Simple Life

"I named it after you, J. Jones Island." He looked like an excited kid when he ran and threw his skateboard, jumped on it for a freestyle.

Hindi siya nakasagot. Nanliit sa mga mahahalagang detalye na binibigyan nito ng importasya, lalo kapag tungkol sa kanya. Hindi ito nangingiming ipagmalaki kung gaano nito siya kamahal. Kung ano ang totoong nararamdaman.

The sound of the cracking surface and the wheels of the skateboard brought her back. She laughed when he slipped on the floor. She found them funny, but when she noticed him caressed his butt made her ran.

"Okay ka lang?"

He looked terrified for something. "Nadaganan ko ang cellphone mo."

Namutla siya. You're joking.

From his back pocket, he slipped the phone to show with her. The screen is cracked. He tried to open the phone but it's not working anymore. "Ilalagay ko ang sim mo sa cellphone ko mamaya," paliwanag nito.

"It's fine. I think what happen is better. Walang makakasira sa kasiyahan natin dito." She smiled and unzipped her rush guard. Kanina ay basang-basa siya dahil sa tubig alat, ngayon ay basa siya sa pawis. Tinanggal niya ang suot na rush guard at itinali sa hips niya. "Ano na? Tuturuan mo pa ako ng tricks."

Nagkakasiyahan silang dalawa nang may nagdaang apat na truck at bumati kay Paulite.

"What are those?"

"Hauling Trucks. Jones Island is the dot edge of Rios La Consula, which is the north wing of the North Gate. Sand and gravel, this is my own business, J. I've been doing this for almost two years." Hinuli nito ang kamay niya. "Ano karera pababa?"

"Bring it on."

Sabay nilang nilapag ang skateboard. Nagpaunahan pababa sa daan. Hanggang sa marating nila ang naglalakihang bundok ng graba at buhangin. May malaking truck na sinasandok ang buhangin na isinasalin sa nakapilang truck.

"Lite, paano ang work mo sa company ng lolo mo?"

"Baka nakakalimutan mong may kapatid ako."

He is ahead of her. She can only see his side view, and she is smiling like an idiot while listening. He is not tired of filling her curiosity. He is very nice.

"Oo. Iyong napag-akalaan kong nasa Calixto. Kambal mo?"

"He is Sander. Younger. A motherfucker brother who always dirt my reputation. Believe it or not, I was walking in Kansas with Shawn and some random woman slapped my face."

Bahagya siyang natawa. Nakaramdam din ng awa at galit. "Really?"

"She thought I am my asshole brother," he said, then his eyes glanced at her. "I mean—sincere brother."

"That's fine." She shrugged, pulling the corner of her lips for a smile. She doesn't know but she found him sexy when he said dirty words. Some sultry scenes in the Purunguya suddenly flashed on her mind. They were both gasping, tangled bodies, and deliriously pleasured. She shook her head and followed his line of vision.

May lalaking patakbong lumapit kay Paulite. They were quite far from her, talking silently that she couldn't hear anything. She looked around and watched the heavy equipment scoop a gravel as if they were mountains of rice. May tatlong malaking tank sa likod at mataas na chimney. Ang itim ng usok na lumalabas doon.

"J, I will just check something inside. Do you want to come?"

Tumango siya. Mabilis na lumapit dito.

He removed the rush guard on her hips and helped her wear it. He whispered, "Its cold inside." He held her hand and led the way.

Behind those mountains of different kinds of gravel and sand where his office. Paulite pushed the door. The cold breeze of air-conditioned was truly strong. The hair on her arms chilled up as she watched the grumpy woman on her late fifties who's sitting on the side table.

"Good morning, Paulite," she greeted him before she took off her glass to have a good look at her. "Welcome to Jones Sand and Gravel, Miss. How may I help you?"

"She's my fiancée, Jessica Jones Smith." Paulite gave a warm smile to the woman as a respect before he finally faced her. "J, she is my mother's best friend, Mrs. Gretta."

Shocked by what she heard, she managed to act normal. "Good morning, Ms. Gretta." And I am not his fiancée.

"Talaga?" Lumapit ang ginang at dinala siya sa kanilang tanggapan. Hindi nito nilubayan nang titig ang kanyang mukha. "Maganda ka, Hija. Parang may kamukha, hindi ko lang matandaan kung sino. Masyado na kasi akong matanda."

Nahihiya niyang sinulyapan si Paulite na dumiretso sa kabilang pinto. "I will just check the file of January," he said before he shut the door.

"Kumain na ba kayo?"

Ibinalik niya ang tingin sa babae. "Kanina pa po. Pabalik na rin po sana kami sa bahay."

"May dala akong miryenda. Sobra pa 'yon sa mga worker dito. Tikman mo, Jones."

Her second name was rarely used to call her but she felt someone because of that. Weird but the woman made her thought like that. "Sabi niyo po may kamukha ako?"

Tumayo ito para buksan ang fridge sa gilid. "Yes, but I couldn't remember her name. Kumakain ka ba ng mga bibingka o ginataan?"

"Opo, paborito ko ang ginataang dahon ng gabi o laing."

Masaya silang nag-uusap ng ginang nang bumalik si Paulite. May ilang technical silang pinag-usapan kasama ang lalaki kanina sa labas. Ipinagbaon sila ng ginataan, langka, at bibingka ni Mrs. Gretta kaya nang makabalik sa bahay ay inilagay niya agad sa fridge, samantalang ang langka ay binabalatan na ng binata.

"Mahilig ka pala sa gulay?"

"Oo naman, Lite. Mas prefer ko ang organic vegetables at fruits, kaysa sa meat. You know I am a model so."

Seryoso ito habang nakikinig. Tila may mga nilalagda sa kanyang kaisipan tungkol sa kanya. List of things he doesn't know about her. He amusedly sliced the Langka into two. "Papasyalan natin bukas ang hardin niya. Sanay ka bang mangabayo?"

"Hindi. Pero may bike ka naman, hindi ba?"

"Bicycle is not accessible to rough road. We'll used horse," he said with finality.

Ngumuso siya. Defeated. Surrendering.

Nasa veranda sila. Pinapanood ang papalubog na araw. Mula sa gilid ng kanyang mga mata ay nakikita niya itong nakatingin sa kanya. Patay malisya niyang nginuya ang napilas na laman ng langka. Then he glanced to where she was staring at. His silhouette from the sun's effect are looked great. A great masterpiece. He is always great to anything, effortlessly. He is closed to perfection. Is it possible? Does he had a dark side aside from womanizing?

I wanted to know more about you, Lite.