The Man She Met In Her Dreams

KABANATA 3

Kabanata 3.

"We're going out later. Saan mo gusto magpunta?" Tanong ko kay Alroy habang kami ay kumakain ng agahan.

Nag-angat saglit ng tingin sa akin si Alroy bago ito nagpatuloy sa kaniyang pagkain.

"Ate Joy called me yesterday, she's going back in her home town. What do you plan to do for now?" Tanong niya sa akin bigla.

"I'll find a work later. Don't worry it's only a part-time job," sagot ko sa kaniya.

Hindi naman nagsalita si Alroy kaya sinulyapan ko siya ng tingin.

"So, where do you want to go later?" Nakangiti kong tanong sa kaniya.

"Let's not go out and waste money," seryoso niyang pahayag kaya naman napatigil ako sa pagkain. Seryoso kong tiningnan si Alroy bago nagsalubong ang aking kilay.

"What do you mean waste money. Ate Joy gave me extra money. Alam mo rin na matagal na tayong hindi nakakapag-gala simula ng mamatay ang magulang natin."

I honestly felt bad about him. Before, he loved to say that he wants to go out and play in a big playground. He's still a toddler when we went to amusement park with our parents. I already know before that he would definitely grow up to be an extrovert but things got different.

He became a silent and serious person that's why I always plan to take him out before. I wanted him to see the world again.

We lived in an orphanage before. When I reached a legal age, I insisted to take him with me because I don't want to leave him alone. I want us to live outside together.

But this small apartment is the only place I can take him. I don't have the means to let him see the world again.

I actually bought him a cellphone before so he can be more confident and not feel inferior to his classmates because it's really strange not to have a cellphone nowadays but he got mad at me.

He told me that he doesn't need anything. I also knew that he saves more than half of his allowance that I gave him. Hindi siya sumasakay ng bus papuntang school. Alam kong naglalakad lang din siya araw-araw papuntang school para makatipid.

Sinabihan ko na siya dati na hindi niya kailangan tipirin ang sarili niya. I want to be a good sister and at the same time a parent to him.

Matagal ko na siyang balak bilhan ng bike pero alam kong magagalit siya sa akin at ibebenta niya lamang iyon pabalik katulad ng cellphone na binili ko sa kaniya noon. Nirefund agad niya iyon sa store na pinagbilhan ko. Kaya naman bumili nalang akong bagong cellphone para sa akin, para maibigay ko sa kaniya ang gamit kong cellphone noon. Hindi naman niya iyon tinanggihan noong sinabi ko na nalulumaan na ako sa cellphone na iyon kaya naisipan kong bumili ng bago. Hindi siya nagalit kahit alam niyang gumastos ako para lang bumili ng cellphone kahit na meron na naman ako. Akala ko talaga noon ay magagalit siya.

Kaya minsan, hindi ko alam kung paano ko siya mapapasaya.

"Alroy, can we please have fun just for today?" Nakangiti kong saad, ramdam ko ang pag-init ng gilid ng aking mata, kaya naman pinigilan ko agad na maiyak.

Bumuntong hininga si Alroy bago ako tinitigan.

"Fine. Where do you want to go?" Balik niyang tanong sa akin kaya naman mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti ko.

"Should we go to the nearest amusement park?" Masaya kong tanong.

"Okay," mahinang usal nito kaya naman napatango ako.

Ngunit nawala din agad ang aking ngiti ng maalala ko ang aking panaginip.

"Alroy, it's your school okay? Wala naman mga bully?" Tanong ko sa aking kapatid.