Chapter 269 - Home In Molave 15

"How far is the mango farm?" Mr. Dioko broke up the teasing when he saw that Jane was about to cry.

"It's just about a kilometer away from here," Leo answered.

"It's not hot, and we are full, so how about burning our calories by walking?" Mr. Lopez suggested, and everyone agreed. The kids were even more excited as they chased each other away.

Allie and Ajie led the way, and despite the difficulty of having a child in Ajie's arms, he still wrapped an arm around Allie. They were talking about something, and they burst out in laughter every now and then.

"What are you talking about? Do you mind sharing?"

Allie turned to them and explained, "We are just reminiscing our past, you know. It was here under these trees that we first fell in love. Our horse was the witness."

Allie's laughter rang in their ears, and Ajie reached out and pulled her tighter to himself.

"Oh, my gosh! You're making me jealous-" Cherry covered her mouth right away as she realized it was inappropriate. To recall, she felt in love with Ajie when she fell out of Andrew. Aside from that, Joanna was also there listening.

However, it was too late to back out."It's not too late, Che."

Cherry turned to Hayri and found another chance to tease. "You're right. Why did Andrew allow his team to go ahead? I could have someone to take me here through a horse."

"What a pity!"

"You're right. I'll be an old maid, but I won't  welcome you to the club, right, Jane?"

Jane rolled her eyes and turned her back. "Hey, Che! I'm so afraid when you open up your mouth."

Cherry giggled right away, making everyone laugh. "What's wrong with my question?"

"I know what's next," Andrew shouted; he and Joanna were walking next to Allie and Ajie.

Jane looked up and saw the amused look in all their faces, and she knew that at any moment, they'd burst out laughing again. She ran to her mom, who clung on to his dad's arm while walking.

"Mom, can you please let them shut up? They're attacking me again."

Everyone held back their urge to laugh, afraid of being reprimanded. To their surprise, Mr. Lopez gave out his most sincere advice.

"If I were to suggest, dear, I would love it if you and Louise will spend more time and do horse riding here."

"Yes, darling. We both see you grow up together, and we would be the happiest to know if you'll go beyond plain friendship." her mom added, smiling sincerely.

Hayri broke out into a wide grin as he watched her coiling into her mom's side, too ashamed at their open advice.

"Mom, Dad, you're so cruel!" she cried, too ashamed to look up. She knew everyone was listening.

Cherry kept her mouth shut, but she giggled quietly, igniting others to also burst out.

"Cherry, stop it!" Hayri scolded, but his grin grew wider, implying that he was enjoying it.

Time passed like a blink of an eye, and soon, they were already in front of the sprawling carabao mango farm. The carabao mango got the reputation of being the sweetest strain, juicier and lesser in fiber than any other species.

Abundant green, egg-shaped to oblong fruits dr.a.p.ed on each tree which ranged from 10 meters to around 30 meters high. Each broad and rounded, dense canopy dropped low that some of the fruits dangled within a hand reach. Watching the open temptation, everyone got excited to pluck fruits from the tree. They quickly spread out their mats again. Placing down their things on it, they hurried to the trees with the lowest hanging fruits.

Cherry and Allie climbed up the shortest tree and picked up mangoes within their reach. Ajie and Andrew followed them and even went farther. Jane glanced up excitedly, but being unexposed to tree-climbing in her childhood; she could only watch them with envy. She was an overprotected child whose slight scr.a.p.e in the knee was already a big issue. Unlike Allie and Cherry, who were left out playing and climbing anywhere during their childhood days, she was only allowed on expensive playrooms or parks.

"Joanna, give the baby to nanay and join us. It's fun over here!" Andrew called out, and Joanna handed the child to Issa excitedly. As a carefree child before, she was also able to climb up without an effort.

"Jane, Hayri, join us. We don't have this fun in the city!" Allie hollered from the top.

"I can't climb up. I'm scared!" 

"Let Hayri help you!"

"No, even if I'll succeed in coming up, but I still can't move. I'm afraid of heights."

"Oh, you'll miss the fun."

"It's alright. Just throw a ripe fruit for me."

Allie went higher to find ripe mangoes, but the ripe ones were the ones hanging at the lowest branches. Hitting them with a stick would be easier.

"Jane, have you seen the ripe ones?" Hayri's breath brushed her ears as he spoke behind her, pointing to the cl.u.s.ter of fruit with his finger.

"Yes, I see it! Wow!"

"Pick it up!"

"How? It's higher than my reach."

Hayri crouched down in front of her. "Hurry! Hop on my back!"

"Are you sure? I'm heavy!"

"Of course! You're nothing against my weight. Fast!"

Jane hesitated, but her excitement to pluck up those shining, golden fruits, outweighed her reluctance. She hopped on to his back and placed her hands on his shoulders.

"No, dear. It would be difficult," interrupted Mr. Dioko, "hop instead on his shoulders so that you can use both of your hands."

"Yes, that's right," Mr. Lopez agreed, giving his best friend a wink.

"Go, darling. We can't also wait to have the ripe ones fresh from the tree," urged Mrs. Lopez.

With everyone's encouragement, she climbed into Hayri's shoulders and plucked off the first ripe fruit that she saw. She got so happy and excited to have plucked out one, that she forgot her sense of awkwardness and began plucking as many ripe fruits as she could find. Her laughter and excitement in finding another one were priceless, and she ended up happy and triumphant, while Hayri got breathless.

Squatting down later in the mat with the many mangoes she got, she called out the elderlies.

"Mom, dad, uncles, aunties, come over. Let's eat!" Jane said excitedly, peeling the biggest fruit she got. The elderlies also gathered around with them while those on the top of the trees were throwing their seeds to the ground. Their voices were too loud as they talked and laughed about anything.

They all began eating while Hayri spread his legs on the ground, his two hands planted on the mat, supporting his weight. Jane noticed that he was panting and that he was the only one not eating yet.

"Louise, eat now."

"Later, I'm still tired."

"I'll help you peel," Jane seed, and she indeed peeled another fruit. When she was done, she handed it to Hayri. "Here."

"Feed me, please. I'm too tired."

"Okay," she replied and placed the fruit in his mouth. Hayri took a bite, and to get a firm hold, he gripped her arm that held the mango. After taking a bite for himself, he also moved her hand to her mouth so she could also have a bite.

Jane didn't know that everyone was watching them and that they were stifling their laughter. When they consumed the piece of mango in her hand, Hayri glanced at all of them with a wide grin and a wink.

"Jane, I want some more. Can you peel another?"

Jane stared at him, and when she saw that he indeed looked tired, she nodded.

"Okay. Are you still tired?"

"Yes. And I want to be tired all my life."

Cherry, amazingly, no longer opened her mouth to tease, but she suddenly choked and coughed out hard. They all turned to her and laughed, sparing Jane a glance who was so sincere with her peeling task.