08
JIRO
“HOW old are you?” I asked.
It was awkward not to know her age. I mean, … that's just awkward. She was quiet since she arrived at the scheduled time so I really don’t know what to do. She was still looking from afar. Or maybe… it's about what happened yesterday? Did I make her uncomfortable? Did I do something wrong? Did I go overboard?
My mom surely will be mad if she happen to know that. She's an empowered woman after all. And made me grow like a butler: firm, composed, calm… and gentle.
“Fourteen,” she said in low voice.
Napakurap-kurap ako at pinakatitigan siya. The heck? She's younger than me!
I was about to complain how I don’t like younger than me and how sorry I am for what I did yesterday when she starts crying.
Napalayo kaagad ako ng ilang pulgada sa kaniya habang nanlalaki ang mga mata. I cleared my throat, and about to speak when she starts talking.
“T-they're so unfair.”
Napalingon agad ako sa kaniya. She was looking down at her hands that was located on her lap. Napalingon din ako sa kamay niya, isa-isa niyang pinipisil ang daliri niya. I bet that hurts because I can see how it divert her attention, from crying to just looking at her fingers.
“Continue.”
Nakita kong natigilan siya at napalingon sa akin, medyo nanlaki ang mga mata. Nagkibit-balikat na lang ako at minuwestra ang palad ko sa kaniya.
She should take advantage of me. Iilan lang naman ang willing makinig sa 'yo, so bakit hindi mo pa sobrahin, hindi ba?
I saw her gulped, this time, she’s calm. Napatingin siya sa harapan at napasandal. “Eversince Kuya left, pakiramdam ko, yaya lang ako sa bahay namin. Just… cleaning the house, magagalit kapag hindi nagawa. No care, super strict. Not their old selves. Ginawa ko naman 'yong lahat,” natigilan siya sa pagsasalita, doon ko nakita na may bumabagsak na naman na luha sa mga mata niya.
“Alam mo dati? Kuya and I are close. My Mom was caring, like she's afraid to lose us. Then… no'ng umalis si Kuya, lagi siyang nakatutok sa phone. Narinig ko sila one time ni Dad na nag-uusap, alalang-alala daw siya kay Kuya… without mentioning me.
“Si Dad, maluwag naman siya sa amin dati. I'm not even complaining na naging mahigpit siya, pero habang tumatagal… nakakasakal.
“That’s why I am here. Gusto ko makita nila ako, gusto ko malaman nila na may isa pa silang anak. I suggested to be here just to know if alam pa ba nila na may isa pa silang anak. Babaeng anak.”
Napalingon siya sa akin pero umiwas uli ng tingin. “But I didn’t feel like they saw me as their daughter anymore. Everything changed…”
“… eversince… Kuya left.”
“Why did he left?”
“To become independent.”
Natigilan ako, pati na rin paghinga ko. I inhaled and sighed. I badly want to say about my sister but I let her continue her story. But still…
“Same… my sister did that too.” There's something on me pushed to say that.
She looked at me, “really? What about her?”
I just shrugged. Then I sighed upon realizing something, “sa oras na isa sa mahalaga sa 'yo ang naging independent, parang… nakaka-out of place. Dahilan para gawin mo rin 'yong gawin nila kahit mahirap. Kasi anong magagawa mo, 'di ba? Wala na sila, wala ng mag-aalaga sa 'yo. Hindi ka na nila masasabayan kasi… busy na sila.”
Napayuko siya at tumango, “I guess that's true.”
I told her to continue her story. But she just laughed, “ba’t gano'n? Nababawan ako sa storya ko?”
Nangunot ang noo ko, “eh? Is it about what I said?”
She giggled and shooked her head. “But come to think of it…” she sighed and looked at me with wide smile. “Alam mo, sana wala na lang akong maramdaman.”
Natigilan ako kasabay ng malakas na hangin. Everything was shining, even her who said something like that… but…
Paano nga ba maramdaman 'yong nararamdaman niya? Looking at her, she was in pain… but I still want to feel that pain.
Am I that heartless? We almost share the same problem but… I can't feel anything.
I also wants to tell my story, how my sister left us, how I feel like… I am unlikeable, but… she starts crying again. I didn’t do anything, I just sat beside her, listening to her cries. Under the Sakura that didn’t bloom this year, I listened.
There and then, I asked myself… Or am I just used to the pain that I mistook it as being heartless?
| Our Love On Spring |
Hope you enjoyed! God bless! Have a nice day ahead! (◕ᴗ◕✿)
BINABASA MO ANG
Our Love On Spring
Romance[COMPLETED] Jiro was expecting an ordinary vacation not until he crossed paths with a girl who taught him many lessons in life. Would their hearts tend to connect into loving each other as they teach each other a life lesson? Or will just stay as fr...
