Cruel Summer

ika-2

"Fontanilla, Georgianna Brienne C."

"Congratulations to you, anak!" Mom and Dad both said as they hugged me tight while on stage. It's my graduation today and finally, wala na akong p-problemahing thesis at defense. Malaya na 'ko!

"Thank you po, Mommy and Daddy," sabi ko habang nakangiti sa kanila.

I earned a medal since I am one of the Dean's Lister sa batch namin. At the age of 22, nakagraduate na ko sa kursong Civil Engineering. Si Claudia naman ay nasa 1st year college pa lang, and she's taking up Civil Engineering too.

Claudia was holding the camera to take a picture of us, and she then joined us in the family picture since kasama rin namin ang isa kong pinsan, si Kelsey. We were happy, and we went to the restaurant after a few minutes.

"I'll be a Civil Engineer like ate too, soon," Clau proudly said while we're on the way to the restaurant. Ngumiti naman ako at ginalaw siya sa pamamagitan ng aking balikat.

"Of course, you will! Mas matalino ka sa'kin e," sabi ko pa. She chuckled.

We were eating, and we're enjoying the meal. I ordered steak and it's very delicious. I've been eating here but this one feels like something special was added to it. Maybe because I'm just really happy.

"So what do you plan to do now, Georgianna?" tanong ni Daddy.

Daddy is an architect, while Mommy is a civil engineer. Nasa pamilya na namin ito kaya ito na rin ang kinuha naming magkapatid.

"Magpapahinga po muna siguro ako," I said. "Maybe I'll take a vacation or something."

Mommy nodded to what I said. Mukhang okay rin lang naman 'yon kay Daddy.

"Where do you want to go?"

Napaisip ako roon. I wanna go to a vacation myself. I wanna have a "me" time. "I think I want to go to Netherlands. Lolo is there too, right? I wanna visit him too! It's been a long time since I saw him."

"Yeah that's a good idea, Geo," si Mommy naman. "Our flight-"

"Uhm," putol ko sa sinabi. "I actually want to travel on my own muna po, if it is okay. Mas gusto ko po na magkaroon ng time para sa sarili ko."

Her eyebrows furrowed. "Are you sure you can go there by yourself? First time mo 'to."

I just smiled and nodded. Bakas pa rin ang pag-aalala sa mukha nila ngunit I did my best to assure them na kaya ko naman talaga. Mukhang nakumbinsi ko naman sila sa desisyon ko, kaya nagbook din ako kaagad ng flight. My flight's next week.

"Baka naman gusto mong makipag hang out muna sa amin bago ka umalis ng bansa 'no," sabi ni Lana, kaibigan ko. "Bakit naman bigla-bigla ka na lang umaalis siz?"

"Biglaan e," I said as I sipped my frappe. "Don't worry, dadalahan ko kayo ng pasalubong pagbalik ko."

"Aba dapat lang!" si Seah naman ngayon. "Gaano katagal ka ba doon?"

"3 months? I don't know," sabi ko. "I think 3 months will do. It's been so long since I've seen Lolo e. I want to have a bonding with him naman. Besides, kakamatay lang din ni Lola. I want to be there for him because I wasn't able to come with the fam when they fled to Netherlands."

"Sabagay," si Lana. "Oh basta pagkarating mo roon, alam mo na agad! Baka kasi may shogi, hihi!"

Bigla namang hinampas ni Seah si Lana sa braso niya dahilan ng pag "aray" nito. "Bakit si Lana lang? Syempre ako rin!"

I laughed so hard and then nod. "Noted mga boss."

I am really excited to go to Netherlands, kaya naman pakiramdam ko ay napakabilis ng takbo ng oras at araw. A couple of days has passed, and I'll be leaving for Netherlands tomorrow.

"You sure you're gonna be okay there ha," si mommy. I hugged her tight and squeezed her.

"Opo, masyado naman kayong nag-aalala, e nandoon din naman si Lolo."

She sighed and then nodded. Maaga rin naman ang flight ko bukas kaya naman maaga na rin akong natulog. Konting browse lang sa mga social media accounts ko tapos natulog na rin ako kaagad. Handa na rin ang mga bagahe ko. I can't wait!

The next day, I woke up early. 6 am ako nagising dahil 9 am na rin ang flight ko. Alam mo naman ang mga Pilipino, basta pupunta sa airport kelangan 1-2 hours before the flight nandoon ka na agad. Well, it's quite convenient since hindi ka talaga maiiwan ng eroplano.

While on our way to the airport, I was busy listening to the radio in the car. Bigla namang nagsalita si Daddy.

"You ready?" tanong niya. I smiled and nodded at him. He glanced at the rear mirror then put his focus on the road immediately.

Makalipas lamang ang ilang minuto ay nakarating na kaagad kami sa paroroonan. Naghintay lamang kami ng ilang oras pa at oras na rin ngayon ng flight ko. I waved goodbye to them before leaving.

"I'll message you right away when I get there," sabi ko sa kanila. Tumango naman sila at niyakap ako. I grabbed my luggage and walked away.

It was a direct flight kaya hindi ko na kailangan pang maghintay ng ilang oras sa ibang airport. This is my first time going out of the country myself. Sabagay, I'm already 22. I'm pretty sure I
can handle myself.

Pagkatapos ng napakahabang byahe papuntang Netherlands. Sa Amsterdam ako bumaba, at dahil naririto din ang isa sa mga kamag-anak kong pinsan ng Mommy ko ay sinundo nila ako sa airport at hinatid papuntang Rotterdam kung saan naroroon si Lolo.

I was busy looking for Tita Leah, and I kept lookig everywhere when I heard somebody called my name. It was her!

"Georgianna? Georgianna!" she shouted, enough for me to hear her and walked towards her immediately. She hugged me and seems like she is very glad to see me right now. "I haven't seen you in years! Look at you, you've graduated, and even looked prettier!"

I chuckled and blushed at what she said. Pinakilala naman niya sa akin ang kasama niya, anak na pala niya. Hindi ko naman siya ganoong kakilala at ngayon ko lang rin nakita since hindi naman siya sumasama sa Pilipinas kapag umuuwi si Tita Leah. His name is Paul.

Paul grabbed my luggage and he insisted to carry them para hindi na ako mahirapan. I let him do that, and what I did was to just enjoy the view I'm seeing right now.

"First time mo dito sa Netherlands 'no?" tanong ni Tita Leah habang nasa byahe papuntang Rotterdam. Um-oo naman ako sa sinabi. "Hindi ka rin kasi nakasama noong nagpunta sila Ate dito, busy ka raw sa school."

It was quite a long travel from Amsterdam to Rotterdam too, but it's relaxing. Seeing those views that I've always wanted to see ever since I was young, I am enjoying every part of it. Kinalaunan naman ay nakarating na rin kami sa apartment na tinitirahan ni Lolo rito.

I felt really excited to see Lolo after a couple of years. Lolo and Lola used to have their house here in Rotterdam, ngunit dahil sa nawala nga si Lola at nalubog sa utang ay napilitang ibenta ang malaking bahay at maghahanap na lamang ng mura at mas maliit na matitirahan dito.

He's much older now than when I last saw him. May tungkod na na hawak-hawak si Lolo habang medyo mabagal na rin ang paglalakad. I ran to him and hugged him.

"Lolo!" I called him. He was smiling and welcomed me with open arms. I was very excited.

"Apo, it's been a long time!" tugon niya. Tumango naman ako habang nakangiti.

Tinulungan pa rin ako ni Paul sa pagdadala ng mga gamit sa loob ng unit ni Lolo, at pagkarating naman doon ay hinayaan ko na ang mga gamit ko sa isang tabi at pinasalamatan si Paul. I got mesmerized by the view dahil kitang kita sa balcony ang napakagandang view ng Netherlands.

I can imagine myself drinking a cup of coffee in the morning, seeing this wonderful view. I took a deep breath and it feels so good to be here.

Hello, Netherlands!