The Truth About Us (COMPLETED)

32

Narinig ko ang masiglang tawa ni Hansse sa kabilang linya. Wow. She's gaining happiness from my misery. Napaismid ako habang nagtitimpa ng kape. Ang telepono ay nakaipit sa pagitan ng pisngi at balikat ko.

"I'm sorry, Mom."

Tumaas ang isa kong kilay ko. "It does not seem like you are empathic enough to feel sorry for me."

Natawa ulit siya at automatiko akong napangiti. Dumaan si Papa at itinuro ang phone ko. He mouthed "Hansse" and I nodded to confirm. He just answered with a hum before scurrying back to their room. Kagigising pa lang kasi kaya walang ganang makipag-usap.

I heard some murmurs from the line and Hansse has been speaking to someone else. Nakaligtaan ko na tuloy na kausap ko ang anak ko.

I realized she's talking to Hagen. I wonder if he talked to Hansse already. Masyadong mahirap ang pangungumbinsi sa kanya ngunit bago matapos ang gabi ay napapayag ko rin siya. I can sense his hesitation before he climbed up his car. Mukhang nagdadalawang isip pa rin siya tungkol sa pagkakaroon ng boyfriend ni Hansse ngunit tumatanda na ang bata, she can already choose her own path. But with Hagen's protectiveness to his bumblebee, I assume his thought of  buying a  chastity belt for her didn't deter.

I smiled at how unnerving his face was. 

I don't know what's taking them long and what they are talking about. Hinayaan ko munang matapos ang usapan nila bago kinuha muli ang pansin ni Hansse.

"Anyway, hindi talaga ako makapaniwala," reklamo ko sa anak ko. I cannot complain to my friends that I am against their plan. Wala namang magagawa iyon. They will all just laugh at me and insist I should have fun once in a while.

"Well, you probably should start now. Mamayang 10 is pupunta na kayo , right? It will do you good anyway."

"What good will wall climbing make me anyway? Sasakit lang ang katawan ko pagkatapos ng activity. I doubt I'll even climb halfway to the wall. Anong fun doon?"

"The fun will be I got to see you having muscle cramps!"

I glared at the air. "See? Kayo lang ang masisiyahan!" I do not know why I agreed to let them introduce me to something new. Isang bagay na pagkakaabalahan ko. Clearly, this doesn't look like something I'll attempt to do again after the first try.

I can cancel my appointment but then, I do not want to be driven with guilt. My friends are too eager for me to try this. They even brought me gears and an outfit. Or they were eager to put me in misery.

Puwede ko ring gamitin ang magiging karanasan ko ngayon sa pagsusulat. Ever since I started writing my second book, I have not yet reached half of it. It was clear I need inspiration and a break before I continue doing it.

Hopefully, I can start working my ass off to that novel after this and get that bag full of money.

Ibang paksa naman ang tinalakay at halos lahat ay tungkol sa kanya. Wala rin naman akong maikukuwento sa kanya maliban sa shop at ang storya ko. Gee, the life of a teenager has more color than an adult whose life almost fall in a routine. Nothing dynamic. 

"You going already, Dad?" Tanong ni Hansse. Natahimik ako at pinakinggan ang usapan nilang dalawa. I'm not eavesdropping. It's just that, nasa pandinig ko na, alangang ako pa ang mag-aadjust?

"Yeah." Narinig ko ang paggalaw ng isang upuan, tanda ng pagtayo ng isang tao, si Hagen. "I got some... stuff to do."

Napuno ng katahimikan sa paligid bago ako kinausap muli ni Hansse. "Weird. He is too early today."

"Baka may gagawin lang siyang importante." I do not want to know what it is. It must be important for him but not for me.

"Anyway, Mom. I needed to go! May practice pa kami sa play mamaya." She hang up the call before I even bother to say my farewell. It's holiday today pero parang may pasok pa rin siya dahil sa dami ng commitments niya tungkol sa school.