Uncontrolled [Baguio Series #6]

04

04:

Dad is in the living room, sitting on the couch while talking to his wife on the phone.

"I'll be back in a week."

Nagpunta kami sa harap niya at hinintay siyang matapos makipag-usap sa asawa niya.

Matapos niyang magpaalam, ibinaba na niya ang cellphone at tumingin sa akin nang seryoso. Kumabog ang dibdib ko sa kaba dahilan para mapahawak ako nang mahigpit kay Kuya. Tumayo si Dad at lumapit sa amin. Tumitig ako nang matagal sa kamay niya na ngayon ay alam ko . . . tatama na sa mukha ko any time today.

"Aika, you disobedient brat!"

I closed my eyes immediately after hearing him shout at me. I waited for Dad's palm to hit my face but I felt none. I slowly opened my eyes and saw that Kuya Gio's free hand is stopping Dad from hurting me.

"Dad, just stop, please."

"Ang sabi ko sa 'yo, bantayan mo 'yang kapatid mo!" sigaw ni Daddy sa kan'ya. Mabilis na umagos ang luha ko. "Bakit hindi mo kaagad sinabi sa akin na sa NEUST lang nag-aral 'yang batang 'yan?!"

"Because I knew that you'd react this way!" Kuya shouted back. "There's nothing wrong with studying in a state university!"

"That's a fucking cheap university, Giovanni! You know so well that we can afford better universities out there so why did you let her do that?!"

"It is not about that! Why can't you let her do that? Kahit do'n lang, hayaan mo si Aira na gawin 'yung gusto niya! Sinusunod niya lahat ng gusto mo. Nagpapa-kontrol siya sa 'yo! Bakit hindi niyo siya hayaan kahit dito lang? Hindi naman masisira ang buhay niya kung sakaling mag-aral siya ro'n!"

Dad pursed his lips as he sighed. "Paano 'yan tatanggapin sa magagandang kumpan'ya kung sa gan'yang eskwelahan lang siya magtatapos?!"

"You talked like you don't have any plans on making us live with you, don't you?" Kuya Gio said, sarcastically. "Kahit naman saan kami magtapos, we will still be forced to live with you in New Zealand and work under your company, right?"

"Kaya nga gusto kong sa UST kayo mag-aral dahil nandoon lahat ng magaling!"

"Kaya rin naman naming magaling sa sarili naming paraan! Hindi mo ba kami p'wedeng pagkatiwalaan, Dad?" He sighed.

"Kuya, stop." I sobbed.

He held my hand tighter. "Dad, don't you dare hurt my sister again or I will not go to New Zealand and help you!"

Matapos sabihin 'yon ni Kuya, hinila na niya ako paalis ng living room, paakyat sa hagdan. Pinapasok niya ako sa k'warto, kasabay ng malakas na pagbuntonghininga niya.

"Sorry, Kuya." I said in between my sobs.

Kuya hugged me. "Shh. It's okay. " I hugged him back as I cried in his arms. "Don't cry like that after I am petitioned, okay? Wala na ako dito para patahanin ka."

I hugged him tighter as I cried more with what he said. Why is he talking like this?! Kahit naman istrikto siya sa akin, 'yung totoo, ayaw ko naman talaga siyang umalis. I don't want to be alone in this big house. It's better to have him here every weekend than not to have him anymore.

"P'wede bang dito ka na lang?" I said in between my sobs.

He chuckled before patting my head. "Hindi p'wede. Susunod ka rin naman eventually so you won't miss me that much. Okay?"

Kumalas ako sa yakap at pinunasan ang mga luha ko. "Paano si KC? She's been playing with men. Aren't you going to take a step and make a move for her?"

Bahagya siyang ngumiti bago pinunasan ang mga luha ko. "Hindi na. Aalis na rin naman ako in a year or two. Kung magkagusto siya sa akin pabalik, eh 'di pareho lang kaming nahirapan sa magiging sitwasiyon namin kung aalis na ako."