Chapter Ten: I wasn't Aware

For two heart-stopping subjects, Ligaya had undoubtedly proven her skills not just in engineering problems but also in all other subjects that they were all enrolled in for the semester. Even without her knowing it, this amazing act of hers plus her mysterious personality gained her respect from everyone in her batch, including their professors, especially that in that particular batch of aspiring builders and fixers, she was the only female and that she was undeniably really good. Even V and his friends were aware about that. Although, it still was not enough for them to be comfortable with her. They were still careful not to be too close to her physically and were still bringing with them the holy water which they actually went the trouble to fetch, just to be safe from Ligaya. At least, that was what they believed in.

After all their subjects for that day were done, Ligaya immediately went home as V went to somewhere she did not know or care about.

~~~~

Very far away from the humans' world, was the the magnificent Realm of Ibawnons. It was a very peaceful and tidy place for healers and good spirits' dwellers. There were different kinds of medicinal plants and colorful flowers that were situated at every direction of the place, making it a sight worthy of recognition. At the far corner of the realm, there was a majestic and huge waterfalls, which seemed to be the symbol of life and prosperity of the place. There, at the edge of the riverbank where the waterfalls directed its waters to, was an old woman in a hippie-like clothing coupled with so many amulets and accessories on her neck, wrists, and ankles. Her hair was long and silvery and her skin, even though she was already an old woman, was still glowing. She was sitting calmly on top of a massive rock, approximately seven meters away from the falls and at least two meters above the ground. It looked strange but it was even stranger how she got at the top of that rock. She was barefooted as well, just like Ligaya. But unlike the latter, the woman was serenely watching the falls with her eyes which were so full of vigor and life. Her name was Mamang Turiya.

"Mamang Turiya! A message had been delivered to us from the Malignobons. I came here to deliver it to you." A fair young lady with hair so long and skin so beautiful approached the woman and bowed while speaking.

"What is it, Adiya?" Mamang Turiya's eyes were still fixated at the falls. 

"I did not open it, Mamang Turiya. No one among us opened it. It was addressed specifically to you. So here it is." Adiya replied as she climbed a little using the crooked parts of the rock and handed the letter to Mamang Turiya. 

"My gratitude, Adiya. I observe that you have been working well these days. Great job." Mamang Turiya said, smiling.

"That is because I am doing it for the sake of my beloved Ibawnon, Mamang. It is my pleasure to do things like this." Adiya replied cheerfully.

"Well thank you very much, Adiya. Sorry for taking much of your time. You can go now." Mamang Turiya smiled at the young lady who bowed for a second and walked away.

Mamang Turiya opened the letter that was delivered to her seconds later. Her expression was unreadable but it seemed like something wrong was going on. She closed her eyes and prayed. Hoping against hope that everything would be alright.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was a bit late when V finally went home. He looked tired but still not enough to eridacate his attractiveness. He hadn't eaten yet as well, so he brought with him some fast-foods for his dinner. As he approached the kitchen, Ligaya was there. And unlike the previous encounters that they had at that spot, V was not shocked or surprised anymore to see her presence. He pulled some plates without even saying a word, as if nobody was there but him. But he was not able to touch his food for Ligaya snatched it away from him.

"Hey! Give me that!" V was a bit angry. He was really tired to deal with her at this moment. 

"No. Mia told me that most of what you are eating are bad for every human's body." Ligaya stated, as if she was someone who came from a textbook.

"I'm not in mood right now, so just give it back to me."

"I trust her because she is a competent healer. And so, I am not letting you continue to eat these things."

"And I am hungry, so give it back!"

Yet, she just stared at him. V looked at her confusingly. Then he paced toward the trash can for his instinct was telling him to do so. And hola! As he opened it, all the canned goods and processed foods that were available once in his refrigerator were now in the garbage can. His mouth fell open, unable to compose a sentence for a while and then finally faced her.

"How...what is your problem?! These are MY properties! And these costs a lot of money. How dare you waste my food!"

He was raging but she was still looking calm.

"I am helping you. Those things will not give you a good life. You should be thanking me."

"And how do these things bring me a bad life? They are my source of energy, you idiot!"

"But you're not yet healed. You need to eat good food."

"And it's not your problem anymore! I let you stay here in my house but it does not give you the right to touch my belongings!"

She just stared at him.

"Now what? Is that your response to everything? Stare like it's my mistake when in fact it's yours? What?!" V was so exasperated.

"I don't want to talk to you right now." This was all Ligaya responded before she hurried away from him and threw the food that V had just bought to the garbage can as well, which left V with nothing but anger and frustration. 

Having nothing to eat, V just went upstairs and turned his computer on. He was so frustrated but he was left with no choice but to just let this stupidity pass. So instead of making himself angrier about the situation, he decided to play his favorite computer game. All his interest were now engrossed to the 

screen when his phone rang. It was Mia and at once, he felt alright. 

"What?" He said, pretending that he's not really interested to what she's about to say. 

"You are rude to me, but since I am a decent and concern citizen of this country, I will still let you know 

that I told Ligaya something about you and I don't know what she did or has done but it seemed like she was so serious about getting you healed so...that." 

"You knew?" He was nervous. The last person he wanted to be informed about Ligaya living with him was obviously Mia. 

"Knew what?" 

"Nothing. What did she say?"

"Well, she said that you have to live a good life, be healed asap, and stuff like that." 

"Did she mention where she lives at?" 

"No, why? Are you planning to go to her house?" 

"No! Of course not! Just wondering, you two seem to have a good connection. I thought she invited you to go there and you know, it's obvious, she's weird and..." 

"Oh stop it, jerk. She's a nice person. Not everybody's type, but very nice and kind. You should be thankful your classmate is worried about you." 

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. So, is that the only reason why you called or, you're really up for something like creating small talks, getting to know me more..." 

"Tss you wish! I will never do that, jerk!" 

He smiled. 

"Hey, where are you?" V asked. His smile was now from ear-to-ear.

"And why would I tell you where I am?" 

"I haven't had my supper. Come with me." His voice was full of tenderness that she was really taken aback.

"I'm at home. But I already ate my supper." 

"It's fine, you can have dessert." 

They talked for a while until she finally agreed. V was now changing his clothes, happy that Mia agreed to come with him. He put on his shoes and was now ready to leave, however, when he opened the door, a home-made supper that was situated at his doorstep caught his eyes. He looked sideways to check if 

there's anyone in the area but none. But he knew who made it nonetheless. 

For a moment he considered throwing it into the garbage can just like what she did to his processed foods, but he wasn't taught by his mother that way. He also realized that he's actually really starving. So instead of wasting another food, he just went to his knee and pulled 

something, a leaf that was situated at the side of the meal. It's a middle-sized green leaf and V thought it was just a decoration but as he picked it up, he found letters that were written on it, saying, "I wasn't aware."

Clinching his teeth, he knew she had a point. She was a fucking newbie in the world of humans and she's as ignorant as a child when it comes to contemporary things. He's not mad anymore but he's still

not happy with her presence either.