Every Line Crossed

ELC7

ELC7

"Hindi ba pwedeng singkwenta na lang?"

"Ay naku, wala na akong tubo kapag binigay ko sayo ng singkwenta!"

"Eto naman, parang hindi suki..."

I was just silently munching my food while watching Ate Lucy talk to the vendor or in a more suitable term... negotiate. She does it in every store that we stopped in to buy something and it's funny because she really sounds convincing! I mean... I don't know that you can ask for a lower price for the goods that you're buying?

A basket is hanging in my shoulder like a large shoulder bag. I don't remember what Ate Lucy called it a while ago but it looks like it's woven using bamboo? I don't know... something close, I guess. But I'm sure it's a handicraft basket.... ahm... wait, she called it...bay...beyong? bayeng? biyong? I'm certain it sounds like that.

My hand is holding a very small brown paper bag that has peanuts inside. Ate Lucy bought it for me before we entered the public market.

For a 10 pesos worth of mani, it's tasty! I liked the garlic more with it!

"Dalawa kukunin ko! Ibigay mo na ng singkwenta!"

"Tsk! Sige na! Dalawa ah? Ikaw talaga..."

I look at Ate Lucy with awe. Both of her eyebrows raised repeatedly while she smiles. I chuckled and give her a thumbs up. Galing!

It's been a week and yes... I'm still here. I think even if I feel so bad about what's happening to my family, I also don't have enough strength to go back. I miss them, terribly. I miss my life before. I still think about them a lot but I cannot deny that I liked being here to where I am now. It felt like I've been recently doing all the greatest desires that I have.

"Ate, sasahod na ako next week!" I excitedly said to Ate Lucy while we are walking towards the mansion after our early errands on the market.

Since it's been three weeks when I started working and as far as I can remember from Ate Glen, we'll receive our salary monthly!

"Excited ka ba?" natatawang tanong ni Ate Lucy.

"Yup! Mababayaran na kita, Ate!"

"Di mo naman kailangang bayaran ako kaagad... alam kong marami ka pang kailangan at gustong bilihin..."

I pouted for some seconds but I still smiled when I looked at her.

"Babayaran kita!"

She laughed. "Ikaw ang bahala..."

Before we reached the main entrance, it already opened and it showed a very jaw-dropping man.

"Magandang umaga, Senyorito." Ate Lucy greeted him.

"Good morning tsaka welcome b－" I stopped and stared at him.

His hair is still slightly messy and wet, I think he just took a bath. He looks good in his white shirt inside his flannel top. Suot niya pa rin ang kanyang boots.

Holy macaroons! Six is really back!

He's been away for 4 days because he went back to Manila. I counted it exactly because the mansion is extremely boring without him! And I also... I actually contemplated asking him to take me back in Manila too but it obviously didn't happen.

"Tara na, Reese." aya ni Ate Lucy pero kusa nang umikot nag katawan ko para sumunod kay Six na naglalakad na palayo.

Ang sungit talaga! He didn't even greet us back!

"Reese!"

"Una ka na, Ate!" I responded without looking back at her. I followed Six. He was on his way to the stable.