Crashed On You

Kabanata 1

It was a windy afternoon and it was our summer break vacation. I was standing on my balcony in my room looking at the wide sea.

My mouth parted when I saw my dad riding his brown horse, bumaba ito at naglakad na lamang habang sinusuklay ang buhok ng kabayo niya. Since I was young I wanted to have my own horse, and want to learn how to ride a horse.

"Isang linggo na lang thirteenth birthday n'yo na. Do you have any wish?" tanong ni Papa habang nasa hapag kami.

Tahimik lang akong kumakain sa pagkain ko.

"Yes Papa!" sagot ni Rafaella ang kakambal ko. Huminto si Papa sa pagkain at tumingin sa kanya na katabi ko.

"What is it, Rafaella?" Sumulyap ako kay Rafaella na ngumiti.

"I want to know how to bake." Napahinto si Mama sa pagkain at ibinigay ang buong atensyon sa amin.

"We have a chef Hija, you can request whatever you want." Mabilis na umiling si Ella.

"I want to learn on my own, Ma. It is my wish, Papa. There will be a culinary class during summer in our school. I want to try, please?" Pagmamakaawa nito.

Sumulyap si Papa kay Mama, nagkibit-balikat si Mama. "Okay, because it is my birthday gift... sure," sagot Papa at pumalakpak si Rafaella sa tuwa.

"Did you hear that Bella? I'm so excited! Wanna join me?" anito na nakangiti.

"Ikaw, Abella? Ano ang gusto mo?" Tanong ni Papa sa akin. Hindi ko nasagot ang tanong ni Ella at tumingin ako kay Papa na naghihintay ng sasabihin ko.

"Yo-You really granted my wish, Papa?" tanong ko punong-puno nang pag-asa.

Ngumiti si Papa. "Of course, what is it?"

"Promise me Papa!" I exclaimed in excitement.

" What is your wish, Abella?" bulong ni Ella sa akin. Tumingin ako sa kanya at ngumiti.

"Okay, I promise. I guess that's what you really want." Lumapad ang ngiti ko at ibinalik ang tingin kay Papa.

"I want a horse." I demanded. Kumunot ang noo ni Mama na tumingin sa akin.

"A what?" tanong muli ni Papa.

"A horse Papa! I want to have a horse! I want to learn how to ride a horse," sabi ko habang nakangiti.

"Riding a horse is for men, Abella." Mom's reminded.

"That is why I wanna learn," mariing giit ko.

"Why don't you just join your sister in her culinary class, at least that's better!" Nagbuntonghininga ako at nawawalan nang pasensya.

Itinuon ko ang pansin kay Papa na ngumiti. "That's what I want Papa, and you promise me."

"Okay, I guess I have no choice-"

"Cristobal!" Mama warned.

"She can ride a horse inside of our hacienda Angelita, and I see no problem with that," mahinahon na paliwanag ni Papa.

Mama hissed and shook her head in disapproval. "You should just at least give them a present and don't ask them what they want," ani Mama.

"You really want to know how to ride a horse?" tanong sa akin ni Ella.

"Yeah," tipid na sagot ko.

"But it is too risky. You might break a bone," nag-aalalang komento nito.