Three to Tango

What Makes a Human Whole?

“Ngayon pa lang ako makakapunta ng farm.”

Nag-angat ng tingin sa akin si Chad mula sa plato niya dahil sa sinabi ko. He smiled at me and excitement showed in his eyes.

“This is not just a farm, Ven. Hacienda ang pinapatakbo ko. You can say, a very big farm on that matter.”

I chuckled with what he said before I nodded. “Hacienda then,” aniya ko bago uminom ng tubig.

I was about to say something when Chad suddenly put more rice on my plate. Ni-refill niya rin ‘yung laman ng baso ko without me needing to ask  for it.

“Eat more. You need the energy if you wish to see the whole hacienda.” Pagkatapos no’n ay hinalo niya ang coffee na pinrepare niya para sa akin bago inusog palapit sa akin ang plato ng bacon.

I was stunned for a while before a smile spread on my lips. “Thanks,” I said as my appetite boosted two times fold than earlier.

Kinindatan naman ako ni Chad. “Kontrolin mo iyang hormones mo, kitang-kita kong kinilig ka, Ven,” biro niya na naging dahilan ng sabay naming pagtawa.

We ate silently for a while, just focusing on our foods until Chad opened a conversation. Tapos na kasi siyang kumain at contrary sa inakala ko, hindi siya agad tumayo para magligpit noong makita niyang hindi pa ako tapos.

Instead, he leaned on his seat and watched me eat which actually made me feel some tingles inside.

“Have you ever tried horse back riding? O kaya mag-araro? O kaya maggatas ng baka?” Chad asked which made me automatically frown.

“Mukhang puro kahayupan ang aabutan ko sa hacienda mo,” I teased him and he burst into laughs.

“Isama mo na rin ang kahalamanan. Isasama kita mamitas ng mga rambutan at santol. Ngayon ang harvest namin.”

Napangisi ako bigla dahil sa madumi at berdeng ideya na pumasok sa isip ko, “Mukhang hindi ka ba nabusog sa rambutan ko ah," I tried to say it as casual as possible but, “Shit, Chad. ‘Yung mukha mo!” And I found myself laughing hard.

“Tangina talaga iyang panlalandi mo sa akin, Ven! Hindi ko na kinakaya!” He was so flustered that his whole face turned red. Pinalo niya pa ang parehong pisngi niya bago sinamaan ako ng tingin.

“Asus! Ang arte mong bakla ka! You enjoyed my rambutan earlier—”

“Hindi iyan rambutan kasi walang buhok! Santol iyan! Santol!” He blurted out and I ended up coughing the hell out of me.

“Chad!” I shrieked.

Ako naman ang nahiya habang siya naman ang nakatingin sa akin nang may pang-aasar. Binato ko nga siya ng pinilas na tinapay na kaagad niyang iniwasan.

We both laughed and I must say, this is one of very few happy and feel good breakfast I ever had in my life.

“How much do you enjoy working in agriculture?” tanong ko nang pareho na kaming kumalma mula sa kakatawa nang malakas.

Chad tilted his head to the right as his eyes sparkled in what I assumed was fondness. “Agriculture feeds us. It's the industry that gave rise to other industries.” His smiled widened. “Kung walang agrikultura at ang mga taong nagtatrabaho rito, wala ring mabubuong sibilisasyon at hindi uunlad ang lahi nating mga tao.”

Napatigil ako sa pagsubo ng strip ng bacon dahil sa sinabi niya. Literal na natigilan ako at hindi makapaniwalang tiningnan si Chad bago tumawa. “Parang nasa beauty contest ka sa sagot mong ‘yan,” biro ko sa kaniya na kaagad naman niyang ikinatawa.

“I once dreamed joining in beauty pageants, just so you know.” He grinned at me which I rewarded with a wide smile as well.

“Mananalo ka for sure kung nakasali ka. Hindi lang mukha meron ka, pati essence.” Mas lumawak ang ngiti ko nang mamula ang mga pisngi ni Chad. “I really like the fact that I can make you fluster,” I added which made his eyes widened.