Beyond His Caution (Lost and Retained #1)

Kabanata 13

Kabanata 13

Seek

''Tama ba 'to?'' Xian asked while he's digging the soils beneath him. 

Nasa harap ko siya habang nasa gilid ko naman si Kia. Parehas kaming nakaupo ngunit hindi nakadikit ang pwetan sa lupa. Lionel's far from us while Maxine's sitting comfortably on a white plastic chair. 

I can sense that Kia beside me wants to open a conversation. Ngunit miski ako ay hindi alam kung paano sisimulan.

Kanina pa nag simula ang tree planting. The seeds of Banaba were given to us individually when the execution started. Ang sabi ay magiging ganap na puno ito pagkatapos ng siyam na buwan. I have seen the photo of it online and the white and purple color really looks attractive.

Kung siyam na buwan ito tutubo ay baka balikan ko. It will bloom around May or June. They say that Banaba usually grows every summer so.. 

It's my first time that's why this is memorable to me. I have always been fond of nature. Kahit sa maliit na garahe ng gate sa bahay ay may mga halaman.

''Maghukay ka lang nang mas malalim. If it's already on its proper depth, you can place the seed therafter,'' sabi ko.

''Paano malalaman kung malalim na?'' nalilito niyang tanong. Madumi na ang kanyang kamay na may suot na puting gloves.

''Say six or seven inches deep? Malalaki ang seeds kaya dapat katumbas no'n ang lalim..'' sabi ko at naghukay ulit. I'm not using the small shove because it only causes more pain when I'm digging.

''Hmm. Okay na ba 'to?'' aniya. 

Inangat ko ang tingin sa kanya. He wiped his sweat. Ang sikat ng araw ay sakto sa amin na mga nagtatanim. 

Napatingin ako sa kanyang likuran. I saw Toran standing firmly while his hands are inside his pocket. He's looking at me intently with his furrowed eyebrows. He's talking to the staff. He didn't change his clothes dahil pwede naman daw na hindi siya mag tanim. Wala siyang suot na salamin kaya't halata ang tangos ng ilong at lalim ng mga tingin. He's looking really hot and formal with his posture.

I looked away. Ang mabibigat niyang tingin ay hindi ko masabayan. I still can't believe that we're close, or acquaintance, at least. I thought he's not the approachable that. Little did I know that he's really naughty and talkative. 

I nodded. ''Yup. Lagay mo na yung seeds.''

''Lia..'' Kia softly called. I turned my head to her.

''Hmm?''

''I'm happy you're here. I want to be close to you,'' aniya.

I smiled at her. My first impression of her isn't good. Mali agad na hinusgahan ko siya dahil lang sa nakabigkis ang braso niya kay Toran. I knew in me that I liked him from the very beginning and still, it won't justify that I judged her. Akala ko ay hindi maganda ang ugali niya.

''I'm happy, too. Nasubukan mo na ba ito dati?'' I said while I shifted my eyes to the soil beneath me. Matatapos na kasi ako.

''Nope. First time ko rin 'to. Pinakinggan lang kita kanina habang tinuturuan si Xian kaya natuto ako,'' aniya. Binalik ko ang tingin sa kanya.

''Hala. Sana sinabi mo..'' 

She smiled a little. She looks nice. Her short black hair suits her small face. Hanggang balikat ang kanyang buhok at petite.

''Okay lang. Ano ka ba. Medyo nahihiya pa ako, e,'' halakhak niya.

''Tapos na ako, Lia!'' he declared happily at biglang tumayo. He stretched his arms and legs for a bit. Nangalay siguro. I saw that the soil he dug is covered. Hudyat na tapos na siya. Hindi ko muna binalingan si Kia at tinapos na ang pagtatanim. Mukhang ganon din ang ginawa niya.