Hurricane (Disaster Series #1)

Kabanata 29

Lost

Weeks passed since our date on Isla Duanes and we're back to our old routine. Luci and I calls each other every night before going to sleep and we go out sometimes and that is on weekends.

Sometimes, I joke about him and Loreen. When the truth is, I'm kind of jealous. Halos magkasama kasi sila every weekdays dahil sa kailangan nilang ipasa na final requirement.

But he never fails to assure me whenever he calls or when we meet. Naiintindihan ko naman dahil tungkol 'yon sa pag-aaral. And it's so immature of me kung magagalit o magseselos pa talaga ako. Besides, there should be trust.

Hindi ko naman hinayaang masyado  'yong bumagabag sa isipan ko dahil nawawaglit rin sa tuwing bumibisita ako kina Tita Helen. Well, hinahayaan naman ako ni Dad, not that he has time to stop and reprimand me anyway. Palagi naman siyang busy sa kompanya. Even Tita Ada is starting to join occasions and party invites from the company's business associates. She's quite living the social life now. She gained 'amigas' and sometimes go to casinos with them.

Mom called me last week too, she apologized that she forgot to greet me on my 17th birthday. Yes, hindi siya naka-greet sa akin noon. Pero kung nasanay ka na talaga na binabati ng mga taong nandiyan lang sa tabi mo, hindi mo na hahanapin pa ang atensyon ng nasa malayo.

I love my Mom, of course. Pero hindi na rin kasi ako masyadong umaasa sa atensyon niya. Because I understand that she's stressed, or maybe even depressed. She's still grieving for Joseph, her live in partner who unfortunately passed away last year because of Leukemia.

Tinatawagan ko naman si Mom, gaya ngayon. Pero kagaya rin ng kadalasang nangyayari, 'yong kapatid ko, na anak niya sa live in partner niya, ang sumagot.

"Rafaela!" I smiled at my sister on the monitor.

She waved. Ang tsokolate at bilugang mata ay nakatutok sa screen. She got all the features from Mom, so basically, we look so much alike. Ang pinagkaibahan lang namin ay ang mata at buhok. My eyes is like Mom's almond shape while Rafaela got big doe eyes. My hair's brown while her's is ebony.

"How are you?" I softly asked.

Parang may kumurot sa puso ko nang pagmasdan ang kapatid na nasa limang taong gulang pa lamang at seryosong-seryoso na kung tingnan. She matured early, thinking that she has to take care and be there for Mom. May kasama naman sila roon, si Lola, my Mom's mother but I know that Rafaela also carried the burden that Mom is carrying for the past few months.

Ngayong kaharap siya ay buo na ang desisyon ko. I've been thinking about this the moment that our school year ended, at ngayon, sigurado na akong bisitahin sila Mom sa Canada sa susunod na buwan.

"I'm doing good, Ate. How about you?" she replied, sounding so formal.

Napangiti ako dahil sa kaseryosohan niya. It was between a sad and a genuine smile. Kids like her are supposed to play and enjoy life pero sa murang edad niya ay tanging pag-aaral at pag-aalalay lang kay Mom ang inatupag niya.

"I'm fine, Rafa..."

Her thin pinkish lips then curved into a small and reserved smile upon hearing me call the nickname I made for her. She likes it.

"Do you mind if I visit you there next month?" Ikiniling ko ang ulo ko para mapagmasdan ang reaksyon niya.

Slowly, her mouth formed into an 'o' before she covered it with her hands, looking so surprised. I chuckled upon seeing her react like how most kids do. Kung kanina'y seryoso siya ay hindi niya na maitago pa ang malapad at masayang ngiti ngayon.

I wanted them to come home, a month after Tito Joseph died, pero panay ang tanggi ni Mom. Hindi rin naman ako nakabisita sa kanila sa mga nagdaang buwan dahil sa pag-aaral kaya ngayong bakasyon, ay sisiguraduhin ko nang makapunta roon.