#ELHLPrologue || Esteen Samantha Vinzon
I sighed massively while walking on my way home. Katatapos lang ng klase at may trabaho pa ako mamayang dapit-hapon.
My steps halted after a bulk of a man stand on my way. I quickly scan his face before dragging my eyes back at his chiseled chest.
Kunot ang noo ko habang pilit iniisip kung anong kailangan sa akin ng lalaki sa harapan. Wala naman akong pera, hindi ako mayaman. Kung kailangan niya ng maganda ay papasa ako pero hindi rin ako papayag.
My back straightened when he cleared his throat to ease the awkward atmosphere surrounding us.
"I just want to ask if you know where Camp Alaya Subdivision is." He carefully asked.
Inangat ko ang tingin at agad ring iniwas muli ng makitang nakatitig ito sa akin.
"Malapit lang iyon dito."
"Where is it?" He curiously asked.
"Kita mo ba ang eskinitang 'yon? Iyong pangatlo. Pasok ka diyan, makikita mo na ang subdivision doon." I instructed while pointing my fingers at the direction he needs to walk in.
I felt him averting his eyes from me and fixed it on the way I am pointing.
I had the chance to check his features since he is not looking at my way.
He has a thick curled eyebrows and a fair skin.
A stern expression was plastered in his face but he still looks approachable. His lips are thin and pinkish in a natural way. Some strands of his hair are blocking his deep set of eyes. He's tall and lean too.
Ang suot niyang shirt ay parang ginawa lang para sa kanya dahil sakto ang pagkakahapit sa katawan.
Nang lingunin niya ako ay agad akong nagbaba ng tingin.
"Thank you." He uttered that made me nod my head. I was about to walk again but his voice stop me.
"Can you accompany me there? Hindi ko kasi kabisado rito dahil taga-maynila ako." The way he said those word was firm and manly. He looks like he's shy at something I don't know what.
The corner of my lips rose up as I cocked my head to face him, eyes are directed on his forehead.
"Naku. May bayad sa akin." I joked.
"How much?" He immediately asked after hearing my statement. Nalaglag ang panga ko habang hindi makapaniwala sa narinig.
I repeatedly blink my eyes when our gazes met.
"Biro lang. Ang seryoso mo naman." I awkwardly chuckled before averting my eyes from him.
Nagsimula na akong maglakad panuna sa kanya. I know he'll follow me even without my word because he asked this favor.
Malapit lang iyon kaya ayos lang na samahan ko siya.
"I'll visit my grandma, wala kasing kasama. I'm thinking of staying here too." He told me after a minute of silence.
My forehead crease at that information.
Share niya lang? Hindi naman ako nagtatanong.
"I just feel like I needed to say it because you're accompanying me there."
Hindi na ako nagsalita dahil wala rin naman akong sasabihin.
We walked side by side silently. Ilang minuto lang rin ay narating na namin ang subdivision na hinahanap niya. Wala pang sampung minutong paglalakad ay narating na namin iyon.
I halted my steps after seeing the arc, symbolizing the subdivisions name. May bantay na guwardiya sa bungad noon kaya hindi ko na siya masasamahan pa sa loob dahil hindi naman sila nagpapapasok diyan ng hindi nila residente.
I turned to face him, eyes are still on his forehead.
"Dito na iyon. Magtanong ka nalang sa guwardiya o kaya sa mga tao sa loob kung saan ang address na hinahanap mo. Mauuna na ako."
I was about to walk pass by him when he suddenly grab my wrist. I stiffened and hold my breathe. The warmth of his hands send an unknown feeling through my body.
I peek at his hand in an obvious way to make him let my arm go.
"Thank you. I'm Argon by the way." He uttered after loosening his grip.
Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko at sandali siyang tiningnan.
"Ah, ganon ba?"
"What's your name?" Nag-aalangang tanong niya.
"Samm." I shortly answered. I saw how he slowly nodded his head as I slowly turned my back for the last time.
"Ingat ka." I heard him say before I left his eyes.
Even with my weak knees, nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad patungo sa tinutuluyan. His presence seems familiar but I shrugged it off because there is no way I'll have a friend who looks like he has tons of riches.
"Nay! Nandito na ho ako." I announced in a loud voice.
I saw my Nanay sitting on our wooden small sofa while reading a newpaper. Madali akong lumapit at nagmano.
"Nasaan si Tatay? Wala pa po?" Takang tanong ko.
"Wala pa 'nak. Nasa mansiyon pa at dadating daw ang apo ng amo niya kaya baka gabihin ngayon." Aniya at binaba ang binabasang dyaryo.
"Gutom ka ba? May bananaque doon sa lamesa. Kumain ka na."
Tumango ako at agad na dumiretso sa kusina.
Matapos kumain ay nagpasya akong lumabas ng bahay ay diligan ang iilang halaman ni nanay sa bakuran. Maliit lang ang bahay namin. May dalawang kwarto, maliit na sala at kusina at isang banyo. Pagkapasok mo palang sa pintuan ay makikita mo na ang lahat.
"Ang mga bulaklak ni nanay na maganda, pero syempre mas maganda ako dahil ako ang anak niya." I chuckled at myself. Talking with my Nanay's plant made me ease my boredom at our house.
"Nauuhaw kayo? Hindi? Hindi ko na kayo didiligan." I said and took a step back.
"Biro lang. Sige uminom kayo ng marami at magpakalasing."
Nang matapos magdilig ay kinuha ko ang walis at nagwalis sa maliit na bakuran.
Kagagaling ko lang sa eskwela at mamayang alas-sais ay papasok pa ako sa trabaho.
Alas-kwatro palang ng hapon kaya nililibang ko muna ang sarili sa paglilinis sa bakuran. Malinis na kasi ang loob dahil malamang ay 'yon ang ginawa ni Nanay kanina bago gumawa ng ilalakong pang-meryenda.
I sat infront of the plants and stared intently at them.
"Sana ay madali akong yumaman kapag nakatapos. Hayaan niyo, kapag nakapagpagawa ako ng mansyon ay isasama ko kayo." I assure my Nanay's plants.
"Hindi ka ba natatakot na baka sumagot iyan?" A voice suddenly uttered. I stilled on my place and eventually cocked my head on the direction of the voice.
"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" I confusely asked at the man behind me. Hindi nagtagal ang tingin ko sa kanya at agad ring ibinalik sa mga bulaklak.
"Trespassing ka, nasa loob ka ng bakuran namin."
My breathing hitched as I felt him sat beside me.
"I'm not." I can even hear the sound of his smirk.
"Bakit mo kinakausap 'tong mga bulaklak?" He wondered. Maingat niyang inilapat ang malalaking kamay sa maliliit na bulaklak habang ang mga mata'y nababalot ng pagkamangha.
"It feels relaxing here though."
"Alam ko." I blurt out. "Why are you here anyway? Are you lost?"
"I'm with Tatay Fred. Idadaan niya raw ang uulamin niyo."
"Bakit mo kasama si Tatay?" I asked with my puckered brows.
"My grandma told me to go with him to familiarise the place." He drawls. "Ipasyal mo ako rito. I'll ask your parents."
He said before walking languidly towards our house. Tamad na tumayo ako sa kinauupuan at saglit na ipinagpag ang puwitan bago sumunod sa kanya.
"Magandang hapon, Tay!" I greeted.
My head cocked on his direction as I heard him spoke.
"Tatay Fred, Nanay, pwede ho bang ipasyal ako rito ni Samm?" He politely asked at the elders.
"Hindi ba't may pasok ka pa sa trabaho Esteen?" Kunot ang noong tanong ni Nanay.
Oh! I forgot!
"Hijo, pasensiya ka na. May trabaho kasi itong anak namin. Hayaan mo bukas ay ipapasyal ka niya."
Nilingon ko si Argon na may nakapaskil na maliit na ngiti sa labi.
"Wala pong problema. Sasama nalang rin po ako sa pinagtatrabahuhan niya at uuwi rin pagkatapos."
Kumunot ang noo ko at aapila sana nang agad na pumayag si nanay. Si tatay naman ay dalawang beses na tumango.
Nilingon ko si Argon na ngayon ay nakangisi sa akin at bahagyang pinanliitan ng mata.
"Salamat ho." He enthusiastically said.