TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

Day 2 in Somalia: A Hero Worth Having

Habang abala si Seann sa pakikipag-usap sa mga taong nagtipun-tipon sa isang area kasama sina Yusuf at Farah, ay inikot ni Roxanne ang lugar nang may kunot sa noo. 

She wondered how people could live in that area where the air was stinky and the land was dirty and dry. Sinulyapan niya ang mga camps at napa-isip kung papaanong nagkasya ang isang pamilya sa loob.

Kanina nang ipinakilala siya nina Yusuf at Farah sa lahat, ay pilit siyang ngumiti upang hindi ng mga ito isipin na masama siyang tao.

Well, alam niyang masama siya, pero nang makita niyang nakangiti ang lahat sa kaniya ay hindi siya nagkaroon ng lakas ng loob na pakitaan ang mga ito ng kasamaan niya. She could not fathom why people were still smiling despite their situation?

Farah had explained to her that the people in this area were the ones who used to live in the place they passed through yesterday. They were the people who used to live in that ghost town. They lost their home and their ability to live normally. Pero sa kabila noon ay nakangiti pa rin ang mga ito, at ang mga mata ay may tanda ng pag-asa.

So, she thought... this place was indeed a land of hope.

Ibinalik niya ang tingin sa area kung saan naroon si Seann at nakatayo sa harap ng lahat na naka-upo sa nakatumbang puno at sa lupa. They were listening to him keenly as Seann discussed the plans he had for the community. He had plans to arrrange for a water pump to be installed in the area. Bahagya na niyang naririnig ang tinig ni Seann habang sinasabi nito sa mga tao na sa araw na iyon ay darating ang dalawang set ng water pump at hiningi nito sa mga naroon na magtulung-tulong sa paghuhukay at pag-gawa ng mapagkukunan ng tubig. Yusuf was translating what Seann was saying because there were others who couldn't understand English. 

Humalukipkip siya at sandali itong pinanood habang nakikipag-usap, at habang ginagawa niya iyon ay hindi niya naiwasang isipin na sa darating na kinabukasan, hindi na siya magtataka kung papasukin na rin ni Seann ang politika— like the rest of his family.

Hanggang sa matapos ang pag-uusap ay hindi umalis si Roxanne sa kinatatayuan. Nakita niya kung papaanong lapitan ng mga bata si Seann at yayaing maglaro. Sinuway ang mga ito ng isang may edad na lalaki, na ipinakilala na rin sa kaniya kanina bilang ang namumuno sa lugar, si Asad. Niyaya nito si Seann na magtungo sa loob ng isang rag tent upang pag-usapan ang tungkol sa proyektong nais ibahagi ni Seann sa lugar.

Nang makapasok si Seann sa loob ng tent ni Asad ay saka niya ibinaling ang pansin sa mga batang nagsitakbuhan patungo sa owner type jeep na dala nila at naglaro sa paligid niyon.

They look happy, she thought bitterly. I wish I was as happy as them when I was a kid...

"Miss Roxanne, food will be ready in a few minutes."

Startled with Farah's voice, she turned to him and saw a piece of bread he was holding in his hand. Ini-abot nito iyon sa kaniya. "In the meantime, please take this. Mr. Ventura says you are starving and he asked me to give you something to munch until the food is cooked."

Matagal siyang nakatitig lang sa tinapay na hawak ni Farah. Kahit hindi niya hawakan ay halatang matigas na ang tinapay na sa wari'y ilang araw nang nakatago lang sa garapon. Kapag ibinato niya iyon kay Seann ay siguradong magkakabukol ang lalaki. 

Hmm... Not a bad idea... she thought again.

Tahimik niyang kinuha mula kay Farah ang nasabing tinapay at umusal ng pasasalamat. Farah answered her with a smile, then, he stood beside her and watched the kids ran around the small village.

"Some of those kids weren't even born when the war ended," he started in his thick, Somali accent. "Some of them were just babies when it happened, some were born here. They didn't witness how awful that time was, so I consider them lucky. They never had a comfortable life, but as you can see, they are happy."

Hindi siya sumagot at tahimik na dinala sa bibig ang tinapay— na tulad ng hinala niya ay matigas at luma na. She's goddamn starving and she shouldn't be picky— kaya kahit masakit sa gilagid at lalamunan ang tinapay na iyon ay kinain pa rin niya. 

She realized that the last time she ate was when they were still on the plane— and it has been more than a day!

Oh well, tama naman si Seann Ventura; she will survive without food for days— and she actually did, out of rebellion. 

Matinding sakripisyo rin ang ginawa niya para tumagal nang walang laman ang sikmura, ah! Natiis lang niyang magpagutom noong nakaraan dahil sa tindi ng pagnanais niyang pakawalan na siya ng ama at ni Kane mula sa pagkaka-kulong niya sa kaniyang silid. This time, the case was different.

"I noticed that you and Mr. Ventura don't get along," Farah commented again. "He's a good guy. We've known him for quite some time now, so I'm wondering what makes you hate him."

Surprised by Farah's statement, she answered, "I— I don't really hate him. I just... I just don't like him."

Niyuko siya nito. "Why is that?"

She shrugged her shoulders and put down the bread. "Just because."

Tumango si Farah at ibinalik ang pansin sa mga batang naglalaro sa hindi kalayuan. "You are not really cousins, are you?"

"Nah," she answered bitterly. She never wanted Seann to be a family, so the thought left a bitter taste in her mouth. "I didn't know why he had to lie about it."

Farah chuckled. Sandali itong natahimik at nakangiting ipinagpatuloy ang pagtanaw sa mga batang tuwang-tuwa na naghahabulan sa paligid ng owner type jeep.

Muli niyang dinala sa bibig ang tinapay at kumagat. Ugh, she hated its taste but she had no choice. Masakit ang sikmura niya— sa loob ng isang linggo ay isang beses lang siyang kumain, at sa mga oras na iyon ay nararamdaman na niya ang epekto ng pagpapagutom niya.

"The people here are thankful for Mr. Ventura."

Muli siyang nag-angat ng tingin nang marinig ang sinabi ni Farah.

"There is no one like him on this side of the Earth." Nakangiti siya nitong niyuko. Amusement was in his eyes. "Who would actually come to this dangerous country just to send help? Not many. The government won't even visit this place to check the situation. But Mr. Ventura? He's a miracle these people have been waiting for."

Hindi siya kaagad na nakasagot, hindi dahil sa namangha siya sa sinabi ni Farah kung hindi dahil pilit niyang ningunguya ang matigas na tinapay sa kaniyang bibig. 

Si Farah ay muling ibinaling ang tingin sa ibang direksyon. Ang ngiti'y nagmaliw at ang anyo'y nagseryoso. "The residents here are suffering from water and food shortage, and Mr. Ventura was the only one who offered to provide a water system. You see, these people here used to pay a local business owner to use his water. With nowhere to store large amounts of water, they would have to travel out of the camp to fill up jerry cans which would last them only a few days. The walk, although no more than half a kilometer in distance, was putting young girls and women leaving the relative safety of the camp in danger of attacks and harassment. in. Ventura learned about this so he decided to come back to this country and give these people something that would help them in the long term. By placing a water system in this campsite, women won't have to travel far and put themselves in danger." Muling namutawi ang ngiti sa mga labi nito. "We don't meet people like Mr. Ventura every day."

She secretly smirked— still unimpressed with Seann Ventura. 

Who knows, baka may iba siyang motibo kaya nagbabait-baitan siya sa lugar na ito? 

She knew it was stupid to even think of it, ano nga ba ang magiging motibo ni Seann?

Si Farah ay bahagyang natawa nang makitang na-dapa sa lupa ang isa sa mga batang naghahabulan. She continued to eat and decided not to say anything anymore— ayaw na niyang lumawig pa ang usapan tungkol kay Seann. It bored her.

"Ahh. I missed being a kid. We used to run around the whole village just like that," sabi ni Farah na wala yatang planong manahimik. "We were lucky to grow up in a place far from the battleground. We were still able to play outside and live like a normal kid." Muli siya nitong niyuko. "How about you, Miss Roxanne? Do you still have some memories from your childhood?"

Buhat sa tanong nito'y biglang nawalan ng gana si Roxanne na ubusin ang tinapay na nasa kamay. A sudden pain crossed her heart. 

"Of course," she answered in a neutral tone. "I remember everything from my childhood, Farah. Those memories are the reason why I am what I am."

Bago pa man makapagtanong ang lalaki ay hinarap na niya ito at inaabot ang tinapay na kahit papaano ay nangalahati rin. "Thanks for this, but I've had enough. You can give it to the kids." Mabilis siyang tumalikod at binaybay ang daan patungo sa gilid ng campsite.

Bakit lahat na lang ay may masayang alaala noong kabataan? Bakit lahat na lang, masaya kahit walang-wala sila? Why did I have Wynona as a mother?!

She pushed back her tears and walked faster until she reached the area where all she could see was dumpsite surrounding a couple of small trees. Everything around her was stinky and she hated it. Hindi siya magtataka kung sa pagbalik niya sa Pilipinas ay may sakit na siya sa baga dahil sa mga nasisinghot niya.

And when she thought about coming back home, she realized... 

Am I happy to go back? Where am I going back, anyway? To the mansion?

Bigla siyang natigilan. Then, she realized that she actually didn't have anywhere else to go, and anything else to do with her life.

Oh well, may misyon siyang sirain ang buhay ng ama niyang nang-iwan sa kaniya noon kay Wynona, at iyon lang ang dahilan kung bakit siya nananatili sa mansion. She actually didn't need his fortune, she could live in a small room with a cheap bed. But the thing was... no matter how much she tried to destroy Damien Madrigal, Kane and his friends would always come into the picture, ruining her plans.

Nabibigyan niya ng alalahanin ang ama niya, which was her goal, but in the end, siya pa rin ang umuuwing talunan.

So, what's the use? Kung iisiping mabuti... she'd never really succeeded.

"Let's go, Miss Roxanne. Food is ready," Farah announced behind her. Hindi niya naramdaman ang pagsunod nito.

She didn't really want to come, but she knew that if she didn't, Seann will come out and drag her into the camp— a scene that she didn't want people to see.

Wait, bakit ako natatakot? Wala akong pakialam kung ano ang gagawin niya, basta h'wag lang niya akong ikulong. I can fight him, I can struggle and make a scene just like always— so why am I worried now?

"Miss Roxanne?"

Huminga siya nang malalim saka hinarap si Farah. Akma na sana niyang sasabihin na wala siyang ganang kumain at gusto niyang mapag-isa, nang lumampas ang tingin niya sa balikat nito at nakita si Seann na lumabas mula sa camp na pinasukan nito kanina. Nakita niya ang pagsuyod nito ng tingin sa paligid, tila may hinahanap. And when their eyes met, her chest tumbled in... fear?

Fucking s**t— why am I scared of him now?

Malinaw niyang nakita ang pagsalubong ng mga kilay ni Seann at ang pag-angat ng mga kamay nito sa bewang. His eyes narrowed— which she recognized as a warning.

Nagpakawala siya ng naiiritang paghinga, inayos ang pagkakasukbit ng bag sa balikat, saka humakbang patungo rito.

Ilang hakbang na lang ang layo niya kay Seann nang ibaba nito ang mga kamay at ipinag-krus sa tapat ng dibdib.

"I thought you were just waiting for me to drag you in," he taunted.

Huminto siya sa harap nito at tinapunan ito ng masamang tingin. "Do they have food inside?"

Hindi nagustuhan ni Seann ang tonong ginamit niya— she could see it in his eyes. But later on, he grinned and gestured his hand to the small entrance. "Yes, they have," he affirmed. "After you, Princess."

Inismiran niya ito saka nauna nang pumasok sa loob. Pagpasok ay nahinto siya nang makita ang pabilog na mesa sa gitna ng camp, pinalibutan iyon ng walong mga upuan na siyang natatanging gamit roon. Sa tabi ng mesa ay nakatayo sina Asad at ang asawa nito na ipinakilala na rin sa kanila kanina, si Beydaan. Sa ibabaw ng mesa ay may naka-patong na mga pagkaing naka-silid lang sa mga bowl. 

Sandali niyang inalis ang tingin sa mesa at inilibot sa paligid. Sa dingding na gawa sa pinagtagpi-tagping mga plywood at tela ay may mga nakasabit na lumang family portrait. 

Muli niyang ibinalik ang pansin sa mga pagkain.

The food looked delicious; lalo siyang nagutom. There were mixed rice, savory meat dishes, mixed vegetables, and banana. She secretly grimaced at the banana. Of all the fruit in the world, a banana was the most disgusting for her. She hated its texture, she hated how it melted in her tongue. She hated its sweet, slimy taste. 

Maybe she could just skip the banana and eat the rest of the food on the table... Wala naman sigurong pipilit sa kaniya kung ayaw niyang kumain ng saging, ano?

"Please have a sit, Miss Roxanne, Mr. Ventura," sabi ni Asad sabay lahad ng kamay sa mesa.

Tumango siya at umupo. Nang naupo si Seann sa tabi niya ay marahas niya itong binalingan. She was about to tell him to move his seat a little farther when he turned to her and gave her a warning look. 

She froze. She understood what that warning look meant— it was a warning for her to shut up and hide her attitude. 

She puckered and placed her bag on her lap. Humalukipkip siya at nakasimangot na ibinalik ang pansin sa mesa.

Ilang sandali pa'y inimbitahan na rin ni Asad sina Farah at Yusuf na maupo na sa tabi ni Seann. Mula sa likod ng makapal na tela na nakatabing sa kusina ay lumabas ang dalawang dalagitang mga anak ni Asad. Ang isa sa mga ito'y may bitbit na tray kung saan naroon ang isang aluminum pot at apat na tasa.

"We are happy to share this meal with you, Mr. Ventura and Miss Roxanne," pahayag ni Asad. Nilingon nito ang asawa at tinanguan.

Beydaan took the pot from her daughter and poured tea on their cups. Ilang sandali pa'y isa-isang ini-abot sa kanilang apat ang mga iyon.

Nang ini-abot na ng anak nina Asaad at Beydaan ang tasa niya ay nagtaas siya ng kamay upang tumanggi. Hindi siya umiinom ng tsaa, masasayang lang iyon. Subalit ang akma niyang pagtanggi ay nabitin sa ere nang maramdaman ang banayad na pagsiko sa kaniya ni Seann. 

Hinarap niya ito upang akma sanang sunggaban nang matigilan silang pareho. 

Seann's face was too close to hers they almost kissed! 

Startled with the sudden rush of emotions, she gasped and pushed him away.

Muntik na itong mahulog sa kinauupuan na ikinasinghap din ng lahat.

***