Chapter 6

IT'S ALREADY passed six in the morning, and I am cooking us breakfast. I also airfried the leftover chickens from last night, just in case Mona and Mal would like another.

I already took a bath and changed clothes, I am now just waiting for the driver to arrive. Mal and Mona were still at the bathroom, brushing their teeth.

"Kuya, Ate Nelia texted and she said she'll be here before lunch," Mona announced, pertaining to their babysitter. Hinayaan kong si Mona ang pumili dahil sila naman ang makikisama roon. "Anyways, what's taking your service long?"

"Hindi naman siya matagal, maaga pa naman kasi. Probably they'd be here at around eight or something," nagkibit balikat ako. Tumango na lang si Mona at naupo na sa hapag, sumunod na rin naman si Mal. "There's the chicken from last night, I reheated that."

"Ooh, still crunchy!" Comment ni Mal saka kinagat ang balat ng manok. Natawa na lang ako at kumuha ng kanin upang ilagay sa plato ko. "Where's the gravy?"

"Nakalimutan ko," natatawang saad ko saka kinuha sa refrigerator. Mabilis kong nilagay sa microwave at pinainit iyon ng thirty seconds. "Here's your gravy."

"Thank you, kuya," Mak replied and dipped her chicken on it.

I smiled and continued eating. I looked at Mona and saw that she's busy watching TikToks while chewing her food. I couldn't tell her to eat first because I eat with my phone on the side too.

"You sure you guys are okay here? I'd be like tens of kilometers away," I asked again, because maybe they've changed their minds. I wouldn't leave if they don't want me to.

"Yeah, we'll be fine. It's not like something would emerge from the floor and eat us up," Mona joked and laugh by herself. I let out a late chuckle when I catched her humor. "You're the one who should worry. You don't know anyone there but our relatives."

"I have a way with people!" I defended myself. Mona shrugged and bit on her chicken. "I think... anyway, I'll miss you guys."

"I know, who wouldn't?" Mona flipped her hair, and I kicked her under the table.

"You're gross! Ang langis-langis ng kamay mo tapos hahawakan mo buhok mo?" I said, giving Mona a sermon which she pouted to. I could hear Mal's silent laughs from my left, the reason why Mona threw her a dark stare.

We spent our remaining hours laughing together, making quirks about each other, and making the best of our time. We even watched episodes of Miraculous while eating some french fries from our favorite store.

It was passed eight in the morning when we heard an automobile horn right outside our house. Binuksan ko na ang pinto bago pa siya kumatok sa pinto. Bumungad naman sa akin ang isang pamilyar na mukha, nakita ko na siya dati pero hindi ko na matandaan ang pangalan.

"Marlo Cortez?" Turo niya sa akin at napatango naman ako. "Tara na po."

I looked back to my sisters who were hugging me from behind. I pat their heads and hugged them one more time.

"Behave, okay? Just call away when you need something. Mona, put your phone on, hmm?" I said, reminding them of what we've talked about earlier. Both of them just nodded and smiled. "Mona, you're in charge," I smiled and pinched Mona's cheeks.

I walked away while waving back. "Lock the doors!" I reminded which they both laughed about.

I hopped inside the car and buckled the seatbelt. I knoe they could do it on their own, but it just bothers my mind knowing that I will be away from them for a long time. This is our first time being separated.

-**-

THE WHOLE ride, I was just silently looking outside the window. Constantly check on my phone, thinking that Mona would call because of something. And that anxiety stayed with me throughout the trip and even until we arrived home.

Bumaba ako ng sasakyan at bumungad sa akin ang malamig na simoy ng hangin. Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na makapunta ako rito pero parang panibagong lugar ito para sa akin. Matagal na rin kasi mula noong huling makatapak ako rito.

"Pa!" Sigaw ko nang makita si papa na naglalakad palapit. Kaagad akong yumakap sa kaniya na tila ba napakatagal naming hindi nagkita.

"You're alone? Anyways, let's go get some food for you to eat. Kumuha kami kanina ng buko bago ka dumating," sambit niya at nakaakbay na pinapasok ako sa bahay nila.

The house is not like what we had. It's a pretty average household. Hindi iyon katulad ng kinalakihan ko, mas maliit ito kumpara doon pero mas ramdam ko ang tahanan dito.

Pagpasok mo sa loob ay bubungad kaagad sa iyo ang masikip na sala, at sa tapat no'n ang hapagkainan. Pumasok ng kusina si papa at kinuha ang isang tupperware sa freezer. Buko iyon, mayroong halong gatas at kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay mayroon na 'yong asukal, o kung hindi naman ay condensed milk.

The fridge is also not like what we have back home, the fridge here has 180 liters of capacity. Wala rin ditong air conditioning, at wala rin kaming sariling k'warto kung titingnan ko ang bawat pinto.

Wala naman sa aking problema dahil hindi naman kami pinalaki na hindi nakaranas ng hirap sa buhay, pero gaya ng iniisip ko noong una, hindi magtatagal si Mona at Mal rito. Main reason kung bakit hindi sila magtatagal ay walang internet.

May mga PisoWiFi sa labas pero ang sinasabi ng instincts ko ay mabagal ito.

"Marlo, kain na," napabalik ako sa reyalidad nang marinig ko ang boses ni papa. Naka giti naman akong tumango at umupo sa upuan upang kainin ang inihanda niyang buko sa akin.

Patango-tango pa ako habang kumakain na tila pa isang food critic. "Definitely condensed milk," comment ko at natawa na lang sa sarili. Kung may nakakikita lang sa akin ay iisipin na ng mga ito na nababaliw na ako.

Nang matapos akong kumain ay ibinalik ko sa freezer ang tupoerware ng buko at sumunod sa labas ng bahay. Ngayon ko lang naalala na wala akong ibang damit, at hindi rin ako nakadaan sa centro kanina dahil masyadong okupado ang isip ko para maalala pa 'yon.

Lumabas ako ng bahay, bungad kaagad sa akin ang mga batang naglalaro sa kalsada. Dinig din mula rito ang humaharurot na motor mula sa hindi kalayuan.

"Masasanay ka rin," nagulat ako nang biglang may magsalita sa gilid ko. Hindi ko kasi namalayan na nasa kabisa na pala ako ng kalsada at naglalakad na paibaba. "Ngayon lang kita nakita rito, ah? Ako nga pala si Darren,"

"Marlo," tinanggap ko ang kamay niya at ngumiti. "Kadarating ko lang kanina, galing akong Jose Panganiban,"

"Kaya pala bago 'yong mukha mo, hindi ka pala talaga taga-rito. Lilipat ka na ba talaga rigo? Dito ka mag-aaral?" Tanong niya at napatango naman ako. "Anong grade mo na? Malay mo maging kaklase pa kita!"

"Grade Ten," bakas sa mukha niya ang mangha at excitement. Natawa na lang naman ako sa hitsura niya. "Malay mo kaklase nga kita! Kailan ka papasok? Titingnan-tingnan kita kung saang classroom ka papasok."

"Sa Martes pa ako papasok, inaayos pa ni Tito Leo ang papeles ko," ngumiti ako at napatigil nang mag-vibrate ang cellphone. Kaagad akong kinabahan kasi baka si Mona iyon ngunit si papa lang pala.

Pops
Tapos ka na ba kumain? Mamaya-maya pa ako babalik, may ginagawa pa ako. Maggala-gala ka muna r'yan kung gusto mo. Nasa k'warto ang wallet ko.

"Ay, mayaman," side comment ni Darren at napalingon naman ako sa kaniya. Tinawanan ko na lang naman siya. "Anyways, naglalaro ka basketball? Tara sa court!"

"Tara," kibit balikat akong sumama sa kaniya. Hindi naman pala iyon ganoon kalayo mula sa amin. Mas malayo pa ang nilalakad ko mula sa bahay hanggang sa school namin doon sa lugar namin. "Daming tao," napangiwi naman ako.

"Ayos lang 'yan, mababait 'yang mga 'yan. Tara, makisali tayo," inakbayan ako ni Darren papasok sa court at tinawag ang mga naglalaro, inibagis naman ng mga ito ang bola ng basketball sa kaniya. "Halika na!"

Napangiti na lang ako at sumunod sa kaniya sa gitna. Naghati kami ng grupo at ipinilit talaga ni Darren na magkasama kami dahil wala raw ako mas'yadong kilala rito. Natawa na lang naman ako, madali lang naman makipagkilala.

Lumipas ang ilang minuto na nandoon lang kami sa court at masayang naglalaro. May malulutong na mura na nanggagaling sa mga manlalaro pero ang lahat ng mga iyon ay pabiro lamang katulad ng ginagawa namin ni Kyle.

Patuloy pa rin kami sa paglalaro hanggang sa makaramdam kami ng pagod at napanin kong paunti na nang paunti ang mga tao sa paligid. Tanghaling tapag na siguro kaya't karamihan ay nagu-uwian na.

"Batak pala 'tong si Marlo, eh," saad ni Ronnie na tinawanan ko lang.

"What if mag-picture tayo sa cellphone mo, Marlo? Maganda camera mo!" Sigaw ni Darren na ikinatawa ko na lang. Wala naman akong nagawa kundi ilabas ang cellphone ko at buksan ang camera app. "Mas pogi talaga ako sa camera ng iPhone,"

"Asim mo," sarkastikong tugon ni Ronnie kay Darren na ikinatawa naman ng lahat.

"Ultra wide!" Request pa ni Darren, napailing na lang ako at natatawang itinalikod ang camera upang gamitin ang ultra wide lens. Nang matapos na kaming mag-picture ay kaagad na tiningnan ni Darren ang results. "Tanginang pogi 'yan, sarap,"

"Parang lumalamig yata, 'no? Lumalakas yata 'yong hangin?" Sarkastikong sambit ni Aj na sinang-ayunan ng lahat. Wala namang nagawa si Darren dahil pinagtutulungan na siya ng mga kasama niya.

"Bye, guys! Got to go!" Paalam ko sa kanila kaagad nang mabasa ang text ng tatay ko. Hinahanap na ako nito dahil magtatanghalian na raw.

Nakangiti naman akong naglakad pauwi at sinearch ang pangalan ni Darren sa Instagram upang i-send sa kaniya ang mga pictures namin. Buti na lang may data pa ang simcard ko, kaya't mabilis kong maisesend sa kaniya.

Nang makauwi ako, katatapos lang nila magluto ng tanghalian. Umuusok pa nga ang kanin, parang kaaahon pa lang nito mula sa kahirapan.

"Marlo, here's some of your stuffs. Pinakuha ko 'yan kanina, because I noticed that you came empty handed. How could you leave with just your phone in your hands?" Dad said, giving me a lecture. I chuckled and rummaged through my things, good thing our other relatives are still outside.

While going through my stuff to look for something to wear, I saw the stack of papers at the side. I was about to pull it out but then someone barged on the door. I hid the papers under my clothes and got myself something to change in.

"Kuya Manuel, kakain na ba? Ang init, jusko!" Reklamo ni Tito Eric na ikinatawa ko na lang naman.

"I'll just... have a shower," I chuckled and excused myself to the bathroom. I opened the bathroom door and stepped inside. "The hell..." I don't know if our bathroom back home was just big or this thing's small?

It's literally just enough space to do your shit business and shower at the same time! I sighed and turned the shower on, only to discover that there's no water. So that's the use of this space taking freaking huge bucket on the side.

I used that water to shower, and good Lord, it is cold! I rushed myself to shower and immediately changed clothes afterwards because the cold is not a joke. I never knew their water here is straight up from the fridge?!

I took my dirty clothes and phone with me as I stepled outside the bathroom. I dumped the clothes on a basket that my father prepared for me and I sat on the dining chair to wait for the others.

I was about to call Mona but a message popped up on my screen, it was from Analyn.

Ms. Analyn
Marlo, mag-iingat ka. May nakapag-send nito sa akin, hindi ko alam kung paano nito nalaman mung nasaan ka pero sa tingin ko ay minamanmanan ka nito.
*Photo*

My brows frowned as I look at the ohoto attached. It was me, walking alone in the streets. That was me earlier as I walk my way home. Someone took a photo of me from the back, but who is it?

That's when I noticed, it's a screenshot from a conversation. I saw the following message just below the image.

Unknown
That's Marlo Cortez. Manuel's son. This photo confirms that he's at Labo, Camarines Norte.

And that message sends chills down to my spine. Because it sounds like the message is not meant to be a threat for me. The message sounds something that I would never want to happen.