CHAPTER 17- LA NEOMPA III

E L A R I E N

We help ram's uncle on his tavern. He only had two waiter to serve 50 tables everyday which tiresome. We have been here for three days. His uncle's is always busy and people in La Neompa loves alcohol They always ordered expensive alcohol and other brews and wine. And also we must pay our rental in uncles apartment upstair and all of us had a big problem because our pocket is empty now, but Nyne solve that problem, by helping Ram's uncle on his bussiness. Which is not made for me. I hate crowds, but i had no choice..

I dress myself as a waitress. I need to practice and entertain a lot of costumers medyo nakakahiya kase napakaiksi ng palda kulang nalang masilipan na ako. I grabbed my tray and about to help in the tavern but Aewa stop me by blocking the door. I was shocked to see him look so irritated with a hint of snarled. Stared in horor at his face. He grab me by my collar and pulled up my clothes up to my neck

"What's that revealing clothes supposed to mean?!" his eyes are twitching. His really irritated. Kulang nalang ibalibag na niya ako "Stay here" he said and left and then came back and gave me a buggy pants. "I don't want to see you like that in front of men!" he added this time, I felt horror on his voice. I rushed to change and when I went back to the kitchen, I saw a relief on his face and assisted me by putting the apron. "It's too revealing. Don't wear such clothes again or this tavern will burn to the ground.." I heard him mumbling and gave me the tray. "Go!"

Masakit ang hita ko sa suot kong shortpan. It was fun an all because uncles costumer are satisfied. Naea still blushing seeing her legs been shown to the public as for Spike. Slaying and doesn't care. She is good in entertaining, she dance, she sing and play guitars and sung yodelers. She's talented and gregarious. Uncle is so happy because there's a lot of costumer. Pero natameme ako after seeing her wisely smiling glide in the air pulling out the money out of the drunk men's pocket. And I face her and she flinched when her back hit on me and simply leaned back grinning ear to ear happiness. "I was just--well"

"What?" I raised my eyebrows at her and she dryly laugh

"Its the money's fault. They flirt on me"

"Flirt?"

"Malandi kase ang pera kasalanan nila to.. gee fine.." She frowned and wrinkled her lips and put back the money and walked away like a big man whose about to get some trouble. Nakakawalang sigla talaga pag wala siya sa grupo. Ang kulit niya. While Naea couldnt work well with that mini skirt. Its too short for her. She's fighting over her dress and she's steaming. I saw a reticent costumer right in the corner. His been there about an hour and still didnt ask for a menu or drinks.

I hand him a menu and seems to be an introvert to me. He couldnt looked at me directly but I notice those unpleasant look. He seems a bit petulant because of his eyes.

He look at the menu and his in qualm.

"Drink miss"-a call from a costumer from another table. But thankfully Naea save me. Medyo nabulok ako sa kakaantay sa kanya until he put the menu on the table

"Whats your order mister?"- i respectfully ask him and he nonchalantly look at me and ignore me for a minute straight. My patients is about to explode! I left him and

He mumbled and I face him. Thankfully may nagustuhan naman siya. He mumbled again at lumapit ako sa kanaya para marinig ko siya. Because I couldnt understand. I just thought that maybe he talk on a low monotone

"Ah ano po yun?"-he's still mumbling and my patience still holding me before I loose my temper. He leave me no choice and i think he exasperating me. But patient. patient because costumers are always right.. I sighed and and take off the menu. Maraming mga costumer ang kailangang ientertain di lang siya. I saw he raise his hand at lumapit ako sa kanya ulit at kinuha ang menu sa kamay ko. He pointed out a dessert and then he change his mind and point another and another and another!

I crumpled my fist and almost hit him but the ram's uncle save him after I could hit my right hook. "Pinapainis ako e!" Uncle just sighed and whispers at me at nasampal sa mukha ko ang hawak kong tray. His actually a bonkers, a soliloquy guy.

Natawa lang sakin si uncle and Aewa put the dessert at my tray to give it to the man for free. I hand it to him and he was famished and enjoy the food even di ko alam if he can understand me but I deeply apologize for misjudging him and mistreating him badly lately.

"LOLLIPOP!" Nabigla ako ng makalabas si komori sa kwarto at inabutan ako ng lollipop. Bilis ko siyang binuhat at tinakpan ang mata at namula ako when she just pat me and kiss my cheek "Mama have you eaten already?"

"I'll eat don't worry baby. Were's the other? Bat ka bumaba wala ng childs play baby nasan sila?"

"There"-my heart scream by her cute voice. SO CUTE I COULDN'T RESIST! I close komori's eyes and ask uncle for a time out because the childrens are outside and he let me.  Lumabas ako at nakita kong naglalaro ng lupa ang dalawa.

"Madumi yan!"-agad silang tumayo at pinahiran ang kamay nila sa kanilang damit. Napakamot nalang ako ang dumi na tuloy nila. Inakyat ko sila sa taas at may banyo naman dun kaya di na ako magpoproblema. Pinaliguan ko sila. Nahirapan ako kay Hanako dahil nagtakbuhan lang siya ng binuksan ko ang tubig. Bilis niyang tumakbo kaya nakuha niya akong maslide sa floor at nagpapapalakpakan lang sina jamai at komori sakin. Galawgaw pero I manage to make her like the water. I jump on a tumb and they began splashing each other and took off their clothes. Bata nga talaga.

Kinuskusan ko sila and their playing with the suds. After we finished I cocooned them with a soft towel. I carried them upstairs and find some clothes.Napasampal ako sa ulo dahil wala ni isa kasya sa kanila para silang naglalakad na basahan. Komori and jamai is bawling because of the clothes I gave them. Hanako fall when she smell Ram's clothes and her eyes twirl.

"Its smells awful mommy. Jamai hate this!"

"Its big! Komori a big baby!"-sabay lukso lukso niya at natumbling ng maapakan ang damit niya sa harap

"Darling di pa tapos ang trabaho why did yo-- "-he stop talking when he saw the kids in a saggy clothes "What the hell?!"-nabigla siya siya sa mga damit na naglalakad

"Anong ginawa mo sa mga anak natin?"

"Aewa is any spare clothes, just their size? Couldn't find one. Di naman ata bagay na dalhin narin silang nakahubad diba?"-he shook his head. Hinalungkat niya ang gamit niya at nanliliit yung paningin ko sa kanya sa pagkadismaya. Inabutan niya ako ng tatlong malaking damit.

"Aewa--"

"Sige na ano gusto mo maglalakad sila ng ganyan?"

He hand me a scissor the needle and a threads too. "Marunong ka Naman siguro magtahi" aniya at tumango agad Ako. I began knitting and his on the sofa playing with the kids. Binigyan niya ako ng trabaho. He rose from his seat and carried the kids to the bed. I didn't mind them but turning my attention to my work but I winced as the needle pricked my finger. I pressed my finger and the blood came out and someone grab my hand and I was shocked as he began put my finger and later lick the blood. I began to steam and felt a bit dizzy as he narrowed his eyes back at me. And it's not just a normal look it just gives me butterfly. "Be careful".

"It's fine I just pricked my finger that's all" I said with a bitter snort.

" Darling maiwan ko muna kayo. Kids, papa will be back okay wag matigas ang ulo ah. Or wala kayong lollipop mamaya"-sabay flying kiss niya sa mga bata. Inaasta niya talaga akong tunay na asawa. Kaloka bat Siya pa fall syet!

Sinukatan ko na silang lahat at magaganda ang mga telang inabot ni Aewa sakin pero mukhang mamahalin ang mga damit niya. Ang ganda ng silk at may cotton din. Magaganda ang desinyo. Pero hindi ako nakakatahi ng maayos dahil naglalaro yung mga bata at laging nahihila ang mga tela ko. Inaabot din nila ang sinulid ko.

"ANO BA!"-I shouted harshly to them and it had me felt a bit guilty as they frown and their tears began to drop "Sorry, sorry ang kulit ko kase may ginagawa ako"-pinahiran nila yung luha nila at inabot ko naman yung isang yarn at kuminang yung mga mata nila at umakyat sa kama at pinaglalaruan yung yarn. Para silang pusa. Si Hanako tulog mantika yung dalawa talaga ang malikot.

I rock the chair and continuing knitting. Until I finished them before sun down. I've been knitting since i was 9 years old with my mom kaya madali nalang sakin magtahi at nauubos ko agad ito. Gustong gusto kong manahi kaso nakakantok pagmatagal. Isinuot ko na ang mga ito sa kanila at mukhang nagustuhan nila Ang bago nilang damit. Pumasok naman si Spike at dugo't pawis na ito at gustong magpahinga, kakatapos lang ata ng trabaho. Tumakbo sa kanya ang mga bata at muntikan pa silang bumagsak palabas.

"Are we cute?"-tanong ni Hanako at masaya silang tinanguan ni Spike. Ilang minuto naman pumasok si Ram Kasama si Naea, pagod na pagod mukhang maraming costumer kanina. Pero nabasbasan Naman Ang pagod nila Ng Makita sina Komori

"Ang cute naman"-sabay halik ni Ram sa mga bata at binuhat ang mga ito ket pagod pa sa trabaho. Kumagat na ang dilim wala parin Ang dalawa na sina Nyne at Aewa..

Narinig ko na  naman ang malakas na sigawan sa itaas. Napagtanto ko na nandun si Aswa dahil patas ang labanan niya kagabi. Maybe Nyne is there too. Nagmadali akong lumabas.

"Ela where are you going?"-pahabol na tanong no Ram

"Arena"

"Why?" he asked and began to yawned

"Kase nakita ko si Aewa dun nakikipaglaban kagabi"

"Ano?! bat naman? "-sumali naman sa usapan ang iba at mukhang nainteresadong makinig

"Ang arena ay parang nasa training kalang. Pinapalaban ang bawat hunter sa isat isa. Di naman nakukuha ng iba ang abilidad mo pero may salapi ito--"

"Talaga Tara ganon naman pala e bilisan nyo na!"-biglang siglang wika ni Spike at nagsitakbuhan sila at naiwan ako pati ng mga bata.

"Ako na bahala sa mga dyosa"-napalingon ako sa nagsalita at si Uncle pala. Tapos narin ang shift niya at may iba namang nagpalit ng pwesto bilang bartender sa baba. Tumango ako at nagmamadaling umalis. Mabilis din kaming nakapasok at napatulala ako sa nakita ko. Nandito nga talaga ang mga ibang hunter at di ko iyon napansin kagabi dahil hinahanap ko agad si Aewa.

"Claw, raven, viper, Makrov, fang"-dinig kong bulong ni Naea. She looked around at napakunot siya ng noo sa Isang grupo na malapit sa mga judge "Rose"-diing wika niya.

"Nandidito ang mga limang kalaban. Mukhang masaya to"-said Ram with excite "I'm delighted to see them all here.."

Narinig ko ang mga pustahan ng mga madla sa labanang nagaganap at diko kilala ang mga iyon. May guard na lumapit samin at inabutan sila ng black bracelet. May lumabas dun na imahe ng isang tao at nakita ko ang nakalagay na sulat.

Naea chuckles while looking at the bracelet "Shessh looks like we're going to stretch some muscle"

"Nerthel, rose"- bigla ring tumawa si Spike at kinagat ang braso ni Ram "Ram tingnan mo yung kalaban ko!"-she sobbed with a mixture of delight. "My opponents will sent me to my grave"

Naea bump his shoulder and spike shrugged "Goodluck"

"Hahaha gagi goodluck Spike. Kapatid pa ni Lady Rina kalaban mo. Akin si Macrov Alyas Kitite" natawa naman si Ram sa pagbasa ng pangalan gagi di sila nagseseryoso. " Bat to Tite!"

"Cosma, Rose"-said naea pero napalitan ito ng iba at naging claw ang tatak ng kakalabanin niya.  Napatakip ako sa tainga ng lumakas ang tunog at natapos ang labanan at may lumabas na imahe sa malaking screen dalawang lalake Rose vs Fang...Rose wins the fight. I was so surprised to see Rose skills. They just dragged all of their opponent like some rats cornered on the Cat's dominion.

"Kalaban ko tite. Damn, Sword fight "-dinig kong bulong ni ram sa tabi tabi