Sari
I decided to help Malik on the project because of a few reasons.
One, it was really good and as he said, it benefits a lot of parties involved. Two, it works well with the new ad campaign my team and I would be launching. Three, it was really awful how they had passed on Malik for others less competent than him. He deserved this.
Nakakabwiset siya sa akin oo, pero maayos at magaling yun sa work.
Luckily, my boss decided to give us a chance to present and got enough buy in for the project to go ahead. We would start with one province first and if we're successful with that, we would be given the funding for a nationwide campaign.
"Mister Malik, makikitira lang tayo sa bahay nung mga taga-dun ha. Wag kang aarte. Nakakahiya," I reminded him when we were on our way.
"Ako pa?! Eh parati nga akong natutulog sa damuhan. Ikaw kaya diyan? Baka lumabas yung pagka-prinsesa mo."
I smiled. "It would be so apt. I'm a princess and I'm with a frog."
He gave a smug look. "Frog pala ha. Sige nga kiss mo ko para maging prince na ako."
There it was again. The image of Malik in ancient attire being a leader to his group.
"Uy! Pinagiisipan talaga akong ikiss!" He teased, mistaking my stunned silence from deja vu as something else.
"Heh. Ayaw kitang ikiss. Baka maging frog din ako."
He chuckled. "Hindi ganun yun!!! Dali! Kiss mo na ako!"
He teased me the whole time that I didn't notice the 8 hour travel and we had arrived late afternoon to our host's home.
The elderly couple hosting us, Lolo Tuning and Lola Meding, waited by the door and the lola's eyes immediately lit up upon seeing Malik. "Datu! Maligayang pagbabalik."
The lolo turned to me and said, "Mahal na Adarna."
Malik and I politely corrected them. "Naku, Lolo, Lola, hindi po kami yun. Siya po si Malik. Hindi yan Datu pero malakas lang mag-utos. At hindi po ako si Adarna. Sari po ang pangalan ko."
"Pero pwede niyo po siyang tawaging Sarimanok," Malik added.
I rolled my eyes at him.
The elderly couple gave us a knowing smile but said nothing. They showed us their spare bedroom. "Pasensya na kayo. Iisa lamang ang natitirang kwarto."
Malik and I exchanged a look. There was only a small single bed and the floor contained plastic storages so the space wouldn't fit Malik's frame.
"Dito na lang po ako sa sala matutulog, kung okay lang? Ayoko pong kasama yan," he said, motioning to me. "Umuutot po kasi yan kapag tulog. ANG BAHO."
I hit Malik with my bag.
"Gusto niyo bang magpahinga muna habang nagluluto ako?" Lola asked.
"Pwede po bang makigamit ng banyo?" I asked.
Lolo Tuning agreed and showed us the bathroom out the back. "Kapag naubos na ang tubig, sabihan niyo lang ako at magiigib ako."
We both knew the nearest water pump was about three kilometers to the east. The big plastic water container of the couple was filled only halfway with, thankfully, clean water.
When Lolo Tuning left, I said to Malik, "Nakakahiya naman gamitin yung tubig."
"Don't worry about it. Wash up. Tapos magiigib na lang ako mamaya. Magbabantay muna ako dito sa labas."
I was thankful that he planned to be on the look out even without me asking. "Thank you, Malik."
"Wag kang maflatter. Ayaw ko lang na hulihin ka nila at gawing Kentucky Fried Sarimanok."
"Ugh. You're still so annoying. Wag kang maninilip!"
"Excuse me, hindi ako mahilig sa chicken wings."
The whole time that I was bathing, he kept making jokes. "What came first? The sarimanok or the egg?"
"Malik, can you please shut up?!"
"Tapos ka na ba???"
I got dressed and immediately went out. "Ayan na. Wala pa akong fifteen minutes! Kung makademand ka naman."
He walked me inside and then said, "Lola, magiigib lang po ako ng tubig para sa atin."
That got me. "Now? It's getting dark."
"Okay lang. Balik ako agad."
"Malik, no."
"Noks, we need the water. Babalik ako agad."
I held him back. I couldn't explain it but I was terrified. "No, Malik. Stay."
"Noks?! It's not a long walk. Magiigib lang ako. Ano bang nangyayari sayo?"
A scene flashed before me.
"Kailangan ko lamang pumunta sa ilog upang tumulong sa pagkuha ng tubig, tapos ako ay babalik at aayusin natin ang ating pagiisang dibdib."
Screaming.
Malik was dead.
He was now holding my face. "Sari! Hey! Are you alright?"
I frowned. What did I just see. "No. Kung aalis ka, sasama ako."
Lola Meding stepped in. "Pagbigyan mo siya, apo. May pinanggagalingan ang kanyang takot."
He didn't understand but agreed to bring me along, seeing how worried and scared I was. While walking, he teased, "Umamin ka."
"What?"
"In lab ka sa akin no?!"
"What?!"
"Kaya ka ganyan magalala. Yiheeeeeee. Love ako ni Sarimanok."
After telling him the nth time to shut up, he finally did. Then, when he was carrying the heavy container going back, he grunted, "Pero alam mo hindi tayo pwedeng love team."
"Kasi?!"
"Panget ng ship name natin. MalAri, SarLik... walang mabenta."
I gave him an exasperated look. "Yan talaga ang pinoproblema mo?!"
"Oo. Alam mo, pinakamaganda na yung i-combine na lang names natin eh. MalikSari. Pero kapag nagkamali, baka maging Malik's Ari."
"MALIK!!!!"
