Take Home a Baggage

061

Part 061 (Narration)

Marchienne.

"Saniel, ano'ng oras uuwi kapatid mo?"

"No idea, Kiesha," I heard him answer in the living room. "Baka around nine? Pinakalate na 'yon I bet. Kanina pa siya wala around eight in the morning."

Right, I muttered to myself. My fingers unconsciously tapped on the kitchen counter as I contemplated my late-night cooking decisions. Kumain na naman kami ng hapunan ni Saniel—just in case hindi umuwi si Silas nang maaga. I heard na hindi pala kumakain 'tong batang 'to kapag hindi siya ipinagluluto ni Silas kasi tamad siyang tumayo. It was good that he was busying himself sa pag-edit ng vlogs niya, kaso hindi naman kumakain.

"Fine. I'll still make soup. Just get a serving here once na maluto if gusto mo."

"Thanks, Kiesha! Pwedeng mag-stay muna ako rito? Boring doon sa room namin, e'. Inaantok ako."

"Sure, sure," sagot ko bago isinalang ang mainit na tubig sa pan. "Just stay here until wala pa si Silas."

So, the night rolled by like that. Saniel buried his face in his MacBook, editing his vlogs at minsan ay humihingi siya sa akin ng tulong with the transitions and color adjustments, meanwhile, I stayed in the kitchen—scrolling through my phone as I wait for the broth to simmer.

When social was your source of living, it was automatic to be updated with what everyone was up to these days—despite how mind-bugging you'd get out of it. I clicked on the Instagram stories lined up. Reels of the people I know (especially those taking up the same degree as I was) flooded my sight. Biting my lower lip, my fingers thumbed rapidly the screen of my phone to skip them. I had no plans of looking at those—especially since what I could only see were them asking for OJT tips. I couldn't care less; not when my mother was still not responding to my messages. Not even a thank-you message for the gift I sent last week.

Of course. My moves were still watched. Alam ko naman iyon—from the moment I chose to inform them on a random Saturday evening three years ago, the same day I enrolled in Hastreid de Madrigal University, I signed up for Tourism instead of Biology, to now. And believe me that in a minute, their faces had fallen that day, mirroring the same expression they had upon discovering my brother's rebellious decisions the previous year—dropping out of high school.

I knew they were adamant about pushing me to "continue their legacy". But I guess I was much more grounded to refuse on taking up a degree I couldn't even stomach—literally. God knows hell would break loose once I see someone dissecting a cat. Baka magwala ako sa laboratory at maihagis ang scalpel kung kanino. A murderer in the making ang aabutin ko sa Biology. I was sure of it.

So, my last resort right now in this approaching crisis was to ask for advice from Silas. Sino pa ba? We were taking up the same degree. Might as well ask him for some parental advice I would never get from mine in this lifetime. Especially since he came from a well-off family who also cared enough to support him and initiate aid in looking for good opportunities on the path he chose to take.

Baka ako, ni singko walang makuha sa mga magulang ko. I swear, the moment I graduate, ang unang pasasalamatan ko sa mandatory Facebook graduation post ko ay Youtube. It would probably say: This wouldn't be possible without YouTube for being my daddy. Thank you for all the sponsorships! Thank you also to my sweet other daddies for always partnering with me—Grammarly, Notion, and Squarespace. Dahil sa inyo, may naging pang-tuition ako for four years!

But the problem was, mukhang hindi ko rin makakausap nang matino si Silas for parental advice. It was another approaching crisis I had to face... that would last until God knows when.