RAYANA

Chapter 15

The moment that Lei realize that my wound bleed severe this time. It's like she turned into an ambulance right away and wake up every neighborhood we've got on the spot to cure me again.

Buti na lang at may nurse kaming kapitbahay, kung hindi iiyak na naman sya habang papunta kaming ospital.

Hindi man lang sya nahiya habang ginagamot ako ni Nurse Joy ay sermon sya ng sermon sa akin na bawal gumalaw ng gumalaw, na ganito ganyan iwan. Tahimik na lang ako buong oras, sanay na rin naman ako dahil ganito sya pag nag aalala kaya hinahayaan ko na lang. It makes her feel better so I gave her that.

Hilom na ang sugat ko ng pinayagan nya kung lumabas ng bahay, at makasagap ng ibang hangin bukod sa bakuran.

Umaga ng linggo ng naglakad lakad ako at sumagap ng hangin. Mataas na ang araw ng bumalik ako, malapit na ko sa amin ng makita kung may nakaparadang truck sa kabilang kalsada katapat ng bahay namin.

Marahan ang lakad na pinanood ko ang pag hahakot ng mga gamit ng mga lalaki pababa ng truck. Mukhang bago lahat dahil nakabalot pa ng mga plastic at nakabox pa yung iba. Nag rerenovate ba ang mga Oliveros?

Wala akung nakitang tao bukod sa mga lalaking naghahakot papasok ng bahay.

I sigh and just ignore it.

I saw Lei mending her flowers and smile at me.

"Eat your breakfast already." Habol nya.

"I'll go to grocery today." Paalam ko habang papasok ng bahay.

"Huh? I can go instead. What do you want me to buy?!"

Napahinto ako sa pag pasok at agad na bumalik para tingnan si Lei. She still taking those grass off.

"I can go Lei. Don't worry. I want to cook today. Natapos ko kahapon ang module ko and next week is my first day so baka magiging busy na ko sa school.."

She sigh and look at me.

"Then be careful.. At least try to smile more para di ka mapag-kamalang drug dealer.." Warning nya sa akin but I just laugh going outside. She will never forget huh.

I eat first before taking a bath and wear presentable, T-shirt, short and flat shoes will do. I just ponytail my long hair before getting my purse and phone with my key.

"I'll go back before lunch.. Do you want something?" Hinto ko ng papunta na ko sa sasakyan na nakaparada sa labas.

She face me and smile.

"Pizza! and beer!"

Napapairap na tumango ako. Always have been the request.

"And Paki dagdagan na ang lulutuin mo dahil may bago tayong kapit bahay.. Let's make them welcome"

Tumingin ako sa tinuro nyang malaking bahay na nasa tapat namin. May mga naghahakot pa rin na mga lalaki, mas malaking truck na ngayon ang naka parada at mukhang bigatin ang mga to..

"Asan ang mga Oliveros Lei? Lumipat na?" Taka kung tanong.

She look clueless as well when she watch those men.

"Well may be.. Bigla na lang silang umalis nung nakaraang linggo saying that the house is leasing and right away there's someone who buy it. Bumili ka na rin ng prutas dahil paubos na yung apple mo.. hmm ikaw rin." Turo at ngisi nya sa akin.

"I thought you don't want me to get tired? Bakit ang daming utos?" I asked smiling at her.

"You look fine already.. chap chap Ms. Villaluz. 8 na po. Traffic pa." Tawa nya sa akin.

Natatawa na lang akung lumakad paalis at pinatunog ang sasakyan. I get in bago bumusina kay Lei na kumakaway sa akin, lumakad na ko paalis.

Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng paghahanap ng mga ingredients ng tumunog ang phone ko. May mga kasabayan din akung bumibili ng maaga pero kunti pa lang ang tao.

"Asan ka?" It's Sandy.

"Grocery store.. Did you get my module?" I push my cart to find the meat section. Nasa dulo pa yun eh.

"Ang aga pa kaya Reya.."

"Mas mabuti.."

 Iwan.. Break time ko. I actually just wonder kasi balita sa atin na umalis na daw ang mga Oliveros? Di ko nakita kanina yung pag parada ng truck totoo ba?"

Ngumiti agad sa akin ang attendant na nagbabantay.

"Baka sir.. Yung part na mabuto. Pang bulalo sya. Make it dice na please Salamat.." I said to him.

"Sige Ma'am.."

"Your so unfair! Bakit may bulalo?!" Kumunot ang noo ko sa burst out nya.

"I'm gonna cook lunch.. What did you say again?" Tiningnan ko ang mga pinili ko sa cart para matandaan ko kung may kulang pa.

May dumaan sa gilid ko na di ko naman pinansin but I stop when I didn't smell anything from him.

I look up and saw a broad shoulder lean body with a white shirt and ball cup with his back on me walking away but I saw on his hand was an apple that so red.

I look to the fruit section. Meron silang stock nun?

I ended the call of Sandy so sudden and push my cart towards the fruit section. I forgot the cow meat and all I wanted was a red apple.

Parang nagliwanag ang mundo ng makita ko ang puno punong apple na pulang pula sa pinaka sentro ng stall.

Pag uwi ko ay pinakita ko agad kay Lei ang apple na nabili ko.

" Apple lang talaga binili mong prutas no? Nagsama ka man lang ng saging o orange.. Puro apple to Reya." Ngiwi nya habang tinitingnan ang paper bag na puno ng apple sa counter.

Umiwas lang ako ng tingin at inayos ang pinamili bago nagluto.

I was busy chopping the ingredients when I heard Lei talking to someone outside, I didn't even heard the doorbell because of my concentration. I was curious to know who is it that I can't see that the knife was too sharp and cut myself. I hissed when I felt a prick of pain at bigla kung nabitiwan ang kutsilyo na nahulog sa paanan ko.

"Reya! " The over reating Lei to the rescue.

"I am fine.. I just cut myself. No worries!" I said loudly while sipping the blood on the small wound and while getting the knife.

I heard foot steps getting inside. 3 individuals including Lei.

"Napaka clumsy mo this days Reya! Your hopeless! Let me see.." Kinuha nya ang kamay ko habang ako naman ay nilalapag ang kutsilyo sa chopping board.

"It's not deep Lei. It's normal for cooking to cut yourself sometimes..." I stop blubbering when I saw two figure standing or towering the small door of the kitchen but I didn't expect the faces I was looking for.

The familiar strong jaw and sharp eyes, with the high nose and think eye lashes, and eyebrows. The arabic look of a I think 40s man was very appealing and familiar. I don't know. His so familiar?

"You should take care of yourself Reya!" Tapik sa akin ni Lei at agad umalis sa harap ko.

I didn't budge about it and trace the other person. Magkapantay lang silang dalawa sa tangkad and the other person was younger with a dark blue eyes?

I noticed the most part of the younger was his eyes. His staring at me also without any reaction.

"Dapat nag iingat ka.." Nabigla ako ng nagsalita yung lalaki at agad akung tumingin sa kanya. Nakangiti sya sa akin ng malumanay at mabait.

"Ayy naku Sir. This girl of mine was very careless. Mind you 18 pa lang po yan pero lapitin na ng disgrasya!" Balik ni Lei at gigil na nilagyan ng band aid ang sugat ko sa kamay.

Napapairap na umiwas na lang ako ng tingin sa kanila.

"Parihas pala sila ni Izaac. Kaka transfer nya lang sa university dito." Ngiting kwento ng lalaki at sumulyap sa kasama nya. They not look so much alike. I think mag tito lang ata sila.

Napansin ko ang pagiging tense nila pariho at madalas nilang pagtitig sa akin lalo na yung blue eyes na lalaki but the old man trying to ease the tension.

I just mind my own business at tiningnan na lang pinapakuluan kung karne. I felt their stare on my back.

"Talaga!? Si Reya rin. Valedictorian sya nung highschool kaya scholar sya sa university!" Sumulyap ako kay Lei dahil mukhang ito na naman.

Well, nung grumaduate ako ay bukang bibig nya ang pagiging high honor ko sa mga kakilala nya at minsan naririnig ko pa. Lei is so proud to the point that it's annoying sometimes.

"That's really great.. Matalinong bata ang anak mo." Saad nung lalaki. Tumawa ng malakas si Lei. Humarap ako sa kanila.

"Lei is not my Mom sir." Pormal kung saad. Napaawang ang labi ng lalaki at tinitigan ako, the blue eyes divert his eyes to me and look down.

Tinapik ako ni Lei sa braso at nangingiting tumango..

"Oho.. But I adopted Lei when she was a child kaya were family now.. Sya nga pala nakakabastos naman na di pa kayo napapakilala.. Reya this is Mr. Shaad Hemman and his nephew Izaac. Sila yung bagong lipat sa kabila"

Agad na ngumiti si Mr. Hemman sa akin habang umiwas naman ng tingin yung Izaac.

"Welcome to the neighborhood Mr. Hemman... Izaac." I said while walking to them and raise my hand in front of them.

Mr. Hemman look at my hand and my face a bit before take it firmly.

"Thank you.. Reya." Simple nyang sabi habang nakatitig pa rin sa mukha ko. I smile at him for formality and look at Izaac who's been silent the whole time.

"Hi.." Baling ko sa kanya at aabot sana ang kamay ko ng bigla na lang syang umalis at diritsong lumabas ng pinto.

I look to Mr. Hemman to ask but he just smile and apologize before going after his nephew. I look at Lei and saw her watching me, nagkabit balikat na lang ako at pinagpatuloy ang pagluluto.

Si Lei ang naghatid ng niluto ko for them. Umalis din sya after lunch to open her flower shop.

I was inside my room and seating beside my window when I heard Zach voice calling me. I saw him waving his hands to me while standing on the side of the road. Kasama nya ang aso nya. Mukhang nilalakad nya ang aso sa tanghaling tapat.

I wave my pen to him pero suminyas syang lumabas. Kinunutan ko sya ng noo at inirapan bago tumayo at lumabas. He will not stop waving until I'll go.

"Your MIA for 2 months!" Salubong nya sa akin.

I stop and sigh. Looking down at the cute dog. Kunti lang ang may alam sa nangyari dahil napigilan ni Reiga na kumalat ang balita and by the look at it hindi alam ni Zach.

"Hmmm. Busy.." Saad ko na lang at umupo para haplusin ang aso. He lean to my touch and lick my hand.

"Right.." Zach sigh and watch me with his dog.

"Heart broken sucks" I said glancing at his eye bags that black a bit. Agad syang napasimangot sa sinabi ko at kumuha ng ilang damo para itapon sa akin.

"Cold like you sucks!" Ingos nya at lumipasay sa damo na parang bata.

I just turn my attention to his dog and scratch his belly. He just watch me babying his dog.

I heard him sigh and sigh and sigh again.

"Aren't you tired of sighing? Stop that.." Puna ko at nangingiting tinitigan ang down na down nyang mukha.

"Hindi pa rin sya bumabalik.." Murmur nya.

"Ayaw nya na sayo eh." Saad ko making him glare at me.

"Yahh kaibigan ba talaga kita? Reya naman.. Comfort me!" Sigaw nya sa akin at hinawakan ang braso ko, shaking me a bit.

Napapailing na tinapik ko na lang ang ulo nya to comfort him, it's the only thing I can do and that's the reason he broke down again. Umusog pa sya para lumapit sa akin at sumandal braso ko. Dun sya tahimik na umiyak habang tinapik tapik ko na lang ang likod ng ulo nya hiding his face.

I sigh when his sob heard in our backyard. His dog tried to get his attention.

He have this girl way back when we're senior. I admit that girl was out of his league but I know somewhat she true to him, I saw how he tried to ignore her but the girl was very much persistent to be close with him then he gave in and everything's going strong until after graduation with no hi's and hello's end up him being broken because the girl he loves just split things up suddenly. No explanation. Ya. Da.

That's why after months he still pretending to be okay and cry to me until he dried. I don't have a choice to that. He just broke down and I just listen to his cry.

I want to find the girl if I we're the 12 years old Rayana but growing up somehow I understand that things never resolve in violence and fist so I let the circumstances be for the sake of Zach who's been the cry baby.

I look up to sigh but stop when I saw the other side of the road was my new neighbor. The younger. His watching us intently with those blue eyes. I lift an eyebrow to him and cling my head to the side.

This young man. Why is he looking at us like we do something wrong?