Shattered Pieces of Trust

Kabanata 8

Kabanata 8...
Unfortunate

I can't help but to stare at him as he holds a basket on his right hand while the other one's waiting for the mangoes to fall. His tanned skin suits him so well. Even with our distance, I can clearly see droplets of sweat in his body, even so, I bet he still smells good.

I felt my cheek warm up at that thought.

Pinilig ko na lamang ang aking ulo bago nag iwas ng tingin.

Tumagal ng tatlong araw bago ako naging tuluyang magaling mula sa allergic reaction. Tatlong araw na rin simula ng araw na gumaling ako, pero heto pa rin si Leon halatang guilty-ng guilty at tila kahit anong hilingin ko sa kaniya'y, gagawin agad.

"Anong mas gusto mo? Itong hilaw pa, o hinog?" He said holding a green and orange mango in his hand.

"Hilaw na lang, thank you."

"Malakas ka sa'kin e," he then smirks and grab the knife from the wooden table.

Bahagya pa 'kong umiling habang pinagmamasdan itong balatan ang mga mangga.

We're at the same hut again, waiting for his friends to come. Ang mga magulang nami'y missing in action nanaman. Kung hindi may binisitang matagal na kaibigan, may pinuntahang lupain o 'di kaya'y may inayos na papeles. Akala ko nga'y hindi na muli nila ako iiwan dito at iyon ang ipinahihiwatig ni Mama noong bed ridden pa 'ko, pero ngayong ayos na ay iiwan nanaman pala ako. It's alright though, since I have... a company.

When I suddenly heard loud voices slowly nearing, I knew they're already here. Nagkatinginan pa kami ni Leon bago ako umusog to make a space for them.

"Si Tiago," Lori can't even contain her wheezes, pati na ang mga kasama sa likuran ay tawanan nang tawanan habang takang tingin lamang ang iginagawad namin sa kanila. "Kasi..." she added but started laughing again.

"M-Muntik nang kagatin ng aso sa pwetan, pre!"

"Hindi nga nakagat, nahila naman ang shorts!"

"Mga gago kasi kayo, nagtakbuhan," tumatawang ani Rio.

I smile at their laughing faces as they recalled what happened to Tiago while they're on their way here. Naawa naman ako, kaso that's just so hilarious.

"E nasaan si Tiago ngayon?" asked Leon.

"Bumalik sa kanila at butas nga ang shorts!" They all burst into laughter again.

Their teasing didn't stop there. Nang makarating na si Tiago, muling naungkat ang nangyari at walang katapusang asaran nanaman ang naganap.

"Gusto mo ba?" Leon asked holding a plate of nachos.

"Sige,"

"Alright. Ground pork or just cheese?"

"Both?"

"Okay miss," he smirks as he scoops some melted cheese and ground pork for the nachos.

Pawang nakamasid lamang ako habang ginagawa n'ya iyon.

"You?" I asked when he finally handed me the nachos.

"I don't want nachos. I want... these," he made a lil' jump as he shows me a stick of grilled corn on his hand. Tumango na lang ako at sandaling ngumiti.

I'm not even halfway my food when I saw Leon filling my earlier used glass with juice. Ngumiwi na lang ako at 'di na umangal pa.

"Leon, paabot naman ng baso," I heard Janine demand.

"Teka lang. Oy, Rio! Paabot daw baso!"

"Mas malapit ka, ano bang ginagawa mo?" Instead of just obeying, Rio uttered.