Nefarious Love

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Reborn
  
  
  
Sitting on the pure white sand, I silently watched the setting of the sun as the sound of the waves reigned in my ears. The orange sky is slowly being devoured by the darkness. Dahan-dahang nagpapaalam ang araw upang bigyan daan ang buwan na maghari sa paparating na kadiliman.

Umihip ang malamig na pang gabing hangin. I shivered a bit. I gathered some strands of my hair that's being blown by the wind and put it behind my ears.

Marahan kong pinasadahan ng tingin ang paligid.

Gaya ng unang kita ko sa lugar, I'm so impressed by how peaceful this place is. Umaga man o gabi, nananatiling tahimik at payapa ang lugar. Bagaman pinatag na lupa lamang ang daan at marami pang nagkalat na bato, madalang lang ang mga dumadaang sasakyan. Kaya malayang nakapaglalaro ang mga maliliit na bata dito tuwing umaga.

Although the people living around this area are mostly fishermen and workers of different plantations who are working all day to be able to provide food and other essential needs for their family. They are kind and humble. Very different from how my father pictured poor people to me back then.

I turned to my left when I saw an old truck stop near the small village nearby.

One by one, the fishermen who grew familiar to me stepped out of the truck. Bakas ang pagod sa kanilang mga maaamong mga mukha. However, as soon as they saw their family welcoming them, agad napalitan ang pagod sa kanilang mukha ng malaking ngiti.

A small smile curved on my lips by the warm sight.

"Ate!" a familiar voice echoed.

I turned to where the voice is coming from. Semi smiled cheekily and waved his hand at me. Tumakbo siya palapit sa akin.

Umahon na ako upang salubungin siya. Marahan akong tumayo at pinagpagan ang pang upo para sa buhangin na maaaring dumikit doon.

"Ate, pinapatawag ka ni Nanay sa akin. Kakain na raw tayo," aniya nang makalapit na sa akin.

I smiled and ruffled his hair. "Bumalik na tayo kung ganoon,"

Semi grinned. He held my hand as we both went back home.

We entered the small village where most of the fishermen went earlier. In the said village lies their humble homes. Karamihan sa mga ito ay gawa lamang sa kahoy at kinakalawang na yero. While some are lucky enough to have concrete walls. Sa kabila noon, the authorities were able to provide them electricity despite the location of the village.

Hinila ako ni Semi patungo sa isa sa mga bahay na naroon. Na gaya ng karamihan, gawa lang din sa kahoy at yero. The old wooden door created a slight squeak sound as he pushed it open.

"'Nay! Narito na si Ate!"

Dali-daling naghubad ng tsinelas si Semi. Dahil hinahatak niya ako, nagmamadali din akong maghubad ng tsinelas para masabayan siya sa pagpasok.

Mula sa maliit na sala, tanaw na kaagad ang kusina kung nasaan si Nanay Teresa na abalang naghahain. She stopped for a bit to look at us. Ngumiti siya sa akin bago balingan ang kaniyang anak.

"Oh, maghugas na kayo ng kamay at kakain na tayo. Naliligo lang saglit ang Tatay niyo," marahan niyang sabi.

"Opo,"

Nang matapos na kami sa kaniya-kaniyang ginagawa ay nagsimula na kaming kumain.

Gaya ng madalas na ulam nila, today it's vegetables again. Pumpkin, string beans with coconut cream. Hindi pamilyar sa ulam na nakahain, nagtagal ang tingin ko sa rito. Nanay lifted her eyes to me.