Province

I've waited for this moment for almost sixteen years and tadaaaa! My heart jumped out with happiness when I finally saw the lovely environment.

It is not the tall buildings and infrastructures, the various sounds of transportation, and the busy streets anymore. But, it is the tall trees, the green grasses, the simple but modern kubo houses, and even the beautiful mountain and plain terrains blended with perfect blue skies and the sweetest melodies of nature. The life that is full of green scenery, the province.

One thing is for sure, naa na jud ko diri sa balay sa akong Lola. So excited to be back here again because I've a lot of missed activities here that once made my childhood days memorable.

I stayed here before for only two years, I was 4 years old at that time but when school days started nibalik ko sa amoa. I've grown up in the City, that's why it's a big deal for me to spend a vacation at Lola's residence.

"Dalaga na kaayo ka Kiray ba. Sauna sip-onon paka katong last nimong bakasyon diri pero look at you now dako na kaayo ang kabag-uhan sa imo no. Ilang ginaingun nga when maturity hits pero except lang jud sa imong height."

Gilibot nako akong pang lantaw sa palibot ug there I saw him. A man with grayish hair approached me with his wide smile, my Tiyo Ricky.

I missed this man because looking back, he was the one who made me some cheap toys before such tabanog using a paper, pusil-pusil nga hinimo sa kawayan ug truck-truck nga hinimo sa sanga sa saging. My childhood was filled with so many genuine happy memories. Grabi! I miss those golden days which was my only problem is madagma ra jud because lampa kaayo ko. And of course, I was an instant billionaire back then.

This place taught me how to live a pure life even in a simple way. Different in the City where I came from, we have to spend some of our money first only to buy what we need and what we want most of the time. But here in my Lola's place, you can get most of your wants and needs in life anytime without even bothering to pay, libre ra halos ang tanan labi na kung kugihan ka and maayo nga pagka tawo. When you ask for something sa mga tawo diria, kusang loob na nila ihatag nimo, and yes just a simple thank you can make them smile like sweet candy.

"Si Tiyo jud oy, wala sad ka nagbag-o. Sungogan gihapon kang dako." I replied and gigakos nako siya'g duro.

"Di man sa sungog pero unta Kiray no, magluksuan ka kada bag ong tuig. Kitaa lang na imong height. Nah, di nalang ko magsulti." He teased me and laughed.

He's still my Tiyo Ricky that I've known before, ang pinaka sungogan.

Nibuwag kos pag gakos namo and I dashed him softly. Gikuha pud ni Tiyo ang dala nako nga maleta sa isa ka ulitawo nga nitabang nako ug dala sa akong mga gamit padung diri sa balay ni Lola. I didn't expect him nga mudala sa akong gamit kay he was doing something sa isa ka garden, pero when he saw me nga nag struggle ug dala sa gamit he approached me right away and gibiyaan ang iyahang pag pangguna.

"Thank you, Kuya." I smiled and handed the money sa ulitawo pero he refused with a wide smile.

"Ari nako Angkol Ricky ug Miss." Sulti sa ulitawo ug nilargo nag lakaw way lingi-lingi.

Tiyo nodded and guided me inside the house. Pagsulod nako, daghay nausab sa balay. Pero ang picture nila Lolo ug Lola ray nagpabilin nga nakabutang gihapon sa sala. You can see that they're both so inlove.

I didn't feel any rue or what of choosing this place because at first it's my will and I'm happy for it kay grabi jud ni nako na miss ang lugar. I could even refuse my mama's offer to follow her to Italy as one of her college graduation presents to me. I know that it might be simple being here but it means a lot to me that will surely make my vacation days priceless rather than staying abroad.

"Akong Kiray.. Akong pinalanggang apo.."

She stood up straight from her bed only to approach me. Layo pa lang siya pero iyahang smile di jud kabayran. Grabi ka nindut nga smile. And slowly, I caught myself teary-eyed. Sobra akong na feel nga kamingaw nga naa na siya's duol.

I can't believe her health, it is very unusual from others. She's capable of doing rare things at the age of 85. I salute her for always taking care of herself, the outcome of having a strong body though. Kung ka baskog lang ang hisgutan, first honor akong Lola.

"Lola.. I miss you.." I answered back and hugged her tight.

Lola's tears start falling and falling continuously. I heard her sobbing, it hit me how truly deep it was, the reason I caressed her back to keep her calm. Lisud kay ni akoa Lola ug makasugod ug hilak, dugay jud mahuman ug danguyngoy. Kaya as much as possible, pakalmahon jud nimo dayon or magpaabot ka'g 10 ka kandila maupos dayon siya mahuman ug hilak.

Lola is very soft nga tao jud, and nakuha nako na niya nga talent. Pero I cannot blame her kung ingun ana siya ka emotional. She didn't see me for so many years kay di siya ganahan mo stay or mo bakasyon sa City kay maglisud daw siya ug biya sa province and isa pa pud di siya ganahan mo adapt sa kung unsa ang pamalakad sa City. I know lahi ra jud pag nag dako ka sa province, just like Lola nga di jud kayang biyaan ang probinsya. Ako sad, I was busy sa akong school stuffs before to the point nga di jud ko makalugar ug visit niya diring lugara. Only video calls and phone calls keep us one lang jud and connected. But now, finally di jud nako sayangon ni nga chance, I will make this vacation unforgettable.

"Si Lola oy kay drama kaayo. Di ta mag drama karon Lola, mag enjoy lang ta gud pila nalang baya ka semana imo nang birthday. " I said in a calm voice.

She just stared at me and flaunted her sweetest smile despite having some lackness in her teeth though she's pretty kaayo.

"Kabalo ba mo nga gutom rana. Tara sa lamesa kay mangaon ta. " dugtong ni Tiyo Ricky.

He broke our drama and so we both followed and had some lunch.

Sa lamesa makita nimo ang nag ka lain-laing klase sa healthy nga foods. From sinugbang tilapia, tinolang manok bisaya and kinilaw nga tinunuang tamban. Aside from that, naa pay nilapwaang galay, okra ug talong paired with ginamos. Naa pay fresh buko juice nga mismo si Lola diay ang nag prepare samtang nagbyahe ko padung diri. And lastly, sari-saring prutas like saging tondan, rambutan, lanzones ug suha. Ug di jud pwede mawala nga e partner sa lamian nga sud-an ang init ug pinong mais nga kan-on.

"How's the food, apo? Do you like the taste? " Lola asked me with her beautiful smile.

"Di jud ikalimod nga ikaw ang pinaka pinangga nga apo ni mama Kiray, sayo pana sa alas tres nibakod kay nag handa nag pagkaon para nimo. " Tiyo Ricky said in a jealous tone.

"Dapat lang diba, Lola? And i appreciated the food, lami jud kaayo. Layo pas pito ka lawod ka fresh and kalami kaysa sa siyudad." I said and giggled.

I saw Lola almost cried. She's very soft jud.

I'm full. Way kabutngan akong kabusog sa fresh healthy foods that we swallowed and those foods came from Tiyo Ricky's garden and farm. Yes, dako kaayo ug garden and farm akong Tiyo Ricky. Bisan tuod gamay lang siya ug mga trabahante, pero ang produkto sa iyahang farm and garden kay nag awas-awas sa kadaghan. Kung kakugihan lang ang hisgutan, magna cum laude pud nis Tiyo oy.

Province life is very simple pero with so much love and kindness. Makaingun nalang ko nga I'm blessed kay they're perfectly the best when it comes to welcoming visitors. Di jud ka maka feel ug kaikod. Like you're at home bisan bisita ka. Welcome na welcome jud ka pinaagi sa ilang pagdala nimo ug maayo. Di nalang ko mag wonder if suki jud ning balay ni Lola sa mga tawo, bisan tagsaon ra ang balay diria nga lugar pero di ka makabatyag ug kaguol ug kamingaw tungod kay dagsaon jud ug mga tawo ning balaya because sa maayong kinaiya nga ginapakita nila Lola ug Tiyo kanunay.

The setting is very peaceful. You can hear different sounds sa palibot diria like mura ka'g naminaw ug light music added with cold breezes. Sa kabugnaw diri, it feels like 25° ang temperature kung naka aircon pa ka, unlike sa syudad nga naay hangin pero alingiing gihapon nga di ka kasabot.

"Kiray apo, nganong naa paman kas gawas tawn sulod na diri. Delikado kay gabie na...sulod na diri. " sampit ni Lola.

"Ah, sige Lola, musulod nako taudtaud ha. Kadiyot lang kay nindot kaayo ang hangin diri sa gawas. " tubag nako niya.

She didn't bother to answer me back. Basin nibalik rapud siya sa iyahang kwarto ug natulog. Lahi ra jud ang sleeping hours diring lugara kay 7:00 pm palang, mag ready naman para matulog. But I chose to stay here for a couple of minutes not knowing that it was already 10 pm naman diay. I enjoyed the ambiance because it feel safe here. Lagyo ang gap sa mga balay, numerous grasses dancing along with the cold breeze, and tall trees swaying at night.

"Kiray ikaw man diay na? Nganong naa paka diri sa gawas nga delikado. Tara sulod na para matulog. " natingala nga pangutana ni Tiyo nako.

"Ay Tiyo wala pa man ko dukaa sad. Taudtaud na siguro ko mu sulod. Sayo pa man." tubag nako nga nagsimhut sa humot nga hangin.

"Tara sulod nata Kiray. Gabie na kaayo, ayaw ipariha sa syudad ang probinsya. Ayaw nag simhut-simhut anang kahumot sa hangin, normal rana diri pero hunongi na kay lisud na kaayo. Katulog na diri sa sulod. " tubag sad ni Tiyo nako.

It's around 2 a.m., but I'm wide awake. Nag sige ra ko'g limbag-limbag sa bed. I cannot sleep. I stood up, I covered Lola with her blanket kay tapad man mi tulog. I went towards the window and opened it just beside Lola's bed. Nag hinampiling ko while nag simhut sa humot nga hangin. I'm addicted to the smell of a ripe mango whirling in the strong air and I'm having fun while looking at those silhouettes of ripe mangoes in a distance.

"APO! " syagit ni lola.

I dazzled. Nakalingi ko dayon ni Lola ug dali and checked her basin naay problema. I couldn't explain her facial expression. Mura bitaw ug nakuyawan nga nabalaka. Naglibog ko. Basin nagdaman rani siya.

She got up from her bed and doubtlessly closed the window while she covered me with her blanket. She pointed me to sit back in the bed, so nihawa nalang pud kos may bintana dapit and I dazed her eyes. It showed me a worrisome look painted on her face that's not usual.

"Lola okay raka? Tulog nag balik, dali kay atong habulan matulog nata. " I said.

I stripped off the blanket she covered in me and put it back to her but she insisted on covering it back in my body.

"Apo, ugma puhon uli nag balik sa syudad. Ayaw nag dugay diri sa balay. " sulti ni lola.

I frowned. I'm a bit worried and shocked why she's sending me back to the City where I already planned to stay here for a month. Niyango nalang ko and nismile. Pero, I keep on thinking why.

It's 4 a.m. and I couldn't sleep. I'm still confused about what Lola told me. Maybe, wa lang jud ko masanay na ug unsay mga bawal diria nga lugar since dugay pud ko ug pila ka years ko nawala diri or basin gidaman ra jud akong Lola para makaingun siya ato.

But why? Bisan nag higda nako, di gihapon mawala sa akong ginhawaan ang humot nga hangin. Everything was closed but still didn't know why the essence of a ripe mango kept on bothering me like an addictive perfume.