Chapter 4

“Is he gonna be okay, Doc?”

“Actually, he's okay though. I don't see any symptoms of him that make us think he's not okay. Maybe, he should drink more water and rest. It might be a sign of stress, ”

“Thank you, Doc. ”

I smiled at the doctor after talking to Mark, who's still now wearing his beach shorts. 

“Okay ka na ba?” Tanong niya sabay upo sa paanan ng kama.

Tumango ako at dahan-dahan na umupo. Tinulungan niya naman ako at binigyan ng tubig.

“Dude! Seryoso ito, ah! Ilang beses ka nang nahimatay nang ’di namin alam ang dahilan. Ang weird,” he looked at me with full of concern and I just tapped his shoulder, assuring him I'm okay.

“Nothing serious, dude. Just like what the doctor told us, maybe I just need some rest.”

“ So, bale... Uuwi ka nalang sa inyo para makapaghinga ka? ”

“ No! I can rest while having a vacation with you guys, right? ”

“ Yeah, right. Pero, Kael sabihin mo lang kung anong problema o masakit sayo, ha! ” I secretly hid my confusion when Mark held my hand, and felt the warm of his skin.

“Why are you so concerned about me, Mark?” I jokingly asked him. His eyes widened and hurriedly let go of his hand on mine then stood up, with his hands trembling.

“B-bakit naman hindi? Kaibigan na kita dati pa, diba?” He smiled and I raised my fist, giving him a fist bumped. He nodded while catching our traditional friendship fist bumped.

“Oh gosh! Kael, are you okay? I'm so freaking worried! Mom's gonna kill me for this!” Our eyes bulged hearing my sister's voice going inside of my room. She's wearing a long maroon dress with make-up on.

I wonder where she's going now.

“Chill, ate! I'm now okay.” I kissed her cheek and smiled.

She glared at me and punched me in the chest which made me groan in pain.

“Well, you should be! I even sneaked out of my date just to check on you, duh!” She pouted and rolled her eyes.

I chuckled and caressed her long hair, “ Sorry for making you worried. You can go to your date, baka iwan ka pa no’n. Ako pa ang sisihin mo.”

“Talaga! ”

We laughed and took a few minutes to rest. We decided to go back and do what the doctor's told us.

“Alam mo, Kael. Okay lang naman kung uuwi ka muna saka kapag okay ka na talaga, kunin nalang kita pabalik? ” Mark suggested when we walked towards out the hospital.

Naunang umalis si ate sa hindi namin malamang dahilan. I just saw her stopped, and I am not sure if she really was blushing at that time? But, I really saw how her cheeks burned. Then, in a second she just ran away without words. She didn't even bid goodbye to us! Yet, she just texted me that she really needed to go.

Maybe, to her date?

“Stop worrying, Mark. Daig mo pa pala si ate, ano?” I chuckled and went inside his car.

“Sure ka talaga? ”

“Of course, I am dude!”

“Yeah, we are just dude…”

“What” I asked him when I didn't hear what he said. 

“Sabi ko, oo na okay ka na nga, dude!”

While we were driving back to the resort, I decided to turn on the radio and my lips formed into a smile when a song Laughter in the Rain, by Neil Sedaka, played.

“Bakit ka nakangisi, Kael? Okay ka lang ba talaga,” he chuckled and I just shook my head, still placing the smile in my lips.

“ This song just gives me chills…” I answered that it makes him half-pouted, and nodded his head a little.

“ Oh, okay? Sa tingin ko nga, lahat ng mga classic songs ganyan ka! ” He jokingly rolled his eyes.

“ Do you have any idea what it means, dude?” I asked full of curiosity.

He stayed half-pouted like he's thinking, then answered me when the red stop sign appeared.

“Sabi ng lola ko sa probinsya, kapag ganyan daw ang nararamdaman mo lalo na sa mga lumang bagay o kanta. May kinalaman daw ito sa dati mong buhay, para bang connected iyon sa naging buhay mo dati o baka naman, nabuhay ka noon o sa panahon na iyon.”

“ Hindi ako sigurado kung totoo, pero depende lang naman yan kung maniniwala ka o hindi, diba? ”

The song changed, but it is still an old song. And just like what I felt earlier, I felt it once again. A chill all over my body, and it looks like I heard it before; even though I'm not that familiar with this song.

“Well, that's interesting huh?”

“Reincarnation, rebirth in new bodies or forms of life. ” He stated reading on his phone.

Reincarnation? I heard things about that before, but never in my life imagined believing in reincarnation. I believe that once we die, that's the end of our life and then we will just wait for the judgement, right?

“ Kael, daan muna tayo sa farm ng kaibigan ni papa. Inutusan kasi ako. Huwag mag- alala malapit lang naman sa resort nila Alex. ”

“Sure, walang problema. ” I replied to him while scrolling on my phone in my social media, which has too many notifications and messages from unknown people.

We didn't take an hour to arrive at the farm, and we went directly inside when the guards recognized Mark. Just like the usual farm na nakikita ko sa mga province na may mga crops and different veggies that planted, ganito rin ang nakikita ko sa paligid; may mga farmers na nagkakaway sa amin and then, we replied them a sweet smile.

“Aba, junior ni Mario!” bungad ng lalaking may katandaan na dahil sa kulubot ng kanyang balat. Nakasuot ito ng kulay brown na t-shirt na hanggang siko ang manggas, at may suot na sumbrero na gawa sa abaka. Judging from his physical appearance, maybe he's on his fifties? 

Niyakap agad ito ni Mark at nagtawanan naman silang dalawa nang may binulong ang matanda kay Mark.

“Don Erness, ito pala si Kael, kaibigan ko.” I shook hands with him, and asked me who my parents were. Agad naman niya itong nakilala, kaya hindi na siya masyado pang nagtanong.

“Don Erness, tungkol sa inutos ni papa?” bulong ni Mark sa kanya na nagpalaki sa kanyang mata na para bang nakalimutan niya ang bagay na iyon.

“Ahh, oo nga pala! ”

“I'll just wait here,” bulong ko kay Mark.

“ Sure ka ba? Pwede ka nang sumama.” 

I shook my head then smiled at him, “No, I'm okay. Maglilibot na lang ako dito.” 

“ Hijo, baka mainip ka dito. Ipapasama na lang kita sa pinagkakatiwalaan kong nagtatrabaho dito.” Don Ernes tapped my shoulder, but before I can reject him, he called someone named, Rico. I roamed my eyes wondering where this Rico is, until I saw a man older than my age. Wearing a dirty, and stained t-shirt and a loose shorts with his working boots with full of dirts sticking on it. He's running towards, and when he arrived I was astonished how his tan look good on him.

“Hello po , Sir!” I blinked twice when he looked at me, catching me when I stared at him a minute ago.

He's taller than me, has a tan skin tone and smells like the burning sun. 

“Good afternoon,” I greeted him in a low voice, and smiled at him.

“Ito si Rico Buerdico, ilang taon na siyang nagtatrabaho dito, kaya huwag kang mag-alala Kael.” huling sinabi ni Don Erness at umalis na silang dalawa ni Mark.

“ Are you related to Mister Agoncillo Buerdico?” I asked him while we're walking.

His hand was on his back, and turned his eyes at me when I asked him.

He slowly nodded, “Oo, tito ko siya.”

My eyes widened, “Seriously? Then, why are you here working.”

I waited for him to answer me, but he just replied me a soft chuckle.

“ I mean, you don't need to tell me if you're not ready or comfortable.”

He nodded, and told me things about the farm.

This place reminds me to my grandma's mini-garden at our province; may mga halaman at gulay sa kung saan ka man lumingon. When I was a kid, we usually go to visit them and me and my cousins are playing at the backyard. Pinapagalitan pa nga kami kapag natatapakan namin ng aksidente ang mga halaman ni lola.

It was so sad that all of those became all of our memories. And the worst, we can't bring back that time anymore. The time where we laugh freely and think innocently about how this world works.

“Alam niyo ba sir, twenty months na itong farm ni Don Erness! At nagtatrabaho na rin ako dito ng mga ten years. Saka sir, kung gusto niyong bumili ng mga gulay o prutas, bisita lang kayo dito. Pwede ka naming e guide.” he proudly told me.

I was amazed by how this guy was so close to this farm. I can tell in his eyes that he's attached, and love this place. I'm also concerned why he's working here at the farm, even though he's related to Agoncillo Buerdico, the very-known engineer here in our town.

“Ito po, Sir Kael. Tikman niyo, bagong pitas na mangga.” binalatan niya ang hinog na hinog na mangga, at binigay sa'kin.

Dinala ako ni Rico sa isang kubo na puno ng mga basket na may lamang mga bagong pitas. May mga farmers ding pasok-labas sa kubo.

I smiled at him, and tasted the fresh mango. At the first bite, I am so in love with the sweet taste of it. It's so natural, and no chemicals are mixed in it.

“Masarap po ba?” He showed me his thumbs-up, and I nodded at him as an answer.

“Saglit, sir.” Napaatras ako nang bigla siyang humakbang papalapit sa akin, at nang mapamsjn kong may basket na sa likod ko, hindi na ako nakaalis.

I stared at his dark black eyes, down to his perfectly lined thin lips. I gulped when he leaned closer to me, and let his thumb touch the side of my lip. That makes my body feel the electric shock, and the coldness at the back of my head.

”May mantsa lang, sir.” he smirked, that made me look away from him. Umalis kaagad ako sa harapan niya nang makitang may pumasok ulit sa kubo. I wiped my mouth to my hand, and throw the seed of the mango when I'm done eating it.

May kumausap muna kay Rico, at naghihintay lang ako sa labas habang tiningnan ang mga alaga nilang baka na ginagatasan.

Ngayon ko lang na realize na sobrang saya pala dito sa farm. Ang daming makikita, at nakakalanghap pa akong fresh na hangin, not until you can smell the hideous smell of the pig's shit.

“Sir Kael, gusto mong e try ang pag-gatas ng baka?” Napatingin ako sa gilid ko nan biglang dumating si Rico.

I shook my head, “ Hindi ako marunong. I'm scared, too.”

I gasped when he suddenly put his arm on my shoulder, making me feel his broad shoulder.

“Face your fear, sir.”

“No, thanks.” I laughed and left him.

“Pero, maitanong ko lang po sir. Anong nangyari sa leeg mo? Bakit may pelat? ” He asked while walking towards Mark's car.

Nagtext na kasi isya na aalis na kami, at hinahanap na rin ni Don Erness si Rico...

Napahawak ako sa leeg ko, at kahit ako ay napatanong sa sarili kung saan ko ito nakuha.

“I don't know. My mom told me that I have had this since I was a kid. ”

“Sabi ng lolo ko dati, swerte raw ‘yan. ” My brows met, and can't help myself to laugh.

“ You're believing things like that?”

“ Ang swerte kapag may pelat? ”

“The old people's belief.”

Napahawak siya sa panga niya, at tumango kaagad.

“Oo naman. Doon kasi ako nasanay no'ng bata ako. Kasama ko na ang lolo ko simula pa dati, kaya lahat ng mga sabi ni lolo, sinusunod ko. ” he smiled, but I can see deep in his eyes, he's tearing.

“ Is he dead already?” I asked him in a solemn manner.

Suminghap siya, “ Oo eh, two years ago. Kaya, ako nalang mag-isa nakatira samin. Ayoko namang pumunta sa mga kamag-anak ko. Alam ko kasing ang liit ng tingin nila sa'kin, ayaw ko namang mangyari na aapakan nila ako, kaha nagtrabaho ako dito sa farm ni Don Erness.” kwento niya.

“ At ang magulang ko naman, 'di ko na alam kung saan. Iniwan na ako simula bata ako. Hindi ko naman kayang humingi ng tulong sa mga kamag-anak ko kasi sigurado akong di ako tutulungan no'n.”

“ Can I?'” We stopped walking when we arrived where Mark and Don Erness were walking also towards our direction.

“Saan?”

“I'll help you find your parents.” I gave him a sweet smile, assuring him that I am truly sincere and concerned.

Nanlaki ang mata niya, at kita ang pagpula ng tenga niya.

“Huwag na po, Sur Kael. Nakakahiya.” he shyly smiled.

“There's nothing wrong if I'm going to help, right?”

“ Basta, sir Kael. 'Wag na po. ” He shook both his hands, and before I could convince him, Mark appeared beside me.

“Let's go?” I put both of my hands inside my pocket and followed Mark.

“Thank you, Don Erness. Your farm is so heavenly. ” I shook his hands, and he laughed at what I said.

And as being grateful for accompanying me, I shook hands with Rico.

“Thank you, Rico.” I stared into his eyes, and when I felt his hands around my hands, I felt a needle dug inside my chest and as we shook our hands longer, the pain got worse. I hurriedly took my hands on him, and tried to smile, covering the confusion inside my face.

“Magkikita pa po ba tayo, Sir Kael?” I stopped before I'm going inside the car when I heard Rico.

I turned my head on him, and shrugged.

“Maybe.” I smiled awkwardly, then closed the door of Mark's car.

“Kael, seatbelt.” Gulat akong napatingin kay Mark nang makitang sobrang lapit ng mukha niya sa'kin, at bago pa ako makaayos ng seatbelt ko, siya na ang nag-insist.

“Salamat, ” I thanked him after.

Pinaandar na ni Mark ang kotse, at napasulyap sa kanila na naghihintay sa pag-alis namin.

Rico stared at me, until I heard a straight thin sound to my ear. I felt like this scene happened. This time, day, and scenario, I felt this happened before but I can't remember when.