Peaks And Valleys

Phase 8

“DUMIKIT ka lang sa’kin, kung ayaw mong mawala,” aniya ‘saka mas hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak sa akin.

Nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad hanggang sa b****a ng pamilihan. I was on the left side this time. Nasa labas na kami at talagang daan na ang nilalakaran kaya’t maingat ako sa paglakad. May mga dumadaan din kasing motorsiko at bike.

“Sigurado kang mayroon dito?” tanong ko.

I felt him looked down on me so I tried to meet his gaze. Bahagya nang nakakunot ang noo nito ngayon. He stopped walking. “Pagod ka na?”

“A little.”

“Malayo ang paradahan dito.” Nagtaas ulit siya ng tingin at luminga-linga. “Gusto mo munang magpahinga at kumain? Have you eaten?”

Tumango ako sakanya. Bahagya akong nakaramdam ng hiya. “Pwedeng huminto saglit? Pasensya na.”

“It’s okay.” Maagap na sabi nito. “You don’t need to apologize if you’re tired.”

Naglakad ulit ito hila-hila ako. He was looking at a certain direction. My eyes looked down on my wrist he’s holding. Hindi nagkakalayo ang kulay naming dalawa. Mine was just a little red from the sunlight. Itinaas ko ang kabilang kamay para iharang sa mukha nang mainitan. Gaano katagal na ba mula nang makarating kami rito? Isang oras? All we’ve done since then was walk. Hindi ako pagod pero nangangawit na ang mga paa ko.

Mas malaki kasi ang palengke na ito kaysa sa napupuntahan namin sa syudad. Malawak at maraming pasikot-sikot. And although the area was full of vendors, nahihirapan pa rin kaming maghanap. Nakabili na kami ng patatas at isang tray na itlog sa kabilang daan. Sumunod ay mga condiments. Paminta, asin, toyo, suka, at patis. Ilang oyster at pangtimpla. This is why I wanted to go to the supermarket. Alam kong marami akong bibilhin. Caliban told me we can just go back again. Pu-pwede naman pero mas maiging bilhin ko na agad kaysa pabalik-balik.

Caliban led me to the bench. Pinaupo niya ako roon ‘saka siya naglakad patungo sa ice cream vendor. He told me we will stop by just until we finish the ice cream. Mabuti na lamang at sa malamig na parte kami huminto kaya’t presko. Habang nakaupo roon ay pinagmasdan ko siya na nakatayo sa harap ng nagtitinda. He was looking at the two other kids beside him. Nang mag-abot ang vendor sakanya ng dalawang chocolate flavor, kinuha niya iyon at inabot sa mga bata.

He then, ordered another two. Tumagal ang tingin ko sakanya dahil sa nasaksihan. My expression softened. It was a sight to see. I do not want to generalize but most people would not do that. Most people would do the complete opposite of helping them. And seeing Caliban do that makes me actually think I’m not wrong about him.

He’s compassionate.

I didn’t look away even when he caught me looking at him. Ngumiti ako sakanya. He wondered for a second what was the smile for before he returned it. Lumapit siya pabalik sa akin hawak ang dalawang ice cream. I couldn’t help but give him praises in my head. How is Caliban so effortlessly pure? He was like an open book with interesting pages. I want to keep flipping him.

“Here,” aniya sabay abot sa akin ng isang cone.

“Thank you.”

“Okay ka lang?”

“Yeah.”

“I didn’t know you don’t like walking. You should’ve just waited at me on the car.”

Umiling ako sa narinig. “Hindi naman sa ganoon, Caliban. I can walk. I just get tired easily since I wasn’t used walking for long.”

“Princess things.” He joked. “We can stop now and just come back tomorrow.”

“Hindi na. That would be hassle.”

“Not to me.” He shrugged. “Kaunting lakad pa at makikita na natin iyong bilihan ng malagkit. Do you need anything else?”

Nang tanungin ako kanina ni Caliban kung ano pa ang bibilhin ay sinabi kong kailangan ko ng malagkit. Mamaya o bukas kapag nagpunta ay gusto kong magdala ng makakain sa mga trabahador ni Papa. I came empty handed last time so I want to bring something. Lalo na roon sa malayo nakadestino. Kila Danilo na rin, since I’ll be coming often.

“Iyon na lang.” Sagot ko. “Thank you for coming.”

“Anything, Princess.”