Chapter 5
"Why don't you try to visit the plantation, anak?"
Isang umaga habang nag-uumagahan kaming tatlo. I planned to stay quiet the whole time because If I speak, I might unleash some words that could hurt them.
I am not a good daughter. I sometimes rebel around to get their attention. Iyon naman palagi ang rason ng mga anak na hindi napagtutuunan ng pansin ng kanilang mga magulang.
We want them to spend some time with us. We want to feel their love. It's just that they always choose their work over me. Though, I am used to it. I am used to being alone in our house. Kaso nga lang ay minsan, gusto ko rin silang makasama at makausap. I want to tell them my stories about school. I want to rant and all.
Now that we are complete, having our precious breakfast, Mom is bringing up the plantation again. Ano naman ang gagawin ko roon? I don't like walking beneath the blazing sun. Paniguradong mamumula lang ang aking balat sa sobrang init ng araw.
I'll just stay here alone.
"I don't want to."
I heard them suspired. Alam kong hindi ako pipilitin ni Daddy pero si Mom?
"You're always alone here. Aren't you bored?" she smiled. "In plantation, you can relax because the wind is breezy..."
Ako naman ang nagbuntong-hininga.
"I'll think about it." Sumubo ako upang hindi na madugtungan ang sinabi.
I don't want to. Really. I'm sorry Mom.
"Okay."
Tumango nalang ako at wala na sanang balak magsalita nang biglang tumigil sa pag-kain si Mommy. We both looked at her in shock.
"What is it, honey?" tanong ni Dad.
Mom smiled widely then she gazed at me.
"I remember! Your Dad made a swing. It's a bit far from the plantation, you can kill some time there, anak."
Bumagal ang aking pagnguya. Swing? I like swings. It always makes me calm and happy. Kapag nakasakay ako roon pakiramdam ko ay lumilipad ako gaya ng mga ibon. I like feeling the air gently slapping my face when I'm riding a swing.
Ngunit naisip kong mayroon naman na akong swing dito sa bahay. I can always sit to it if I want. Kaya bakit pa ako pupunta sa malayo upang makapag-swing lang?
I know they just want me to visit their plantation.
"I have a swing here, Mom." tukoy ko sa swing na pinagawa pa noong bata pa ako.
Nawala ang kaniyang malawak na ngiti at malungkot lamang na tumango sa sinabi ko.
"Let her do what she wants, Rosalie." Kalmadong wika ni Daddy.
It's Dad who always finish our conversation. He always let me do what I want. He never tried to convince me to go to the plantation. Alam niyang ayaw ko kaya hindi niya ako mapipilit. He knows that if I really want to go there, they don't need to insist 'cause I'll go there in my own will. He's always the best.
Natapos ang umagahan at ako na naman ang naiwan. Of course I washed the dishes then I cleaned the house before ascending to my room.
Sabado ngayon at sa bahay lang talaga ako nananatili dahil masyado akong tamad para bumisita sa bahay nina Nova. It's too far. Malapit na iyon sa La del Barrio kaya huwag nalang.
Sa totoo lang maraming pasyalan dito sa El Diego. We have here a beach, streams and a forest to camped in. I prefer to go to a stream but it's far in our house. 'Tsaka pagmamay-ari iyon ng mga del Allegre. Kapag pumunta ako roon nang walang paalam ay baka mapahamak lang ako. Huwag nalang.
