Embracing The Moon

Four

We went down to the forest, thanks to the red flag that Theodore placed when we were going up on the mountain— I got down without a help coming from the generals. Ako kasi ang nasa unahan with Tiya Sunshine at my back.

The soil is dry kaya walang dumikit na dumi sa suot kong slippers. Perhaps, this day is a good and blessed one.

"Hija, ilagay mo nalang diyan sa mesa ang mga 'yan. Mamaya, pumunta ka ulit dito at may ibibigay ako sa'yo." Tiya Sunshine flashed her gentle smile while looking straight to my eyes.

I smiled too. "Opo, sige po."

I ran to the house na pinagtulugan ko without looking back. Baka makita na naman ako ni Kaze at kung ano naman ang ipagawa.

Upon entering the door, I noticed the kid looking at me. She's looking at me again, with the same enchanted look.

Tiningnan ko ang paligid, I looked from left to right then went to see the kid sa kabilang hut. Ayoko kasing bigla na naman siyang kunin ng babaeng galit na galit kung makatingin saakin.

I wonder, is she her sister?

"Oh," I coldly offered the small part of honey na kinuha ko sa pail.

I didn't snatched this! Tiya Sunshine was looking at me when I get a portion and she did not complain!

Napasinghap ako ng abutin ito ng bata sa kamay ko. Those hands felt soft. It's my first time to grasp such hands, and I wanted to feel those again.

She walked inside the small hut. Wala namang tao sa loob kaya sumunod ako. Her small feet walked slowly in a short pace, naabutan ko pa nga siya sa harap ng pinto kahit nagtingin-tingin ako sa paligid kung may tao ba.

I held her left hand and gladly, the kid didn't pulled her hand back.

"Where's your ate?" I asked, habang papalapit kami sa isang higaan gaya ng tinulugan ko kaninang umaga.

I noticed the switch sa gilid ng pinto which urged me to tap. It's getting dark outside at madilim na sa maliit na hut na ito, nakasara na din ang bintana to offer some light inside mula sa kalapit bahay that's already has lights. 

Mahina niyang hinila ang kamay ko, her look telling me to put her above the bed.

I chuckled.

Her weight is not heavy, I think she's in 11 or up kg. I placed her at the top and slowly, she properly sat at the bed.

Itinuro ko ang switch ng ilaw the second I realized na hindi pa nga pala siya nakapagsasalita. She's like in halfway to going three years old.

Lalapit pa lang ako sa switch when someone noisily entered the hut.

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo rito?! Isa kang espiya, lumayas ka! Ano ang ginawa mo kay Hera?!"

I mentally rolled my eyes dahil bumalik na siya. "Wala akong ginawa sa bata! And I'm not a spy, your second highest general abducted me!"

"At ano ang mga sinasabi mo?! Isa kang espiya! Lumayas ka na rito! Isa ka lang pabigat!" She angrily spat and pointed me furiously. Nanginginig din ang mga kamay niya habang nakaturo sa'kin.

I sarcastically laughed. "At ano naman ang pakialam ko sainyo? Hindi kayo importante sa bansa kaya wala kang karapatang manmanan. How dare you nag at me? Who do you even think you are?!"

Bago pa makasagot ang babae, narinig ko na ang magkakasunod na yapak ng pagpasok sa hut at nagkaroon na rin ng liwanag sa loob.

I saw the little kid on her verge of crying kaya nakonsensiya ako. I should've stayed calm kanina, pinalaki ko pa tuloy ang issue even though the girl deserve my words.