Love, Rameng (Completed)

Simmer and Boil

A/N There are two versions of the story below. The top version's dialogue is in Ilonggo.  The bottom version's dialogue is in Filipino.

Ilonggo Version

RJ couldn't take the silence anymore.  A few days after his birthday,  he holds the potato chunks he had prepared to plant. He has dug a trench to put them in, but feels weird doing this without her, even if she constantly yaps and shuffles around.

He rings the doorbell and the twins Coleen and Colette let him in.  They still tease him about Trish and call Menggay from her room.

She is quiet when she comes out. Her bowl-cut hair has jagged bangs and he suspects that she cut it by herself again.

"Thank you sa gift, Menggay."

She nods.

"Buligi ko tanum."

They walk over to his garden and Menggay carefully places each potato wedge in the ground, making sure that the eye of the vegetable is facing up. 

"Kabalo ka, ikaw bala best friend ko.  Tawga ko bala Manong RJ kay mas tigulang man ko sa imo."

"Nga-a bi? Indi ta man ka utod."

They cover the potatoes with soil and Menggay waters the area.

RJ adds. "Magdako ka, indi mo na ko siguro madumduman.  Damo na mapangaluyag sa imo.  Basi indi mo na ko pagsapakun. Pero ako, palangga ta guid ka gyapon, kay daw utod ta ka."

"Indi ka maghambal nga palangga mo ko."

He frowns. "Nga-a haw?"

"Si Nanay naghambal sa akon nga palangga niya ko. Kag nagsabat man ko nga palangga ko siya.  Napatay siya. Indi ko gusto mapatay ka. Indi mo na lang ko pag-palanggaun."

RJ looks at her a long time, then he kneels down and tells her to sit on his shoulders. Her eyes light up, she knows this means they will go to the cereza tree in the empty lot on their street.

As RJ runs down the street,  the wind cools down Menggay's face.  She spreads her arms wide and welcomes the sunshine.

Menggay is happy again. RJ gets a stiff neck because she picks the red fruits for a very long hour.  He also discovers many chewed berries on top of his head.

Filipino Version

RJ couldn't take the silence anymore. A few days after his birthday, he holds the potato chunks he had prepared to plant. He has dug a trench to put them in, but feels weird doing this without her, even if she constantly yaps and shuffles around.

He rings the doorbell and the twins Coleen and Colette let him in. They still tease him about Trish and call Menggay from her room.

She is quiet when she comes out. Her bowl-cut hair has jagged bangs and he suspects that she cut it by herself again.

"Thank you sa gift, Menggay."

She nods.

"Tulungan mo ko magtanim."

They walk over to his garden and Menggay carefully places each potato wedge in the ground, making sure that the eye of the vegetable is facing up.

"Alam mo, ikaw ang best friend ko.  Tawagin mo kaya akong Kuya RJ.  Tutal mas matanda naman ako sa yo."

"Bakit naman? Hindi naman kita kapatid."

They cover the potatoes with soil and Menggay waters the area.

RJ adds. "Paglaki mo, hindi mo na siguro ako matatandaan. Marami nang manliligaw sa yo.  Baka hindi mo na ako pansinin.  Pero ako, mahal pa rin kita, kasi parang kapatid na kita."

"Huwag mong sabihing mahal mo ako."

He frowns. "Bakit naman?"

"Sinabi ni Nanay na mahal niya ako.  Sinagot ko rin siyang mahal ko siya. Namatay siya.  Ayokong mamatay ka, kaya huwag mo na lang akong mahalin."

RJ looks at her a long time, then he kneels down and tells her to sit on his shoulders. Her eyes light up, she knows this means they will go to the aratiles tree in the empty lot on their street.

As RJ runs down the street, the wind cools down Menggay's face. She spreads her arms wide and welcomes the sunshine.

Menggay is happy again. RJ gets a stiff neck because she picks the red fruits for a very long hour. He also discovers many chewed berries on top of his head.