pte

er entered. Aling Consuelo took me by the arm and sig

need anything else. We'll be

ront of me. The sweat on his arm is even more debilitating.

t the door and

what is Atreo's

eem to talk about General all day long. And I a

who was holding a rag whi

nk him for saving me earlier. I don't know

otions, Hija. You're still young. and it's not that I'm criticizing the General, but an a

even though I was a little

h Con

opped wiping when

here first." I nodded and followed him with my eyes. I took a deep breath

when Aling Consuelo came

summoned, Al

The General is asking for more." I stopped w

went next to Aling Consuelo who was t

f you want I will

but also returned his eyes t

one cleaning up here

pooning. When he was done, he handed me

lked closer to the kitchen door but first I put the plate on a table. I fi

d the rustling of the cutlery and their laughter.

, o

oticed me coming. until the laughter stop

ld out the serving plate. the one I met was confused and stood up bef

." he said so I

d, tell me if you w

o who was drinking water while just looking at the

ul boy. You must

f hair while he had a tattoo o

have man

s that they were all twelve except Atreo. They all have

vers?" asked one who I think w

n't even have a t

beautiful, you should be

." one of them said yes, so I gla

en wearing a mohawk. I simply looked

he one that's a

I looked at Atreo who st

t el

rious and st

hat? Don't you hate

's too boring. I lik

what I was saying and he was the one who squealed but I shook

ile I was saying that I was looking at At

I was about to remove his arm because who is he to hold me,

his hat that was lying on the table, "Vipers, 4 o'cloc

going to his room. I was a bit hurt by what h

ck to camp. We'll

up to eat. He also looked stuck because he

good that he's General's right-hand

smile so I nodded and nodded again when the others also introduced

o first. We'll be

their seats.. When I was left behind, I

e so har

d to see what was next to me. I didn't rea

ou still do

t me and leaned

that he knew what I was doing, "Stop that. General is right, you are still young. Y

hands because

t? I don't like him, ok

leave. I was upset that

problem and I hear

when Aling Consuel

st left the food." He smi

d they still have some left

d I watched Aling Consu

ing their le

tables. But sometimes it's the fish caught in the sea.

I only lifted one by one from the dishes tha

ake it to the hut. You go first and

kitchen bar. I took the plate containing the leftover pickles and ve

a room. I stopped and so did he but he dodged f

saw him turn around. I was going to follow, but

ng Consuelo's house, I saw the old man sitting in fr

re you

ciano? Husband of

iled and excitedl

in the big house. It's sup

. so when I put the plate in front of him with only

It's just that there was a tragedy that's why I landed here and was rescued by

s no problem, Hija. Ou

lly at what he s

Feliciano." he n

go back to your place? Have you

's more fun to stay here. I know, my family will be okay if I stay more than a month here. I hope it will be a long time before they find me and I hope it will be a long time before Atreo leaves here. I do not know.

to Manila. I haven't memorize

stood up but

eliciano. You seem t

lates and placed one on Mang Feliciano while the other two were next to him

ine with shaking

hands? Aren't your hands dirt

ion and I said. As if

vincials, it's even better to eat if you hold hands. it's not dirty h

nodded because it was right. Wash and soap your hands. when he washed

x it together and then pinch it with the

went to the faucet and washed my hands. Then I sat

ng a bit of a hard time so I only ate a little

e that, doesn't it?" he sai

e more on

hed and cont

like you two are

w Atreo who was behind Aling Consuelo who was also looking at us. I immediatel

y." Aling Feliciano said happily, "Oh General, you're there." Mang Feliciano

iano. I'm only here today because I was

l. I'll rest tomorr

first." that's all he s

ame to us so I turned to the door and Atreo was gone.

, Hija. It's a good

Aling Consuelo, let's

when I have everything I want. But now I want something but it seems hard to reach.

disappear quickly. At least I tried to eat properly. not just the bread and vegetable salad. Brown rice and tuna. Sometimes I have nothing to eat. Just to follow my daily diet and to b

s good now. I don't have extra underwear when I get wet. but

ut it down on my seat before taking off

ghtly cold water on my feet. I immedi

id of the water. I looked up and clo

I dived under again and went vertical-ve

t up after soaking my body in the water for a lon

ed the beach chair. but I stopped when

ched my cheek and frowned as I thought where d

lking back to Aling Consuelo's house. I just hope I wo

d at Atreo's house. And I don't know if I was just looking around or what, but I seemed to se

h Con

e that? where's the vest you're wearing?

I put your dress on the beach chai

t with you." he said so I laughed becau

e had no choice, he lent me his unused underwe

rs but a short dress. It's fine. I love it. It seems to

ll? Is it really yours?" I asked and wal

's not as big as before. I still have some old c

but where do you buy you

ys clothes. Let me go and tomorrow I'll buy you your underwe

it go, one day I will be

nd and I helped you in some way. Oh hey, hey... You can l

id while waving. He smiled and shook his

ay down on a hard bed with a thin sheet. It'

y approached the window with thatch. I lifted it up and set up the wooden stake. I

le at the rest house?" I asked Alin

moment and looked back

They have an operation on the other is

on't be able to see Atreo

the other island? C

o, Hija. Nothing will be left

se there was absolutely no way

elo in what he was doing. When we finished lunch, he ta

d. Since Feliciano and I got married and

ouse. and the workmanship is beautiful." I said whi

this, you might not get stu

corations and looke

be proud of your work. There are ma

all

it to social media so that if you want to earn m

was thinking that this is all I've done. I d

hair behind my ear before lo

r because it's cool and convenient to make home and body decorations. I am making a

ought I could do something like this. It is difficult for a begi

of Atreos who were dressed like soldiers. I smiled and put the stuff away from t

e, they got off one by one led by Atreo. so when h

so his group also stoppe

ou." I cong

me I can't remember. I frowned here before I looked at Atreo who

klet I made and he

you

whistling. I'm already singing bec

to pass me. I was surprised by what he said. I lo

er hand, "Just yours. Cutie-cutie." I said and patted his head before I turned away from th

ing and tormented Atreo as soon as I passed him. When he l

. Huhu, I'll do

hurts from bending because of making the anklet, but he didn't take it

ntinue making the anklet again. Maybe it's sm