Damaged Omega

Not to Faint-hearted

IT was six in the morning when Basha found herself standing at the wooden gate of the Vasquez.

The couple that stayed in the small hut was human. They were in their fifties and have been living in Kalayaan village for twenty years. They had no children but they adopted Mutya five years ago.

She got the information from her brother last night. Since he already knew of her mate, it was easier to call in favors.

Before she had the courage to approached the yards, she witnessed the trade between a farmer and a vendor when the truck picked up the sacks of sweet potatoes.

She overheard them talking about it yesterday that the crop will be collected today.

“Good morning! It’s you again.” The old woman greeted her before she had the nerve to call out.

“Good morning, Mrs. Vasquez.” She greeted back.

“Come on in.” She motioned her hand at her. “Are you a friend of my daughter?”

She shook her head as she approached.

Mrs. Vasquez was occupying one of the three chairs in the patio. This was the same place where she saw them yesterday.

On top of the small rounded table made of wood were two steaming mugs of coffee, a loaf of bread, and a jam.

“Breakfast? It’s a bit early but it’s how we are here.” She sent her a smile. “Please sit.”

“Thank you.”

One mug was pushed near her. “Have a bread. The jam is homemade. Try it. My daughter made it herself.”

“Really?” She asked wide-eyed.

Her attention went to the small jar with a brown jam inside it. It looks like peanut butter but darker.

A smile formed on her lips. She is excited to have a taste of the jam that her mate made herself.

“Go on. My husband loves everything sweet though it’s not good for his sugar.”

Throwing reservation behind, she grabbed the bread and spread the brown jam on it.

She could smell the peanut and sugar in the jam.

Shyness forgotten she bit the bread. She moaned in delight. It was indeed sweet but it was delicious. It was way sweeter than the peanut butter that she used to but it was better. She likes this one better.

She opened her eyes when she heard the old woman chuckled.

She swallowed the bread. Her face heated at the embarrassment.

“I know the feeling, trust me. I never like sweets but I like that jam. It’s our family’s favorite.”

She sipped the coffee. She wanted to moan in pleasure. The taste of the coffee was just like the way she wanted it to be.

Basha wanted to sigh in contentment but she stopped herself. Shame finally decided to appear.

“Mutya, your friend is here.”

Her heart thumped faster than normal. With her mind occupied a while ago, she did not notice someone drawing near them.

She put the bread down. She wiped the crumbs from her face before turning her face to the petite woman.

Clearly stunned, Mutya glanced her way.

“She likes the jam, too. You have to get another coffee for yourself.” Mrs. Vasquez stated.

“Hi.” Basha expressed with a nervous smile.

Mutya stared at her. Her eyes showed that she was wary of her presence in the vicinity.

“Do you still have the jam?” She asked. A little nervous, she still added. “I like it. Can I buy some?”

Frowned marred her pretty face. Mutya blinked her eyes twice before she gazed at her adopted mother.

“I told her to have a taste of the homemade jam. I told you, we can have money out of it.” Mrs. Vasquez explained. “We’ll be gathering the peanuts next week. I already told your father to leave some for the jam.”

“I’ll order a box.” Basha promptly said.

“W-what?” Mutya uttered in surprise.

“Honey, Mrs. Jones will be glad to sell them for you. That woman will sell anything you have.”

“Really? I’ll help you sell them out.”

“I didn’t get your name. I’m Angelina, by the way.”

“It’s Basha. Nice to meet you, Angelina.” She expressed with a wide smile. “Hello, Mutya.”

“You still want some of that jam, Basha?”

“Yes, please.”

“I think, we still have one in the cupboard. Right, Mutya?” The petite woman nodded. “Did you prepare the thermos for your father, Mutya?” The petite woman nodded again before raising her left hand that held the canister. “Bring them at the back. Your father is waiting for it. Bring some of the bread.”

Basha grabbed for the loaf and the jar of jam together with the spoon. “Let’s go.”

Mutya took the bread from her hand. “Finish the coffee. In this house, no one is allowed to leave their food unfinished.”

She nodded and seized the mug with her empty hand.

The petite woman led the way. They tread the graveled path at the left side of their hut.

The tall woman swallowed the saliva forming in her mouth. The smell of the jam in her hand assaulted her nose. She made a lungful of breath.

It did not help her need to devour the food she has on her hands.

After a short walk, they reached an opened air bamboo cottage.

Mutya placed the thermos on the small rectangular table made of flattened bamboo. There were two mugs on top of it already.

Basha put the coffee and bread beside the mugs. She sat at the long chair with the same materials as the table and the cottage.

Her eyes followed Mutya when she left. The petite woman marched toward the two men who have their backs bend down at the empty but plowed ground.

Basha looked around. In front of her was small farmland. It is no more than six hundred square meters. One area was a plowed ground where Mutya was.  Opposite were lanes of crops with small, yellow flowers.

The other side of the crop with yellow flowers was another lane of plots with what seems to be a tomato based on the smell that the air was sending. There were no fruits yet though. In front of her were lanes of crop unknown to her.

She sipped her coffee. She was on the last drop of it when Mutya together with the two men joined her in the cottage. She recognized the two men from yesterday.

“Good morning, Mr. Vasquez.”

“Good morning.”

The other two men occupied the long chair opposite from where she was.

On the other hand, Mutya filled the two mugs with coffee from the thermos. She gave them at the two. She also refilled her empty mug that Basha was grateful.

“I knew that the jam was good, Miss, but can we also have a piece of it?”

Red with embarrassment, the second time this morning, she released the jar from her hold. She placed it on top of the table beside the loaf.

Mr. Vasquez laughed at her. “Don’t be embarrassed. I did the same whenever I noticed that it’s the last one in the cupboard.”

“My kids love them, too. They never want the one in the store anymore.” The younger man added.

She sipped the coffee to hide the humiliation she already felt.

After breakfast, she helped the men carry the fertilizer to the plot where they were when she and Mutya arrived. At first, the men were hesitant but when she lifted one sack, understanding dawned on them.

Sweaty and dusty, she took a break at the bamboo cottage. Mutya was no longer there. She did not notice the time when she left.

The sun is already high in the sky. Mr. Vasquez and Nestor, she learned his name a while ago, were protected with long sleeves shirt and pants. They also have native hots on their head.

She drunk water from the jog after washing her hands. It was perched in the corner of the cottage.

Basha removed the dress shirt she was wearing. She left the white racerback tank top.

She sighed when she felt so much better.

She glanced at the two men. They were holding a rake each and plowing the soil while mixing with the fertilizer they poured from a while ago.

She heard them that they were preparing the soil for the crop that they will plant soon. If she is not mistaken, it is jalapeno.

Basha opens her links when she felt someone prodding.

“Where are you?” It was her brother, Charlie.

“I’m in Kalayaan village. Why?”

“We need you here. Derick needs your signature for the payment in the security plan.”

“Derick knew where I am.”

“I don’t. Come here. I also miss my sister.”

She chuckled at their link. “I’ll be there in thirty. Please tell my assistant to prepare the check. Thanks, bro.”

Still laughing at herself, she grabbed the dress shirt and put it back on.

She called for the two men and waved at them goodbye. She marched the same path back to the hut.

She found Mrs. Vasquez in the veranda of their cabin. She was sewing the holes in the sack.

“I’m leaving, Angelina. Thank you for the food.”

“No problem, Basha.” The old woman uttered with a smile. “Mutya, your friend is leaving.”

Smile on her face, she waited for the petite woman to come out.  She beamed when she saw her holding a tote bag.

Basha already smelled what’s inside.

“Thank you.” She held the tote bag carefully. “I’m not kidding when I said that I will order for one box.”

Mutya nodded. “Thank you for your help today.” She said in her soft voice.

“You’re welcome. This jam paid for them anyways.”

She waved them goodbye. Her feet grew wings as she advanced toward the service road. She already mind linked the sentinel to meet her in the marketplace.