Monasterio Series #5: Risks and Chances

Kabanata 13

Kabanata 13

Cold

"Hindi naman sa nakikielam ako, anak. Nagaalala lang ako sa kapatid mo."

Pumangalumbaba ako sa mini desk ko habang kausap si Mommy sa laptop. I'm sure that I look bored with the topic we're talking about. Hindi naman puwedeng hindi ko siya kakausapin dahil siguradong iisipin niyang nawawalan na ako ng oras sa kaniya. She can be really dramatic most of the time.

Signs of aging, I guess.

"I don't get you, Mommy. How is Zadriel being in a relationship with Tate make you feel concerned?"

Tinitigan niya ako mula sa screen. Pakiramdam ko ay ang dami niya pang gustong sabihin sa akin pero hindi niya magawa. The fact that she doesn't like Tate for my brother is honestly hard to understand.

Kung ako ang papipiliin, mas nakikita ko ang pagiging totoong tao ni Tate kumpara kay Dianarra. Masiyadong peke ang bawat kilos nito, maging ang mga salita ay halatang ingat na ingat. I preferred someone who shows her true colors no matter what the situation is. Unang pakilala pa lang sa amin ni Zadriel kay Tate, alam ko ng malayo siya sa salitang plastik.

And Zadriel seems to be genuinely happy when he's with her. I can still remember him telling me before that Tatiana makes her laugh with her jokes.

Mommy shook her head. "Nevermind. I just hope your brother will stop seeing her. Makipaghiwalay muna siya kay Dianarra kung talagang gusto niya si Tate."

As if you can control him. When he wants something, he'll do everything to get it no matter how hard it is. Si Tate pa kaya na nagpapasaya sa kaniya ngayon?

"You're being over protective, My. Ayaw ni Zadriel niyan."

"He's still my son, Anya. I have the rights to intervene with his life even if he's already a grown up man. Nothing would make me stop from being a mother to both of you."

Here goes her drama again.

Bumuntong hininga na lang ako habang nakatingin sa kaniya. I saw Dad behind her holding a newspaper. Naupo ito sa tabi ni Mommy saka hinalikan ang sentido. Nang bumaling si Daddy sa akin sa monitor ay tipid akong ngumiti.

"How's your vacation there, Anya?" he asked.

I scoffed. "As if this is really a vacation, Dad."

He chuckled, still looking merciless though. Napailing ako dahil minsan ay lumalabas pa rin talaga ang pagiging pilyo niya. Mom says that he's really a low key playboy before. Dinaan rin daw siya mabuti sa pagsusungit.

"The meeting earlier did well. I'll fly back home tomorrow night." dagdag ko pa.

"Great. How about you and Alas?"

Nawala ang ngiti sa labi ko nang marinig iyon mula mismo kay Daddy. Even the boredom I was feeling awhile ago suddenly went away. Maging si Mommy ay titig na titig rin sa akin habang nangingisi.

Dad must have noticed my reaction when he suddenly raised his thick brow and put his arm around Mommy's shoulder.

How...

"Surprise?" Dad asked.

"H-How did you find out?"

Was it because of Facebook? Did he saw the relationship status Alas posted before? Dapat ay tinanggal niya na 'yon. Inaasahan ko naman ng malalaman niya. Nga lang, iba pa rin pala kapag narinig mismo mula sa kaniya.

"Alas told me."

Napatuwid ako sa pagkakaupo nang marinig iyon. Dad has finally caught my full attention. Pakiramdam ko pa ay nag-slow motion ang mga salita sa utak ko at hindi lubos na maintindhan.