UNTAMED

VIII

D's 💜

"Oh? Yun naman pala Deans eh. She said she won't be coming there na."

"But ate! Paano ko na siya hahanapin ngayon?"

"Well, that, I don't know. Bakit ba kasi hindi mo na lang dinala dito sa condo mo para if ever gusto ka niya makita, alam din niya kung saan ka pupuntahan?"

"I never thought of it that way actually. Hindi ko din naman expected that we'll end up doing IT. Kaya I was also opting for a NO STRINGS ATTACHED night with her. But, hell!"

"Can't you just move on Deans?" biglang sabat ni Ate Kat.

Nandito kami ngayon sa Condo ko at pinapagalitan nila ako kasi 1 week na akong hindi uma'attend ng training. Pinag-uusapan din namin yung last visit ko sa bar which was 2 weeks ago. I tried to leave my number kay Viv para if ever mag-drop by parin si G ay maibigay niya. I badly needed to talk to her.

"I can't ate Kat. This is the first time I felt this way"

"Yun na nga Deans. And as what we can see, it's not doing you any good. Ilang trainings na ba yung hindi mo in'attend'an? You're losing your focus already"

"I don't know ate. It's just, I can't get a grip of my goal na. Parang nakakawalang gana"

"Don't tell me hindi ka pa rin talaga magrerenew ng contract mo? Two weeks na lang Deans. At inaantay na nila yung desisyon mo"

"I'm still sticking to my decision Ate. I'll pause muna sa paglalaro. But I'm not quitting naman. I'll just try to regain my focus kasi kahit ako, parang hindi ko na alam kung anong gusto kong gawin"

"So what's your plan now?"

"Well for now, I would be talking to the bosses para formal na magpaalam"

"And when do you plan to do that?"

"As soon as possible Ate Madz. Maybe tomorrow"

"So you really are leaving us huh?"

"Hindi naman Ate. We can still hang out anytime you want. Training niyo lang ako hindi makakasama. Promise"

"Aasahan namin yan Deanna"

"Yes po. I love you both"

----

Today is my first day to be out of the team. The next day after Ate Madz and Ate Kat went to my condo, was also the day I talked to our bosses that I won't be renewing my contract with the team.

Maraming nagsabi ng Sayang, but I don't think so. I think it's also the perfect time for me to have a breather from all the toxic things that I have in my life right now.

And the first on my list of agenda is TO GO HOME.

I haven't been to Cebu for more than a year. I'm planning to spend my first three months there, to make it up to my family.

So, here I am, standing outside that departure area of the airport. Today is my scheduled flight, which is 3 hours from now.

After check-in, I immediately went to a restaurant inside the airport to have my brunch, then proceeded to the assigned gate for my flight. Doon na lang ako nag-antay ng flight ko, which was not quite long.

I arrived in Cebu after an hour and looked for a taxi. Hindi ko sinabi sa kanila na uuwi ako ngayon to surprise them. Hindi din nila alam na hindi na ako nagrenew ng contract with my team, because I'm planning to tell them in person.

After roughly an hour of land travel, I arrived on my hometown. Dumiretso ako sa bahay namin and was glad to find out na kumpleto lahat ng mga kapatid ko. Sakto din kasing sunday ngayon, and sunday for us is Family Day.

"I miss you guysssss!" Sigaw ko pagtapak ko sa loob ng bahay namin.

Agad naman silang naglabasan galing sa dining area.

Una kong nakita ang dalawang pamangkin ko na mabilis na tumakbo palapit sakin. Agad ko naman silang yinakap, saka hinarap ang mga kapatid ko.

"We miss you Sachi" sabi ni Ate Nicole.

"I missed you too, lahat kayo"  Sagot ko sakanila saka sila isa-isang yinakap.

"Sachi! Bakit hindi ka nagsabi na uuwi ka? Dapat sinundo ka na namin" Narinig ko ang boses ni Mommy kaya agad akong lumapit sakanya para yumakap.

"I wanna surprise you guys"

"And you did! Welcome home my sachi" si Dad naman ang yumakap sakin.

"Tara. Sakto ang dating mo. We are having our lunch. Kakatapos lang ng misa kaya halika na"

"Sakto dahil sobrang miss ko na yung luto mo mom"

Dumiretso na kami sa dining area at doon pinagpatuloy ang kwentuhan.

"How are you in Manila Sachi?"  Tanong agad sakin ni Mom.

"I'm good naman mom. But, I have something to tell you guys pala"

"Go on" sagot ni Dad habang matamang nakikinig lang yung mga kapatid ko at si mom.

"I did not renew my contract with the  club team" sagot ko bago yumuko.

"Oh my god. Akala ko naman kung buntis ka na" narinig kong sabi ni Ate Cy kaya nanlaki yung mata ko. Nagtawanan naman silang lahat pwera kay Dad.

"Never in my wildest dreams Ate Cy"

"Yeah we know Sachi. We know" patango-tango namang sagot ni Dean. Lahat kasi sila ay alam ang gender preference ko at tanggap nila ako. Though alam kong deep inside them, they are still hoping for me to have a relationship with the opposite sex, pero alam ko ding wala talagang pag-asa.

"Dad? Would you like to comment on my decision?" baling ko kay Dad. Kahit naman malaki na ako, I always seek advice from my parents kung decision-making ang pag-uusapan. Iba pa din pag may blessing nila yung ginagawa ko.

"May I ask kung bakit ka nagwithdraw from the team?"

"Because I lost interest in doing it Dad. I lost focus. Parang biglang I am questioning myself if this is really what I want to do with my life."

"Do you think it would do you good? Eto ba yung breather na kailangan mo to realize what you really want to do with your life?"

"Yes dad. I think I need this"

"Then we're here to support you. Kung anong sa tingin mong makakabuti sayo, nakasuporta kaming lahat"

Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag nung marinig ko yung sinabi ni Dad.

"So I think matagal ka dito Sachi?" Ate Nicole asked.

"You bet"

"Ilang weeks ka dito Sachi" It was mom who asked kaya no choice ako kundi sumagot ng maayos.

"I'm planning to stay here for 3 months mom"

"Well it's good to hear that. What are your plans? Saan tayo gagala?"

Lahat naman kami ay lumawak ang mga ngiti sa narinig. So I guess, I'll be enjoying my vacation at susulitin ko talaga ang FAMILY TIME.