Kabanata 11
Service
The next day, since it's Sunday and we don't have any classes. My Lola and I just went to the church to attend the weekly ceremony. The church is just a walking distance so hindi na namin kailangan sumakay pa ng motor para makarating doon.
I always coming with her since I didn't have anything to do on house. Also, I think it's really necessary to go to church every Sunday.
Pinatayo kami ng pari ng mag-umpisa siyang magdasal. I closed my eyes too since it's a prayer. When he finished, he ordered us to take our seats.
I took my seat and opened my eyes.
The father was saying something when a familiar figure caught my eyes. Wearing a pair of beige short pants and a white dress shirt, Gen looks so serious (as usual) while taking his seat. I can see him from where I am since he's sitting at the front seats.
The hell!
I quickly said sorry to God when I realized that we're in the church right now.
Sinulyapan ko ang katabi niya. Beside him is an old man wearing a blue long-sleeve and a pair of black pants, he's also wearing a round hat that makes him look richer.
That was probably his grandfather.
I gulped and looked away. I'm supposed to listen to father since he's saying something about the word of god. Yeah, that must I do. And that was I did.
The ceremony ended at the usual time, 9 o'clock to be exact. I was holding my Lola's arm like a kid who's afraid to get lost when we're walking towards the exit door. I felt uneasy for some reason while following her.
Malapit na kami sa labasan nang may biglang kumalabit sa akin. Bigla akong kinabahan at nilingon kung sino 'yon.
"Hi!"
I smiled at Bea. Kala ko kung sino na.
"Hi."
Dahil kasama niya si Tita Cynthia at ang papa niya. Nagkamustahan muna sila ni lola. Binitawan ko ang braso ng matanda nang tumabi muna sila sa gilid.
"Nakita mo na si Gen?" Tanong niya nang nakangisi. "Nasa harap sila kanina ng lolo niya kaya sigurado akong nakita mo siya," She answered her own question,
But she's right, though.
"Huh?" Tumawa ako ng bahagya. Acting like I didn't care.
She rolled her eyes like she knew that it was just an act. Or she did really knew.
"Sus," Aniya nang nang-aasar. "Nasan na ba 'yon?" She looked around.
Marami pang tao sa loob ng simbahan dahil marami ring nagkakamustahan tulad nila lola at tita Cynthia. Kaya sigurado akong hindi niya siya mahahanap. Maybe, they also leave already.
I also looked around but I felt nervous when I found him in front. Nasa harapan pa sila dahil kausap pa ng lolo niya ang father na nagmimisa kanina.
He looks serious while listening and talking to them. Didn't know na marami pa lang nakatingin sa kanya.
Yes, marami. Isa na 'ko doon.
"Ayun pala siya sa harap, eh." Bea explained. His smiles are wide when it fades for whatever reason. "Kaya lang, mukhang may kausap."
I smirked. Buti na lang.
"Umuwi na pala si Paciano?" I heard my Lola asked.
Napatingin tuloy ako sa kanya. She was also looking in front while raising her brow.
"Kaya nga, tita, eh." Tita Cyn answered. "At mukhang mag-iistay na siya dito ng matagal tulad ng apo niyang si Gen."
Nagpanting ang tenga ko sa narinig.
"Bakit?"
Tita Cynthia chucles, "Ang rinig ko'y nagkaproblema ang iba nilang negosyo dito dahil kay Donya Isabela, kaya pinapunta niya ito sa ibang-bansa para mabantayan ni Damien. At dahil wala na rito ang donya, nagpasya siyang manatili na dito,"
"Talagang ayaw niyang makasama ang matandang 'yon, 'no?"
"Kaya nga, tita. Kaya nung nandito ang donya, nasa ibang banda sila ng apo niya at ni Damien,"
"Hindi ko naman sila masisisi," Si lola habang nakangisi.
Bigla naman akong naawa kay Donya Isabela.
Nagsalubong ang kilay ni lola habang nakatingin sa harap. Sa banda nila Gen at ng Don.
"Papunta pa ata dito," She said.
Naalerto ako sa sinabi niya kaya bigla akong napatingin sa pwesto nila Gen at ng lolo niya kanina.
The old woman were right!
Gen and his grandfather are now walking towards us. Ang laki ng ngiti ng matanda nang makalapit sa pwesto namin. Habang ang apo niya ay seryoso ang tingin sa akin.
"Don Paciano, kamusta?" Si Tita Cynthia habang malawak ang ngiti sa don.
"Ikaw pala 'yan Cynthia," Ngumiti ang don kay Tita at bahagyang nawala 'yon nang dumapo ang mata niya kay Lola.
"Paciano." May kung ano nang biglang sambitin ng lola ang pangalan ng Don.
"Miranda." The old man's raspy voice are the only that I can hear right now. Bigla kasing tumahimik. Hindi dahil wala ng tao kundi dahil tahimik silang nakatingin sa banda namin ngayon. Kahit sila Tita Cynthia at Bea na ngayon ay nakikinig na lang sa pag-uusap ng matatanda
"Matagal-tagal na rin pala nung huli tayong magkita." Madrama nitong sinabi.
I am staring at them cluelessly. 'Til now, I don't have an idea what happened in the past. The reason why my Lola hate that Donya Isabela and the Cavalleros so much.
"Hindi naman masyado," Ngumiwi pa ang matanda habang sinasabi 'yon.
Don Paciano's laughed echoed inside the church. Napatingin tuloy ako sa paligid. Mabuti napang at kaunti na lang ang tao ngayon.
"Mukhang hindi mo pa talaga nakakalimutan ang nakaraan, Miranda."
"Hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan 'yon, Paciano." Matigas na boses na gamit ni lola.
I felt worried because of that. Galit na galit kasi ang itsura niya ngayon at hindi 'yon makakabuti sa kalusugan niya. Hinawakan ko ang braso niya sa pag-aalala.
"Kung ganon ay wala na akong magagawa," Sabi ng Don habang nakangiti.
Napasulyap ako kay Gen na nakatitig pa rin sa akin. I cleared my throat and looked away.
"Ah! Oo nga pala," Don Paciano exclaimed. "Nakilala mo na ba ang apo ko?" May halong pagnamayabang na tanong niya. Na parang walang sagutan na nangyari kanina.
Tumikhim si lola at sumulyap kay Gen.
"Hindi," Malamig nitong sagot. "Eh, ang apo ko?" She laughed without humor. "Sigurado akong hindi mo siya kilala," She sounded so sure.
"Oh, bakit? Sino ba ang apo mo?" Sumulyap sa 'kin ang Don. "Eto ba siya?"
I heard Gen cleared his throat.
I bowed my head. Ngayon, sa akin na nakatutok ang mga mata nila.
"Anak ni Jenna?"
"Hindi," She said sounding irritated. "Anak ni Paulina,"
"Ah,"
I looked at the old man. Seryoso siya habang sinusuri ako pero nang mag-angat ako ng tingin, bigla siyang napatango at ngumiti sa akin.
Alinlangan naman akong ngumiti sa matanda. Nawala ang ngiti ko nang masulyapan si Gen.
"Anong pangalan mo, ija?" Don Paciano asked. Smiling.
"Amaia po," Sagot ko naman,
Saglit siyang natigilan.
"Amaia?"
Kumunot ang noo ko, "Opo,"
Tumango lang siya at ngumiti na lang,
"Eto nga pala ang apo ko, Miranda. Si Genesis Isabelo."
Bahagya akong natigilan nang marinig ang sinabi ni Don Paciano.
Isabelo? I didn't know that he has a second name.
"Gen na lang po." Seryosong sinabi ni Gen.
Isabelo, huh?
Tumango lang si lola at wala ng sinabi.
"Magkakilala na ba kayo nitong si Amaia, Genesis?" Tanong ng lolo niya. I looked at them because of that.
Gen licked his lips. "Yeah," He said raspily.
Naramdaman kong lumingon sa akin si lola. But I didn't answer her stares because Don Paciano looked at me to ask something.
"Really? So... magkaibigan kayo?"
"Hindi po," I answered him quickly. I even sounded that I didn't want the idea of it. But it's right, though.
He chuckled, "Bakit naman?"
"Tara na, Amaia." Matigas na sinabi ni lola.
I looked at her.
"Po?"
"Umalis na tayo rito," Isang beses niyang pinasadahan ng tingin ang mag-lolo ng may halong pagkadisguto.
"S-sige po," I remembered her hatred against the Cavalleros. Oo nga pala.
Alinlangan akong tumango kay Don Paciano na nakangiti lang sa akin. Sinulyapan ko naman ang apo niya na nakatingin sa akin habang magkasalubong ang kilay. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at sinundan si lola palabas.
"Huwag kang makikipagkaibigan sa Cavallero na 'yon, Amaia."
Nasa labas na kami ng simbahan nang bigla siyang nagsalita. Bumagal ang lakad ko sa narinig.
"Yes po," I don't have any plan too.
"Hangga't maaari rin ay umiwas ka sa lalakeng 'yon," Aniya sa seryosong boses,
Tumingin siya sa akin nang wala siyang marinig na sagot.
"Opo," I'm already avoiding him. But I guess, I should try harder?
The next day, I woke up early since we have classes. I did my usual routine before coming out to my room wearing my usual uniform to eat breakfast. I looked around to find my Lola but she's not here. Guess she already went to Market Place. Probably.
I was silently eating my breakfast when my phone rang.
I accept the call quickly when I read my Auntie's name on it. Niloud speaker ko na rin since hindi ko naman hawak ang phone ko.
"Auntie," I said before sipping on my glass.
"Hey," She sounded cheerful right now. "How's school?"
My brows furrowed. She's acting weird now. I mean she's really acting weird when she's spacing out and sounding so tired on our past calls, but now?
I don't know.
Parang naninibago lang din ako sa mga kilos niya.
"Good." I stood up and started to clear the table.
"Good! That's good!"
"How about you? Kamusta ka d'yan?" I asked while washing the things that I used.
She chuckled. "I'm fine here," Hindi pa rin natatanggal ang kunot ng noo ko. "You know that." She added.
I didn't know that. Well, I'm not sure. She's alone there knowing that she's facing a lot of problems. She didn't say it to me. But I'm not stupid to not noticed it.
A tear escaped from my eyes, I suddenly want to come back to Manila because of what I'm thinking. Pero kinalimutan ko 'yon nang maisip na baka mas lalo lang dumami ang problema niya dahil sa akin. And what about Lola? Hindi naman pwedeng iwanan ko ang matanda lalo na't wala siyang kasama rito, idagdag mo pa na nakakaramdam siya minsan ng sakit. Mahirap na.
"I'll drop the call now. My boss is calling me."
"Ok, take care," I didn't even know that she already ended the call.
Ang pag-uusap lang namin ni Auntie ang laman ng isip ko habang naghihintay ako ng tricycle sa kanto. I was sitting on my usual seat when Gen's jeep caught my eyes. Bumagal ito nang malapit na sa waiting shed na inuupuan ko.
Him, Again?
I stiffened, uncomfortable now when I heard Lola's voice echoed in my mind.
'Hangga't maaari rin ay umiwas ka sa lalaking 'yon'
I nodded determinedly as if I'm talking to my Lola right now.
"Try harder," I whispered to myself.
I didn't stand when he stopped in ifront of me. I just looked at him acting as if I'm curious about what the hell is he doing here.
"Sumabay ka na," I can even hear his voice from here. But he's not looking at me while saying that. Nakatingin siya sa harap na para bang hindi na niya ako kailangan tignan para sumakay sa sasakyan niya.
"No thanks," Suplada kong pagtanggi.
Napatingin tuloy siya sa akin.
"At bakit?" He raised a brow. "Ihaahatid ka naman ni Ric?" Mayabang nitong tanong.
Bigla kong naalala 'yung araw na sinabi kong ihahatid ako ni Ric pero hindi naman 'yun natuloy. Siya pa tuloy ang naghatid sa akin - scratch that. Sumabay lang pala ako sa kanya.
I made a face. "No, maghihintay ka lang ako ng motor."
"Matatagalan ka pa kapag naghintay ka ng motor." He sounded mad now.
"It's alright," Kesa naman malapit ako sa 'yo.
Tumingin ako sa kalsada at nakita kong may papalapit na ngayon na sasakyan. Napatayo tuloy ako at nabuhayan ng loob.
Kumaway ako rito pero bigla akong nairita ng hindi man lang ako nito pinansin at nagtuloy-tuloy sa pupuntahan.
Wala naman 'yung sakay, ah.
Kunot ang noo ko habang pinagmamasdan ang papalayong motor.
"Just get in, Amaia." I heard from Gen.
Hindi ko siya sinagot at bigong umupo sa inuupuan ko kanina.
Bakit ang hirap naman atang sumakay ng motor ngayon. Dati kasi'y wala pa mang limang minuto ay mayroon ng paparating.
"You can leave now, you know?" I said to Gen when he's still here after 10 minutes.
Tinignan niya ako ng masama. "You know that I can't leave you here."
My heart skipped a bit. "I'm always waiting here." I looked away. "So I'll be alright,"
"We don't know that,"
I looked at him again irritatedly.
Bakit ba sobrang kulet ng Isabelo na 'to? Why can't he understand that I don't want to be with him? Maybe I should say it to him para tigilan na niya ako. 'Cuz maybe, he wanted us to be friends that's why he's doing some nice things like this.
I was about to say something but a tricycle suddenly stopped. Hindi malayo sa pwesto ko.
"Sasakay ka, ija?" The tricycle driver looks creepy but... that will do. I can handle it. Kesa naman kay Gen, he's the thing that I can't handle. And I think, I can never handle him.
I nodded at the tricycle driver and stood up. I was about to walk towards it but Gen said something.
"Sa 'kin ka na lang sumabay," Aniya habang nakatingin sa rear view mirror.
"Hindi na kailangan," I looked at the tricycle behind his jeep. "May sasakyan naman na ako,"
"Kanina ka pa may sasakyan." He sounded mad again. Losing his patience. Probably.
"Well... Sinabi ko naman sa 'yo na pwede ka ng u-"
"Just tell me that you don't want my help." He cut me off.
Saglit akong natigilan pero mabilis ring nakabawi.
Alam naman pala niya, but why is he doing it still?
"Yes, I don't want you, helping me." I glared at him.
He also glared at me. So we're glaring at each other now.
"I don't need your help. Especially from you, Cavallero." I said, clearly.
He looked away the reason I can see his jaw aggressively moving now.
"I see," He said, not looking at me.
I parted my lips a bit.
I suddenly felt guilty. But I reminded myself that it was alright. I did the right thing. He's mad at me now. Kaya wala na siyang rason pa para makita ako.
I gulped and looked away. I didn't say anything. Pinagpatuloy ko na lang ang paglalakad papunta sa motor.
"Sa'n ka, ija?" The trycicle driver smiled at me.
"Sa Sta. Valleria College po," I answered and went inside of the trycicle.
The tricycle driver is not quite familiar to me. Maybe taga ibang bayan siya?
Pinaandar na niya ang motor. I looked at the time. It's around seven-thirty, I sighed. Buti nalang at eight pa ang klase namin.
I was busy on sightseeing when I caught the tricycle driver glancing at me on his mirror.
Kumunot ang noo ko at nag-iwas na lang ng tingin.
I frowned more when his driving went slower. "Bakit po, kuya?" I asked when we stopped. Napatingin ako sa paligid at nakitang medyo mapuno ang lugar kung saan kami huminto.
"Nasiraan ata ang motor ko," Aniya at tumayo. He checked his vehicle from behind while I remained here. Frowning.
I checked the time. It's been 10 minutes and he still didn't solve the problem with his vehicle.
I gulped. I have a bad feeling right now.
"Hindi pa po ba tapos, kuya?" I asked.
I didn't hear anything from him.
Lalabas na sana ako pero bigla akong nagulat nang may biglang bumisina ng malakas galing sa likod.
I heard my heart pounded a bit. It's Gen, I know it. I went out and looked at him behind at us. Napasulyap naman ako sa driver na mukhang pinag-papawisan na ngayon ng malamig habang nakatingin sa sasakyan ni Genesis.
I clenched my jaw.
What is he doing now? Don't tell me sinusundan niya kami atkanina pa siya dyan? Pero bakit hindi man lang niya tulungan si Kuya, para kanina pa kami nakaalis.
I felt annoyed. Ano bang gusto niyang patunayan? Gusto niya magsisi akong hindi ako sumabay sa kanya.
Tatalikod na sana ako para pumasok ulit sa motor pero huminto ako nang makitang galit siyang lumabas ng jeep niya at galit rin na naglakad papunta rito.
"What?" I asked.
Tinapunan niya ng masamang tingin ang driver at biglang nanlaki ang mata ko nang takot itong sumakay sa motor niya at humarurot ng takbo.
What the hell?!
My eyes are widened because of the shock that I felt.
"What did you do?" I glared at him.
"I didn't do anything," He sounded mad.
"Tinakot mo 'yung driver!"
"Umalis na tayo dito," He didn't even listening to me.
"Why did you do that?!" Damn him!
"Wala akong ginagawa." He clenched his jaw. "Wala pa..."
Nagsalubong ang kilay ko. What does he mean by that? It means may mas lala pa siyang gagawin do'n sa driver kung hindi pa 'to umalis? Bakit? Ano bang ginawa ng driver sa kanya?
"Now, just get in there, para makaalis na tayo." He said with finality.
Tayo?!
I'm still glaring at him that's why he sighed. Assuming that I'll not listen to whatever he'll say.
His jaw moved aggressively before he said something.
"That bastard is a..." My brows furrowed. He didn't finish his word. And his face is already turning red.
"What?" I sounded confused. Waiting for his explanation.
"Walang sira 'yung motor niya," He said in a calm tone. "I was about come out to help him, but the truth there's bo problem in his vehicle," He explained.
"So you're tailing us?" Mas naging importante pa ang bagay na 'yon kesa sinabi niya.
His brows furrowed because of my question. I looked away and bit my lower lip.
"S-sige, salamat."
"You should," He said using his baritone, "Kung hindi kita sinundan, baka napano ka na."
I looked at him again.
Bigla akong kinabahan. Tsaka pa lalamang nagsink-in ang sinabi niya tungkol sa trycicle driver na 'yon.
Should I believe him? Well, bakit naman siya magsisinungaling?
I was about to say something but I just pursed my lips and didn't dare to say it.
That man!
I swallowed hard and looked away. I felt embarrassed. He probably thinks that he's right earlier. Na sana sumabay na ako sakanya.
"Let's go." Tinalikuran niya na ako at naglakad papunta sa kanyang jeep.
I looked around. Thinking if I should listen to him this time. But I followed him quickly when I realized that I'll be late if I didn't.
Damn!
"Thank you," I said and went out of his jeep.
Tahimik kanina sa byahe mabuti nalang at malapit na ang University kaya mabilis kaming nakarating.
"Ihahatid ulit kita bukas,"
What? Ihahatid?
I looked at him from inside.
"A-ano?" I exclaimed.
"Hindi pala, Ihahatid na kita araw-araw."
Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.
"H-huh?"
You heard him clear, Amaia.
"Hindi na kailangan, kaya ko na ang sarili ko," I said frowning, without looking at him.
"Talaga?" He asked sarcastically.
I glared at him. "Hindi na talaga ka-"
"It's alright." He raise a brow while looking at me. "You'll pay my service in return."
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-jazwritee