HAJ & SETCH (COMPLETED)

XIII

The next morning, I showered early. Nag ilis pud ko nga murag naay lakaw.

"Good morning sweetie" bungad ni mama. Sya ra ang naa sa kitchen.

"Good morning, ma." I kissed her cheek. "Si papa?"

She gave me a sad smile. "He's not feeling well right now that's why I made a soup. If you want some.. I mean, I know you don't like soup pero if ever you want some, naa ra sa pot." anas mama bago nibalik sa kwarto nila ni papa. Nagdala syag bowl of soup.

I smiled, their relationship is something. Hantod karon gani siguro gina kilig pa sila sa usag usa.

Hahays when.

Nanglingo nalang ko ug nagkuha ra kog gatas ug bread for my breakfast. Di ko hilig ug soup.

Nag breakfast ra kog bread ug milk then nag toothbrush na. Sayo pa kaayo sa buntag so I decided to walk around the village.

Walking lang kay kapoy jogging.

What I like about my neighbours is hilig pud silag buhi ug buwak sa gawas sa ilang mga balay.

"Is that chrysanthemum?" nihunong ko para lang mangutana sa babae nga gapamisbis sa ilang bulak.

"Woah?" shook syang ni lingi nako. "Oum. Yes, it's chrysanthemum. Kaila lage ka ate?" she asked.

Halata nga mas bata ni sya sa akoa.

I smile. "I love flowers."

Ni smile pud sya. "Wow. You probably have a place special only for flowers?"

Nisiga akong mata. "Y-Yes, how'd you know?"

Her eyes widen too, "Weh??? Really? I was just actually guessing. Woooow so you have like, a space in your house for flowers and plants? O. M. Geeeeeee"

Mura syag bata nga excited. Na excite nalang pud kog apil niya. Bata pa pud bitaw ko. Aslong as wala pa nag minyo, bata pa na.

Nitando ko sa iyaha. "I have. It's next to that house." tudlo nakos sunod nga balay. "I don't live there but my plants do. I'm actually going there right now."

Her lips formed an O. "Woah!! So that house filled with flowers are yours?? Waaaaw! Can I come with you? Pleaseee? Can I? Anyway, I'm Pia. Pleassssseee??"

Nag katawang nitando ko. "Sure. And I am Setch"

"Yieeee Tara naaaaa." she looked really excited.

Wala paman mi maka lakaw, naa nay nanawag niya.

"Hoy! Hoy! Pia! Where do you think you're going bataa ka?" ana ang lalaki.

"Pietro?" I recognised him.

Naka familiar dayun kos iyang nawng ug tingog kay gabie lang mi nagkita.

"Brat..?" he asked.

I rolled my eyes. "My name is Setch. Pshhh"

Pietro chuckled.

"You two know each other?" ana si Pia.

"Of course, we're neighbours" tubag dayun ni Pietro. Niatubang sya ni Pia. "Ikaw? Aha naman pud ka mo panaw?"

The kid pouted. "I just want to meet ate Setch's plants, there, next door" tudlo niyas pikas balay.

Pietro shook his head. "No. No. No way-

"Ateeee" Pia pouted at me.

Wala koy laing mahimo. I can see my younger self at her. Ing ani pud ko ka excited sauna if it's about flowers.