Harder

HE DIDN'T touch her last night. She could felt that he is shy with her or what, unlike in the morning he can verbally express what's on his dirty mind. They had a pillow wall which she believed it will be gone once they waked up, but it was there seating peaceful.

"Are you ready?"

"Yes, I do." She wore shorts and a grey t-shirt, terno with his.

The horse is waiting outside. It was white and tall. She is starting to get frightened. She is not friendly with animals. The last time she saw a horse was on her photoshoot and she literally shook from fear. That they might kick her or what.

Paulite held the leash firmly and motioned her to ride.

The horse neigh. She stepped back staring roughly on the legs that can kick her.

"J, don't be scared. You had me on your back."

His voice drowned by a memory of her childhood. She's grade four when she saw a group of boys on his batch bullied another boy. They are yelling him fat, lazy, pig, and stinky. The boy didn't dodge or say something to fight back. He just let them hurt him. Kick his body. Annoyed, she walked closer. "Bawal 'yan ha. Gusto niyong isumbong ko kayo kay teacher?"

The bully boys looked at her with annoyance. Well, she is annoyed too.

"Si crush. Tara na!" utos ng leader nila.

Once they've left, the poor guy uttered, "Thank you." He had scratched on his face and nose. For sure a bruise on his body too, but he doesn't mind. He is just glaring at her with the whole embarrassment. He had those pair of expressive eyes, she can read how he was very thankful for her.

Lalo siyang nainis. Nakikitang ang kanyang sarili sa lalaki sa tuwing inaaway siya ni Balire. "Lumaban ka kahit walang taong tutulong sa'yo," she said, then left.

"J?" He cupped both sides of her face, she startled and waked up on her daydream.

What was that? She met his concern eyes.

"Takot ka ba sa kabayo? Okay, sige. Mag-bike nalang tayo."

"Hindi. Okay lang, may naalala lang ako." Lakas-loob siyang sumampa, ngunit sa tulong ng mga kamay ni Paulite na umasiste sa baywang niya ay mas napadali ang pagsakay niya. Ito naman ay sa kanyang likuran pumuwesto. She felt small on his frame, but she's not small.

They headed into the woods and took the other route. On their way, she saw different trees. Fruit trees, like Banana, Mangoes, Santol, Langka, Duhat and many more.

Tinuro niya ang nagtatakbuhang mga kambing. "Alaga ba 'yan ni Mrs. Gretta?"

"Martin. Mrs. Gretta's son."

Mula sa kanyang balikat ay sinulyapan niya ito. "Iyon ba 'yung kausap mo kahapon sa labas?"

Tumango ito. Tinuro ang itass. "May alaga akong ibon dati."

Tumingala siya. Hinahanap ang ibon ni Paulite. "Where?" She could only see leaves that served as their umbrella from the scorching sun. Then he looked down at her with a remarkable malicious grin. "Are you teasing me, Lite?"

"I am not."

Pinalo niya ang binti nito. "It's not funny."

"Aw. It is." He chuckled sweetly, leaning closer and then he whispered, "Do you want to see my bird?"

"Lite!" banta niya.

"What? Just answered it, J. I would willingly show to you, my precious buddy."

She covered her both ears and sang a son that she personally composed. "La. La. La. Stop. It. La. La. La. I. Can't. Hear. You."

He barked a laugh. His shoulders shake from intensity while her face was smug. Until she saw an old house in the middle of the woods. Paulite pulled the leash to give a signal on the horse to stop. Nauna itong bumaba sumunod siya. Habang tinatali ang kabayo ay nauna na siya sa paglapit sa pinto.

"Tao po!"

"Mamaya pa sila uuwi. Tayo ang magluluto ng kakainin natin mamaya."

Umikot siya at namangha ng mahuli ni Paulite ang tumatakbong manok. Napangiti siya. "Paano mo nagawa 'yon?"

Mayabang nitong hinimas ang katawan ng manok, bago tumitig sa kanya. "It's on the genes, J. We are good on catching. See, I catch you."

Inirapan niya ito. Sinundot ang pinto na kusang nagbukas. Halatang walang lock. Sino naman ang magtatangka sa bahay na ito? Luma lahat ng muwebles, pero mababakasan ng kalinisan ang paligid. Napaatras siya nang pumasok si Paulite habang hawak ang alaga niyang manok.

"Anong gusto mong ulam?"

Lumingon siya sa bintana. Napansin niya mula roon ang mga halamang maayos na nakahanay. "Gusto ko ng tinola. Pero gusto ko rin ng pakbet."

"Alright. I'll take care of this chicken and you have the vegetables."

Excited siyang lumabas at nilapitan ang puno ng kamatis. Maraming bunga ngunit mangilan-ngilan ang pula. Kumuha siya ng dalawa bago bumaling sa talong. Kakaiba ang hugis dahil bilog at hindi violet. Kinuha niya ang pinakamalaki at inilagay sa nakita niyang basket kanina.

Kinikilig niyang nilapitan ang puno ng okra. Sa sobrang mangha niya ay hindi niya napansin ang nakalambiting higad. Sa sobrang gulat niya roon ay nabitawan niya ang hawak na basket at napatili.

"What happen?"

Takot niyang tinuro ang uod habang naninigas mula sa pagkakahandusay. Tinunton ng binata ang tinuturo niya. Nagulat pa siya nang pitikin lang iyon ni Paulite palayo sa kanya. Tinulungan siya sa pagtayo.

"Nasaktan ka ba?"

Umiling siya. Pilit hinahanap ang higad. Kinikilabutang kinaskas ang kanyang nagtindigang balahibo. "I hate worms," she confessed. "Even snakes, frog, but I can kill cockroach and mice. Just no worms."

"It's gone. Don't worry." He helped her out to pick up the vegetable on the floor.

Ngayon niya napansin na puno ng natuyong dugo ang dalawang kamay nito. He must be butchering the chicken when he heard her screamed. She smile and crouched to help. Nagkasabay sila sa pagkuha ng malaking okra. Parehas napahinto at nagkatinginan.

She saw a warm affection for them. They were soulful and gentle. A window to his soul, but is was shallow. She can't completely can't see the whole of him. It's just that only she knows he was deeply in love with her.

Until he raised the huge okra. "This one is old. You should pick the medium."

"Oh, really? How 'bout the eggplant? Are they okay?"

He smiled and kissed her hurriedly. Before she could complain he already left while wearing those winning smile.

Pinigil niya ang ipitin ang nakawalang buhok sa likod ng kanyang tainga. She knew he is watching her from the window. The hell she would allow him to see her feelings. Matapos sa okra ay ampalaya at kamote. Kumuha rin siya ng malunggay. Her hands were very dirty because of the sweet potato. She just dug on the mud for about thirty minutes for a three-piece of them.

"Wow! Niluto niyong lahat 'yan?" tanong ni Martin, hindi makapaniwala sa potaheng nakahain sa kanilang tanghalian.

"I broke my nails for the sweet potato, though," she commented, reaching out the empty glass.

Mrs. Gretta is silent. She is looked like judging the food, if they are good she passed her standards. They are all silent too. Hinihintay at pinapanood ang pagtusok nito ng tinidor sa kamote. She munched it first and eyes her from her thick eyeglasses. She felt a bead of sweat falling on her forehead.

I don't know that this is harder than my first audition.