GONE WRONG (Gone Series 1: Summer Aine Quin)

Kabanata 17

"Iha, subukan mo itong Longganisa namin dito sa Ilocos. Isa ito sa mga ipinagmamalaki namin." Magiliw na sabi ni Nanay Jo habang ipinagsasandok ako ng pagkain.

Ngumiti ako sa kaniya at kumuha ng longganisa na nasa hapag. Kumakain kami ngayon ng tanghalian dahil hindi kami nagising ng maaga ni Zacharias. We were exhausted when we got home yesterday. Naubos din ang lakas ko dahil na din siguro sa pagligo at paghahabulan namin sa ulan.

"Try this one, Babe. Inang cooked this. " Sabay turo sa tingin ko ay puro gulay ang sahog.

"Pinakbet na hipon at baboy 'yan Iha. Masarap ang hinalo ko diyang bagoong na isda. "

"Salamat po, Nay." Saad ko sa ginang at maganang kumain.

Hindi na sumabay sa amin si Nanay Jo dahil kanina pa daw ito tapos na kumain. Tanging kami lang ni Zacharias ang kumakain ngayon.

I really enjoyed the dishes Nanay Jo made us. Mas masarap pa rin talaga kasi pag lutong bahay. Sa bahay kasi namin minsan lang ako makakaluto para sa sarili ko dahil kadalasan sa labas na ako kumakain.

I turned to face Zacharias, who was finishing his meal.

"Babe, saan tayo ngayon?"

Tumingin naman agad ang lalaki sa akin at preskong ngumiti. " There are so many places that I wanted you to see."

***

"Wow," I said while watching an old bell tower in front of us.

Zacharias held my hand and pulled me to come closer to the bell tower.

"This is the Bantay Bell Tower, built-in 1591." He said while looking at the tower. "It served as the town's watchtower before being turned into a bell tower by the nearby church in 1857."

Napatingin ako sa kaniya. "Mahilig ka ba sa history?"

Natatawang pinisil niya ang pisngi ko. "No, but I am your personal tour guide. Siyempre dapat may alam ako. "

Seryosong sinipat ko ng tingin ang lalaki. He was looking so fresh and handsome, wearing a floral white polo shirt and jeans. His pointed nose and defined jaw make him look so mature in a good way.

"Kung tour guide ka, ikaw na siguro ang pinakagwapong tour guide na nakilala ko." Pasimpleng kinurot ko siya sa tagiliran.

Napangiti lang ang lalaki sa akin at muling tumingin sa bell tower. "Do you know that this is the dating spot of Gabriela Silang and Diego during the 17th century?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya. "What? Hindi nga? "

Tumango ang lalaki. "They will meet here and enjoy the place as normal lovers do, but they are doing it in secret."

I hugged his waist and rested my head on his arms. "Mabuti nalang pala ngayon ako pinanganak para malaya akong makipag-date."

"Says the woman who just had her first relationship."

Inis na tinulak ko siya na ikinatawa niya lang. "Excuse me, swerte mo kaya ikaw ang first boyfriend ko! You know how busy I am with work. That's why I didn't have boyfriends before! " Inis na saad ko at sinamaan siya ng tingin.

"Okay, I'm sorry. Come here, Baby. " He extended his arms to me. We toured there and took a lot of pictures. Balak ko sanang pag balik sa Maynila ay magpapagawa ako ng photobook ng mga pictures namin dito sa Ilocos Sur for remembrance.

Pumunta din kami sa Crisologo Museum sa Vigan. It was the ancestral house of former Ilocos Sur Representative Floro Crisologo and his family. According to Zach, the Crisologos is one of the most prominent political families in the province. Their ancestral house has been turned into a museum, home to hundreds of memorabilia that would give you a sneak peek into the past. All of the things inside are really antiques! From the portraits on the walls to the old clothes of people living in this house before.