Kampo Dela Mherced

Simula

"Come on sweety it's summer"

"Yes it is. So why do I have to go to a camp? Is that even necessary?"

"Anak, Kampo Dela Mherced isn't just a camp. It's a popular camp where in you can meet new friends, communicate with other people, socializing, doing activities and enjoying your summer. Come on. Don't be such a kill joy, hindi ka na bumabata your seventeen and you must be enjoying being in a millennial age just like other teens do"

"I am, ma. Nag-eenjoy naman ako sa mga ginagawa ko. Reading books, being alone,  pent inside my room ,being anti-social that's my life and I love it.... Ma, please. Wag nyo nalang ipilit ni papa, ayoko po talaga. I hate the idea. Naiimagine ko palang ang sarili ko kasama ang mga taong hindi ko kakilala at maiingay sa iisang lugar it gives me shiver.... Big time"

"That's because hindi ka sanay sa prisensya ng ibang tao. Anak, being with other people isn't an allergy to you na pwede kang magbreak down once you communicate to anyone. Mailap ka lang talaga. Just try anak"

"Ayoko po. Ayoko and that's final... Ughhhh, headache go away!", napahawak pa ako sa noo ko sabay buntong hininga at tinalikuran na si mama.

Kanina pa nya ako pinipilit at kinukulit. I can't even understand the words in my book that I'm reading sa ingay ni mama and that's pissing me of. Naiinis na ako.

"Zeve---"

"What again?"

"Anak--"

"Mama please. Tantanan mo na ako sa Dela Mherced- Dela Mherced na yan", inis na sabi ko na sabay hinto sa tapat ng pintuan ng kwarto ko at humarap ulet sa gawi ni mama.

"But they give you personally an invitation to stay to that place, don't you know how lucky you were? Hindi basta-basta namimigay ng invitation ang camp na yun"

"Of course it doesn't. A camp don't move ,wala naman yung kamay at paa ", sarkastikong sabi ko nalang dahilan para magseryoso ang mukha ni mama. Right. My mother hates sarcastic people.

"Don't talk to me like that Vanadey Zeve Tuazon. Hindi nakakatuwa, you know that", seryosong sambit na mama na kinatahimik ko na. I didn't mean to answer her that way, nakalimutan ko lang na ayaw nga pala ni mama sa mga sarkastikong tao.

"I-Im sorry. I didn't mean it. Nadala lang po ako. Paulit-ulit nalang kase"

"Fine. Kung hindi kita mapipilit, sige hindi na kita pipilitin", bumuntong hiningang sabi na ni mama na syang kinahingang maluwag ko naman. At last.

"Thanks ma", mariing usal ko naman na. She then nodded at me and crossed her arms.

"Pero...hindi ko ipagpapatuloy ang pagpaplano na palagyan ng sariling library yang kwarto mo", pasunod nya na syang kinalaglag ng panga ko. Seryoso ba? Come on! No way. They promised me na palalagyan nila ng mini library ang kwarto ko para may sarili akong private and study area.

That's not fair.

"You can't be serious ma. Nangako kayo ni papa about that tyaka it's your gift sakin nung nagturn seventeen ako. You promise ma. Promise aren't supposed to be broken", mabilis at di makapaniwalang angal ko at kita ko ang pataas ng sulok ng labi ni mama habang nakatingin sa akin.

"You promised either sweetheart. But then you broke it so I am. It's  a fair play my sweety"

"How can that be a fair play ma? Wala akong pinangako"

"Yes you have. When you turn seventeen you promise to obey us in whatever things that we want you to do at kapalit nun ay ang dream mini library mo inside you're quarto", she explain and that made me speechless for a second. Ok? Did I really promise something like that before? Geezzz! Memory Lost!

"So, you promised yet you broke it kaya naman we  promised and I will broke it. Fair play yun sa dalawang kampo anak", then she flashed her win-win smirk at me.

Great. Just great. I lost! Alam nila how I dreamed about having my own kind of library because that's been my wish through the years. I lost. Definitely LOST.

"See you around then sweety. Ill call the camp manager to give back the invitation that they bought for you and tell them that you refuse to go and everything will be cle---"

"Ok! Ok! Fine. You win and I lost", putol ko sa sinasabi ni mama. Napapabuntong hininga nalang ako but then my mother's smirk become a sweet smile until it becomes a wide smile.

"What do you mean about that?", she ask. I look at her pero ayun parin ang ngiti nya.

"Ma, alam mo na ang sinasabi ko. Don't make me state it please"

"I thought ayaw mong pumuntang Kampo Dela Mherced, what's with the sudden change of mind sweety?", ughhh!!! She's teasing me.

"I will keep my promise so carry out yours. Fulfill your words"

"Tapat naman kami ng papa mo sa mga salita namin ah. Your the one who's not true to your promises", usal pa ni mama sakin nang hindi mawala-wala ang ngiti nito sa labi. She looks so happy and contented na napapayag nya ako sa gusto nila.

What's up with that Kampo Dela Mherced place na sobra nalang kung ipagpilitan sakin ng mga magulang ko , my mother to be exact? Meron bang espesyal na lugar na yun? Ughhh!!! I hate this. I really hate this.

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