Chapter 8.1
I stretched out and headed out of my room. I reached out for my hair and fixed it in a bun style. It's Sunday and I don't know what to do right now. Wayde is probably up by now. Knowing na napaka-aga gumising ng lalaking 'yon. Dumeritso ako sa garden at nanatili roon ng ilang minuto. Another day of this breath-taking view in front of me. Pinikit ko ang mga mata ko para madama ang masamyong hangin na humahalik sa pisngi ko. I heard footsteps behind me. "You're early today." It's Wayde.
May nakasabit na bimpo sa balikat nito at tagaktak ang pawis galing sa buhok. Didn't I mention how attractive he is with that?
"Wala lang, I have the urge to wake up early so... here I am."
"How's your application going?"
"Oh that," umingos ako. "Guess what? I got accepted!" I giggled.
"Himala," I threw sharp glares at him.
"I have the capability, alam mo ba yun," proud akong nag-angat ng tingin at sinalubong ang tingin niya. He just scoffed and shrugged. Weeks of staying here is probably the best thing that I want to look back on. I expected the worst but it turns out the opposite.
"Nga pala, balak kong maglibot muna rito sa Punto Sierra. May fiesta 'raw next week, alam mo ba kung saan yun?" usisa ko.
Kumunot ang noo niya at umupo sa katabing upuan ko. Bahagya naman akong lumingon sa kaniya.
"Malapit lang naman dito, why?" My eyes sparkled with what he said. Nagsalubong ang kilay niya.
"Eh kasi..." I hesitantly said. Mukhang alam na niya kung saan papatungo ang pinag-usapan namin.
"Don't tell me that you're going there?"
Walang pagdadalawang-isip akong tumango. I wiggled my eyebrows to convince him to go there. I got really curious on how the event would flow. It must have been to go there.
"What? It's fun kaya! I just talked to Mang Temyong about it and he said that there will be dancing and a contest in there. Sabihin mo na lang sa akin kung saan para ako nalang ang pumunta 'run. Or maybe I could take Laren and Marissa with me." Tama! I'm sure that those girls would accepted my invitation.
"It's boring there."
"I would bet that it's not! C'mon Wayde, I'm sure that you will be the center of attention there. Then invite a girl to dance with you! How 'bout that?" Napapantastikuhan niya akong tinignan at umiling-iling. I pouted.
"I'm really handsome, yeah?" umirap ako sa kaniya.
"Confident, are we? Alam mo kas- asdfjk aray! Bastos ah!" pinukolan ko siya ng masamang tingin dahil binato niya sa mukha ko ang bimpong hawak niya.
But the idiot just smirks and stands up. Kampante pa nga itong pumasok sa bahay at dumeritso sa kwarto nito. Walang modo talaga!
Tumayo at dumeritso sa kwarto. I washed up and made my way to the salad after. I cleaned the sala out of boredom and leaned my back on the sofa after. Wala akong maisip na gawin!
I'm done with the chores inside the house. Little by little, I was slowly adapting to the changes in my environment. There's no such thing as easy work. Lahat dapat pagtuunan ng pansin para matuto.
Grabe pala kahirap ang mabuhay mag-isa. You do all the work. From washing the plates, cooking- except for the fact that Wayde is a thoughtful guy and does the cooking himself. Kasi alam niyang wala na siyang madadatnan na bahay kung ako ang papalutuin niya.
"Arghh!" I heaved in frustration and embraced the pillow beside me."Celestia."
Nang mag-angat ako ng tingin ay si Wayde ang nabungaran ko. He is wearing his usual plain v-neck and cargo shorts. Sa isang kamay niya ay isang helmet na nakalahad sa'kin. Kumunot ang noo ko.
"Oh, ano yan?" tukoy ko sa nakalahad niyang helmet.
"Subukan mong kainin baka masarap. He said in a mocked courtesy. I rolled my eyes. Pilosopo.
"Heh! Ikaw muna, ikaw nag-aya eh." Hindi na siya sumagot at tinungo ang labas. Sumunod naman ako.
I saw him wearing his helmet and checking his motorbike. His motorbike is really something. Walang ganyang klase ng motor sa Pilipinas. I've been with my father once, checking for this kind of thing and it was in Europe. Exclusively in Europe. "That motorbike of yours is hella expensive."
"Yeah, it was a gift from someone. I wouldn't buy such expensive things, not unless it's an important person."
Napatango-tango ako. Contrary to what his saying, I live a life when taking a peak of the price doesn't bother me anymore.
If you're loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you!
"You're in the business industry right? In what field are you managing?"
Kinuha niya ang hawak kong helmet at siya na mismo ang nagsuot sakin niyon. He clasped it and made sure that it will not fall.
"Everything," maikli niyang sagot. Namilog naman ang mga mata ko. So does that mean... he is...
"You're a CEO?!" gulat na gulat kong tanong. Napaayos ako ng tayo nang mapansing napalakas ang sigaw ko. But he doesn't seem to be bothered at all.
So that's the reason why I always saw him at the sala... He is always busy with some paperworks and always stayed up late because of it. Tila kalkulado na ang bawat galaw niya at siguro nga'y hindi nito mapapansin kung may magnanakaw mang pumasok sa bahay.
But I'm just wondering, why did he choose to stay in this place rather than in the city?
"Hmm," he hummed. "You seemed surprised."
"I'm just... really shocked. I mean, the way you live your life was far from what I expected. Uhm, I grew up surrounded by luxurious things and wealthy people. The people I usually met were boastful and arrogant. Naninibago ako." Napahawak ako sa noo ko nang kinatok nito iyon na parang kumakatok lang sa pintuan. I creased my forehead and massaged it. Nakakadalawa na siya ah! "What was that for?!" I glared at him.
"To knock your senses down." Simple niyang sagot. "Open your eyes to each side, Celestia. We still got learning to do and it's still not too late. At the end of the day, ourselves will always be our shoulder to lean on." Lumapit siya sa'kin at hinawakan ang magkabilang balikat ko.
"And a home to get back after a tiring day." Wayde smiled and tapped my back lightly. Tumalikod siya at sumakay sa motor. He shook his head to meet mine and offered his hand to help me.
When I finally got comfortable in my seat, the words that he mumbled kept loitering in my mind. What is in his words that gives me the utmost satisfaction of answers? He is surely a person of mystery.
I let out a breath of relief and feel the coldness of the environment.
****
"Oh my! Are you serious? This place is freaking beautiful!" I shrieked out loudly when we arrived at the field.
If you're loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you!
Malaking damuhan ang naroroon at di kalayuan ay ang mga bulubundukin. There were some set ups that was made. May mga banderilya din sa paligid na nilalagay. I can't believe that I would eventually attend this kind of event! "Oh Wayde, andito ka pala!"
"Magandang hapon, Mang Karding! Kumusta na ang pagdedesinyo?" sinulyapan ko si Wayde habang lumalapit ito sa isang matandang ginoo.
They looked so close with each other by the looked of the old man's expression. Sikat na sikat siguro si Wayde rito o sadyang pala-kaibigan lang ang mga taong nasa Punto Sierra.
Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa paligid at sinuyod ang lugar. Ahh, this place is so good to be true. Hindi rin nawala sa paningin ko ang mga niyog at meron pang umaakyat roon para kumuha. Punto Sierra has abundant resources when it comes to food.
I went near to the people who were putting some banner in their stage. Gawa iyon sa kawayan at katamtaman lamang ang laki.
"Hi! Mukhang ngayon lang kita nakita rito, bagong salta kalang ba?" lumingon ako sa nagsalita.
It's a woman that looks same my age. May hawak-hawak itong banderilya at iba pang pan-desinyo.
"Yeah, bago lang ako rito." I folded my arms and we watched the process of how they set up the place.
"Ahh, kaano-ano mo pala si Wayde?" Oh.
"Hindi kami related, I'm renting in his house." I said politely. Nakita kong umawang ang bibig niya at nanlalaki ang mga matang tinignan ako.
"Talaga? Ginawa niya 'yun? Ang swerte mo, ate!" my forehead knotted.
"Bakit naman?"
Lumapit siya sa akin at hinawakan ang balikat ko para bulungan. Animo'y may iba pang makakarinig sa amin kahit nasa malayo naman ang ibang kasamahan. Is really being close with Wayde a talk of the town?
I glanced at Wayde. Nakita ko siyang nakatingin sa direksyon namin at bahagyang kumunot ang noo. His both hands are on each side. He's wearing his aviator too.
Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at hindi na siya pinansin.