Chapter 10

After hours of driving, we arrived sa katabing baryo namin. Pinark ni Clyde ang kotse at bumaba na kami, kailangan pa namin sumakay ng tricycle para makapunta sa mismong farm namin dahil masikip ang daanan doon. When we arrived, sumalubong sa amin ang magandang tanawin ng vegetable field namin at pati sila auntie at ang limang taon kong inaanak. Ako ang ginawang ninong ni tita Catty habang pinapanganak pa lang niya si Ashley Reih Kaede. Hapon ang tatay niya so that's why may tunog japanese ang name niya.

"Tito Myles!" Sigaw ng maliit na batang babae habang tumatakbo papunta sa akin. I gave her a hug nung naabutan na niya ako.

"Kamusta ka naman miss bulilit?" Pang-aasar kong tanong. She hates being called 'miss bulilit' dahil matanda na daw siya.

"Tito, I am malaki na tsaka please stop calling me that po" She said and pouted. Ang pagpapacute ang hilig niyang gawin kapag may nirerequest siya.

"Hm okay, then how are you na Asreh?" Tanong ko habang nakaluhod. Asreh tawag ko sa kanya since baby pa dahil pinagdugtong ko lang ang name niya, ang haba kasi.

"I am okay tito, mataas din grades ko and I have a star!" She said and showed me her hand na may star shaped stamp.

"Halika na nga baka lumamig na yung food," Sabi ko and chuckled as I give her a piggyback ride. I signalled Clyde na sumunod na lang sa likod ko.

We were already at the dining area at nakahanda na din ang food. Sa amin, di uso ang plato plato kaya bumibili kami lagi ng malaking dahon ng saging at nagkakamay. I looked at Clyde dahil baka hindi siya sanay kumain na walang plato o kubyertos. He just gave me a smile on his face and mouthed that he can use his hands naman. As we were eating, binabalatan ako ng hipon ni Clyde at inilalagay sa plato ko. I was shock when I saw him peeling the shrimp na parang sanay na siya sa pagbabalat.

"Saan ka natuto mag balat ng hipon?" Tanong ko while eating.

"I watched sa youtube. Since pupunta nga tayo sa province niyo, I knew na magkakamay tayo." He said and took a bite sa hipon niya.

"Hello po, ano pong pangalan niyo?" Tanong ni Asreh.

"Hi little kid, I am Clyde, Clyde Andrei Santillian. Future ng tito mo," He said at nabulunan ako as he looked at me after he said that to Asreh. I looked at him na may nanglalaking mata.

After we stopped eating, Clyde and Asreh became close dahil naglalaro sila habang ako naman ay nag haharvest ng kamatis.

"Hi tito!" Sabi ni Asreh habang nasa likod ni Clyde.

"Ay Asreh, baka mapagod ang tito Clyde mo sa kakabuhat sayo ah," Sabi ko at sumagot si Clyde.

"Uy hindi ah, andito nga kami para tulungan kang mag harvest eh," Sabi niya. Both of them looked at each other at sabay na tumango. Tinuro ko sa kanila kung paano malaman na okay na ang kamatis at nagets naman nila. Mabilis gumabi ngayong araw kaya naman bumalik na kami sa kubo. Nilalatag ko ang higaan namin ni Clyde when I realized na wala pala si Clyde sa kubo with the rest of us. Asan kaya siya? I started walking outside.

"Andito ka lang pala, hinahanap kita kanina pa. Matutulog na tayo lods," Sabi ko at nawala ata ang kaluluwa ko dahil kinuha niya ang kamay ako dahilan kaya ako napaupo sa tabi niya.

"Ano ginagawa mo dito?" Tanong ko.

"Nagmumuni lang, naalala ko yung baby na dala dala ni mom lods." He said. I didn't respond at hinayaan siyang magkwento.

"Before my mom died, ako ang kasama niya sa mga check-ups dahil ako lang naman ang nakakaalam eh. Dad was so busy sa company kaya ako ang kasama lagi ni mom sa bahay. 18 weeks ng buntis si mom sa kapatid ko nun at nagpa ultrasound kami. Alam mo, I was happy to the point that I jumped like a little kid. We found out that the baby's gender was a girl! Babae ang kapatid ko, Alex. I was longing to protect someone na I love, well, except my mom. I want to spoil her, go play with her toys at gumala kung saan niya gusto." He said.

"Kaya when mom died, I was full of anger. Para bang yung mga pangarap ko nawala at ang mundo ko ay gumuho, dahil ang mama ko at ang kapatid ko ang mundo ko. I told dad about mom's pregnancy pero hindi siya naniniwala and instead, he locked me at our own house para daw magtino ako at wag mag imbento ng istorya. I was furious that time, Alex. One night, when dad went home, the furniture was destroyed and many expensive wines were broken. I broke everything na makikita ng mga mata ko and got myself drunk." He said again but this time, I hugged him because he was crying already.

"When you saw me sa rooftop that day, I was punching the wall dahil hindi ko na kaya. Hindi ko na ulit kinakaya ang sakit eh, I am glad na you were there and comforted me. I have liked you since then, Alex. Actually since first year pa nung nakita kita sa fair. I also stalked your twitter at kita kong lagi kayo nagbabardagulan nila Tiangco, Shiochi at Reyes doon kaya naman nagpapatawa na lang ko." He said and chuckled.

"Kanina umiiyak ka ngayon nag coconfess ka na sa akin," Pang-aasar kong sabi sa kanya. My heart was about to explode because of his confession.

"Pero seryoso, can I court you Salvador?" Seryosong tanong niya.

"No," Sabi ko.

"What do you mean no? You don't like me ba? Tell me please," He said.

"My answer is no dahil you don't need to court me to earn my yes, Santillian. Because you have already earned it since then." I said and smiled.

"So ibig sabihin-" Hindi niya natuloy ang sasabihin niya when I spoke.

"Yes, Clyde. I am your boyfriend na" I said and smiled.

He hugged me tight. God, this feels so nice. Ganito pala ang pakiramdam kapag kayo na ng crush mo no? And now, I am his boyfriend. I love you Clyde Andrei Santillian!

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