Sublimity in print.

“King! King! Tan-awa, naa koy nakit-an!”

Nanawag ang ate ni King-King nga si May-May. Si King-King naka duko, nangita og mga plastic og botelya nga puyde nila mabaligya. Nitindog siya og nitan-aw sa kung asa dapit nag-pungko ang iyahang maguwang nga igsuon.

“Unsa na, ate?” Nangutana si King-King samtang nag-lakaw siya padulong kang May-May.

“Tan-awa, nindot kaayo.” Iya gipakita ang nakita niya nga lingin nga botelya. Sulod niini adunay usa ka gamay’ng statuwa sa babae. Puno og tubig ang botelya.

“Snowglobe man tingale ni. Kita ko ani sa TV nilang manang Bibay. Nindot kaayo tan-awon no?” Ingon ni May-May samtang iyang gi-uyog-uyog ang iyang nakita. Ni-samot kadako ang iyang pahiyom pag-kita niya nga naay mga sinaw-sinaw nga nag-lutaw-lutaw sa sulod sa snowglobe.

Si May-May nag-edad og otso, samtang si King-King nag-edad og sinco. Kada-adlaw, manganhi sila, sa dumpsite, aron mangita og mga puyde mabaligya aron naa silay kwarta pang-palit og sud-an. Siyam sila tanan nga mag-igsuon, ilang duha ka kuya nag-eskuyla sa highschool, og ang ilang kinamagwangan, si ate Berose, nanarbaho sa Gaisano Grandmall isip usa ka cashier. Ilang upat ka manghud, duha ka babae og usa ka lalake, bata pa kaayo para mo-kuyog nila sa dumpsite.

Nitindog si May-May, bitbit ang iyang nakita nga snowglobe, ang cellophane nga gi-sudlan sa mga nakita niya nga plastic og boteyle nag-bitay sa iyahang likod.

“Tara.” Ni-ingon siya. Si King-King nag-tan-aw sa iya palibot. Nag-sugod na og ka-ngitngit.

Nag-hinay-hinay sila og baktas padung sa mamalitay og plastic og botelya, si nong Kakong. Pag-abot nila, ni-linya sila og apil aron maka-ani sila. Nagka-da-iyang mga tawo ang kuyog nila nag-linya. Adunay mga bata usab, duna sad mga tiguwang og mga batan-on. Sila tanan naningkamot aron maka-kwarta bisan dyutay lang.

“Kani inday, 20 lang.” Ingon ni nong Kakong human niya gi-timbang ang mga nakolekta ni May-May. Human niya hatag sa kwarta sa batang babae, iya sunod gi-timbang ang kang King-King.

“Kini dodong kay 17.”

“Aysa nong, naa pa diay koy lain diri.” Ingon ni King-King samtang ga-kuot siya sa iyang bulsa. Iya gi-tunol sa tiguwang ang mga nakita niya nga tansan, duha ka kom-kom kadaghana.

“19 na ni tanan, dong.” Ingon ni manong Kakong. Human niya hatag sa kwarta, and duha ka bata nag-sugod na og baktas pa-uli.

“Gigutom man ko ate, uy.” Ingon ni King-King.

Duol na sila sa ilaha. Sa ila palibot, daghan’g mga balay ang nag-tapad-tapad. Mga taw nag-lakaw-lakaw. Ang uban namalit og iluto, ang uban nag-tapok aron mag-duwa og baraha. Naay uban’g kalalakihan nag-tapok-tapok og nag-inom gawas sa tindahan ni nang Bibay og iyang mga anak naa sa ilahang sala nag-tan-aw og TV. Sila ra ang naay TV sa ilang lugar mao sila May-May og King-King ganahan mag tambay sa ilaha kung wala sila sa dumpsite.

“Lage, ako sad.” Tubag sa iyang maguwang.

Taod-taod, nangabot na ang duha ka bata sa ilang puloy-anan. Usa ka gamay’ng balay nga usa ra ka kwarto. Sa pag-sulod nila, nakita nila ilang inahan nga nag-lung-ag.

“Ma, abot na mi!” Ingon ni May-May dayun kuha sa kamot sa ilang inahan para mo amen. Mabdus ilang inahan sa ilang ika-napulo nga igsuon og hapit na siya manganak. Ni-amen usab si King-King og gi-tunol ang dyutay’ng sinsilyo nga maoy ani niya sa tibuok adlaw niya nga pag-trabaho.

“Sakto, maka-duha ka tinapa ta ani. May, pangitaa imong kuya Jomar, ingna pa-kuyog ka og palit og tinapa ila nang Bibay. Gaina ra to siya nag-laag-laag.” Ingon sa ilang mama og si May-May nag-dali-dali og gawas dala ang kwarta.
“King, pang-sigaa na na ang mga lampara, mo-abot na imong ate Berose karon taod-taod.” Tugon sa iyang mama.

Wala usab ila papa, tingale nag-kuyog na pud siya sa iyang mga barkada nag-inom.

Nag-tapad si King-King og May-May sa kwarto. Sa salog lang sila nag-higda, ang ilang hapin kay karton. Ilang mga igsuon nangatulog na. Bag-ohay lang ni abot ilang papa, hubog na pud. Dungog kaayo ilang mga ginikanan nga nag-away sa ilang sala. Kada-gabii nalang sila nag-away, siguro kay ilang amahan kanunay nalang mo-uli nga hubog. Ilang ate Berose naa sa pinaka-kilid sa kwarto tapad sa ilang mga manghud. Siya nalang nagpa-tulog nila kay ilang inahan tua pa sa gawas.

Ang tiyan ni King-King hapdos pa dala sa gutom. Gi-sigo nalang nila ang duha ka lata nga tinapa og duha ka takos sa bugas. Ang sweldo ni ate Berose wala pa ni-abot, unya gamiton pa usab pang-bayad sa mga utang sa ilang mama. Sa tunga sa kwarto, ni-ubo ilang kuya Jomar. Pila na ka semana na iyahang ubo pero wala silay pang-palit og tambal, mao na gipa-inom lang siya og kalabo nga gi-lapwa sa tubig.

Si May-May nagtakilid og nag-atubang sa pultahan. Samtang si King-King nag-hayang, iyang mga mata nag-tan-aw sa ilang kisame. Taod-taod niligid si May-May og ni-hayang. Nakita ni King-King nga mata pa usab iyang ate.

Ang tingog sa mga lamok nga nag-lupad-lupad dungog nila uban sa mga shagit sa ilang ginikanan. Nag-ampo si King-King nga mo-uwan unta aron dili kaayo init ang panahon. Unsa na pud kaha ila makita ugma sa dumpsite. Unta maka-kita siya og duwaan taliwala sa mga ga-bungtod nga mga basura.

“Kanus-a kaha ta maka-TV og ato,ate no?” Pangutana ni King-King sa iyang igsuon.

Si May-May naga-paminaw lamang sa ilang mga ginikanan. Ang nakita niya nga snowglobe naa sa iyang ulohan. Bisan guot kaayo ang ilang kwarto, naka-kita gihapon siya og lugar para sa nakita niya nga snowglobe. Ang mag igsuon nila hinanok na nga nangatulog. Ugma buntag sayo na pud ilang ate Berose aron mo duty, og ilang mga kuya manunod para mangiskuyla.

Unsa kaha buhaton nila sa skuylahan, no? Huna-huna ni May-May. Sukad-sukad, wala pa siya kasuway nga maka-sulod og skuylahan. Ang mga anak ni nang Bibay puros nangeskuyla, asta ang ilang kinamanghuran nga ka-edad ra ni May-May. Si King-King usab, wala pa naka-suway nga mo eskuyla. Wala pa siya naka-suway og basa. Wala pa siya naka-suway og sulat. Kanunay nalang wala ang ilang ate Berose mao wala pa na tudloan si King-King, dili parehas ni May-May nga na tudloan kani-adtong wala pa trabaho ilang ate.

“Lage.” Tubag ni May-May sa pangutana sa iyang manghud.

TAPOS

January 26, 2024

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DK Kuizon

Fiction writer with a fictional name. He hasn’t made fiction stories yet, so you’ll just have to settle for poetry and articles.

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