Ineffable Euphoria

Kabanata 11

Kabanata 11...
Words

Tanghaling tapat nang pinauwi ako ni Daddy para sa pagsama ko sa pagtitipon nila kabilang ang ilang konsehal sa isang maliit na baranggay sa dulo ng bayan.

Lindsey was beside me, wearing a huge sunglass, with crossed arms and pronounced monotony.

I couldn't agree with her more.

Apat na araw na mula noong huli akong nakapag-liwaliw, at iyon pa ang charity event ng mga Salinas. Our father's schedule has been jam-packed since then. Of course, as a good daughter, I must attend all of those public appearances.

"Hey manong, can you get us cold water? These water bottles are warm,"

"S-Sandali po ma'am,"

"A fan too." Dagdag ko sa utos ni Lindsey.

Halos sabay kaming nagbuntong hininga at walang buhay na tiningnan ang harapan.

"Mas gugustuhin ko pang pumasok sa trabaho," she uttered.

"And I'd rather be studying," I let out a big sigh. "This suck..."

"You have no freaking idea,"

Dis oras na ng gabi nang makauwi kami ng araw ding iyon kaya naman matapos maligo ay mabilis akong binalot ng pagod at agad nakatulog.

"Kuya, I'll just get something from school. Daddy actually let me go today because he said it wasn't too busy."

"He should."

Umirap ako.

It's early in the morning, and I awoke to my brother's call to check on me. Noong nakraan pa naka-schedule ang tawag na 'to, kaso palaging hindi nagtutugma ang oras namin kaya hindi natutuloy. Thankful enough, this isn't such a busy day.

"What about you? Anong pinagkaka-abalahan n'yo d'yan? Aside from girls, of course,"

"Your dear brother has no more girls, baby!" I heard my other brother yell from a distance.

"Shut the fuck up, Zyair!"

Napahalakhak na lang ako sa sagutan ng dalawa.

Oh, how I long to spend time with them...

"I miss you both, kuya. Kailan kayo uuwi?"

There's a long silence after my question.

I immediately felt stupid after asking that. Gusto ko na sanang bawiin ang tanong nang nakarining ng buntong hininga sa kabilang linya.

"I can't promise a date. But soon, Marjorie."

They've said it so many times that I can't help but not respond.

I understand why they can't come back home yet, but I can't help but miss them. I haven't hugged them in a long time. Nangungulila ako, at iyon ang totoo.

They have missed so many of my affairs, and I have missed so many of theirs.

Tumagal pa ng ilang sandali ang tawag na 'yon bago ako nagdesisyong tumulak na patungong campus.

I planned to meet Nikko after all my errands to catch up, kaya matapos ang last subject n'ya'y namataan ko ang pagpasok nito sa loob ng cafe. I actually invited Callie too, but she declined since she's busy kaya kami lang ni Nikko ngayon.

"I thought you wouldn't make it!"

"Ako pa ba?"

Umirap ako at inilahad sa kan'ya ang katapat na upuan habang sumulyap naman s'ya sa malapit na waiter.