Love Me Not

Chapter 5 Visit a friend

Aria POV

Days have passed, di ko nakikita si Kerr sa club or sa restaurant. I guess umuwi na siya sa kanila, tapos na siguro vacation period niya.

Anak, may pera ka pa ba diyan? tanong ni nanay sakin.

Bakit po nay? balik kong saad.

Si Melba kasi sa tindahan, naniningil na sa utang natin; paumanhing sabi nya.

Sige Nay, dadaanan ko nlang po sya sa paglabas ko para pakiusapan baka mamaya makahiram ako ng pera kay Mikey or sa ibang kasama, kasi nabayad ko napo sa tuition ko yung perang kinita ko nitong nakaraan.

Ah sige anak, pakiusapan mo nlang siya na malilet tayo ng bayad. Alam mo naman madada bunganga nun pag di tayo nakabayad; malungkot sabi ni Nanay..

Hay another bayarin na naman, may kuryente at tubig pa duedate na, may pending pa ako bayarin sa mga kasama ko; konsomisyong isip ng utak ko, di ko pinarinig sa nanay ko, kung pwede ko lang hatiin katawan para makapag trabaho ng marami para madali ma solve problema ko, ang hirap mag isip na araw araw may hinahabol kang bayarin.

Nagtatrabaho ako na dala ko ang mga alalahanin tungkol sa pera, kahit need kong mg focus sa work, set aside personal problema pero di ko maiwasan isipin. Sa ganitong panahon naisip ko si Kerr, yong customer ko dati, kasi yong time andito siya malaki talaga naitulong ng mga naibigay na tip nya sakin.

Kerr POV

It’s been few days na andito ako ngayon sa Kawaka, Northern part of Visayas. I was invited by my old friend na si Maximo, to visit his place, his my mate back in our college days. This place is so nice, green scenery, fresh air, fresh ang pagkain, calm environment, where you can only hear cricket chirping at night and birds sound late afternoon and frog noise on rainy days.

This is what I need, a place away from everything, busy crowd, pollution, toxic environment, unnecessary noise. I’m glad I go here.

Pare, kumusta stay mo dito so far?; Tanong nya sakin, while having a beer in this late afternoon dito sa backyard nila.

Pare, you have a great place, never knew you’re into this. I thought farming is not your kind of life, kasi maarte ka nuon, ayaw mo madumihan ang mga kamay mo. And look at you now? You personally handles your business, taking care of the orchard, animals, doing farm works; namamangha kong sabi sa kanya. And he just laughs at it.

Yeah pare, never knew I would end up in this lifestyle. You knew I'm a city boy all my life but my wife introduce me to this. I began to love it and now it’s my way of life. Life is full of surprise Pare: natatawang saad nya and his like reminiscing our life before.

You have a great family Pare, sa tingin ko maganda rapport nyo mag asawa, nagtutulungan kayo, pati mga anak nyo involve and seems contented naman kayo kung ano mayroon kayo dito: telling him my observation.

Ah oo pare, mga anak ko magmamana dito, so early stage tini-train na namin sila; inform nya sakin. How about you Pare? How’s your married life? Balita ko congresswoman ngayon asawa mo; kuryoso nyang tanong.

Yeah, shes always been into politics ever since. I hate that line, toxic environment, pero yun ang gusto niya, di ko nalang pinakialaman, kasi mag aaway lang kami. You knew naman ayaw na ayaw mag padikta nun, gusto parin nya ang masusunod. Kilala mo naman yun; naiiling kong saad.

True pare, even before ang cold ng wife mo, mahirap malapitan. But I wonder why she chooses to be a public servant with her personality. Buti naman at nag work ang relation niyo noh? Eh I remember before di naman kayo in love sa isat isa. Pinagkasundo lang kayo because of business; I just smile at him thinking of the past.

Kumusta naman mga anak nyo? Dagdag nyang tanong sakin.

Ah yung 2 kong anak andun sa US, may sarili narin pamilya, di na umuwi kasi busy daw, ako nalang bumibisita sa kanila. Iwan ko ba Pare, parang I felt left out, mag isa lang sa bahay. Pag uwi galing trabaho ako lang mag isa kasi si misis palaging busy or mostly wala kasi need ng constituent nya. As the day goes we grow apart. We are civil before, nag uusap pag nagkikita but lately mas lumala, parang di na naming kilala ang isat isa, we turn into strangers.

Kaya ako ngayon ng liwaliw; Inggit ako sayo Pre, ang ganda ng dynamics ng pamilya mo, masaya at nagtutulungan sa isat isa, simple lang pero harmonious; madamdaming pahayag ko.

Di pa huli ang lahat Pre, mag enjoy ka naman, di yung puro work nalang palagi. Di muna maibabalik pa ang panahon kaya lubusin muna hanggat kaya, you knew nagkakaidad na tayo; natatawa niyang sabi.

Feel free to do whatever you like here; my place is always open for you. If you need someone to talk, just call me.

Nag stay pa ako ng ilang days sa farm ng kaibigan ko. I enjoyed my time observing what he does. I had direct interaction with the animals and his people here. Simple lang ang buhay dito, mahirap ang daily life kasi it requires hard work physically pero makikita mo na they are genuinely happy kahit salat sa maraming bagay.

This province is not totally improved, kulang sa infrastructure and facilities, lubak lubak pa ang ibang daan going to town. Ang magandang daan is yong rota lang patungong farm ng kaibigan ko kasi sarili niyang finance. He also helps people here not just by giving employment but giving free training for skilled work para sa kababaihan and kalalakihan, if they plan to go abroad ,may knowledge, skills, training and experience na sila.

I was awed by my friend’s dedication and support for his fellowmen. I was fascinated by his actions so I plan to support his project of giving extra livelihood for this community. I will also plan to build some facility here like clinic and recreational area for teenager like basketball court and kids playground because I think its one of the basic needs here.

I will tell him before I go, I will fund some of his project and sponsor some kids na wlang enough na kakayanan makapag aral kasi kulang sa financial. It makes my heart swell with so much joy just by thinking all of this and I will be able to help them is my own little way. I'm sure my friend would love my idea.