Scarcity of Chances

Chapter 12

"Do you want some fries? How about more chicken? Eat more of this!" Ate Lyka said and put another piece of original fried chicken on my plate.

I swallowed the food inside my mouth but did not dare to speak, probably because of the still existing confusion clouding my mind at this moment, even after we arrived at a KFC branch near the airport.

"Are you okay, Vine? Kanina ka pa namumutla e." tanong ni Mama.

Dahil doon ay nabaling sa akin ang atensyon nilang tatlo. Kita ang pagtataka sa ekspresyon ng kanilang mga mukha. Weird, sapagkat kung mayroong dapat na labis na nagtataka rito ay walang iba kung hindi ako.

"This is just... strange. Everything that's happening is strange."

I was used to my two sisters' cold and occasionally rude treatment ever since then. I always thought that maybe it was because I was adopted. Back then, I would always cry. But time passed by and I learned how to live with their treatment. Besides, I have our eldest and my parents.

That's why right now, I cannot explain how strange it is for them to treat me this way. Did the world somehow end or did something happen in their brain which prompt them to act this way?

Ate Amor sighed. "Honestly, Vine. You're the one who's acting strange."

"Yes," pagsang-ayon ni Ate Lyka. "Sobrang excited kami na sunduin ka tapos ikaw... parang hindi naman masaya. Nakakatampo, ha."

Lumitaw sa ibabaw ng lamesa ang palad ni Mama na ipinatong niya sa aking kamay. Sandali akong sumulyap doon bago napapikit at napayuko sa labis na pag-iisip.

"Ano ba kayo? Baka pagod lang sa biyahe ang kapatid n'yo. At saka, hindi biro ang pinuntahan nila ng Papa n'yo ano. So why don't we eat faster so we can go home and let your sister rest? May pasok pa ata ito bukas."

Tumango silang pareho. "Mama's right. You must be tired already, Vine."

Gusto kong tumutol sa lahat ng sinasabi nila subalit may parte sa akin na tila ba sumisigaw at nagsasabing pagod nga ako upang pagdiskusyunan ang lahat ng nangyayari. Nakakatawa subalit tila ba nais ko na lamang isipin na imahinasyon lamang ang lahat ng ito kaysa isawika ang nasa isipan.

I just nodded in response and attempted to eat again. I literally just forced myself to swallow all the food they put on my plate. Fortunately, I finished all of it.

They were all caring on our way home. Ate Amor even gave me her neck pillow and urged me to sleep. Of course, I just accepted it and pretended to sleep even if I know I am not sleepy.

Ate Lyka, on the other hand, held my hand. She was really clingy, far from her snobbish and rude attitude towards me. Siya ang tumabi sa akin habang nasa passenger seat si Ate Amor at si Mama ang nagmamaneho.

I'll admit, everything might seem crazy and strange but a part of me is quite liking this change. Ngayon ko lamang naramdaman na tanggap at mahal ako nila Ate kaya't hindi man kapani-paniwala at nakapagtataka pa rin, tila ba tumataba ang puso ko.

Kung imahinasyon ko lamang ito o panaginip, maari bang maging permanente na lamang? I can live with the strangeness as long as they'll continue to treat me this way.

I mean, who wouldn't want to be treated like this, right?

Hindi ko namalayan na nakauwi na pala kami ng bahay. Parang ilang minuto lang ang nakalilipas buhat nang umalis kami mula sa KFC kanina ah. Totoo talagang mas mabilis ang biyahe kapag pabalik na.

Is there some sort of psychological explanation for that? I bet yes. Better search for that some time.

My sisters helped me with my luggage. Halos wala na nga akong binitbit sapagkat inako na nila ang pagtangan ng lahat. Mukhang wala silang balak na magpapigil kaya't hinayaan ko na lamang.