Rush Of The Wild Wind

Kabanata 1

Kabanata#01

The three grandsons

Sa susunod na linggo na ang pasukan ng mga klase kaya dagdag at doble kayod yung pagbebenta ni mama. Excited na excited na nga si Hiro dahil sabay kaming papasok sa eskwelahan ulit. Huminto ako nung pagkatapos kung mag grade 7, kaya grade 8  naako sa pasukan at si shiloa naman ay mag grade 7 na. I just hope hindi kami magkikita ni Pio doon dahil tiyak na sunod-sunod iyon saakin and of course, probably a lot of students will not recognize me and will consider me a new face. Hindi naman kasi ako palagala sa plaza o sa mga pasyalan dito. My life has been revolving in working in the fields and in the market.

"Magkano yung isang plastik gulay, hijo?"

My lips turn into a grim line. Magsasalita na sana si Hiro pero inunahan ko na ito.

"20 pesos po", I said.

I did not bother to correct this lady, it's not necessary that I will have to remind them over and over again that I'm actually a girl. If so, I will just waste my time explaining dahil marami pa itong tanong, like side comments and all.

"Bibili ako nang dalawa", ani neto bago  tinawag ang kanyang anak na kumuha ng pera.

"Eto po ma--", a girl stop mid-sentence when her eyes gaze up on me. About just my age appeared in the door habang hawak hawak ang wallet. Ilang saglit sumulyap pa ito sakin, tinapunan ko din ito ng tingin at namula naman ito.
 
I almost arch my brows out of annoyance, inakala nya siguro lalaki ako. I don't really get it why girls always came blushing upon seeing me my appearance. Nakakasuka kapag nakikita ko silang interesado saakin. I was much friendlier in the past but they always mistaken it as a romantic interest despite knowing I am a girl.

"Ang gwapong niyong bata. Taga saan ba kayo?", tanong ng ale.

I let out a sigh exasperatedly bago binigay yung sukli. Old ladies and their nosy questions.

"Dyan lang po ale", I said in my uninterested tone.

Hiro seem to notice my not so good mood kaya nagpaalam sya bago kami umalis.

"Ate, mukhang type ka yata nung babae", biro ni Hiro.

Narating na rin namin ang mansyon ni Don conjuangco. Their mansion must have cost huge, it was in a spanish styled architecture, painted with white creamy color and the huge scuplted pillars suited their spacious front porch, nagmistula tuloy itong palasyo sa laki at ganda. It is quite noticeable that their status is different from the others.

Their wide lands can be seen from afar, extending to god-knows where does it end. Manghang-mangha parin kami ni shiloa kahit ilang beses na kaming naparito. Kilala kasi namin yung punong-kusinera at mayordoma, sila yung nagpapahatid nang gulay dalawang beses sa isang linggo kaya nakilala namin so Don Conjuangco. He is so kind and always let us in their estate para mag-meryenda.

"Tara na ate!", malaya kaming nakapasok ni Hiro sa ikalawang gate patungo sa likurang pintuan ng mansyon, parang batang paslit yung kapatid ko dahil patuloy itong luminga-linga sa paligid.

Nagkasalubong ang aking kilay nang nakitang may dalawang kotse na nakaparke sa harap nang mansyon, mukhang meron silang bisita ngayong araw. Don must be quite estatic of receiving a guest. Before meeting him, I always visualize him as a stern man, yet turns out he is just lonely living alone in a big house.
 
"Hoy! Sinong nagpapasok sa inyo?", sigaw nang manong. Mahigpit niyang hinawakan ang braso ni Hiro, nagmamadali ko naman itong nilapitan at inagaw yung kapatid ko sa mahigpit niyang hawak.

"Nag de-deliver lang po  kami ng gulay. Hindi niyo naman kailangan hilahin nang marahas yung kapatid ko. Staka may kakilala kami dito", walang emosyong kung wika.