It Happened One Summer

Chapter 4

Every day I am left alone here in the house while the two are away. I am a bit bothered because there is no man in our house and we might get robbed you know, pero feeling ko naman walang masamang tao sa lugar na 'to.

Mabuti at binigyan ako ng pera ni tita because I always clean the house.

I know it's ridiculous, I've never imagined myself cleaning a house. But I just did. And I never knew that I would need this money so much that I needed to work. We can't really determine what will happen next.

Pagkakita ko sa kanya pumunta agad ako sa lamesa para kunin ang perang iniwan ni tita kanina.

Raiden.

Araw araw nagpupunta siya dito para kuhanin hinuhulugang utang ni Tita Ann, I don't know how much.

He's facing me right now na parang walang nangyari. It's like, what happened last week already vanished in his memory. Hindi naman siya mukhang galit, parang casual lang. Habang ako.... sinusuri ang bawat kilos niya, for some reason.

He said thank you nang makuha ang pera, casually. Nang maghapon lumabas muna ako para makapag lakad lakad since hindi na mainit.

Hindi niya ako pinapansin.

Pagkalabas ko ng bahay as usual marami nanamang bata sa labas. Hapon na at hindi na masyadong mainit. Presko.

Bukod sa mga batang naglalaro at mga matatandang nakaupo sa monobloc, there are people who are hanging a little flag? What was that for?

Kahit na nasa pinakasulok na ko kitang kita hanggang dito. Maganda dahil malinis ang lugar.

"Magp-piyesta na" someone said behind me.

Nang lingunin ko ito, he is wearing a plain black shirt and short, facing the front. Shit. Tumingin ako sa magkabilang gilid ko to know where to run when things gets mess up.

"Yow, Hindi mo na ako naaalala? " he said then turn his head on me.

He smiled at me, flashing his white teeth.

I stop at tinignan siya ng mabuti, those deep black eyes, pointed nose and that familiar shape of lips. of course I know him. Nagbago lang ng kaunti ang itsura niya ngayon, glow up.

"Nope" I lied, then I forced a smile.

I know him but I don't want to involve myself with any people in this province. I don't want to be in a mess again.

"Ikaw ung hinabol ng aso three years ago diba? " he said then humagalpak siya ng tawa.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Naaalala nya pa 'yon?

I hate that, because it is where it all started.

I was about to leave when he stopped me by blocking his hand on my way.

"Sorry, sorry," he repeatedly said in a mischievous way.

"Stop it," tinignan ko ito ng masama. "Kael,"

"Ayun!" he said then smiled.

He looks happy when I recognize him.

He is the one who helped me three years ago when their dog ran after me. I got trauma after that incident and that is the reason why I hate dogs too. I am surprised that he still remembers it.

Kinalimutan ko na lahat ng tao dito, pero naaalala niya parin ako.

"Hindi mo na kailangang ipaalala iyon"

I remember crying all day because of that! Ew. Past na kinalimutan ko na.

"Sabi ko nga, sungit mo naman." bulong nya. tinignan ko siya ng masama.