Love, Rameng (Completed)

A Clear Broth

A/N Two versions. Upper version in Ilonggo. And lower in Filipino.

Ilonggo Version

It is the summer before RJ's last year and Menggay's first year in high school. There is a heatwave so Menggay makes agogo to sell.

She mixes fresh mango, white sugar, evap and water in a blender and carefully funnel it to plastic casings. After the agogo freezes, she puts them in a cooler with a "For Sale P10 only" sign and waits inside their grilled gate for people to buy.

She is thrilled that her agogos always get sold out. The basketball team seem to be hot a lot that the players buy before and after they go to the court.

Sometimes though, she sees her Manong RJ shooing them away.

She asks "Nga-a gin tabog mo sila haw? Kanugon sang mabakal."

"Ako na lang mabalig-ya sina sa court." He answers annoyed.

But when he comes back to her, there are still many agogos left. She thinks that he is a bad salesman so she takes over again.

"Taasi presyo mo. Ka-barato masyado." He suggests.

She increases the price to P15 and the agogos continue to sell. She also places a pitcher of water and glasses nearby as the players always ask for water after eating.

One day, when the usual crowd of players leave, she sees the lid of the cooler rise and a chubby, little hand filches one agogo. It's a little boy of around five. He sees Menggay and runs with the iced candy.

Menggay runs after him but could not find him. She goes back to the house. After a minute, the little boy comes by again.

"Indi namit ang imo nga agogo." The boy runs away again.

She wonders at this and asks her Manong RJ to taste it.

"D%puga!" He spits out the agogo. "Nagpa-check ka sa mata?  Asin ang ginabutang mo!"

Filipino Version

It is the summer before RJ's last year and Menggay's first year in high school. There is a heatwave so Menggay makes iced candy to sell.

She mixes fresh mango, white sugar, evap and water in a blender and carefully funnel it to plastic casings. After the iced candy freezes, she puts them in a cooler with a "For Sale P10 only" sign and waits inside their grilled gate for people to buy.

She is thrilled that her iced candy always get sold out. The basketball team seem to be hot a lot that the players buy before and after they go to the court.

Sometimes though, she sees her Manong RJ shooing them away.

She asks "Bakit mo sila pinaalis. Sayang naman ang bibili."

"Ako na lang magbebenta nyan sa court." He answers annoyed.

But when he comes back to her, there are still many iced candy left. She thinks that he is a bad salesman so she takes over again.

"Taasan mo presyo mo. Mura masyado." He suggests.

She increases the price to P15 and the iced candy continue to sell. She also places a pitcher of water and glasses nearby as the players always ask for water after eating.

One day, when the usual crowd of players leave, she sees the lid of the cooler rise and a chubby, little hand filches one iced candy. It's a little boy of around five. He sees Menggay and runs.

Menggay runs after him but could not find him. She goes back to the house. After a minute, the little boy comes by again.

"Hindi masarap ang iyong iced candy." The boy runs away again.

She wonders at this and asks her Manong RJ to taste it.

"Pucha!" He spits out the iced candy. "Nagpa-check ka ba ng mata?  Asin ang nilalagay mo!"