Love in Bangketa

13

Just like the usual days we had, tuwing weekdays, parang laging walang buhay ang buong bahay nina Tito Gerard dahil wala na naman sina Aezy at ang kaniyang nanay. I was left alone with Manang Tina and the other housemaids. Hindi ko pa masiyado alam ang pangalan nilang lahat. The only housemaid I am comfortable to talk to as of now is Manang Tina. She may be quite old, our age gap may be quite enormous, too, but I could cope up. Nakikibagets din kasi siya. 

This time, she didn't ask me to help her cook, but to help her water the plants sa kanilang garden. Mabuti na lang at mayroon silang ganito. I can freely sit on their swing. Mahangin pa kapag afternoon. But, right now, I brought my cap with me incase magpabida ang araw at sumikat ito.

"Hija, pakibukas nga ang gripo," Ani Manang Tina. Lumapit naman ako rito at binuksan ito. Lumabas ang tubig sa hose. She started to water the plants, while I just sat on the swing, and use my feet to sway myself.

Tinignan ko si Manang Tina kung paano niya ginagawa 'yon. At first, she was just watering them, like the basic thing you do when you water your plants. But, later on, she reached the garden gloves and wore it. That's where I stood up from the swing to see what she was doing.

Tahimik niyang binubungkal ang lupa. Mula sa tabi, may kinuha siyang isang plant sa palayok. Anong gagawin niya?

"Marunong ka bang maglipat ng bulaklak, hija?" She must've noticed my presence. Agad akong umiling. Hindi ako naka experience ng gan'yan. Like, ever. Wala naman kasi kaming garden sa bahay namin.

I've never fancied plants or flowers. Hindi ako yung tipong nature lover. I just being born in this world with buildings right in front of me. Before, I would request for my Dad for a garden. Hindi dahil magtatanim kami, kun'di gusto kong doon ilagay ang swimming pool. Yung binobomba pa, dahil medyo maliit lang ang space namin sa labas.

"Try mong bungkalin ito, hija. Para magka experience ka," She smiled at me while holding a small... ano 'to? Mukhang pangkuha ng pizza, but whatever. Kinuha ko 'yon sa kaniya at binungkal ko ang lupa.

At first, I was enjoying. Binubungkal ko pa ang lupa na para bang may ginto akong mahahanap dito. Nang matapos ako ay tumayo ako, but Manang Tina was already holding the plant. Natamaan ko siya, kaya ang nangyari, sa akin tumalsik ang soil ng plant. 

"Pwe!" I spitted out the tiny pebbles. Nalasahan ko ang lupa. What the fuck! 

"Hija! Nako! Pasensiya na!" Ibinaba ni Manang Tina ang plant na nasa tamang ayos pa naman. But, I think, wala na ang mga roots. 

Manang Tina helped me with my clothes. The soil was a bit damp, too! Mabuti na lang ay hindi pa ako nakakaligo. I would definitely freak out kung nakaligo na ako! 

"Pasensiya ka na talaga, Xynnah. Hindi ko naman napansin na--"

I smiled at her, kahit may mga soil ako sa face, I'm sure. "There's nothing you should worry about, Manang. Hindi pa naman ako nakakaligo," I said truthfully. 

"Nako, ako na lang ang maga-ayos dito. Pasok ka na sa loob, hija," Aniya. 

"You sure, Manang?" Tumango naman ito. Kaya pumasok na ako at umakyat sa kwarto ko. When I entered my room, hindi nakatakas sa paningin ko ang malaking mirror. What the hell, mukha akong naglaro ng lupa! To think that my hair was in a messy bun pa, mygod! Pumasok agad ako sa banyo. I pulled off my t-shirt and started to shower na. Mabuti na lang, marami pa rin akong stock ng favorite kong shower gel. Every single thing that I have stored in my bathroom were all strawberry flavor. Most of the time, my flings would compliment me that I smell like strawberry. I only answer them with a giggle. 

I was about to wash off the huge bubble of shampoo in my head when I opened the shower pero-- "What the fuck?!" Patuloy kong kinapa 'yon, pero wala talagang lumalabas na tubig!

"Manang! Why there's no water coming out from the shower?!" I shouted, hoping that my scream would reach the garden. I sighed in defeat. I opened my eyes carefully, I am afraid that bubbles might hurt my eyes. Tumingin ako sa gilid, thankfully, there's a stored water. Pero, isang timba na lang ito. What should I do now?! 

Leaving with no choice, pinagkasiya ko ang isang buong timba. Inis na inis akong lumabas ng bathroom. Mula sa baba, may naririnig ako nagpupukpok ng kung ano. Hindi ko na pinansin at nagbihis. Once na magkaro'n ulit ng water, maliligo talaga ako ulit! Bumaba ako na dala-dala ang busangot kong mukha. There I saw Manang Tina who just entered the living room. 

"Manang, walang water?" I combed my damp hair using my hands. 

"Ah, wala. Hindi ko kasi inaasahan na ngayon pala aayusin yung may sirang tubo. Dumating na rin kasi ang naga-ayos, kaya pinatuloy ko na," Saktong sumunod sa kaniya ay ang lalaki sa bangketa. He was bringing a dirty bag full of things that I don't know. His hair was messy. Medyo kayumanggi siya, but his cheeks were now red. I think because of the sun? But, I don't care.

"What do you want?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. He only grinned.

"Manang, pahingi po ako ng isang basong tubig," 

"Xynnah, pwede bang ikaw muna ang kumuha? May pinapa abot sa'kin si Sir," She hurriedly ran and left the two of us. 

"Stay here. Baka magnakaw ka pa rito," Nagmartsa ako papunta sa kusina at kinuhaan siya ng isang basong tubig sa pitsel mula sa ref. 

Pagkatalikod ko, he was there. Naka amba at hinihintay ang tubig. "Didn't I tell you to just stay there?!" 

"Ano bang masama? Hindi naman ako magnanakaw. Napaka ano mo talaga," He went near me. Kinuha niya ang isang baso sa kamay ko. He drank from it. His adam's apple moved, I gulped. Nang nilapag niya ang baso, I forced myself to keep a straight face. 

"Isa pa nga ulit," He requested. Kinuha ko ang pitsel at nilagyan 'yon ulit.

"Why did you come here, umagang-umaga?" I raised an eyebrow. 

"Masama? Hinire ako ni Sir Gerard para ayusin ang tubo," 

"But, I was taking a bath!" 

"Kasalanan ko?" Nilapag niya ang baso. 

"Yeah, it's your fault! You should have atleast informed them that you will come--"

He furrowed an eyebrow. "Si Sir mismo nagsabi sa'kin na anytime, pwede ako pumunta," 

"Pero sana pina--" 

"Xynnah, what's with the tone of your voice? I don't like it," My sentence was trailed off because Tito Gerard cut it. 

"I was just telling him that--" 

"It's not his fault. Don't be spoiled. Hindi 'yan uubra sa pamamahay ko," He strictly said. 

I darted my eyes now on the bangketa guy. He was now smirking with a taint of mock. "Sorry," I said insincerely. 

"Sir, kasalanan ko po. Naliligo po siya. Sa susunod po magpapaalam ako kung pupunta ako rito," He said. What?! Kanina parang hindi siya nakikipag-argue sa'kin ha! 

"Alright, Max. Don't be sorry. I will expect to see you on the garden," Wika ni Tito Gerard. Tinuro niya ako ulit at sinabihang mag behave, then he left us. 

"Saan na thank you ko?"

"Why would I thank you, asshole?" 

He laughed. "Suplada talaga,"