The Beauty of Tomorrow (Montejo Siblings #2)

Chapter 19

HIS FAMILY

We were both watching the sunset as we comfortably sat in here, we're just basically looking in front and enjoying the calmness of the whole place. Katatapos lang namin kumain. Turns out, he planned these all, from the place and he even rented the whole beach just for us.

Seriously, magkano ba pera nilang magkakapatid?

Nahiya naman ako dahil wala akong regalo, dahil hindi ko naman alam na kaarawan niya pala ngayon!

Kaya siguro tinanong niya sakin kung free ako ngayong araw.

"Why did you not celebrate your birthday with your family instead of me?" I asked him while playing the strings of the ukulele I was holding.

Kasama ito sa mga gamit na nakalatag dito sa sapin namin. And I know how to play this instrument so I'm kinda happy.

He shrugged his shoulders. "I have enough time for them later tonight. Also, I don't want to stay in our house for long, especially on my birthday."

Nangunot ang noo ko. "Why is that?"

He chuckled with no humor. Seryoso niyang tinitigan ang kulay kahel na langit dahil sa papalubog ng araw.

"I just... remembered my Mom." He shook his head.

What does he mean by that?

Hindi ako nakapagsalita at natigil din ang paglalaro ng mga kamay ko. I just stared at him, waiting for whatever he would say.

"You know, everyone thinks that our family are perfect, but no." He then glanced at me. "Bata palang ako non. On my 11th birthday, she promised me she will come home so we could celebrate my day with our family, of course...." Napailing siya.

"But guess what?" Nilingon niya ako saglit. "Mas inuna niya 'yong trabaho niya at ang malala pa ay iniwan niya kami para pumunta sa ibang bansa sa mismong kaarawan ko."

My mouth parted. Oh god, I did not... expected that! I... I thought,

Kitang-kita ko ang pagdaan ng mga emosyon sa mga mata niya. Galit, lungkot, hatred and longing. He just trying to hide it from me, hindi kasi siya makatingin ng diretso sakin.

"I idolize my mother so much. Kaya pinili ko ang kurso ko ngayon dahil sa kanya..." He said. "She's a business woman, a great one."

I suddenly remembered my mom. I also idolize her, she is our queen and of course the only woman I love the most. Ang mga ginagawa ko ngayon ay para din sa kanya.

"Maybe she has a reason?" Sinulyapan ko siya.

Hindi ba ay ganon naman? Lahat ng mga ginagawa ay dapat na may dahilan... Hindi 'yung padalos-dalos, hindi dapat yung kung kailan mo lang gugustuhin at maiisipan... Hindi ganoon ang maayos na pagpapasiya.

"I bet... But whatever it is, doesn't matter to me."

"She's still your mother, Madd." Hindi mapigilang saad ko.

"She is, but she's not acting like one to us." Nagtiim bagang siya.

Nagisang linya ang mga labi ko at nakaramdam ng kaunting inis sa kanya. Yes, I fully understand him, being mad with his mom because she left them. But his mom is still alive!

Unlike mine. Wala nga akong galit sa ina ko, pero wala na siya.

Well, hindi ko naman siya masisisi. Kung sa akin din siguro nangyari 'yon ay baka katulad niya ako. I just hope it's not late for him to forgive his mother.