Something New

Sixteen

Papalubog na ang araw, the sky was a combination of orange and violet so there's not much noise everywhere.

"Am I heavy? I'm sorry for being a burden." I said to break the silence.

"Sa susunod, tumingin ka sa harap. Di mo tinitignan dinadaanan mo." Sabi nya na parang pinapagalitan nya ako.

"Wait, are you mad? Nadistract lang kaya ako!" Pag-argue ko pa at nagulat ako nang pinaling nya ang ulo nya to look at me.

"Saan ka naman madi-distract? Nasa harapan yung finish line." Naiiling na sabi nya na nakatingin na ulit sa unahan. Napanguso na lang ako.

I was distracted by you. Dimwit!

Or maybe I'm the fool one. He doesn't need to know any of this things in my mind! Geez!

"People always need to look back, it's a natural reflex kaya." I said as we are still walking towards their house.

"Hindi lahat ginagawa yon." Maikling sabi nya na ikinakibot kibot ng mga labi ko.

"Sige nga, when will be the time that you'll look back? Lahat ng tao, dapat lumingon sa pinanggalingan nila." Pag argue ko pa although I don't know what looking back are we talking about now.

If it was literally or figuratively speaking, but I didn't expect what his answer was and that he'd answer my question.

"Ang mga oras lang na lilingon ako sa pinanggalingan ko ay kapag mga mahal ko ang naghihintay sa pagbalik ko."

He said as he stopped walking para maayos nya ang pagkarga sa akin, hinigpitan ko na lang din ang pagyakap ko sa leeg nya para hindi ako mahulog.

"Psh whatever. But thanks for carrying me." Sabi ko at hindi naman na sya sumagot.

Nakaabang sina Tita May at isang matandang babae sa bakuran nina George.

Dahil lagkit na lagkit ako sa maghapong initan. I asked if I can take a bath muna and Aling Nora suggested that too kasi hindi daw ako makakaligo for a day kapag hinilot na nya ako dahil bawal mabasa.

Binilisan ko lang kahit iika-ika ako, Aling Nora was kind enough to tell me stories, I realized that she does that to distract me while she's doing her thing. Isang beses or dalawa lang yata ako napa-aray, but I felt better after that although may kaunting ngalay pa rin. Sabi nya ipahinga ko lang daw at mawawala na din yon.

Babayaran sana namin sya pero she said no. Nagpasalamat na lang kami bago sya nagpaalam na uuwi na.

"Hindi po ba talaga tumatanggap ng bayad si Aling Nora?" Tanong ko kay Tita May habang nakaupo ako.

"Naku, hindi. Masaya na yon na makahingi ng bunga ng mangga o saging dyan sa bakuran natin. Saka normal lang yun dito sa iba." Sabi ni Tita May na ikinagulat ko talaga.

I was so used to people getting paid for their services and it's okay because the world is evolving and people need it to buy their needs. But as what I've read from history before, for services, trading goods was an enough payment.

Kapag daw may handaan at kailangan ng makakatulong sa pagluluto, ang bayad doon ay mga putahe din na pinagtulungan nilang lutuin.

I didn't knew that it is still practiced by some. Sa metro kasi lahat ng kilos mo may bayad.

"Osya, uuwi na ako ha? Napagpahinga ko na si Em-em at inutusang magpalit na ng pambahay. Tandaan mo yung sinabi ni Aling Nora, wag mong babasain yang paa mo muna okay? Maiwan ko na kayo." Sabi ni Tita May at tumango ako't nagpasalamat.

Saktong pag-alis ni Tita May ay lumabas sa banyo si George. But I was shocked to see him half naked kaya agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin.

May nakasampay na towel sa balikat nya na pinapantuyo nya ng buhok nya before going to his room. Maybe he forgot to bring a shirt because when he went out, nakasuot na sya ng sleeveless shirt.