Chương 21: His value
Mrs. Gretta nodded her head and gave her a thumbs up. "Ang sarap," komento nito matapos tikman ang sabaw.
Napangiti siya. Sumulyap kay Paulite na tumulong sa kanya sa paghiwa. Maging ang tinola ay nagustuhan ni Martin.
"Kailan ba ang kasal?" tanong ni Mrs. Gretta habang pinapanood siya magbalik ng plato sa lalagyan. Martin is doing the dishwashing.
Hindi siya nakasagot. Nilingon niya si Paulite na nagsisibak ng kahoy sa labas. Hindi niya maintindihan, pero sa nakikita niya sa binata ay hindi ito ang klase ng mayamang taong matapobre at walang alam. He is actually experienced. He can lived dependently. Without anyone's advice.
"Alam mo, Jessica. Dito tumira si Pao ng ilang taon matapos niyang maka-graduate ng kolehiyo. Sobra ang tension sa pamilya niya kaya naglayas siya at dito nanirahan. Curious siya sa simpleng buhay." Kinuha nito ang towel sa gilid at tinuyo ang kamay. Tinuro si Paulite na ngayon ay sinasalansan ang mga kahoy sa lagayan. "Wala akong masabi sa taong iyan. Carefree. Mukhang hindi namomroblema, pero ang totoo kapag narito 'yan ay tensionado siya o nasasakal sa isang sitwasyon."
"Ako ang nagpalaki sa kanya sa Australia noon mula grade six hanggang grade twelve, dahil hiwalay ang daddy at mommy niya ng tumagal pitong taon. Noong umuwi ako para kay Martin, sumama siya sa akin para magbakasyon dito. Iyon ang kauna-unahang punta niya rito. Sabi niya mas gusto niya ako kaysa sa mommy niya," wika ni Mrs. Gretta, nakangisi habang pinapanood ang seryosong si Paulite.
Lumabas si Martin at tinulungan ito sa pagsibak.
"Nasaan na po ang mommy niya ngayon?"
"Sa kanila. Okay na ang magulang niya. Nagalit si Don Zinc sa anak nitong si Cassandra."
Nagloko ang mommy niya?
Namilog ang mata ni Mrs. Gretta nang mapansing seryoso siya. "Mabait ang mommy ni Paulite. Sadyang nagkakaroon lang ng problema kaya nangyari ang hindi naasahan. Pero ngayon ay tingnan mo, kinasal ulit sila sa Europe para sa kanilang golden anniversary."
Wow! They are really bound for each other. What could be their secret? How did his father forgive his wife? Cheating is the biggest mistake for any relationship. A truly disaster. "Sa tingin niyo po, paano napatawad ng father ni Lite ang asawa nito?"
"Love, dear. Kapag totoo ang nararamdaman mo sa isang tao, hindi mo titingnan ang nakaraan. Ang lamat. Pero crucial ang second chance. Kailangan mong alamin kung bakit siya tumingin sa iba. Saan nagkulang? Kung ano ang kailangang punan. Kapag nalaman na, ibahin o itama. Make her feel special. Si Rolando kasi, masyadong workaholic. Ayon nawalan ng oras sa asawa."
Did dad was the same? Blaire's mom got busy on work so daddy found the care to my birth mother? She found a mirror on the side. From there she checked on her reflection. Which from my feature she has? Is she alive? I am curious.
"J." Paulite's bouncy chest from hard breathing covered her vision. He crouched a little so that he could look into her eyes. "Gusto mong matutunan gumawa ng bilo-bilo?"
"Sure. Paborito ko 'yon."
Nagtungo sila sa likuran pang bahagi upang magbungkal ng kamote. She learned a technique from them, you have to dig further so you could found the other sweet potato. Ang ginawa niya ay hinila niya lang. Bubungkalin lang ang kamote kapag nakita niya ang laman. Maraming bunga sa isang ugat. Nanguha siya ng ube at saging. Pagbalik ay handa na ang malagkit na hinulmang bilog. Himay na rin ang langka, kaya ang mga pinitas nalang nila ang nilinis at hiniwa.
"Ang kauna-unahang natutunan ni Pao na lutong ulam ay adobo," bida ni Martin.
Gretta is cooking, she stayed on her side while listening with Martin's story she is jotting notes the process of cooking Bilo-bilo. Paulite is in the frame of the door, smiling but his attention bore with her.
"Nagluto siya noon natatandaan ko ang sinabi ni Phillie... lasang poste raw." Humagalpak nang tawa si Martin na sinalihan ni Gretta. Maging siya ay natawa. Si Paulite naman ay dumampot ng kalamansi at ibinato kay Martin.
"Hey. You missed your story buddy. You cooked hotdog but you didn't remove the plastic. Sander choked all the food that he ate."
"Oy, lasing ako noon. Nilasing niyo ako ni Phillie."
Grette leaned closer so she could whisper with her, "I forgot to tell you that the three kids Cristobal are all born stubborn. I am glad that when they grow up, um... they are responsible." Siniko siya nito. "Especially that big guy."
Hindi niya napigilang masdan ang nagbabanatang si Martin at Paulite. Kanina lang ay napaka-pormal pa nila, mukhang hindi magkakilala. Look at them now.
"Matagal pa ba 'yan?" tanong ni Martin sa ina nito.
"Libangin niyo muna si Jessica. Hilaw pa ang kamote."
Dinala siya ng dalawa sa bakuran kung saan naka-parke ang isang malaking bangka at Nissan Patrol na lumang modelo. Sumakay si Martin sa sasakyan upang ilipat. Si Paulite naman ay inayos ang volleyball net.
"You can play volleyball, J?"
"I can but—" She caught the ball when he threw it with her with a challenging gaze. "— Not expert," she continued. Nagulat siya noong agawin ni Martin ang bola sa kamay niya at tinira patungo kay Paulite.
Paulite immediately tossed his t-shirt from the bottom, moved quickly to receive the ball and spike it.
Damn, those smart moves and that... chiseled abs. Tumakbo siya para tirahin ang hinagis ni Martin. "Astig," tukso sa kanya nito noong pumaleng ang bola.
Tumawa siya habang naiiling. "I told you I am not an expert."
"You will be in time, J." He served the ball smoothly going with her. She tossed the ball and Martin received it with a hard spike.
Paulite almost planked on the floor when he tried to reach for the ball. He did, tossing it over the net. He groaned arrogantly on his swift move. "Most valuable player!" he barked.
She and Martin looked at each other defeated. What can a Paulite not do? Literally? He is good at anything, even in bed rocking.
"Miryenda time," sigaw ni Ginang Gretta mula sa loob ng bahay.
Paulite took his t-shirt on the boat. Lumapit ito sa kanya. "Are you okay?"
"Are you kidding me? Of course, I am. I am starting to love the Jones Island."
He chuckled. His hands found the small at her back. "That's my baby."
After having their miryenda, they talked more. But this time she is a little bit out of place. Again it's technical. They even asked her. They don't have time to watch TV or check on email so they were very surprised when she spilled about her career as a model. Though, she got curious when Martin says something about kaya pala. They are very talkative that their topic bounced down to a question.
"Anong ulam natin mamayang gabi?"
By four in the afternoon, they go on the west side of the Island. She is craving for tuna. Martin said Jones Island is rich with audible fish like tuna, mackerel, and squid. They just go further far, with a big fishing rod and Yacht.
She's wearing now a white loose shirt and jeans short. The same with him again. Si Martin ang nagpapatakbo ng Yacht, silang dalawa naman ni Paulite ang naghanda ng pain sa pamingwit nila. They saw Martin's signal. They drop the bait under the water and waited.
She prepared a snack so they won't starve while waiting. It's boring a little bit, but when one of the rods being pulled Paulite attentively stood up. He does some handful of technique while gripping on the handle. All the veins on his arms protruded.
"Are you big or not?" he grunted, spinning the reel with his quick hand.
She felt the adrenaline rush. She leaned on the railing and cheered for Paulite. "I prayed big. Tuna. Tuna. Tuna." Umikot siya upang kawayan si Martin. On the side of her eyes, she saw how Paulite got pulled on the railing. She thought everything is okay. She waved with Martin and yelled they will catch big tuna until she heard splashed. When she swirled, Paulite is nowhere. Terrified, she leaned on the railing and called for him.
"Lite? Damn it. Don't joke around, it's not funny. Where are you?" Cold blood rush through her vein. She looked everywhere, trying to check on him, but he wasn't floating. Mabilis niyang tinanggal ang suot na puting t-shirt at sumampa sa railing. Bago pa man siya makatalon ay pinigilan agad siya ni Martin.
"Are you kidding me? Let go, Martin. Lite is in danger."
"Akong maghahanap sa kanya." Sumampa ito sa railing at agad tumalon.
She is freaking out. The wide view of the dark blue ocean is scary. Hindi niya maisipang maging negatibo sa kung saan posible napunta si Paulite. Panay ang silip niya sa ibaba para tingnan kung umangat na ang isa sa kanila, pero ilang minuto na ang lumipas.
Sinubukan niyang pumasok sa loob para maghanap ng cellphone para humingi ng tulong, pero bumalik muli siya sa railing. Natatakot siyang baka umahon na sila at wala siya roon. Baka mas mapahamak sila.
Nanginginig ang bawat himaymay ng kanyang kalamnan. Lumalakas ang alon at nakikita niya na ang pagbabago ng kulay ng langit mula sa unti-unting papalubog na araw.
Tears well upon her cheek. "Lite! Please. Please, Lord. Lite?" Nakarinig siya nang pag-ahon. Doon siya umikot sa kabilang railing. Martin is there with Paulite. Paulite is laughing while she is pale.
"I got your tuna, J!" he proudly said.
She wanted to be happy for him. But the initial fear on her chest stayed. Hinanap niya ang hagdang gawa sa lubid at hinagis sa dalawa. Pinagtutulungan nilang hawakan ang tuna habang paakyat. Hindi makangiti si Martin nang makita siyang hindi maipinta ang mukha. Samantalang si Paulite ay manhid.
Nang mahila nito ang malaking tuna sa gilid, doon lang ito tumingin sa kanya. "Do you want a fish steak?"
He sounded victories. Proud to himself that he did catch a big fish using his arm, she doesn't actually know. But whatever it is, she won't go fishing next time. That stunts that he did will never be going to happen.
"Oh, shit. J?"
Malamig niyang inirapan ito at pumasok sa loob. Pabalibag na sinara ang pinto sa sobrang inis. Muli ay naiyak siya. Paano kung hindi nakabalik si Paulite? Paano na siya?
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