Forelsket

Chapter 36

Harrice

It's been years.

Napapikit ako nang maramdaman yung pagdampi ng mainit na hangin sa mukha ko. It is still scorching hot. Something I've missed while traveling abroad.

"Harrice, ibababa na lang ng mga tauhan ni Mama yung mga gamit mo. Tara na!"

"Right." Ngumiti ako kay Cariette bago sumunod dito nang buksan nito yung passenger seat ng sasakyan nito.

Hindi na ito yung Subaru na madalas naming gamitin noong nag-aaral pa kami. Hindi ko alam na nahilig na din pala ito sa mga mamahaling sports car. Nahawa na yata kay Ate Rainey.

"Nice car." komento ko nang makapasok ng sasakyan.

In-adjust nito yung aircon bago natatawang ikinabit yung seatbelt nito. "Rainey's gift. Bayad daw nya sa lahat ng utang nya sakin noon. She bought it on their company using her hard earned money."

"That's nice of her. But I still like our usual car better. First car natin yon. It has our memories."

Nilingon ako sandali ni Carrie matapos nitong i-start yung engine ng sasakyan. "Do you already know how to drive? Pwede kong ipamodify iyon kay Rainey para magamit mo. Alaga naman iyon."

Umiling lang ako. That's still something I can't change after all these years.

Bumaling yung tingin ko sa labas ng bintana. Namiss ko yung scenery sa labas. Yung normal na trapik. Maingay na kalsada. Mga nagtataasang gusali. Pati na din yung mainit na klima.

"Akala ko mas maputi ka na sakin pagbalik mo dito."

"Hmm?" Wala sa loob na napadako yung tingin ko dito. Itinuro naman nito yung kulay ko.

Napangiti na lang ako. Oo, medyo naging tan nga yung kulay ko.

"Mainit sa disyerto. Malamang mangitim talaga ako doon." ilang buwan din kasi akong nastuck doon habang tinatapos namin yung pagseset-up ng mga equipment ko doon.

We've run series of tests using the equipments I've made to extract moisture from humid air and to turn it into a drinking water. Since water pumps won't work because of drought lands and extreme heat, that's the only way we can fully maximize the water resources for the locals.

"How was it?" Interesadong tanong pa ni Carrie.

"That's working well. The modified version can generate twenty liters of water a day. If we can only set it up all across the rural areas, that could be a big help for the locals. Though my team is still working in improving our equipments to fully utilize its use at a lower cost."

"That's great." Tumango ito. "Really great. I got no doubts you can make it."

Ginantihan ko ito ng ngiti. "Thanks, Carrie. For the inputs."

"Don't mention it."

Actually, it wasn't just me. Kung meron man akong narating at napatunayan, I owe it to my family. My parents aren't just the typical supportive types. They were spending time with me in doing my researches. Para ko na nga silang unpaid research team dahil tinutulungan nila ako sa paggawa ng prototypes at pagdedesign niyon.

Even Ate Rainey's Mom, Tita Rail, is giving me inputs on how the machine would work and what alternatives I could opt to use. Akala ko kasi nung una sa automobiles lang yung forte nito. But I've found out that she's not just a mechanic. She's a mechanical engineer that got a good grip at all machinery equipments.

"Bakit ibang way?" takang usisa ko dito nang mapansin na iba yung lugar na yung tinatahak nito.

Hindi na kasi ito yung daan patungo sa bahay namin.