Along the way ( Province #1 )

Kabanata 18

After what Abel did to me, and after he ordered my cousin doing those things, communication between the two of us became even more blurred. Na para bang hindi ito nag e-exist sa bokabularyo namin. Needless to say. Pride overpowered within our self. We didn't dare to take a glimpse of each other, we didn't take a single hi or hello towards each other.

Just a simple, ignored. And that's it! You're not too important to look at, that's the situation between us. And I must say, it's kinda hard. Mas nakakalamang siya kung kumpara sa akin. Dahil siya, may nauutusan siya kapag may ayaw siya sa ginagawa ko.

Ako?  Wala! He's unfair! He's always been unfair anyway. Sumosobra lang talaga siya ngayon! I went downstairs and decided to make some milk. Kailangan kong makatulog ng maaga. But thinking about Abel, make me hard to sleep. Ni hindi man lang ako madalaw ng antok.

Nang marating ko ang kusina, nakita ko ang mga barkada ni Christian na kumakain. I ignored them and directly went to ref. After a while, I saw a built that's excessively known by my mind. Abel, I immediately open the ref and poured some fresh milk on my glass and drank it straight.

I didn't bother to look at him and stay. Kaunti na lang makakalabas na ako ng kusina, nang marinig ko ang isa sa mga kaibigan nila na tinawag ang pangalan ko. The damn rude one! Anong kailangan ng isang ito!?

Dahan-dahan akong lumingon sa likod, carefully not to take a glimpse of Abel's presence. I raised my eyebrows. Pinipigilang mainis pa lalo.

"Nag c-calory deficit ka pa ba?" walang pakungdangan nitong tanong.

I feel my face flushed because of that question. Seriously!? This guy! Gustong-gusto talagang pinapahiya ako! Kung putulin ko na lang kaya ang dila ng isang ito? Ah! that'd be too disgusting!

My brows furrowed. "Yes, I'm on a diet,"

Tumawa ito ng pagak. Nakakainsulto na itong lalaking ito ah! "'Sus! diet, diet ka pa! buto't balat ka na nga!" he brutally said.

I heard others scowled, stoping him.

The fuck!? I sharply inhaled and exhaled. Not minding the presence of everyone around us. I moved towards this bastard guy and close our gap.

"What's your name again?" with my most calm temper.

"Ernesto."

I took his collar and gripped it tightly. "Ernesto..." I smirked and looked at Abel who's standing near the fridge. "Fuck you!"

After that I left all of them dumbfounded. They deserved it! He deserved it! I went upstairs and locked myself up in my room. Huminga ako ng malalim at binato ang sarili ko sa kama. Bumagsak ang tingin ko sa kamay kong nanginginig.

I tried to clenched it but it's still no used. Kinakabahan pa rin ako kapag nariyan siya. Such a bad luck for this day!

Morning came, I woke up earlier than the others. Gusto ko ng tapusin lahat ng dapat gawin. I don't want to see Abel and his friends. They're all pushing me into my limits. Pumunta ako sa sala at natagpuan si 'Nang Flora na nagluluto ng agahan. I moved towards her.

"Good morning, is there anything I can help?" yawning.

'Nang Flora looked at me startled. "Aba'y ikaw pala 'yang bata ka! Ang aga mo ata ngayon?"

"Ahh-- maaga rin po 'ko nakatulog kagabi. Nagsaing na po ba kayo?" Pag-dadahilan ko.

"Oo, kung gusto mo, ikaw na lang mag hain ng mga plato diyan sa lamesa," she offered.

Maghain, kung ganoon, akala ni 'Nang Flora sasabay ako sa pinsan ko at sa mga kaibigan niyang mag-agahan? No this can't be! There's no way! Araw-araw nakikita ko na lang pagmumukha ng mga magkakabarkada na iyon, nakakasuya na rin!

"H-hindi po ako sasabay kila Tiantian. Mauuna po 'ko sa kanilang kumain,"

Unless Joshua will be here later, but, he's been busy these past few days, ni hindi pa nga niya siguro alam na dumating na si Abel.

"Sige, sandali na lang 'to,"

I waited for another minute and the breakfast was ready, I tooked my time to eat. Maaga pa naman, siguradong tulog pa yung mga susunod na kakain. I'd rather eat alone then be with them. Hindi ko magawang lumunok kapag sila ang kasalo ko sa kainan. Sa huling subo ko ng kanin, saktong dumating ang pinsan ko.

I drank my water and stood up. My cousin looked at me confused. "Oh, tapos ka na?"

Raising my left eyebrow. "Oo, I'll do my work don't worry," assuring him.

Lumabas ako ng kusina at sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon, nakasalubong ko ang mga barkada ni Christian. I saw Aaron looking at me while waving his hands.

"Hi, ate," he said.

I nodded, tiltling my head. Napansin kong Katabi lang nito si Abel. I may look rude, but I really don't want to see his face. Walking pass by them, when they suddenly called for my attention. Nagtatanong.

"Ano, 'di ka pa kakain? Nakaluto na siguro si 'Nang Flora," pag-aya nila.

I turned my head to them." Kakatapos ko lang, sige."

I hurriedly went upstairs and stayed there until they've finished eating. Bumaba ako ng walang iniintinding presensya ng iba, lalo na ang mga kaibigan ni Christian. I'm glad! Makakagalaw ako sa loob ng bahay ng maayos. I just need to do my house chores immediately. Pagkatapos papakainin ang mga manok at bibe.

Bukod sa pagpapakain ng manok at bibe, nakahanap ako ng mapagkaka intiresan. Last time I saw a baby goat had been born, now I found some eggs of the ducks. Ilang araw ko na rin itong binabantayan at inaabangan. Hoping I would be the first one to see it when it hatched. Dahan-dahan akong lumapit sa inahin na bibe na nililimliman ang mga itlog nito.

The ducks seems in panic, she was looking at me as if I would steal her baby ducks. But, I don't have too. Gusto ko lang talaga silang makita. I did some of my research and the ducks sit on their eggs at least 30 days. Simula noong umalis si Abel, this duck was already sitting on her egg. And today was the last day. Ilang minuto na lang, mapipisa na ang mga itlog.

I giddily shifted on my spot as I still looked at the mother ducks. Bakit wala pa rin? Hindi ko ba dapat bantayan?

Maybe I should take some time and wait for it. Hindi pa siguro ngayon, babalik na lang siguro ulit ako mamaya dito. Pero, sayang naman kung aalis pa ako dito. I have an Idea! umalis ako sandali sa tapat ng bibe, at nagtago sa likod ng santol ng puno.

After a while, I saw the mother duck leave her nest. She used her feet to cover the eggs with some of the nest, probably to make it warm while she's gone. It took me several days waiting for these baby ducks now, I can finally see it!

Dali-dali akong lumapit sa mga itlog, I can now see the eggs hatching, I can feel the excitement all over me. It's coming! It's hatching! Nakikita ko na ang paa ng ibang bibe. Ayan na sila. The three eggs was now hatched there's still two egss remain. Ano kayang kulay ng dalawa? The first three ducks have colors of black and yellow. How about these two? After a moment, I the one egg slowly hatching.

Oh! it's black, out of the blue I clap my hand like a kid. Gaga ka talaga Gracia! I waited on the other one but it's not hatching. I tilted my head and looked on the other side. Anong mali? Bakit ayaw mapisa?

"Bugok na 'yung isa, it's not gonna be hatched," a baritone voice said.

I don't need to look at him, alam ko na kung sino ito. Nanatiling nakabaling ang atensyon ko sa mga bibe, nang biglang may dumating na pusang itim. The cat mercilessly bite the neck of the baby duck and hurriedly run. I was in horror and can't even process what happened.

I stood up. "A-abel! yung p-pusa kinain yung bibe!" I said in horror, forgetting I'm mad at him.

"It's normal, maraming beses ng nangyari ang ganyan dito."

Galit na bumaling ako sa kanya. "Huh! normal, ikaw lang naman ang hindi normal dito! why didn't you stop the cat!?"

Nang hindi ako makatanggap ng sagot, I left him with my mind still thinking of the poor baby duck. Damn that cat! Sisiguraduhin kong pag nakita ko iyon gagawin ko na siyang siopao!

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