Along the way ( Province #1 )

Kabanata 11

Pagkatapos kong magpalit ng damit sa taas, bumaba na ako pagkarinig kong tawag sa akin ni 'Nang Flora, I don't know if I'm wearing the proper dress for farming. I just wear a gray long sleeves and a black jogging pants. Just enough to cover my body from the burning sun.

"Nariyan na sila hija,"

I smiled and nod, I tied my hair into a bun while walking. After what I heard earlier, hindi ko alam kung paano pakikitunguhan si Abel, I'm sick of pretending that I don't even care about him, well in fact, I do care about him.

A lot...

Nang makalabas ako sumalubong sa akin ang malamig na simoy ng hangin, at tunog ng mga bike na nagbebenta ng pandesal tuwing umaga. Narinig ko ang busina ng isang owner jeep sa garahe.

Tumingin ako sa harapan at nakitang ang pinsan ko pala ang magmamaneho, nang makalapit sa kanila, tinulungan akong maka akyat ni Joshua sa likod para maka upo. I thanked him and adjust my seating. Siniksik ko ang sarili ko sa gilid para maging komportable sa upo.

I can feel a heavy stares on me, as I keep on ajusting my seat. I already know who it is. It's him, Abel. Kahit na naiilang ako sa presensya niya, I didn't bother looking at him. He's beside Christian.

The rear view mirror was a cursed for me, because of that, Abel can looked at me freely, and me being uneasy.

"You okay there couz?"

Hindi ko nilngon si Tiantian kahit tinatanong ako nito. No! I will not. Kung gagawin ko iyon mas lalong bibigyan pansin ko lang ang presensya ni Abel. Kapag titingin lang ako sa kanya naaalala ko ang sinabi ni 'Nang Flora kanina, the nerve of this guy!

"I'm fine," I simply uttered.

"Here, take this,"

Hindi ko alam kung anong inaabot niya, but nevertheless, I extended my hand and took it. Nang mahawakan ko ito, naramdaman kong magaspang ito at medyo matigas. Nang makuha ko ito, I noticed that it was a Coolie hat.

"Thanks,"

After a while, we saw the guy who's been teasing me running towards us, and Immediately climb up here at the back of the owner jeep. I rolled my eyes, I don't like this guy, he keeps on pestering and teasing me.

I heard him whistled. "Hi miss beautiful,"

I scoffed and give him my middle finger, I don't care about Abel being mad at me for doing this things. Hindi niya ako mapipigilan. Never!

I heard my cousin laugh, and started the engine. Being with Abel, at a one place suffocated me, hindi mawala sa isip ko ang narinig ko kanina. I was about to back out earlier, but I can't dissapoint the guy who kept on calling me Ate.

The wind blew my hair as the Owner jeep's keeps going. Hindi ko na napigilan ang pagtingin ni Abel mula sa rear view mirror, at tinakpan ang kabilang side ng mukha ko kung saan hindi niya ako makikita.

You're staring too much Abel, hindi pa sumisikat ang araw pero tinutunaw mo na ako.

I badly wanted to tell him that, but it's not the right time and place to tell those words, not in this kind of state. Not when I can still remember him kissing other women.

Hindi nagtagal nakarating kami sa kubo, at bumaba kami sa sasakyan. Unang beses ko pa lang makakapunta rito. Noong bata ako hanggang bakuran lang ako, hindi man lang nakakalayo.

I felt Joshua's strong arms on my waist, helping me to get down, I said my thanks and fix myself still not looking at Abel who's obviously looking at me. Manigas ka diyan, matatapos ang araw na ito na hindi kita tatapunan ng kahit isang tingin.