Autumn of May

CHAPTER 19: Forming The Pack

I grab Steve's shoulders and stop him from walking. He face towards me kaya I grab this chance to talk to him. "It's good that you finally come here" I said to him while showing my tired face to him. He just smiled at me kaya I sarcastically smiled back. "Sorry bro, I lost contact with you tsaka I'm afraid na madadamay si Tatay if I'll ever get here without any back up" sabi niya sa akin sabay abot ng phone. Back up?

"What do you mean?" I asked him while opening my new phone. "Your mom asked me to come here" he answer briefly. Napatigil ako saglit dahil sa sinabi niya. "She came to your condo and asked me for your updates. Akala niya we still have contact kaya she secretly wants to know any updates from you. By the way, ano pala ang nangyari sayo dito Xav?" I let out a sigh. "If you only knew what kind of sh*t things I experienced here" I replied to him kaya napatawa siya.

"What happened to the house? Balita ko nagkasunog daw sa bahay mo?" he asked. I grab for his phone and search for his contact number and save it to my phone. "Yeah, as I said, sh*t happens" ibinalik ko sa kaniya ang phone niya at tinanggap naman niya ito. "You surely had an exciting experience here Xav" sabi niya sabay tawa. Umiling nalang ako and we continue walking towards the farm. It's 5 pm kaya the staffs and the farmers agreed that we should pack up.

Karlo and I made an agreement with the farmers and settled down the issue about the salary. When we finished packing up, Karlo asked the staffs to go home already. The farmers let us borrow their truck so that they can accommodate the staffs to go home. Afterwards, tinawag na ako ni Karlo para ihatid kaming umuwi. "Sir Xav, where's Abbi?" Karlo asked when he prepared the car outside the farm. Nagtinginan kami ni Steve and we remembered that we were with the girls. Bumalik kami no Steve sa loob ng farm at hinanap si Abbi at ang babaeng kasama ni Steve kanina.

We found them sitting at the bench. They are talking with each other while witnessing the sun sets in the field. As the wind blows, it shake some branches of the tree and drop some beautiful leaves towards them, like it is snowing. I shifted my attention to Abbi. The sunlight strikes to her face making her glow. The wind swiftly blows her hair and it flew in the air and drops to her shoulders in a slow motion. "Abbi" I called her name. She suddenly shift her head towards me. Her innocent face was looking at me directly.

Tumayo silang dalawa and walk towards us. "We should head home now" sabi ko sa kanila. Tumango naman si Abbi and said, "By the way, this is my best friend Nikka" Nikka waved her hands to me and smiled. Abbi change her attention to Steve kaya pinakilala ko din siya. "He's Steve, my not so biological brother" I said. Steve give them he's super friendliest smile. He offered his hands at tinanggap naman ito kaagad ni Abbi. "Wait, Niks magkasama kayo kanina so magkakilala na kayo?" tanong ni Abbi kay Steve at Nikka.

"Yeah, we happened to know each other" Nikka answered. "Mabuti, and he's Xavier" sabi naman ni Abbi kay Nikka habang tinuturo ako. Nikka looked at me, no, I think she's scanning me. "Nice to meet you Xavier" she said while offering her hands to me. I plan not to get her hands but Steve and Abbi are looking at me kaya I reach for Nikka's hand and shake it.

The four of us walk towards the car, when we manage to get there, Karlo asked us na sumakay na. During the trip, Nikka and Abbi were sleeping at the back seat. I noticed Steve that he is looking always at the rear view mirror which is I'm not sure if he's looking at Abbi or Nikka. Magkatabi kasi kami sa front seat dahil kasya naman ang dalawang tao. When we arrived at Abbi's house, Karlo wake up the girls. Lumabas na kami sa car and thanked Karlo for the lift.

Abbi's grandparents opened the gate for us and welcomed us in their house. They already prepared dinner. Abbi helped her grandparents as well as Nikka. Abbi's grandfather entertained Steve with a talk. Lumapit ako kay Abbi and help her like I usually do. Napatingin sa akin si Steve at nanlaki ang mga mata when he saw me preparing the plates for all of us. I just signaled him not to interfere and I'm glad that he understands what I'm trying to say to him.