San Carlos

Kabanata 6

I've focused my mind on Ibarra and Maria Alejandra to divert the strange feeling that I've felt earlier. Normal lang naman 'yon. People smile at people they encounter everyday. And for Inigo, it's just that— it is rare to see him smile. I was just shocked and I am not making this one a big deal.

"Pagpalain nawa kayo ng Diyos..." anang matanda matapos naming mag-mano. He's smiling as he gaze at us, making the corner of his eyes crinkle.

"Mabuti at napadalaw ka, hijo?" mula kay Inigo ay lumipat saakin ang kanyang paningin, "At sino itong marikit na dalagang iyong kasama?"

I sheepishly smiled at the old man, "Eloise po. Ikinagagalak ko po na makilala kayo."

"Ikinagagalak ko rin na makilala ka, hija. Ikaw ba ay kasintahan nitong si Inigo?" muntikan na akong mabuhol sa kinatatayuan ko dahil sa narinig. Mula saakin ay lumipat ang kanyang mga mata kay Inigo, suot ang nanunuksong ngiti sakanyang labi.

I was about to answer the old man and tell him that there's nothing between us, but Inigo already did it for me. I let out a relieved sigh because of that.

"Hindi po, Mang Isko," nasulyapan ko ang namumulang tenga ng kasama ko. He tends to get red ears whenever he's shy of something. And I would really smack my head later for noticing every little details of Inigo!

"Oh," disappointment drips on the old man's voice, "Halina kayo at pumasok muna tayo sa loob. Ipaghahanda ko kayo ng maiinom," ngumiti ito.

"Hindi na po, Mang Isko. May nais lamang po kaming itanong sainyo," tanggi naman ng kasama ko.

Mang Isko shook his head in disapproval, "Mas mabuti kung pumasok muna tayo sa loob nang makapag-usap tayo ng maayos at baka mangawit pa kayo rito."

Inigo sighed and I know that we were left with no choice. Sumunod kami sa matanda at pumasok sa loob ng maliit na bahay na gawa sa kawayan at pawid. Isang maliit na sala na may mababang lamesita at mahabang upuan na gawa sa kawayan ang sumalubong saamin pagpasok namin sa loob.

"Pasensya na hija at may kaliitan ang aming bahay," wika ni Mang Isko. Marahil napansin nito na pinagmamasdan ko ang paligid.

I smiled at him, "Wag po kayong mag-alala. Ayos lamang po saakin."

Mang Isko left us after that. Kukuha raw ito ng maiinom namin. I sat at the wooden chair, while Inigo remained standing beside the door. Tumingin ako dito at itinuro sakanya ang espasyo sa tabi ko.

"Mangangawit ka dyan," but he just shook his head. I raised him a brow, pero hindi ito natinag at nanatili pa rin nakatayo. I inwardly rolled my eyes in defeat, I know I wouldn't win.

Inilibot ko ang paningin sa buong bahay. This is not like everyone's ideal of a house nowadays. The house has a thatched-roof, its walls were made with bamboos. Ngunit kahit ganoon ay maaliwalas at presko ang buong bahay dahil sa sariwang hangin na pumapasok mula sa nakabukas na bintanang gawa sa kahoy.

It has a perfect view of the sea. I can hear the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. I think it could lull anyone into a deep slumber. This place screams nothing but serenity.

"Uminom muna kayo," Mang Isko came back, putting down the two glasses of calamansi juice, I think, on the wooden center table.

"Maraming salamat po," sabay na banggit namin ni Inigo at napatingin kami sa isa't-isa dahil doon. I paused, waiting for him to break the eye contact but it didn't happened.

I don't know what's in his eyes, but they are so captivating. There's like a force, telling me not to look away from his eyes. Hindi ko alam kung gaano katagal kaming nakatingin sa isa't-isa, until we were suddenly interrupted by a coughing.