Not like Us

Chapter 16

" What happened? "

Lena asked to Bella as soon as they arrived at her grandmother's house.

" Mom found out that I was living with dad. She caused a scandal in front of dad's house. They were shouting with each other. Blaming each other. Pointing their hands on each other. I runaway before they were finished arguing. " Bella narrated as she sigh. " What happened to them, nana? They were not like this ten years ago. "

Bella said as she was clenching her fist. Small teardrops flowed out from her eyes. All the burdens from earlier were lifted up a little because she felt that she was not alone, for the first time in ten years. " I am sorry, " her grandmother said and hugged her.

" You have nothing to be sorry about, nana. You did not do anything wrong. "

Her grandmother hugged her tightly. " Still. I let you go through it alone for the past few years. "

Bella remembered the bulbs she brought. She pulled away from the hug and reached for the backpack. It was better to change the subject. Her grandmother looked at her. " During my stay there at father's, I sneaked out and went to the mall and I found this. "

She brought out the bulbs. It was contained in a box. All three of it.

" What is that? " Her grandmother curiously asked.

" I remember that your storage room did not have a light and you were only using lamps. This would be a great replacement, nana. You would not need an electricity because it is dependent on solar. I hope the three of it is enough to illuminate all of the corners. " Bella smiled. ".You can now check your produce without a worry, nana,." she added.

" Oh, Bella, " her grandmother said. She was speechless. She did not expect Bella would buy her something so useful. She hugged her granddaughter tightly. " Thank you, Bella, "

" You are welcome, nana. "

Her grandmother broke the hug and patted her head. " You are really an aspiring engineer. You fix things. "

Bella just smiled. It was funny how her grandmother said that but the truth was, she could not even fix her own family.

" Have you already eaten? " Her grandmother asked. She was sure Bella runaway early. They were at the church when Lucas' mother informed her that he would fetch Bella from the port.

Bella grabbed the bag of snacks that she bought earlier. " Is this enough? "

" No! " Her grandmother reacted. She stood up and went to the kitchen. Bella followed her. She was putting cooked rice and a lumpia on a plate. " Eat, " her grandmother commanded. Bella had no other choice but to sit and shoved whst her grandmother prepared to her mouth. While she was eating her grandmother, brought out a lot of food contained in a container. " What are those, nana? "

" These are binignit and biko from the other day, the farmers gave me these and I could not finish it all that is why I kept it in the refrigerator. So glad that you are here, we could finish it together so we would not be able to waste food, " her grandmother said in a smile. " I am just going to reheat these. "

Bella nodded. She never tried those food. Her mother did not usually do not usually follow the traditions done during the holy week.

" I have a question, nana, " Bella question.

This had been bothering Bella earlier.

" What is it? " Her grandmother replied not looking at her.

" When mother brought me here, it took many hours before we get here. That is the same as father when he fetch me from here but when I took the bus, it only took me two hours. How is that? "

Her grandmother looked at her and placed a bowl and small plate in front of her. " It sometimes happen. You should always bring a clove of garlic with you when traveling. "

" Why is that? " Bella asked while she tried the binignit her grandmother placed on the table. " This is delicious, " she commented.

" To protect you from different entities, " her grandmother said.

Bella remembered what the old lady from the town said as well. She gave her a red pouch called habak to protect her from different entities. Maybe that red pouch help her as well.

Bella nodded. So the different entities were really everywhere.

" Are you going to the farm today, nana? " Bella asked to see if she could go to the forest when she was not around.

" No, today is Easter Sunday. The farmers need time to rest. "

" That is great, then. "

Bella had no other choice but to stay in the house.

When she finished eating they heard a ring from the living room. " It is my phone, " her grandmother said and went to the living room.

" Rose, " her grandmother said talking to the other line.

" Bella? " Bella's grandmother looked at her.

Bella nodded. " She is here. "

If they would not know where she was then they might report to police and she did not want that to get there.

" You are going here? "

Bella stood up and went to her grandmother. " Do not come here. You will just make another scene, " Bella said to the other line.

Her grandmother looked at her, " Bella, she is still your mother. "

She shrugged. " I do not know, grandma. She took me in as her responsibility but not more than that. She did not even remember my birthday. "

Bella made sure to make her hear all of those. She went to grabbed her luggage and backpack and went upstairs to get to her room.

She transferred all of her clothes to the closet. They were now varieties of colors now on her closet.

She lay on her bed and looked at her phone.

' Hope you got back home safe :) '

Bella sighed and replied. ' We did. Thank you for helping. I will make it up to you on Sunday. '

' No need. It was just my mom's who told you that. '

' No, I insist. I owe you so I need to pay you back. '

'Okay, then. See you.'

Bella stood up and stood near the window. It was still very early. It was still eleven in the morning. She looked at the forest.

She remembered what Lamang said about her name. A beautiful flower in a flowing river, it did really fit her. A flower who was detached from her roots and there was no way to get back because the water were drifting her away from her roots. Maybe that was an indication that everything would not be back to normal anymore. She would be just with the water. She could drown or would be possibly set aside and be brought back to the land but damage.