Over the Mountain

CHAPTER 8: BLACK STARE

CHAPTER 8: BLACK STARE

Because Leo taught me how to ride a bicycle, I invited him for a snack before he goes home to pay for his kindness in teaching me. Only grandpa is in-home since my parents and grandma went on the town. I don’t know what they are doing there but maybe it’s about Dad’s application. I forgot what kind of job he is applying but Mom told me that is something connected to Mountain. I felt excited. If that work is truly connected to the mountain, then I might end entering that kind of work too soon.

“Thank you for today,” I sincerely thank when I courted Leo outside.

He smiled at me. “You are welcome,”

“Go home, safe. I’ll see you tomorrow,”

He nodded and waved his hand on me. Pinagmasdan ko siyang swabeng umangkas sa bisikleta hanggang sa hindi na siya abo’t tanaw ng aking mga mata. Napabuntong-hininga ako. The strange feeling inside me is growing. I don’t know what it is, but it’s not scaring me. It’s just confusing me because I only felt that strange feeling with Leo’s presence. Hindi ko nararamdaman ang kakaibang pakiramdam na iyon sa ibang tao. Tanging sa kaniya lamang.

Ilang sandali pa akong namalagi sa labas ng bahay bago ako magpasyang pumasok na. Pagpasok sa loob ay agad kong iniligpit ang mga ginamit namin sa meryenda. Nilinis ko na rin ng hindi na gawin ni Mama mamaya. Tsaka ako umakyat sa aking silid at nagbihis.

Dahil hindi pa naman ipinagkakatiwala ni Mama sa akin ang pagluluto ay hindi na rin ako sumubok pa. I stayed in my room, on my window, and stared at the beautiful mountain. I know that it’s impossible to see Leo on his way to the mountain, but my imagination went crazy. I picture him on the mountain. Climbing it as if it’s the easiest thing to do.

Naputol lang ang aking imahinasyon ng marinig ko na ang tawag ni Mama mula sa ibaba. Dali-dali akong lumabas ng aking silid at sinalubong sila. Grandma pick a fight with me again. She started bullying me out of nowhere and grandpa teamed up with her.

I roll my eyes at grandpa who keeps on teasing me. Grandma is already done but grandpa is not yet done! Napadila na lang ako para mang-inis pabalik kay lolo pero ang matanda ay hindi nagpapatalo! I’m not that annoyed because I know that this is just their way of playing around with me. They can’t run anymore so teasing me is the best suitable thing that they could do. I’m just so lucky that I have them because grandpa and grandma are both lovable grandparents.

After dinner, I immediately went back to my room to sleep early. Celestine told me that the school is not that strict when it comes to time, but I still want to go early. And I don’t like Leo to wait. Though it looks like it’s just okay for him if he waits.

“I’m leaving Mom, Dad!” I shouted I run outside the house. “Bye grandma and grandpa!”

“Don’t run,” Leo said when I reach the gate where he is waiting.

“Is there a problem with running? I don’t want you to wait,”

“I’m not complaining about waiting for you. So, there’s no need to run,”

“You are grumpy again,”

“Because you are being a brat again,”

“Whatever,” I said and rolled my eyes.

I walk towards the back of the bicycle and smile at him before pointing the bicycle. He smirks at me before walking towards and riding it.

Ang pagsasabay namin ni Leo sa pagpasok, sa tanghalian at sa pag-uwi ay nagtuloy-tuloy. Upang hindi na ako paulit-ulit na sabihan ni Celestine ng swerte ay isinasama ko na siya tuwing tanghalian. Pero madalas ay hindi siya nakikisabay. Aniya ay nasanay na siyang kasabay ang kaniyang tiyahin na isang faculty members ng eskwelahan.

Tuwing uwian ay hinahayaan ako ni Leo na magbisikleta hanggang sa unti-unti ko na iyong natutunan. Minsan ay nabanggit ko sa kaniyang nais kong magpabili ng sarili kong bisikleta ngunit ang sabi niya ay hindi naman na kailangan dahil kasya naman kami sa bisikletang ginagamit namin. Minsan ay nagkakatuwaan kami kung saan ay ako ang nagmamaneho at siya ang naka-angkas sa likod.

I never thought that I would like the province this much. All I thought is that I will get bored here. Because it is way different from city life. it is indeed different because here, you can breathe freely with nature without worrying about getting toxic.

Back in my previous school, Mom or Dad used to fetch and drop me right on the school’s gate. But here, I was able to experience walking home from school, going to school from and trying to hang out before going home. The street is very friendly and secure. Plus, Leo never fails to leave my side.

“Are you going to visit our house tomorrow?” I ask as we walk home.

He looks down at me because of our height difference. “I don’t know. It depends on Mom and Dad,”

“The last you visit us, grandma is looking for someone, right?”

“Yeah. It’s their friend, my grandparents,”

“Oh, I want to know them too,”

He chuckles. “Baka naman ay sabihan mo nanaman silang pulubi?”

I pouted. “Hindi ko naman sinasadyang sabihin iyon sa magulang mo!” impit kong sigaw. “It’s just that, maraming ganoon sa Manila kaya akala ko ay ganoon din dito,”

Leo laughs at me. “I know. You don’t have to explain. I’m just teasing you,”

“Bakit gustong-gusto niyong inaasar ako?” inis na sabi ko.

“Dahil pikon ka,”

Napairap na lang ako dahil sa sagot niya. Nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad at ng makakita ako ng ihawan ay mabilis pa sa alas kwatro ko iyong itinuro. Hindi naman nagreklamo si Leo at agad akong sinamahan doon.

Teasing me again, Leo asks me if I know how to eat those street foods. I rolled my eyes at him and slap him of his arms. Of course, I know this food. There’s a lot of these in the city. Some of my classmates tell me that this kind of food is dirty. But whatever they say, I like these foods. It’s tasty and indeed a pride of Filipino food.

Mabuti na lamang at mura lang presyo kaya naman ay dinamihan ko ang order ko. Ang mga naihaw ng order ko ay kinukuha ko na at kinakain. Syempre, ganoon din si Leo. We spent some of our time in eating street foods while waiting for our takeout.

Abala kami ni Leo sa pagtawa dahil sa kwelang kwento ng Ale na nag-iihaw ng may biglang tumawag kay Leo. Since Leo was the one they call, I didn’t bother to turn my head and look who it is. Pero nang muling magsalita ang nagtawag sa kaniya ay natanto kong boses babae iyon, curiosity calls upon me. But I stop myself from peeking to who the girl is. Inabala ko na lang ang sarili sa pag-ubos ng aking pagkain.

“Nandito ka rin pala,” dinig kong sabi ng babae.

“Uhm,” sagot ni Leo.

“Since nandito ka na rin, aayain na kita,” sambit ng babae na ikinalaki ng akin mata.

Eavesdropping is not my thing but since Leo is involved, I feel like I should hear everything. I secretly shook my head to stop the devil thoughts that is controlling me. So, what if he invites Leo? It’s okay. The decision will be in Leo’s hands. But…why do I have this grey feeling just by thinking that Leo will come with her?

“Nagkakayaan kasi na magpunta sa Ace Resto. So, join us,” the girl added.

I bite hard the last piece of the chicken foot that even the small bone didn’t pass the hardness. Instead of spitting it out, I chewed it and swallowed. I choke, but since I don’t want to steal the scene, I immediately drink my gulaman drink. The Ale who’s grilling looks worried, so I smiled at her.

“Wala ka namang gagawin diba? Sumama ka na. You’ve been not hanging around for the past days,” the girl stated, and I felt like she’s mad?

I tried to peek at what the girl looked like but Leo’s wide back welcomes me. I pout because he totally blocks my view. However, his wide firm back is enough to feed my eyes.

I blink and mentally slap myself. How could I say that! Oh, God, my baby brain and poor eyes. The blame should be put on Celestine who is inserting greens on my angelic mind. I just shook my head again and focus my attention on my food. Malapit ng matapos ang takeout order namin pero hindi ko pa rin naririnig ang sagot ni Leo.

“Hala! Pasensya na, ganda. Nadumihan ka tuloy,” paghingi ng pasensya ng Ale ng tumalsik sa akin iyong likidong pinapahid niya sa barbeque.

“Ah, ayos lang po, Ate,” mabilis ko namang tugon at nagdadasal na sana ay hindi namin naagaw ang atensyon ni Leo. At mukhang narinig ang panalangin ko.

“Oh, ayan, ganda. Dahil mabait ka rin, may libreng isang piraso,” sabay tawa ng Ale ng iabot niya sa akin ang aming takeout orders.

“Salamat po. Ito po ang bayad—”

“Ito ang bayad, Ate,” mabilis na agap ni Leo sabay abot ng bayad. Bago muling lumingon sa babaeng kausap nito. “Salamat sa pag-imbitado pero hindi ako makakasama,”

“Bakit naman? Sumama ka na. At tsaka sabay na tayong umuwi,” the girl insisted. “Parehong village lang naman ang uuwian natin.”

My brows furrowed. Same village? Does that mean they live in the same village? The girl lives in the Hill village too. I secretly bit my inside cheeks. I don’t know why pero naramdaman ko ang paglingon sa akin ni Leo which made me startled. Why is he looking at me?

I look at Leo and smile at him. “You can join. I know naman na ang daan,” I said but I honestly know that it’s against my will.

Leo watches my face, so I plaster my sincere smile. But it looks like it’s not enough to convince him. “Thank you for inviting me, but I can’t really go with you,”

I peek over Leo’s broad figure, and I almost jump when the black stare of the girl welcomes me. I don’t know if Leo saw it too, but, I clearly saw how the girl sent daggers to me.

Sandali pang nagpaalam si Leo sa kasamahan ng babae na masigla pang tinanggap ang desisyon ni Leo na hindi siya makakasama sa kanila habang ang babae ay nanatili ang matalim nitong titig sa akin. Pero ng bumaling si Leo sa kaniya ay mabilis pa sa pagkawala ng bula ang pagpapalit ng emosyon sa kaniyang mukha. She smiled widely and acted like it’s okay that Leo can’t join them.

But when she stares at me again, the black stare comes back.

“It’s okay if you join them,” I insisted when Leo and I starts to walk. “I can go home alone,”

He glances at me and puts his both hands in his pocket. “It’s not okay for me. I want you to not go home alone,” he said and glance at me again.