Fuck and Run

The cold breeze caressed my skin along with the sun-king. I am stretching my body because we will start planting rice soon.

I'm wearing old black slacks worn by our neighbor and my favorite white Camisa de-chino. My hair is tied up to waist length and I wear a hat made of anahaw.

At 7 in the morning, I went straight to the rice field we were cultivating. I was still in elementary school when I became aware of farming because of the hardships of life.

"GG!" Amalia calls me. She is my best friend. I turned around and saw her running. She is the one I waited for.

"Tou woke up early?" That sounded sarcastic at the same time I laughed.

"A lot of laundries last night and we spent the night in the river. There you go, I'm so tired. I'm sorry. Let's go?" She said and I nodded immediately.

She stopped walking as we were supposed to go to the paddy field to plant paddy.

"Did you have breakfast, GG?" She asked. I just smiled at her. And I know she already knows the answer. It's always like this.

She frowned and took something from her pocket. She showed me a bag but I could not see the contents.

"This is a snack. It’s yours now,” she grinned as she handed me the bag.

I immediately shook my head. "Oh Amalia, don't. It's yours, keep it for later." I said but

she also shook her head. "Eat it first before we start planting. Your stepmother doesn't prepare you for breakfast, does she?"

"Nevermind,” The only thing I can say. My stepmother had a daughter with her first husband. She’s 5 years older than me and Dad favors her more than me.

As always.

She was in college while I was in my first year. It's Saturday so I'm helping with our paddy fields.

Mom died giving birth to me and after two years Dad remarried to someone who already had a child.

I am ashamed of Amalia because she has always been like this to me. But other people cared more about me than Dad did.

I ate what Amalia gave me because she didn’t want us to plant before I had breakfast.

I sat in a small wooden chair. So is Amalia.

"The attributed child of your stepmother, I hope they also work here in the rice field! Not that, just you and your Dad!” she spat.

Chloe has never set foot in this rice field. She also doesn't want me to be her stepsister. Dad kept scolding me.

"It's okay. I can do it." I replied to Amalia who smirked.

"That that, you have to reduce your kindness. That's why you're being abused," I just shook hands with Amalia as she preached to me in the middle of the rice field.

At 10:55 Amalia said looking at her wristwatch. Signal that we are about to go home. I'm hungry too.

"Come on GG, it's eleven o'clock. It's getting hot, we might die here,” Amalia said and I nodded.

Amalia and I chatted on the way home while we were full of mud from the rice field. Our house is next to each other so that's why we are best friends.

"Oh, GG! I cooked stewed pork. You eat here for lunch," Amalia's mother said, she’s also my godmother.

"Thank you, mother. I'll just eat at home."

"Oh, all right. If you change your mind, just come here, okay?" she said and I nodded and said goodbye to Amalia.

I am very tired and my back hurts from planting rice. I plan to take a shower first and get dressed before eating lunch.

The door to our house is open, which means that Aunt Olivia and Dad have come home from the city, or maybe Chloe.

Our house is made of half cement and amakan. My parents used to make it when Mom was still alive.

"Oh, GG. There you go. Have lunch. It's on the table, and after you eat, do your laundry. Lots of laundries,” Aunt Olivia said while looking in the mirror, the clothes she bought were just right.

"Ah, it fits on me what you bought Hernan." She said and Dad came out of their room.

I immediately turned around and went to the bathroom to take a shower because my stomach was growling. I would have liked to go to bed first after I ate because my back hurts, but I have to do the laundry.

My Dad would be angry with me for not following Aunt Olivia's orders.

While eating, Chloe suddenly came in with a very tired face. She slumped down on our bamboo chair.

"Mama! Make me some juice, I'm thirsty!" She shouted and immediately Dad and Aunt came out of the room and joined Chloe.

"How's your exam, dear? Did you pass?" Dad asked her because today's the entrance exam for college students.

"I don't know yet,“ said Chloe as Dad fanned her like a princess.

Sometimes I feel jealous of Chloe because Dad and Aunt take good care of her. But I don't think about that much because I have many dreams in life that need to be prioritized.

I want to finish school and I will go to Manila and work there. I have been looking for a way to educate myself since I was in my first year because the course that Chloe will take is expensive, said Dad and Aunt, so they can't help me with my studies.

Everything I earn from farming, I saved it. I’m not buying anything I think is unnecessary. I still have a lot of money to stock up for when I go to college.

"Oh, this is your juice daughter," Auntie said she handed Chloe the juice she made and Chloe drank it immediately.

Chloe turned to Dad and hugged her like a child asking for something.

"Dad, I want high-heeled shoes from the mall let's buy my uniform, please," she begged Dad.

Dad nodded immediately and Chloe was overjoyed.

Chloe’s lucky because he gives her everything she wants. Not once, I don’t remember Dad giving me anything.

I just say thank you to Aunt giving me Chloe’s old clothes.

"How long will it take you eating there, GG?! How can that laundry dry!" Auntie was near to me so I immediately got up and washed the plate after eating.