Beneath the Two | Academy Series #1

Chapter 33

The silence inside the car made me sleep. Hindi ako sigurado kung sa pagod ko ba sa pakikipagsigawan kanina kaya masama ang pakiramdam ko ngayon o dahil sa sakit ko.

It's not new to me. There are days like this when I feel like it's my last day, but will find myself waking up the next morning. As I always say, the possibilities are endless. I don't know when will I leave, so I'm trying to make every single day count.

I want to die on my sleep, probably in the arms of someone I love. Ayokong mahirapan ako hanggang sa huling oras ko at ayoko ring mahirapan si Mommy.

Sa lagay ngayong araw, hindi pa ako puwedeng mamatay. Ano na lang ang sasabihin sa akin ni San Pedro sa purgatoryo kapag nagkita kami? That until my last day, I'm still a childish little monster? I can't die today, that's all I know.

"Are your parents home? Gusto ko sanang bumati, sana ayos lang," he asked.

"Mom's not here right now, flight niya today to California, work errands," I told him the truth

Umalis kaninang madaling araw si Mommy.

"Kay Mr. Alvarez na lang, if that's fine with you. I'll just greet him."

I smirked. Wala na siyang alam sa buhay ko after we broke up.

Lumamlam ang itsura ko. Dahil sa tanong na 'yon ay napaisip din ako kung kamusta na si Daddy. Mukha namang masaya na siya sa bago niyang pamilya, looking at his photos now.

"Mom and Dad parted ways five years ago. My Dad settled in the U.S. You can buy a ticket and greet him if you want."

"Limang taon na? Ibig sabihin-"

"If you'll ask if they separated when we were still in a relationship, no. We already broke up when my Dad left. You want to know why? I'm not his real daughter and he wanted Mom to go with her, but my Mother chose me over him. Now, he has his new family. What else do you wanna hear from me?"

Papasa na siyang interviewer sa sobrang tsismosa niya. He bit his lips, looking overwhelmed with the imformation.

"I'm sorry, hindi ko alam."

I rolled my eyes as a reflex. Wala naman talaga siyang alam. "Anyway, paano mo naman maiuuwi ang kotse ko? Don't tell me you can drive two cars at the same time?" I snorted.

"Susunduin ko si Darwin, siya ang magmamaneho ng sasakyan mo."

My brows met. "What?! No! Baka ibangga pa ni Darwin 'yon. You can't even trust him with information, how can I entrust him my car?"

"Sino nga ang gusto mo?"

"You! Sino pa ba?" singhal ko.

"I-I mean I want you to drive my car like what you've told me earlier, dahil kapag may nangyaring masama sa kotse ko, ikaw ang mananagot."

He nodded, not convinced. "Sure, I'll let him drive my car. I'll drive yours. Dahil ako ang GUSTO mo. It won't take long, antabayanan mo kami."

Tumaas ang isang sulok ng labi ko, naiirita. I didn't feed the tease since it will only make me sound defensive. Bumaba ako ng kotse niya at dumiretso sa loob.

When I heard his car moved, pasimple akong sumilip sa gate para tanawin ang paglayo ng kotse. I was enjoying the view when someone touched my waist.

I held my chest in shock. "Mom?!" Gulat pa sa gulat ang reaksiyon ko.

"Bakit parang nakakita ka ng multo?" She chuckled.

"I thought you left? Hindi ba umalis ka kaninang madaling araw?"

Umiling ito. "My flight was cancelled last night, but I'll be flying to Cali. Hindi pa lang sigurado kung kailan." She explained.

"All this time, you're home?"