Summer to Forget ✔️

26

At least for now, I could have my free time. I would not probably do things faster that made me do lesser efforts.

"And please help me tell your brothers not to go abroad already. There business is well and so the could help you manage our rice fields. Some of my amigos are selling theirs to me na."

"Why? What happened?" I unconsciously asked.

It was never my intention to asked him questions about his friends. I prefer sticking out my nose on their business. It's their friends not mine. We were already told about this since we were kids.

"Loss of money, I guess?"

"Just lend them some of your money Dad. Don't buy it just yet. Baka naghirap lang, tulungan na lang nating makabawi."

"Wow. Is that my kind of adulty princess?" he even teased me for being serious about the situation some are facing.

"I'm not adult Dad! I don't even have a boyfriend yet!" pabiro kong tugon.

He chuckled as he began to tickle me. But as soon as he stopped doing it. He became look serious. "Huwag ka munang pumasok sa relasyon. Baka aalis ka na naman kapag masaktan ka."

I heaved a sigh. "Hindi pa kasali sa plano ko magkanobyo, Dad."

"Hindi naman dahil hindi kasama sa plano ay hindi pa yan dadating Tam. Matanda ka naman na. Ang sa akin lang baka masaktan ka na naman. Maiiwan na naman akong mag-isa dito." dama ko ang pagkalungkot niya sa sinabi.

Pinanliitan ko siya ng mata at naisip na i-joke time. "Akala mo naman wala si Tita Flav noong lumisan ako. Tsaka nag-aral naman ako doon."

Sa sinabi ko ay biglaang sumeryoso ang kanyang mukha. Not that I mentioned someone who might be the reason why he is acting this way.

Iniwas niya ang kanyang tingin sa akin at bumuntong-hininga. "Good thing you are now back. That's the important thing." sabi pa niya bago ako nilapitan at niyakap ng mahigpit.

"Sana makapagbakasyon tayong apat sa pag-uwi ng kambal Dad no?"

"Hirap ka ngang mag-manage ng oras mo, paano tayo makapagbabaksyon nyan Tam?"

I shrugged my shoulders and said. "Pangdagdag ipon po."

"You are becoming stable Tam. Two thousand a week won't hurt you."

Napangiwi naman ako sa sinabi niya. Ever since I lived on my own, every cent of money became important to me. Hindi ko na ugaling bumili ng kung ano ano. I paid for my caprices, water, electricity and other bills before. Kahit pinapadalhan naman ako. Kaya napupunta ang lahat ng iyon sa savings ko.

As we get older, our mindset is getting better. What you think was right on your young days might be different now. I cannot help but to get embarrassed with my young decisions.

I was hoping for it to happen. Years ago has been tiring for us and complicated. We needed to unwind sometimes too. Hindi na iyong puro trabaho na lang ang ginagawa. We can say that we can afford for a European travel but the thing that we can't is our time. Our time together with the family. Habang wala pang isa sa kanila ang nagpa-planong magpakasal.

"Kaya ko pa Dad." I laughed humorlessly. Nangunguna ang pagiging kuripot.

"Ikaw. Just don't forget to tell me when something happens. When you got your day busy. Don't forget that your father can lend his hand for you. Always Tam. Always."

It was my turn to pull him to a hug. It meant so much to me. I can't help to teary eyed. Those were the words I was hoping years ago. The words I should have heard when I was on my weakling stage. But it doesn't matter.