Over the Mountain

CHAPTER 12: LIBRARY

CHAPTER 12: LIBRARY

“Anong ayaw mo?” tanong ni Leo na siyang mabilis na nagpalingon sa akin.

Mabuti naman lamang at mabilis kong naitago ang aking pagkagulat. Kung hindi ay mahuhuli niya iyon sa aking mukha. Kaya naman upang mailayo ang usapan at matakasan ang pagtataka sa kaniyang tinig ay mabilis kong ipinakita sa kaniya ang album na hawak ko.

“Granny wants me to pick one of your baby pictures and bring it home. As a remembrance.” And then I grin. “Right, granny?” sabay lingon ko kay granny at nakikiusap ang aking mga mat ana sumang-ayon siya upang hindi ako mabuko.

“Right,” granny agreed.

Muli akong lumingon kay Leo. “Kaso ay sabi ko, ayaw ko. Dahil baka matakot ang mga daga sa bahay kapag nakita ang larawan mo. Kawawa sila kapag ganoon,”

Leo smirks at me before shaking his head. He went straight to the kitchen, and I immediately release a deep sigh. Granny on the other hand chuckles at me before insisting on what she is saying earlier.

If only…if only Leo is pairing his action with words, I would definitely believe what granny is saying right now. But no. Leo never said something. And my parents taught me to never assume something. I could still remember how broken I was when I assume too much about my grades and reward, but it turns that I didn’t pass my assumed grades. The result broke my heart. And from that day, my parents taught me to never assume. Because if the result didn’t favor our will, we will just get disappointed and hurt.

Nanatili na lamang akong nakikinig sa mga sinasabi ni granny habang patuloy kong tinitignan ang mga lahat ng larawan ni Leo. Kakatuwang isipin na halos araw-araw yata sa kaniyang buhay ay kinukunan siya ng larawan. Kung sabagay ay nag-iisa siyang apo. Hindi na rin nakakapag-taka kung bakit ganoon na lang siya kahusay sa lahat yata ng bagay. Naikwento rin sa akin ni Tin na magaling na mag-aaral si Leo. Matalino at tunay na mahusay. Hindi nakakapag-taka iyon dahil sapat siya sa atensyon. At mukhang natural naman sa kaniya ang pagiging magaling at matalino.

“Wow,” reaksyon ko matapos akong papasukin ni granny sa isang silid. Ang silid na kaniyang maliit na pala-libruhan. “You own all of these books, granny?”

“Oo, hija. Dalaga pa lang ako ay marami na akon naipong libro,”

“Bookworm!” I commented and laughed right away.

“Your grandma is a bookworm too,” granny said. “She collects books also. Haven’t you seen her collection? Her library?”

I turn around to face granny. “Grandma has a library?”

She looks at me too. “You don’t know about it? I bet your grandma didn’t tell you maybe because she knows that you don’t like books?”

I immediately shook my head. “I like reading books, granny. I may not be that fond of books, but I like books,” I answered.

“That’s great then. Books will open your mind to a lot of things. And it will bring you a different place while you are just sitting in one place,” she stated. “Books will show a lot of hidden images. And will tell you a lot of unheard words,”

“Books are powerful,” I involuntarily said which granny agreed.

“If songs tell what exactly you feel, then books tell you what you exactly need to hear,” she said that made me smile. “Ask your grandma about her library. I know that she has it in her house. Because that’s the plan,”

“Plan?”

She nodded. “We both planned to create our own library in our house,”

“You are best friends, right?”

“We are. And we became sisters. But our friendship started because of our husbands,”

Mabilis akong naupo sa maliit na silya na naroon sa library nang magsimula na si granny na magkwento. Sa pagkakatanda ko ay naikwento na rin ito ni grandma pero noon pa iyon. At hindi ko malinaw na maalala. Kaya naman ay kailangan ko muling marinig ang kwento nila.

I was smiling widely as granny continues to tell their story. It’s just amazing because they are childhood best friends but their friendship lasts more than those who started when they were a child. I was giggling when granny tells me that the first time, she saw grandma was when her husband, boyfriend before brings him to meet up with his friend, which is my grandpa. And that time, unexpectedly, grandpa also brought his girlfriend, which is grandma. And that’s when their friendship started.

“I was in awe when I saw your grandma. She’s very beautiful when I first met her,” granny said.

“For real? But you are very beautiful too! I saw your picture when you were still a teen.”

“I know. But your grandma’s beauty hits different. I couldn’t explain it right but she’s truly a beauty. Especially when I get to know her personality. It’s very positive, enthusiastic, and joyful,”

“That’s exactly the best word to describe my grandma,” I agreed. “But she’s a bully too,”

“She is,” granny agreed and laughs. “But that’s only her way of tenderness to her loved ones,” she said and warmly looks at me. “Your grandma is elusive and isolated even though she is kind. But your grandpa made her soft like a feather,” she added. “You are just like your grandma, hija,”

“Hmm?”

Granny sits down beside me. “She’s a beauty. But stubborn. She’s kind but fierce. Just like you,” and then she chuckled. “Your grandfather lives here too with my husband. And she only brought your grandma here after their relationship reached its five years. See how your grandpa taught your grandma?” she chuckles again. “Her fierce is what you inherited. But someone made the both of you to be a free-flying soft feather,”

I was moved by what granny has just said. I can’t say that she was wrong because…she’s exactly right. I could still clearly remember that grandpa always tell me that I am my grandma’s little version. That I almost got everything about her. Even the way I get curious about something.

Granny continues to tell me a story and I couldn’t believe that grandma really waited for five years before grandpa finally lets her enter the mountain and visit their village. On the other side, it looks not good to let grandma wait for five years. But from my perspective, I think grandpa just made the right thing. To discipline and assess grandma’s inside personality first. With that, grandma was able to become more the best of herself. And learns the things she never thought she could learn and experience.

“Oh, I have told you a very long story. Maybe you are hungry. Let’s go outside,” granny invited so I instantly followed her.

I almost jump back inside when Leo’s figure welcomes me outside the library. He seems very light. He’s glowing? But instead of smiling, I frowned at him.

“You startled me!” impit kong sabi sa kaniya.

Ikiniling niya ang kaniyang ulo at tsaka ako pinakatitigan mabuti. “You seem very comfortable here already. Not nervous and shy and at all?”

I inhaled and exhaled comfortably. “I think so. Your home is so warm. And your family is very welcoming,” I answered while smiling. “I’m happy to be…here,”

His eyes soften. I could see how his brown eyes express admiration. He then smiled at me. “My family likes you,”

“They do?” I ask with my wide eyes.

He nodded. “You are the very first stranger that got to enter my grandma’s library. Even to enter our house freely,”

“Oh?” I reacted. “Hindi pa nakakapasok ang mga kaibigan mo rito?”

“Nakapasok na. Pero madalas ay sa kusina at sa sala lamang sila. Unlike you who was able to enter grandma’s private library,”

“Bakita parang kasalanan ko pa?” nagtatakang tanong ngunit iyon ay pabiro lamang.

Leo chuckles. “What I’m trying to say is, my family, likes you so much,”

“Well, I like them too. So, that only makes us even,” I answered and walks ahead of him.

I felt his gaze on mine so, I stop from walking and turn around to see him. I then smiled and calls him because I don’t know where his family are! And I’m already hungry for snacks.

Seconds of staring at me, he finally moves to walk towards me, grab my wrist in the gentlest way possible and we both walk together.

Hindi ko alam kung nasaang parte kami ng bahay o kung nasa labas na kami. But the look of the place resembles the looks of patio. So, I bet it’s their patio. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung saang direction ang patio nila. Usually, patio can be seen in front or in the side. Pero marami na rin akong nakitang desenyo na nasa bandang likuran ang patio. After all, the patio is the resting and chilling area. Also, it can be the gathering area. And that it should be pleasant to sight.

And where we are now right is more than pleasant.

May mga munting bulaklak na natatanaw ang aking mga mata. Bukod magandang ayos ng mga puno sa gawing ito ay iyong mga bulaklak ang nakapag-dadagdag ng ganda sa tanawin. Ni hindi ko nga maisip kung nasa loob pa ba ako ng bundok.

“Hija, let’s go back to my library. I have something for you,” bulong ni granny matapos ang mahabang oras naming pamamalagi sa patio para sa meryenda.

“Sure, granny,” mabilis kong tugon at tsaka na kami bumalik doon.

Pagdating sa loob ng library ay dumeretso si granny sa isang sulok, may hinila at may kinuha. Ilang sandali pa siyang nanatiling nakatalikod sa akin bago siya tuluyang humarap.

My brows shut when I saw her handling something in a rectangular shape. The way she holds it, it’s full of care. She stayed on her location for a moment while still handling the rectangular thing and glancing at me then at that thing. I patiently waited and zip my mouth, stopping myself from getting curious, and ask her what’s that. After moments of silence, granny finally spoke.

“I’m sorry but, can you call Leo?” she asks very humbly.

“Sure granny!” I enthusiastically answered and went out of the room right away.

“Why is she calling?” Leo asks when I told him that granny is looking for him.

“Can’t you just go now and don’t ask me anymore because I don’t know the answer to your question?” mataray na sabi ko. “Ako ang isinama niya pero biglaan ka niyang ipinatawag. Siguro ay natanto niyang ikaw ang apo niya at hindi ako,”

Leo winces at my remarks. “Fine. Stay here,”

“Yes,” I said and obediently smiled at him.

Nanatili ako sa sala at nagpatuloy sa pagmemeryenda. Mas nais kong sa patio na lang sana pero wala akong kasama roon. Unang araw ko rito at hindi ko pa lubos ma kilala ang lahat ng tao sa village na ito. Hindi naman sa wala akong tiwala pero nahihiya lamang ako. Kaya naman nanatili na lang ako sa sala.

Ilang minute, o siguro ay oras ang lumipas ng sa wakas ay bumalik na si Leo sa sala kasunod si granny. I smiled at them both, but Leo’s gaze caught my attention. There was something strong there that I couldn’t name. But one thing is for sure, I could see joy in his eyes. Kung ano man ang nangyari sa loob ng library ay iyon siguro ang dahilan kung bakit may malakas na emosyon ang namamahay sa kaniyang magandang mata. At iyon din siguro ang dahilan ng paglitaw ng saya roon.

I was about to speak when the front open. And the familiar voice rings in my ear.

“Leo, ta—Sierra,” matunog na sambit ni Irene. And when I look at her side, her black stare welcomes me.