Indestructible Waves (Phases of Poison #1)

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I was busy taking pictures of what we were going through. I marveled at the vast mountain shrouded in thick clouds. The green highlands of the province are a bit foggy so it's nice to look at.

The air I breathe now is sweeter and fresher than when we were on the road.

A while ago, I could see only cars but now there are only beautiful and healthy horses and there are some goats that both eat young grasses.

Troy mentioned to me that the hacienda we are about to visit to was far from civilization. It was the house of his daddy's parents. Home of his grandparents, that's why.

He assured me that I would not get bored there because there was so much to do there.

Horseback riding, fishing, and fruit picking are just some of the pastimes that can be enjoyed there.

“Ngayon ko lang ito nalaman, Troy.” Sabi ko habang patuloy pa rin sa pagkuha ng litrato.

Tumawa siya ng bahagya kaya napatingin ako. “Dito ako lumaki, Thrana. Matapos nang nangyari sa mga magulang ko, hindi na namin binalak pa na...bumalik dito.”

Ngumiti ako sa kaniya. “At masaya ako dahil ngayon...bukal sa puso mo na babalik sa probinsiyang kinalakihan mo. Masayang-masaya ako dahil mas ipinapakilala mo sa'kin kung sino ka ba talaga.” Sinsero kong sinabi at hinaplos ang kamay niya.

Bumuntonghininga ito at napailing. “Masakit para sa nanay ko na balikan ang lugar na minsan ng nagbigay ng magagandang ala-ala sa kaniya. Ngunit siya na mismo ang nagsabi na ano't-ano pa man ang nangyari sa nakaraan, hindi na dapat pang buhayin sa kasalukuyan.”

I understand that. He really wouldn’t have come back here if it weren’t for the fact that his mother wanted him to. I was just so impressed by Tita Maricar’s resilience.

In this place, he met and loved Tito Dominic. And this is also the place she decided to forget to heal yesterday’s wound.

"Don't worry. I’m trying to forgive for my inner peace, Thrana. Also, it occurred to me to take you to this place for once. For ... you can get to know me better. ” He finally smiled as well.

I was touched by his genuine smile. I clasped our hands together. I simply took a picture of him but he saw it. He just laughed.

Huwag ka rin mag-alala, Troy. Mananatili ako sa tabi mo kahit ano pa mang mangyari. Gusto ko sana sabihin kaya lang ay naunahan niya ako magsalita.

“Na roon ang iba pa namin kamag-anak. Ayos lang ba sa'yo 'yon?” Parang nag-aalangan pang tanong niya.

“Ang pamilya mo ay pamilya ko na rin. And vice versa. Kaya ayos lang sa akin na makilala silang lahat. Gusto mo pati ninuno mo, ipakilala mo na rin?” Nagbiro ako sa kagustuhan na mapatawa siya.

Hindi ako nabigo nang tumawa nga siya.“Damn, Slurpee.”

“I'm kidding, you know?” Pinaikot ko ang mata ko.

He chuckled. “Exactly my point. You know now how to pull a joke? That's...attractive. Don't do that to anyone, alright, Slurpee?”

“As if!”

“Good, pft.”

Welcome to Aureo Ranch. Basa ko sa mga salitang nakaukit sa lumang bato at halos palibutan na ng damo.

“Rancho? May rancho?” Tanong ko habang tinatanggal ang seatbelt ko.

“Uh, yeah...”

Matapos ang mahabang biyahe, nakarating rin kami sa hacienda ng grandparents niya. Hindi ako na-inform na ganito pala kalaki ang lupain nila rito sa La Union.