unruly, jakehoon

02

New Life? More Like... New Trouble!

Ryu's Dad picked us up from our house. Alas dose ng gabi nang makarating kami sa kanila. The neighborhood was quiet, except for that one house with disco lights at the garden.

"May party na naman sila," I heard Ryu whispered.

"You're not going there tonight, Ryu." Tito Ryan warned him. Umiling naman si Ryu.

"I'm not planning to. Pagod ako."

Ryu's Mom, Tita Elie, welcomed us when we entered the front door. She had a bright small on her face as she hugged her son. Lumapit ako sa kaniya at nagmano.

Bigla niya akong niyakap saka bumulong. "It's okay, son. Don't worry about your dad too much." I smiled at her.

Kahit wala akong sinasabi, kilala niya talaga ako. It's because I grew up with Ryu and Marcus here in this place.

Dad couldn't handle Kuya Baste and I together when we were kids because he's working. So he had to choose between us kung sino ang mag-iistay sa kaniya. And obviously, he chose his eldest, so I grew up with Tita Elie and Tito Ryan taking care of me and Ryu. I studied elementary and made friends here.

Lumaki rin akong si Marcus at Ryu ang kasama lagi. Dumadalaw naman si Dad at Kuya Baste sa akin dito o kaya ay ako naman ang dumadalaw doon tuwing may importanteng araw. Dad only took me in when I turned 13. May isip at responsable na sa sarili. First year ko noon sa highschool habang ang kapatid ko ay senior na. I didn't imagine I would have to leave that place again because everything was going smoothly during my junior years. Akala ko kaya ako ibinalik ni Dad ay dahil permanente na akong makakatira kasama sila. And now, I'm thrown back here.

"You go up to your rooms and rest. Bukas na lang tayo mag-usap. I know you're all tired."

"Thanks, Tita." I kissed her cheek and followed Ryu upstairs. Pumasok na ako sa dulong kwarto sa kanan. It's the same room I had here when I was a kid. Bukod sa bagong kobre kama at pintura, walang nagbago.

Pinatong ko ang bag ko sa tabi ng cabinet saka umupo sa kama. Even the view outside the window is the same from how I last remember it, except from the new houses. Kitang kita rin dito and mailaw na bahay sa hindi kalayuan.

I changed into a comfortable clothing and fixed some of my things. Pagkatapos ko ay lumabas ako ng kwarto at bumaba sa kitchen. Naghahain si Tita Elie ng pagkain namin. Hindi yata nasabi ni Ryu na nakakain na kami sa amin.

"Kain na kayo."

Ngunit muntik pa akong maiyak nang makita ko ang pagkain, my favorite food. Tita Elie always cooked this before. Ang gaan sa pakiramdam na mayroong nakahanda na ganito ngayon. It's like a reminder that I'm a part of this household.

Napaangat ang tingin ko sa kanila. Tito Ryan is smiling at me.

"Salamat po sa pagkain," sabi ko at nagsandok ng pagkain ng nakangiti.

Pagkatapos kumain ay bumalik na ulit kami sa kaniya-kaniya naming kwarto. Bukas na lang daw kami magkamustahan sabi ni Tita.

It felt nice to be in this room again. The smell of the bedding is comforting me that makes me want to embrace the pillows while sleeping.

Tumingin ako ulit sa labas ng bintana. Maliwanag pa rin sa kapitbahay. Anong oras kaya matatapos ang party nila doon? Close kaya ni Ryu ang mga kapitbahay nila? I wonder if I'm going to be friends with them too.

I hope they don't know me.

I was woken up by the morning light that went through the window. Hindi naman iyon diretso sa mukha ko pero dahil doon ay naging maliwanag sa buong kwarto. Nakalimutan ko palang hawiin ang kurtina kagabi. I checked my phone for notifications and had few messages from Kuya Baste and my friends. Hindi ako nagreply agad sa kahit sino sa kanila.