But Three is a Crowd [SOON]

Simula

Simula
Iridessa Waverly Nuñez

Driving down the Canili-Pantabangan road to Baler felt like a trip down the memory lane. It had been nine years since I was last here. Gustuhin ko mang umuwi ngunit hindi maaari. Besides of my father disowning me for getting pregnant at a young age, the memories here were so bitter, painful, and awful that I did not want to revisit ever again.

But here I was.

Here we were.

Back home to my hometown I had once loved.

“Mommy! Malayo pa po ba tayo? I am so bored na!”

“We have been travelling for three hours already, Mommy!”

“Mommy, can you shut them up?”

Napahugot ako ng malalim na hininga at napatingin sa rearview mirror. My head pulsed seeing my three, stubborn boys there. Inip na inip na nakatingin sa labas ng bintana ang dalawa, samantalang ‘yong isa naman ay nagsusungit dahil naaabala ang kaniyang pagbabasa.

“Just a bit more, babies,” sabi ko. “We’ll get there.”

“I’d rather stay home,” sabi ni Uno, ‘yong panganay sa triplets ko at ‘yong nagbabasa ng libro.

I sighed. If only he knew that I felt the same way. Kasi, ito ‘yong lugar na ayaw na ayaw kong marating nila. ‘Yong lugar na kung sana ay maaari ko lang na burahin sa mapa ay ginawa ko na.

Pero kailangan naming umuwi.

Nang sa wakas ay pinapasok ko na ang mismong bayan ng Baler, binugbog ako ng mga alaala at hindi nakatulong iyong aking mga nakikita. Katatapos lang ng eleksyon, and the man that I had been trying to forget all these years was painted all over the town. His face on the tarpaulins posted in every walls were so annoying. But I had to admit that he looked so much better now, so accomplished, so very successful.

Binagalan ko ang pagmamaneho. I bitterly smirked at the stupid tarpaulin stapled on a tree and hated his perfect hair, his attractive eyes, and his million-dollar smile that were inherited by those three boys at the back of the car.

But wait! Hindi ba ay bawal na magdikit ng kahit anong election paraphernalia sa mga puno? Dapat ay i-disqualify siya bilang mayor—Whatever, Dessa!

“Kuya Uno, look at the man in the poster! His hair looks like yours! So very blonde!” si Dos, ‘yong pangalawa ko.

Hindi siya pinansin ni Uno at imbes ay nagpatuloy sa kaniyang binabasa. Sumimangot si Dos at saka kinalabit naman si Tres na bunso sa kanilang tatlo.

“Tres, look, pareho kayo ng eyes! Brown-green!” ani Dos.

“No way! Mine are more beautiful and unique! And I am more handsome than that man in the poster!” si Tres.

“You wish! Among the three of us, I am the most handsome and the tallest!” Dos argued. “‘Di ba po, Mommy?”