Wayback Home

Chapter 3

Sure

I'm currently checking my luggage to make sure if I already packed all the things that I'll be needing in New York. Nakalagay naman na yung portfolio ko, kahit nga yung mga portfolio na for passion project lang, sinama ko na rin. So, check. All goods sa mga reqs ko for the job.

"Aliyah, halika na rine! Kain na tayo." My mom's been calling me for the third time already. Swear.

"Coming!!" I glanced at my things again when I noticed something on the floor, beside my luggage. It took me a while to realize what's on that white translucent folder na may resin keychains pa. After a minute or two, I figured out what it was. 'Yon yung polaroid album– polaroid album namin ni Sky. Unconsciously, I went near it only to be awakened by my brother's footsteps.

"Ate, ano ba?! Kakain na nga!" Jewel shouted.

I picked the album quickly and faced him. His stares went down on what I am holding. He smirked.

"Oh, ano? Nagbago isip mo?" My brows frowned. Sinasabi nito? I rolled my eyes and placed the album on my study table. Nagulat na lang ako na pagharap ko, nasa likod ko na s'ya.

"Kung ako sayo, Ate? Maghahanap na lang ako ng iba." I ignored him and walked to the door.

"Di ka ba lalabas?"

He moves his head sideways. "Ewan ko sayo. Uso rin mag move-on". Then march all the way to the kitchen, leaving me flustered.

Huh, alam na 'yon? I shrugged it off my mind.

I sat on my seat only to be gazed upon by my parents, or must I say my whole family? Tf was their thinking?

"Bakit?"

"Sigurado ka na bang aalis ka?" Tanong ni Daddy. I raised my left brow, 'wag mong sabihin na ayaw nila akong payagan? The last time I checked, pinagpipilitan na nila akong mag-asawa para naman raw hindi yung tuwing uuwi ako rito, nasa kwarto lang ako maghapon at nakakulong.

"Syempre. Bakit naman hindi?" I rebutted. Mom raised her brows and averted her gaze on the food. After a quite while, she opens her mouth to say something – one, two, th— she drinks her water instead.

"Ano 'yon?" I insisted.

Bumuntong hininga muna s'ya bago ituloy yung sasabihin. Nako! 'Wag mo sabihing iyakan series 'to kasi jusko! Ayoko ng drama. I've had enough. Eme.

She looked at me with doey eyes. I shifted my gaze for a while to ease my nervousness.

"Ma-mi-miss ka na namin." She says it like a whisper.

I breathed. "Ako rin. Pero hindi naman as if forever na ako roon? At most, I can last there for only 2 years lang! Or 5 years, depende kung magugustuhan ang performance ko. But regardless, uuwi pa rin naman ako." I said in fact.

Hindi naman kasi sa hindi na ako uuwi. Siguro, I can last there for let's say one year straight? Pero for sure hindi ako tatagal doon ng dalawang taon na hindi umuuwi. Duh? I may hate our home sometimes pero hello? Mahal ko 'tong bahay namin. This is where I started. This is where everything happens. As if makalimutan ko 'to? Never.

Nag-volunteer akong ligpitin yung mga pinggan at pinagkainan namin after kumain. Aba! Last time ko na'to so sulitin na natin. Seize the day, eka nga nila.

After finishing the dishes, I went back to my room to take some nap. Nakakapagod ring isipin na aalis na ako bukas. Feeling ko umuurong yung sikmura ko. Ewan ko ba, 'di ko alam if kinakabahan lang ako or natatakot or excited. Siguro, all of the above? Anyways.