Along the way ( Province #1 )

Kabanata 14

I didn't see Abel for a weeks, after harvesting grains. I thought Abel would be at home, because he left me.

I tried asking Joshua, but he did not know either. All of us were confused. Especially me, dahil ako ang huling naka usap niya bago siya nawala.

Kisap mata ko lang, ganoon kabilis mawala si Abel sa paningin ko. How unfair of him! He always make me feel unwanted.

How I hate his guts! He really knows how to allure women around him. Hapunan ng mapag desisyunan kong bumaba, I looked around trying to find his presence. His strong built in the house that occupies the spacious room. Where are you Abel? .

Ako lang ata ang masyadong nag-aalala, I tried asking his other friends, especially the rude one to me.

"Si Abel, hayaan mo 'yon, malaki na siya, kaya na niya sarili niya!"  that's what the rude guy said to me.

Kahit sa pagtatanong mo ng maayos, wala ring ibibigay sayo na maayos na sagot, such an ass! Isang tao na lang ang hindi ko natatanong.

My stupid prick cousin, kaya ako bumaba hindi para maghapunan, sisiguraduhin kong makaka-kuha na ako ng maayos na tanong.

There must be a time that I didn't look for Abel, that it almost made me feel sick, okay ba siya? May nangyari kaya sa kanyang masama? How stupid of me! concern about someone that didn't even give a single care about me! Great Gracia! Fucking great!

Nang marating ko ang kusina, nakita ko si Christian na kumakain mag-isa. Where are the other? Akala ko ba dito maghahapunan mga kaibigan niya? Christian look at me while his mouth full of foods.

I walked at the other side of the table, making sure that my cousin will see and feel my presence. I shouldn't wait and waste time, I needed to know where's Abel.

I grinned when I saw my cousin paying attention to me. That's it couz. You probably know why I'm here.

Alam nitong hindi ako masyadong kumakain sa gabi. He's smart, he know's what I need. I just need to make him feel my presence. No need to utter a word.

He knows... But the stupid prick! He just smirked at me and filled his mouth of foods. A lot of foods. Hindi na nga ata magkasya sa bibig ang kanin na sinubo niya, pero pilit pa rin siyang naglalagay ng kanin at ulam dito.

Naiirita ako sa nakikita ko. He's doing it on purpose, ayaw niyang sabihin sa akin kung nasaan si Abel. I clenched my fist and looked at him sharply, patience Gracia, patience. Walang mangyayari kung sisigawan mo siya. Just be patient. Calm down.

I breath in and out, trying to shove away the annoyance that firing up inside of me. I tried to force a smile, but it just turned wryly. When my cousin still trying to put a lot of foods on his mouth.

Fuck patience! I badly want to know where's Abel!

I forcefully landed both of my hands on the top of the table. Dahil sa ginawa ko, nasamid sa gulat ang pinsan ko, that's it! Ganyan nga, mabulunan ka para uminom ka ng tubig.

Once he spilled water on his big mouth, alam kong makaka pag-umpisa na akong magtanong. Ngumiti ako ng mapang asar sa kanya.

He's still coughing hard, namumula na ang mukha nito dahil sa pag-ubo. I bent over and pushed the pitcher at him. "Water, couz. You might need some, namumula ka na eh,"

Pero ang gago! Iniwas ang tingin sa pitcher na may lamang tubig at hinamas ang dibdib, he's trying hard. Alam kong nahihirapan na siya. Naka simangot na umalis ako sa harapan niya at lumabas ng kusina. Baka mamatay pa ang gago kakapilit na hindi uminom ng tubig.