Before Descended Afternoons

14

I didn't expect riding a horse wouldn't be as easy as I thought. At first, akala ko basta sasakay ka lang at hahawakan ang reins pero hindi pala. It's actually so much more than just that.

I've been practicing doing horseback riding for a week already. It's my eighth day today. Bukod rito, tumutulong lang ako sa farm minsan. I've already began my second week in the ranch. Time sure flies. Hindi ko na rin namalayan. I've been too busy doing any kind of stuffs here. I have no news about what's happening outside.

I feel like a monk. I was just too away from civilization. Kidding aside, I'm quite enjoying my stay here. Walang dull moment. Most of the time, napapaligiran lang ako ng mga helper. They're all kind. Like what I said, I would sometimes help them with the farm. Ayaw nga nila pero wala naman kasi akong ibang ginagawa bukod sa paglalakad sa kung saan-saan kasama si Cooper.

It's been more than a week already since I got the minor injury on my head, and I'm completely fine right now. Auntie and uncle paid me a visit to check me up. Of course, it won't be complete if auntie didn't give me a nag. Muntik na nga niya akong isama ulit pauwi sa bahay nila. Salamat na lang talaga kay uncle na to the rescue sa hysterical side ng asawa niya. He helped me give auntie assuring words to let me stay here for more... longer days ahead.

"Ito ulit si Percival ang kabayo mo ngayon."

My gaze shifted to the man standing outside the stable, grooming the said horse, Percival. I watched his skilled hands brush the horse's fur all over its body using a body brush. He's removing the dust, sweat and loose hair from the horse's coat.

"Is he kind right now?"

Saglit niya akong tinapunan ng tingin pero ibinalik rin sa kabayo at ipinagpatuloy ang ginagawa. Hindi siya sumagot agad. Pinanood ko na lang siya ulit.

He's wearing a white t-shirt, which kinda fit on his body, paired with faded maong pants. He's already wearing his riding boots, too. Medyo naka-kunot ang noo niya, natatamaan ng sikat ng araw ang mukha.

It's only almost 8 am but the sun's already up like it's noon. I could see sweat ran in rivulets down his forehead. When he felt my stare, he threw his gaze back on me. This time, it took seconds compared to earlier.

"May edad na itong si Percival. Kalma rin at cooperative. Bagay 'to sa'yo. Ang gulo mo pa naman."

I snorted. "Excuse me? What? Are you sure you're pertaining to me?" Hindi makapaniwalang tugon ko.

He just shook his head slowly as if he has no plan to answer me. "Suot mo na ang boots mo."

I blew a deep breath before moving to wear my riding boots. I had a hard time at first. I think this is called paddock boots? He had me wear this because the heel will prevent me from slipping through the stirrups, which means I won't get caught in them in the event of a fall. N'ong nakaraan kasi, muntik na akong matumba. I was only wearing sneakers that time! He didn't even notice that. Wala yata siya sa sarili n'on. Ano namang alam ko tungkol d'on? Good thing we were just about to start that time.

He's done grooming Percival. Percival was also the same horse I've first ridden when we visited the ranch. So far, I've only been riding the horse only around the whole farm. Gi wasn't letting me practice actually riding them away from the ranch. It's fine, since I've only been learning the basics. We're not doing this the whole day, that's why. He still got some things to do. Hanggang tanghali lang. Although, we've been having routines for the past few days.

Ilang araw ko na rin siyang nakakasama. He's just... quiet most of the time. It got to the point that we almost didn't have a proper conversation in one session we had. Kasama namin ang uncle niya no'n. Well, days passed and the air between us seem to take a turn. I feel comfortable with him now. I don't know how it was possible but he's just one of a kind. He's different. He doesn't do much around me but maybe that's one of those factors why I got to trust the kind of person he is, in spite of what I hear from people around me.