Soledad

Kabanata 4

DALAWANG araw na lang at babalik na muli nang Amerika si Solea. It had been a day since her Aunt Edith was laid to eternal rest. Nakabawi na rin kahit papaano ang kanyang katawan mula sa pagpupuyat at pagod nang nakaraang mga araw.

Thank God that her Aunt Edith's ghost did not made an apparition nor she dreamt about her. She had a good night sleep too.

Ngayon ay kasalukuyang silang namamasyal nang mga pinsan at mga kapatid gamit ang mountain bikes nang Uncle Leonard at tri-bike na hindi niya mapaniwalaang hanggang ngayon ay nagagamit pa rin. It was the same tri-bike she remembered back when she was young. Nagkayayaan silang mga taga-Amerika na i-explore ang lugar kasama ang pinsan na si Ate Faith na sa bayan nila naninirahan.

Well, frankly, her siblings had other purpose aside from roaming around town. They wanted to film their quiet town for Youtube content.

Akala nga nila ay hindi sila papayagan dahil sa mga pamahiin nang mga nakatatanda. She was glad that their parents and uncles dispelled those superstitions. Ikinonsidera nang mga ito na maaaring matagalan na muli na makabalik ang kanilang henerasyon sa bayang sinilangan nang kanilang ninuno. Panigurado rin na kung nabubuhay ang Aunt Edith ay mas pipilitin sila nitong lumabas at mamasyal.

Their quiet rural town was a place with almost zero crimes. Lahat ay magkakakilala at magkakamag-anak. Kaya marahil ay kampante rin ang kanilang mga magulang. Isa pa ay maraming maipagmamalaking tourist spot ang bayan tulad nang mga naipreserbang mga lumang istraktura na bahagi nang kasaysayan nang bayan at maging ang simbahan na siyang tahanan na ngayon nang mga relics na ipinagkaloob nang Vatican. The relics somewhat boost the number of pilgrims visiting each year and quite helped with the tourism according to one of their cousins residing in their town.

In her opinion, their quiet town could do more, though she knew that their town's current mayor was doing his best in his term. Maraming potensyal kung turismo ang puntirya nang lokal na pamahalaan upang buhayin ang ekonomiya nang bayan. Naumpisahan na iyon nang simbahan nang Katoliko, nakita na rin niya ang pag-angat nang bayan at ang progreso nito dahil napunan ang ilang pangangailangan nang mamamayan.

The municipal town was renovated and had a concrete structure with it's third floor still in construction. Nawala man ang trademark na munisipyo na gawa sa kahoy mula nang maitayo iyon noong 1960s ay mas kaaya-aya naman iyon sa paningin kaysa sa mukhang nagigibang istraktura dalawang dekada na ang nakakalipas.

A gym was also erected next to the town plaza. The public market adjacent to the gym was renovated to follow with the modernization of the town.

She kind of like it at the same time hate it. But that was just her own opinion anyway. If it was her, she would love for the past and future to blend for the present.

Ngayon ay binabagtas na nila ang barangay kung saan ay dating naroon ang estasyon nang tren na sa pagkakaalam niya noon ay siyang pangunahing transportasyon nang bayan patungo sa mga kalapit na bayan at probinsiya.

The nostalgic atmosphere of the place made her somewhat travel back in time to two decades ago. The lush greens of century old trees planted on the side of the now cemented road was still there. The cool breeze, and fresh scent of leaves and flowers was in the air. It seem magical as some dry leaves from the trees sway with the wind before landing to the ground. Ang ikinamangha niya ay ang linya nang mga puno na nakatanim sa bakanteng lote. It was a sight to behold as the pin straight trees had lose its leaves. Scattered colors of brown and yellow leaves was on the ground.

Sa pagkakatanda niya ay tuwing Disyembre hanggang Marso naglalagas ang mga dahon nang nasabing mga puno na hindi rin niya tiyak ang pangalan. Hindi rin niya kilala kung kanino ang maluwang na lote na iyon na kinatatamnan nang mga puno. But, she was also glad that it was preserved as it was way back from two decades ago.