06

 

 

 

"Maraming salamat po talaga sa lahat nang tumulong kanina. May mga inihanda rin po kaming mga jams para sainyong lahat bilang pasasalamat. Magsikuha nalang po kayo." 

 

 

 

The people cheered at what Sir Suarez had announced. Tapos na kasi kami sa harvest picking and we successfully filled all 10 medium-sized trucks of raspberries. Tsaka saktong-sakto, gutom na rin kami ulit ni Bruhilda.

 

 

 

He then lead us to a small pop-up canopy kung saan nakalatag ang mga jars ng raspberry jams sa isang table. Tapos may kasama ding pa-loaf bread at juice.

 

 

 

Wow naman, ang gara naman ata nila ngayon. But then, I remember na importante pala itong babaeng katabi ko. And I'm pretty sure that Sir Suarez may already have a clue kung sino itong kasama ko at nagpapaskikat. Eme.

 

 

 

It's always been their tradition to give back anyway. Sa lahat nang mga tumulong. Kaya gustong-gusto ko din itong trabaho eh. May nauuwi kasi ako pagkatapos.

 

 

 

Saka, joke-joke ko lang 'yung kanina na hindi namimigay si Sir Suarez haha. In fact, he's as generous as Don Juan when it comes to giving back kaya no wonder na pinagkakatiwalaan din siya ng amo ko.

 

 

 

Just as mentioned, kumuha na ako ng dalawang jar ng jam. Isa para sa'kin at isa para kay Bruhilda, who looks very excited to taste the end product of the fruits we just harvested.

 

 

 

"I can't wait to taste it already. My God, I'm starving!" I chuckled. We already had lunch na ha. Baka sabihin niyong ginugutom ko siya. Sadyang may alaga lang talaga siya ngayon sa tiyan niya. Char! Haha.

 

 

 

"Kakakain lang na'tin tapos gutom ka na naman?" I but opened the jar anyway along with the bread. I then borrowed an unused spoon from the others, who willingly let us kaya nagpasalamat naman ako.

 

 

 

"You can't blame me. 'Yung mga calories na kinain ko kanina, naburn din agad." She explained while rubbing her stomach kaya nagsimula na akong gumawa ng sandwich. After that, I handed it to her.

 

 

 

"Oh ito na po. Eatwell." She gladly took it and immediately had her first bite habang gumagawa na ako ng kasunod. I already had a feeling na she will ask for more.

 

 

 

"Oh damn, this is so good!" Nanlaki ang mga mata niya as she jumped in delight while I only smiled at her antics. Para siyang isang bata na nakatanggap ng paborito niyang pagkain haha.

 

 

 

As expected, she finished her food in one go kaya nanghihingi na ulit. "More please!"

 

 

 

Ibinigay ko naman kaagad sakanya ang kagagawa ko lang and made a few more.

 

 

 

"Dahan-dahan lang uy. Baka mabulunan ka." After witnessing her devouring the sandwiches, sumalang na ako ng juice sa plastic cup kung sakaling manghingi din siya.

 

 

 

I also ate some habang masayang pinapanood lang siyang nag-eenjoy sa kinakain niya nang may maalala na naman ulit ako. I smiled at the memory.

 

 

 

"Alam mo, like mother like daughter talaga kayo ni Soleil." She stopped eating for a second and gave me a curious look as I continued. "Ganyan na ganyan din kasi ang reaksyon ni Kabibe 'nung natikman niya rin itong jam haha."

 

 

 

Labis na nagningning naman agad ang mga mata niya sa nalaman. "Really?"

 

 

 

I nodded as I took a bite before responding. "Kaya nga ultimate fave food niya 'to eh."

 

 

 

She smiled brightly. "I think, this will also become my favorite na rin because this is really yummy, River. And I also truly think na mas better pa siya compared sa strawberry and others."

 

 

 

I let out a chuckle. I'm really glad that she likes it. "Hala siya oh. Gaya-gaya ng paborito."

 

 

 

She shrugged before giving me a wink. "True. Pati nga rin ikaw eh, naging favorite ko na din like Soleil." Ayan na naman siya. I rolled my eyes. 

 

 

 

"Landi mo. Anyway, gusto mo ba siyang gawan ng sandwich? Tapos ibigay mo when we pick her up from school dahil paniguradong gutom rin 'yun." I suggested.

 

 

 

"Saka, pandagdag mommy points na din para sayo haha."

 

 

 

Up until now, I really have no idea kung ano ang sumagi sa isip ng Kabibe ko at nagawa niya 'yung kanina. Like is she already softening to her estranged mother? I mean, I'm glad pero wow, ang rupok-rupok naman ng kabibe ko kung ganon.

 

 

 

Chos, just kidding! Marupok man o hindi, I would be very happy for her– for them. Matagal na din naman kasing hinihintay ng bata 'to kahit na hindi man niya aminin.

 

 

 

Sadyang nagmamatigas lang talaga siya and Bruhilda just needs to be patient about it while ako ang magiging push ng dalawa.

 

 

 

"Oh sure! I will make her the best sandwich ever!" Ngumiti nalang ako. Mabuti naman at willing din itong nanay na gawin ang lahat para makasundo ang anak.

 

 

 

Like what I promised earlier, nag-detour kami ni Bruhilda sa kalapit na field for that horseback riding session.

 

 

 

Kilala ko naman ang lahat ng mga nakatira dito at super close ko din. Nagtatrabaho din kasi ako bilang tagapag-alaga ng mga kabayo nila minsan.

 

 

 

Kaya hindi rin naging mahirap ang pag-hingi ko ng permiso sakanila to borrow two of their horses. Pero bago lumarga, tinuruan ko muna si Bruhilda ng mga tamang do's and don't sa pagsakay sa kabayo.

 

 

 

"When you said that we were going to ride a horse together after I learned how to do it, I didn't expect na it would be like this."

 

 

 

Napalingon ako sakanya after hearing a sulking tone from her saka napatawa.

 

 

 

Nasa kanya-kanyang kabayo na kasi kami ngayon as we strolled around the entire grassland. She is also a fast learner too dahil nakuha niya agad kung paano sumakay ng maayos sa kabayo.

 

 

 

"Tama naman ah? We are riding together?" Separate horses nga'lang.

 

 

 

She sulked even more at humaba na naman ang nguso niya.

 

 

 

"River, ini-expect ko na we would be riding together. Like together, together! As in 'yung nasa likod kita tapos you will be the one to hold the reigns tapos pa-sweet girl lang ako sa harapan mo, ganon."

 

 

 

Oh god. That ing crack me up.

 

 

 

Dumagundong ang malakas na tawa ko sa buong vast field. Pati 'yung kabayo ko nga ay napa-neigh rin at para bang sinasabayan din akong tumawa. Laughtrip nga naman talaga kasi. Hahaha!

 

 

 

She rolled her eyes while I was still recovering from cackling.

 

 

 

"Oh please, just laughed all you want. Hmmp! Yan kasi ang palaging napapanood 'ko sa telenovelas eh. So I thought na finally, mae-experience ko na rin ito. Most especially with you. Tsk."

 

 

 

Nag-imagine pa nga. 'Yan tuloy, na-expectations vs. reality siya.

 

 

 

I eyed her amusedly, "Then ano pa ang silbi nang pagturo ko sayo? Siguro, sasakay lang ako sa likod mo if hindi ka talaga marunong."

 

 

 

She clicked her tongue. "Edi sana pala hindi ko nalang ginalingan."

 

 

 

I chuckled. "Hindi rin. Saka wala naman kasi tayo sa telenovelas, noh. Haha! Feeling ka."

 

 

 

She didn't replied anything for a second bagkos ay tumingin lang sa'kin, running her eyes all over my body. Na-conscious naman ako bigla.

 

 

 

"Sa hitsura mo ngayon, we might as well film one." Napataas ako ng kilay. Ano na naman ba ang pinagsasabi nito?

 

 

 

"I mean, look at you? Mukha kang lead sa romance hacienda theme drama, legit. Tapos naka white beater sando ka pa– which is hot, plain ripped jeans– ing hot. Plus your yummy toned arms and is that abs I see? Wait, patingin nga closely."

 

 

 

Nag-init naman agad ang pisnge ko. Parang gago talaga 'tong si Bruhilda oh. Kung kanina ay nagtatampo't nagrereklamo lang tapos ngayon naman ay parang manyak na kung umasta.

 

 

 

"Heh! Tumigil ka nga diyan. Ang manyak mo ha."

 

 

 

She laughed, throwing her head back like a little kid.

 

 

 

"Maka-manyak ka naman. Hindi ba pwedeng ina-appreciate ko lang ang visuals mo? Like legit, mas pogi ka pa sa lahat ng mga naging leading man ko dati." Her face contorted into disgust kaya napatawa ako.

 

 

 

"Siguro, kaya ka lang nagiging mabait sa'kin ngayon  ay dahil sa hitsura ko no?" Pagtutukso ko sakanya but she suddenly turned serious, rolling her eyes.

 

 

 

"Oh please. Although your physical appearance does play a part, but that's not all, you know. Because to me, you are more than just a pretty-handsome face, River."

 

 

 

"I mean, who saves and then takes care of a drunk woman kahit na magkaaway kayo? Not to mention, sinukhan pa kita."

 

 

 

"Pero despite that, wala ka man lang ginawa na masama sa'kin– like maybe take revenge or do something to my gorgeous, drop-dead, y body."

 

 

 

I scrunched my face. Ang yabang din talaga ng babaeng 'to. Tsaka, basic decency? A little humanity won't hurt right?

 

 

 

"I think any sane person would do what I just did too, Bruhilda."

 

 

 

"Yes. Pero let's face it, mabibilang na lang sa mga daliri ko ang mga ganon, River. The rest, I don't know. They would have already taken advantage na siguro. Kaya thankful din ako na ikaw ang nakasama ko nung gabing 'yun."

 

 

 

Yeah, me too. Dahil who knows, may nagawa nang kagaguhan ang ex mo if I didn't interfere.

 

 

 

"Atsaka, mabait naman kaya ako noh! It's just that— okay, sorry, it was