eyes was directly bore into mine. I know that he knew something that I didn't even know.

"Remember that they're just doing it for your own good, hmm?"

I nod and we continued eating, as our conversation continuously flow, and catch up for the missing years we're apart.

It's not the place I really hated. It's the changes that drives me to make me forbid what I used to do before.

I'm hundred percent sure that I'll miss Night outs, bitter taste of alcohol and Loud music.

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