The Dawning of Cosmos

2

Ria.

"Teng, malapit ng mamulaklak ang tanim mong Dilla!" napalingon ako sa gawi ni Yulian. Narito kami sa aking botany para kumustahin ang aking mga halamang gamot.

"Yeah, it might bloom next month so don't try to touch it, it's sensitive," sabi ko sa kanya.

"I did not, I'm just watching it," sabi niya at aliw na aliw na tinitignan ang tanim na tila ba ay kausap niya ito. Nakaupo ito sa harapan ng tanim at nakalagay ang kamay sa kanyang mga tuhod.

"Ian, did you read the book that I task you to do?" tinanong ko siya dahil mukhang ang dami niyang oras.

"I'm almost finished, kapagod kaya so mamaya naman ulit," sagot niya.

I harvest some leaves that are ready to use. I'll sell it at the city when I have time.

We've stayed at the botanical garden for almost half of the day. We went out to take our lunch.

"Mga apo, halina't handa na ang pananghalian," bungad sa amin ni Inang pagkapasok namin sa bahay.

"Wow, inang! Ang dami naman niyan!" malakas na sabi ni Yulian.

"Syempre naman, sa liit mong 'yan, napakarami mong kumain kaya dapat sulit," tumatawang sabat ni Inang, napanguso na lamang si Yulian.

Umupo na kami at nagpasalamat sa pagkain.

"Tia, sabi ni Maria ay pasukan na sa susunod na linggo, huwag na huwag kang liliban sa unang araw, kilala kita," napairap ako sa tugon ni Inang.

"It's boring, full of crap, and stuff," I mumbled.

"I heard that Cretianne!" baling ni Inang sa akin ngunit nginisihan ko lamang siya.

"Ate, papasok na rin ako sa eskwelahan! Sabi ni Alio ay magka-klase raw kami," masayang sabi ni Yulian.

Napailing na lamang ako sapagkat alam kong laro lamang ang habal nito sa paaralan.

We both are in the same Academy. He's in 4th grade despite his age, he excelled too much that he was supposed to be put in the high school department but Inang asked if he could just stay in the 4th grade, it would be nice at all and Inang was right about it. He needs to mature accordingly.

Meanwhile, I am 19 and currently taking a course in the Academy that I even forgot what is it because I am not interested. I just took it as Inang said.

The Academy's goal is to improve the academic learning of the students, we rarely practice using our abilities as the school said that it is not our focus; it might lead to violence if they will focus on it. Honestly, it's a disadvantage for the Academy to not pursue the education of our born abilities. It is useful since every year there's a tournament among all of the school between Prianka and Cietel. Some winners get to compete with the other Capital Cities. Such a shame.

We're heading to the city the day after tomorrow. It is not a boarding school so Inang got a chance to avail a small house almost near the academy. Our academy is not that big and prestigious. It's just known because of the brains of the students.

Inang doesn't go with us. It's just me and Yulian. Nagpa-iwan si Inang dito sa bahay upang mayroong magbantay sa mga alaga namin at mga tanim, our land is kind a large and it's full of crops, especially my botany.

Yulian and I availed a scholarship at the school so we don't have any problem about it.

We bring Charm with us so we have someone in the house and Wei stays here with Inang because he's too big for the city.

After our lunch, we're back with our normal routines.

I head to my room and pack my things. Muntik ko na ngang makalimutan na may pasok na naman kami kung hindi ipinaalala ni Inang.

I'm happy that Inang's health has gotten better because of Nala's water. It's really a blessing. We don't have to worry that much about Inang being left alone here, we can still communicate through letters.

After I packed, tumungo ako sa kwarto ni Yulian upang iligpit sana ang kanyang mga gamit ngunit naroon na pala si Inang at Yulian.

Kaya tahimik ang bahay dahil nagliligpit ng mga libro si Yulian.

"Charmaine na may betlog, bigay mo sakin ang medyas ko," pakiusap ni Yulian sa pusa namin na si Charm.

"Charm na may betlog, ilagay mo ito doon sa may lamesa," ipinakagat ni Yulian kay Charm and isang panyo.

"Charm na may bet- Ouch!" daing ni Yulian ng kalmutin siya ni Charm.

Natawa kami dahil doon.

"Tawagin mo na lang kasi sa pangalan, dinudugtungan mo pa, eh," sabi ni Inang sa kanya.

I took his hand and rub the scratch of Charm with my thumb, it healed.

"Eh, parang timang, ba't niyo kasi pinangalanang Charmaine, eh, sa may betlog naman talaga siya!" pagtanggol niya sa kanyang sarili.

Binatukan ko siya. Aba't pake niya ba, pangalan lang naman yan, nasanay na rin naman siya.

"Tinatawag mo ba akong timang?" akala ko babae si Charm noong baby pa lang siya, si Inang naman kasi hindi sinabi sa akin na lalaki pala.

"Si Inang 'yon!" binato siya ni Inang ng damit na kanyang tinutupi.

"Ikaw ang timang!" sabat ni Inang.

"Aray! Nakakasakit na kayo ha, mabuti na lang at mahal ko kayo," arte ni Yulian na ikinarolyo na lamang ng aking mata.

Natapos ang pagliligpit namin ng gamit ni Yulian na puro kulitan dahil sa bibig ni Yulian na hindi mabubuhay ng nakatikom.

I'm happy living with my family, we may not have the same blood flowing in our veins but we're still a family no matter what happened.

"Tia, papasok ako," sabi ni Inang habang kumakatok sa aking kwarto.

"Bakit, Inang?" tanong ko.

"I just want to give you something." she said and hand out a box.

"Always wear it, it's yours, it will protect you and I gave Yulian one too." she hugged and kiss me on the cheeks after she said that.

"Thank you, Inang." I sweetly said to her.

She went out after that. Binuksan ko ang kahon at nakita ang isang gintong kwintas na may maliit na diyamante na kakulay ng aking buhok. It's minimal yet so pretty. Isininuot ko ito at bumagay ito sa akin.

Nahiga na ako sa kama ng naisipan kong magbasa. I motioned my hands towards my shelf and a certain book lifted and moves toward me.

"Pavilion," basa ko rito, a book about plants but mostly flowers.

I'll just read a little and sleep.