บท 10: God's creation
MABILIS siyang nagpalit ng leggings at raiser back. Wala pa siyang boots kaya pansamantalang rubber shoes ang kanyang sinuot. Tinali rin niya ang maikling buhok. When she's finally set she runs through the hallway going down the staircase. "I'm sorry for keeping you waiting," she breathes out.
A strong sound from her shoe made Zedrick stared at it. He is comfortably sitting on the couch while a glass of lemonade in his hand. His sharp eyes scanned her and stayed suspiciously on her top. Inisang lagok nito ang juice bago sumulyap sa relo at tumayo. "Let's go," he ordered.
Napalunok siya. Akala niya ay pagpapapalitin siya ng pang-itaas. Sumunod siya rito. Tumaas ang kilay niya nang maamoy ito. Normally she doesn't like a strong perfume but Zedrick's scent is strong but mixed with aftershave and spicy something she can't describe. It's nice for her. It actually soothes her nervousness. Bumaba ang atensyon niya sa susing nakasabit sa kawitan ng sinturon nito. Ang ingay mula roon ay masakit sa tainga.
"You brought your car? I thought Kidlat is with you?" tanong niya nang makita sa unahan ang Jeep Wrangler nito. Walang anino ni Kidlat sa paligid.
"That's what I told your sister." He replied without looking back at her.
Just wow! She is almost half running to keep their distance. He is a big man with a huge stepped for frigging sake, can he slowed down. We are not in hurry besides it's only one in the afternoon. Hinihingal siyang huminto nang ito'y huminto rin. "So... where are we going?"
Sumakay ito sa driver side at inapakan ang selinyador. "Just hop in, Sky. We are going to start today our training." His voice is too small but full of annoyance.
Bumalik na naman ito sa pagiging beast mode. Hindi niya talaga ito maintindihan. Kailan kaya darating ang araw na magiging mahinahon ang pakikitungo nito sa kanya.
An eerie silent stretched between them on their way. She chose to entertain herself by checking her photos taken on Rios De Rima. Because of the incident, she forgot about her real plan.
Tinapunan niya nang tingin si Zedrick. Gusto niya sanang magpasalamat pero masyadong galit ang ekspresyon nito para gambalain. Nagpatuloy siya sa pagpili ng larawan at napahinto sa panorama shot. Manghang-mangha siya sa nakita. Ni hindi niya makilala ang sarili dahil sa kuha. Posible ba 'yon? Parang kuha lang ng professional dahil sa linaw at ganda ng larawan niya.
She smiled and chewed her pointing finger, unconsciously. She loved it. It was like a piece of an art.
Amazing! Muli siyang sumulyap dito. Nagkasalisihan sila nang tingin.
Tumikhim siya at iyon ang napiling i-upload sa Instagram na sinamahan ng bonggang caption. Hashtag new me. The side of her lips curved into a devilish grin. Ewan nalang kung hindi pa magparamdam si Kevin.
"Kung nagugutom ka, may basket na pinadala ang Auntie Criselda mo. Nariyan sa likod." Zedrick informed her in between his hand gripped on the steering wheel from the cross-section of the road.
Kumapit siya sa seatbelt bago tumango. Hindi siya pamilyar sa daang tinatahak nila pero hindi siya kinakabahan. Kilala ni Eury si Zedrick. At mukhang mas tiwala ito rito kahit ang Auntie Criselda niya, kaya malayong hindi siya nito ipa-salvage sa pagiging maldita.
Ilang liko at lubak na daan ay huminto na sila sa malawak na parking space ng eskuwelahan. Sumulyap siya sa cellphone at napansin na menus sampung minuto ang bilis nila kumpara sa nakasanayang daan.
He just taught me a shortcut. This is better, actually. Ginaya niya itong lumabas ng sasakyan.
Sa 'di kalayuan ay may binatang lumapit. Hila nito si Kidlat at ang nakatitiyak niyang gagamiting kabayo ni Zedrick. Nakatingin ang lalaki sa kanya bago ngumisi sa kasama niyang kanina pa tahimik.
"Sir, ang bilis niyo." Anito bago ibigay ang dalawang kabayo.
"Salamat, Caesar," Zedrick said. He took the scandalous key on his back and threw it to his buddy. "Ikaw nang bahala sa mga mais at bulaklak. Sinabihan ko na si Aling Rosa at Mang Emil," he added. Humarap ito sa kanya para ibigay si Kidlat.
"Good afternoon, Kidlat," aniya. Bago sumakay ay nahuli niya si Caesar na nagngiting aso sa kasama niya bago umalis.
Sumakay si Zedrick sa itim nitong kabayo at lumapit sa kanya. Walang imik nitong hinila siya.
She stared at his broad back shoulder and then to his dark horse. Nagmukhang anak ng kabayo nito si Kidlat kahit pa malaki na si Kidlat para sa kanya.
"We are going inside the forest?" she asked but her eyes were on his back frame. How his small waist showed because of the harsh blew off the air on his thin white t-shirt. The muscle on his arms ripped out each time he pulled the leash.
"Yes. On the safe road." Huminto ito sa tapat ng dalawang puno ng kamatsili bago lumingon sa kanya. "Diretso lang, okay? I need to see your speed on the curvy road."
Tiningnan niya ang tinutukoy nitong daan. Hindi patag dahil mukhang may pataas at pababa. May ilan ding tumbang puno. Ngumiti siya. Bring it on! "Let's race," hamon niya rito.
A ghost of smile hides on his serious face. "Fine."
She playfully bit her lower lip. "Game!" She shouted before she whipped Kidlat yo run quickly. Hindi mawala-wala ang ngisi sa kanyang labi habang nauuna. Malakas ang kutob niyang bumubuntot ang lalaki sa kanya, pumapartida. Wala siyang pake. Hindi siya magpapatalo.
Humigpit ang kapit niya sa tali nang maramdaman ang pagdulas ng kanang paa ni Kidlat. Pababa ang daan at medyo basa kaya ganoon. Delikado kung hindi siya sensitibo.
Muli niyang pinalo si Kidlat, bago lumingon sa likuran. Kumunot ang noo niya nang hindi makita roon ang katunggali. Where is he? She gripped on the leash and whipped Kidlat to add more the speed. Sa kabilang side siya tumingin at nagulat sa pumapantay sa kanyang si Zedrick.
He is watching her movement. An eagle who is ready to chase his target food.
Umahon ang pananabik sa kanyang dibdib. Tumawa siya at muling nagdagdag nang bilis. "This is not your game, Mr. Hetch. Show me your real speed." Tudyo niya bago ito inunahan at nag-thumbs down. She lifted her body to prepare from a jump on the broken wood. Mid-air she felt an unexplainable happiness on her heart.
To begin the tournament at their school before, everyone on the horseback riding club prepared their representative. Being enlist and part of it is bliss experience. She never knew she will be a good equestrian— the obstacles, stinky smell of the mud and her horse— she misses those. She misses the feeling of giving your best and excitement if she will lose or win.
The smile on her lips never faded when she landed on the muddy road.
She heard Zedrick's heartily laughed for the first time. Nilingon niya itong bumubuntot sa likuran.
"You're incredible, Thaysky," puri nito sa kanya.
Maging siya ay humalakhak. "I'm going to love this road," sigaw niya.
Dumiretso sila sa isang pataas na burol at huminto sa puno ng Acacia. Wala sa sarili niyang kinabig si Kidlat upang masdan ang magandang kapatagan ng mga ibat ibang uri ng bulaklak. Ngumiti siya sa angking rikit noon. Sa 'di kalayuan ay ang hindi niya kilalang bundok. Balot iyon ng berdeng mga matatayog na puno. Sa paanan niyon tanaw ang tatlong bahay na tiyak niyang bahay ng nagmamay-ari ng flower farm. Sinundan niya nang tingin ang mga nagtatakbuhang bata patungo sa dalawang bundok ng dayami. Ang saya sa mga labi nito ay nakakahawa. Nakakagaan ng pakiramdam at nakakawala ng problema.
"I never have seen this kind of... God's creation," she blurted out.
Umihip ang panghapong hangin. Tinangay ang iilang nakawalang maikli niyang buhok. Pumikit siya at nilanghap iyon. Amoy pinaghalong mabangong bulaklak at damo. It's refreshing. Matindi ang sikat ng araw pero hindi masakit sa balat ang hangin.
"I think I'm going to love this place now." She said before she glanced at Zedrick.
He is watching her. His dark hooded eyes inhibit his real emotion. How he was glad that she appreciated this perfect place.
Lalong lumawak ang ngiti sa labi niya. "Thanks for bringing me here. For pushing me to join at the Grand Prix. I don't know why you chose me. Indeed, thank you for trusting me. Even if... I buried this talent for a very long time. Thank you, Zedrick."
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