Thorn of Rose

Chapter 1

Gitara

I able to caught a glimpsed of beautiful flocks of the birds. I am fascinated by the warble noises. Trees associated with the rhythm of the wind, and so on the birds. I smiled as I satisfied myself to be captivated by seeing the flying creatures hang out together. I lift my left hand to my right shoulder and caress it while I let the wind gust my long ranger hair. The weather is fortunate, fine, blue in its fury.

Somehow there's a memories I wanted to know.

My eyes dropped. Perceived my cheap, shoddy and coarse low-heeled shoes. Nevertheless, it still suit in my feet. In fact I only have this.

I felt heavy as I grasped we don't have enough money to buy expensive things. I won't refuse the truth that it matters to me, pero di ko naman dinibdib iyon. Mas kukunin ko pang malaking problema ang walang pera na maibigay kila nanay.

Huminga ako ng malalim at pinatuloy ang paglalakad.

As I continue walking I hold my shoulder bag assuming someone gonna steal it. I don't know if I'm like this back then, it just.. I'm not comfortable walking alone. In this kind of street, dull, and surrounded by old trees, walang taong hindi makakaramdam ng kakaiba.

I hugged myself when the breeze become colder. The weather is fine but the wind in this area is not. It's always giving a goosebumps! But then I just continue walking, and this time binilisan ko na.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang matanaw ko na ang maliit naming bahay. Mula rito nakita ko si Nina sa labas at parang may hinihintay. When I finally near in our house, Nina saw me. She lift her hand and waved at me.  I waved back to her. Lumapad ang kanyang ngiti at tumakbo papunta sa'kin.

"Ate!" sigaw niya.

Nang tuluyan na siyang makalapit ay hinagkan niya ako. I smiled when I discern her tight hugged. Nang kumulas na siya ay ginulo ko ang kanyang buhok.

She giggled.

"Hinintay mo yata ako ah?!"

"Syempre, ate!" ani ni Nina habang ngumingiti.

Pinalakihan ko siya ng mata nang matanto kung anong katangian ang pinapakita niya sakin ngayon.

"Nako! May kailangan to hindi pa naman ako pumunta ng palengke" I laughed when she loosen her hand in my waist. And gave me a bitter face. Hinawakan ko siya at ginaya papunta sa loob ng bahay.

I entered our house made of softwood and nipa roof. Pagpasok palang bubungad na sayo ang isang lamesa gawa sa kahoy. Long wooden chair in the right side of the table, and on the top, there's wooden casement window. The left area of the house has two room, while the kitchen is in the back of the waist height divider cabinet, where the broken tv placed. Our house look cheap, plain, and not typical type of house that my friends have, it still snug for me. Knowing most of my salary spent in this place.

Hindi paman ako nakaupo at ilagay ang aking bag ay muling nag salita si Nina.

"Ate hinintay kita. Sabi ni mama sweldo mo raw kahapon kaya di pwedeng wala kang pasalubong sa akin. At ate..." lalo siyang lumapit sa akin. "Sobrang ganda ng bag ng kaklase ko sabi niya binili raw yun ng mama niya sa palengke. Ate! bilhan mo rin ako!" sabi niya.

Nina is already 7 years old and her class is only in the morning. In her young age she's helping Nanay Norma to take care of our little piggery.

Umupo ako dahilan upang magpantay ang mukha namin.

Ngumiti ako sa kanya. 

"Sige! basta mangunguna ka sa klase."

"Ate, naman, di naman ganun ka dali 'yun." sabay kamot sa ulo.