Over the Mountain

CHAPTER 7: BICYCLE

CHAPTER 7: BICYCLE

Celestine didn’t stop asking me questions on how I become close with Leo. Actually, I can’t help but ask why my closeness with Leo becomes a big deal at all. As if, Leo is a celebrity who rarely gets close with other people then suddenly, here I am, being too close to him? Though I’m not the paparazzi on the scene, alright? Let’s say I’m the new leading lady. I cringe at my own thoughts before shaking my head. This should be blamed on Celestine who keeps on telling me that I am lucky to get close to Leo.

“Magtigil ka nga, Celestine,” suway ko. “Ikaw din naman ay close kay Leo. Palagi mo pa ngang siyang binabati, hindi ba?”

Nanlaki ang kaniyang mga mata at tsaka siya napailing. “Close kami. Pero hindi kasing close sa inyong dalawa. Mas nauna ako sa’yong dumating dito at nakilala siya. Pero ni minsan ay hindi ko siya nakasabay na kumain sa tanghalian o kaya ay makasabay na uuwi!”

“That’s because you don’t live in the same village,”

“Why, do you live in the same village?”

I was caught off guard. Napaisip ako sa kaniyang tanong. Ang sagot ay hindi. Iba ang village na tinitirahan ni Leo sa tinitirahan ko. Dahil siya ay nakatira sa village sa loob ng bundok habang ako ay sa paanan nito.

I glance at Celestine’s side. I wonder if she knows that Leo lives in the mountain.

“I know,” she stated as if she heard what was on my mind.

“How?”

“That’s the thing, Sierra. Everyone knows that Leo lives in the mountain. In the village, in the mountain,” she said detailed. “Well, he’s not the only one who lives in there. May iba ring kapwa niya na nakatira sa bundok at nag-aaral dito. Ang iba ay kasing edad niya at ang iba ay mas bata sa kaniya,”

“Mayroon ba tyaong classmate na nakatira rin sa village na tinitirhan ni Leo?”

“Sad to say pero wala. Usually, nasa upper class na sila.”

I nod at her. As far as I remember, Leo told me that there are around fifty people who live in their village. Celestine and I continue talking since our teacher hasn’t arrived yet. Our other classmate has their own lives to mind. Some are playing random games while others are hanging out outside our classroom.

I can’t help but picture our class before the class I am seeing now. Public school isn’t bad at all. Actually, I found this school very homey and friendly. There are rules everywhere to keep the school well organized but some students are not following them. Instead of punishing them, some senior students will just advise them to behave properly and as much as possible, follow the rules. Unlike in my previous school, first disobedience will result in a punishment right away.

I can understand that there are differences in everything. Just like how expensive differs from the cheap one. But sometimes, the best things can be seen in the lowest. Just like this.

The public may it seem, but the atmosphere is very humble. However, I guess everything will be different when it comes to the student’s behavior.

“Going back on the topic, you are very lucky,” Celestine once again stated.

“Celestine—”

“Call me Tin,” she commanded.

I wince at her. “Alright. Tin, I am close to Leo, and you are close to him. That only makes us the same.”

“No, Sierra. Look, you live on the Village 1, and he lives on the Hill Village. Iisa lang ang daan palabas sa street na ito. Pero magkakaiba na ang daan patungo sa village niyo at sa village niya. Kung tutuusin, mas malapit ang daan ni Leo dahil paglabas sa street na ito at deretso na lang ang gagawin niya at aakyat na ng bundok. Pero ikaw ay liliko pa,” paliwanag niya. “But he will send you home first before he goes home.”

“You are putting malice on his action,” I accused.

“Well, I am just advancing what the other people will say in the future,”

“I can’t believe you,” I said, and I sigh. “Are you jealous?”

Tin laughs at me. She doesn’t look offender and just found my statement laughable. She’s laughing her soul out that even our classmate looks at her. I tried to stop her, but she just slaps my hands away. She stops, then look at me and then laughs again. She did for minutes, and it totally annoyed me.

I crossed my arms on my chest, brows on straight line and jaw clenching. She’s still laughing, and I couldn’t help it anymore. I tug her hair in a way that won’t hurt her and then I widen my eyes on her. I think it’s effective because she stops laughing. But the witch just tugs my hair too, the same ferocity as what I did.

“You’re really a Manila girl,” she commented. “Of course, I’m not jealous! I don’t have anything to be jealous with. Plus, you’re my friend.” She then winks at me. “What I’m just trying to say is, this is the first time that Leo eats lunch with someone else, not with his friends, not eating alone.”

“Is it wrong?”

“Of course, it’s not.” She then smiled at me. “Anyway, I can’t believe that you are close with him. I look at him as my older brother and he treats me like a little sister. Then now, we’re best friends,”

“You sure you’re not jealous? Because I don’t want to build wall against you. I don’t usually do friends, but I like you,”

“Rest assured, Era. I’m not jealous,”

Her words were reassuring, so I smiled at her genuinely. Tin then reaches for my hand and intertwined it with her. We continue talking but this time, it’s about our likes and dislikes, not about Leo.

Our teacher comes in late. She just wishes us a good day ahead of our school days and then she dismissed us. That was too early. I ask Tin if she’ll going home already but she said that she will accompany me until Leo arrives. Since Tin accompanies me, I invited her to join us going home. Her village is the opposite way from our village so going home with her is a good idea.

When Leo arrives and he saw Tin, he smiles at him. Well, I’m not jealous. Especially when Tin calls him Kuya while I just call him in his name. He smirks at me before I told him that Tin will join us. He didn’t give any objection. Rather, he’s good that I invited Tin to walk with us.

“Alright, bye Kuya Leo. Bye Era,” Tin bids goodbye when we reach the arc of their village. “See you tomorrow!”

“Bye!” I wave back.

We watch him walk inside their village road and when she’s already inside the village road, that’s when I turn around to face our way.

“Do you know how to ride a bicycle?” Leo suddenly asks after a few walks.

I turn around to face and he is serious about his question. I’m shy to admit it but lying about won’t do good. So, I shake my head to answer him.

“Do you want to learn it?”

My eyes widen. “Will you…”

“Yes,” he answers smiling.

“Of course, I want to learn it!”

Leo chuckles. And his manly smiles show up again. Bumaba siya mula sa pagkakasakay sa bisikleta at tsaka ito naglakad palapit sa akin habang tulak-tulak ang bisikleta. Hindi naman iyon ganoon kalaki at kung tutuusin ay abot ko iyon. Pero hindi talaga ako marunong umangkas sa bisikleta. Tanda ko pang noong bata pa ang huling angkas ko. At ang aking bisikleta pa noon ay iyong may dalawang gulong pa sa gilid bilang alalay. Kaya naman ngayon ay excited akong umangkas at matutong magbisikleta.

Bago ako umangkas sa bisikleta ay sinuri muna ni Leo ang suot kong bag. Nang masiguro niyang hindi iyon mabigat ay tsaka na niya ako binigyan ng hudyat na umangkas sa bisikleta.

Just like what Tin said, I am already mature for my age. I’m not tall and my physical body is too built for my age. I am not that tall as Leo, but my height overpasses the height preference for my age. I don’t actually get why they still call me kid even though I look mature at my age. Or maybe that is their only way for me not to grow fast? But I don’t hold anything about my growing. It’s natural?

“Come on. Don’t worry, I will guide you,” Leo encourages.

“I’m scared,” I admitted.

“I’m here,” he whispers.

I felt that strange feeling again, but I just ignore it. Leo gives me instructions that obey. As I tried to step the pedals, Leo is still holding the wheel and the back portion of the bike. His hands always slip to mine and the strange feeling grows harder. But since I’m scared because this is my first time riding a bicycle, I didn’t give any attention to that strange feeling.

Every pedal I make, Leo always gives me encouragement. He is chuckling whenever I admit how scared I am, but he still encourages me. And that is something a good coach will do for his trainee.

“Come on, try it on your own. I won’t hold you, but I will keep an eye on you,”

“What if I fall?”

“You won’t. Just remember that I am keeping an eye on you,” he stated. “Don’t be scared, Sierra.”

I don’t know if Leo has the magical power. But whenever he mentions my name, there is something that shines within me. With his magical power, I nod, I obeyed him and breathe in before starting to step on the pedal and ride the bicycle on my own.

Leo trusted me that I can do it. So, I must trust myself too. I smiled at myself when I remember that maybe, maybe this is part of our training. So, I won’t disappoint Leo.

I step on the pedal and starts moving. Pagiwang-giwang ko pang kino-kontrol ang manobela ng bisikleta upang hindi ako matumba. Hindi ko alam kung nakasunod pa ba si Leo dahil nakafocus ako sa aking daan. Ilang metro na lang ang aming bahay at kapag nakarating ako sa tapat niyon ng hindi natutumba o humihinto ay nangangahulugan kinaya ko na ang magbisikleta. Kaya naman ay lalo akong naging determenado na magbisikleta. Hanggang sa maabot ko na ang tapat ang aming bahay.

Too much excitement and I lost my balance.

“I got you,” Leo said in a whisper.

Hindi ko alam kung tama ba ang aking ginawa na pumikit samatalang matutumba na ako. Pero dahil unang subok pa lang ay hindi ko talaga alam ang gagawin ko. Akala ko talaga ay lalagapak na ako sa semento, magagas-gasan at masusugatan. Pero ang matitipunong braso ni Leo ang sumalo sa akin.

“You can open your eyes now, Sierra,” he said. “Nasalo na kita. Open your eyes now,” he added.

And with that, I obeyed. I open my eyes and met his.