"Hindi ka talaga pupunta?"
Alas dos na ng madaling araw at heto ako ngayon hindi makatulog dahil nagtatawagan pa kami ni Marga. She called me unexpectedly not long ago. I was awake because I was working on my project. Kaya ngayon narito kami at kanina niya pa ako tinatanong kung makakapunta ba ako sa fiesta bukas, more likely mamaya pala.
"I have Kumon, Marga," I told her. Tumayo ako at saka hinayaan lang ang phone ko sa study table. Naka-speaker mode naman iyon, e.
"Itatakas kita!" she exclaimed. Natawa tuloy ako habang namimili ng kukuning washi tape sa drawer ko.
"Ipapaalam kita kay tita," she said. I just sighed heavily and went back to my seat.
"Hindi 'yun papayag," I replied.
"Kahit I'm with you?" she asked.
"Oo"
I immediately heard her groan. "Bakit? Akala ko ba pinagkakatiwalaan niya ako!" reklamo niya at tumawa lang ako.
"It's a fiesta, Marga, and she despises fiestas, so she's probably not going to let me go," I explained.
Kahit wala ngayon si Marga ay parang nakikita at naiisip ko pa rin ang pag-irap ng mga mata niya saka ang mga sunod-sunod na mga buntong-hininga. "Wala na ba talagang ibang paraan? Once in a lifetime lang ito, Raf! Sige na, please?" she pleaded.
Heaven knows how badly I wanted to attend the fiesta as well. My parents, especially my mother, would not want me to go. She hates fiestas. I remember when I was seven years old and Manang Lucy asked my mother if I could come with her to their barangay fiesta, my Mom insisted. She warned me that going to fiestas would be one of the worst experiences I could have. She claims that people at fiestas are either drunk, insane, or loud, which is why she won't let me leave. Baka raw mapahamak ako at hindi makauwi ng ligtas.
Ako rin naman ay medyo kinakabahan para sa sarili ko. Pero mas nananaig pa rin talaga ang kagustuhan kong maranasan man lang kahit isang beses ang mga nagaganap tuwing may fiesta.
"Hindi ako papayagan, Marga," I said, nanghihinayang na.
I just sighed deeply and went to bed after that call with Marga. When I awoke, it was already six o'clock in the morning. I was still tired, but I had no choice but to get ready for my Kumon. Ngunit nalaglag ang aking panga nang bumaba ako at nahagilap si Marga sa kusina kasama si Manang Lucy. Bago pa ako makalapit sa kanila, napahinto ako nang nakita ko bigla si Mom na papasok ng bahay.
"Good morning po," I greeted my Mom.
Lumabas kaagad sina Marga at Manang Lucy mula sa kusina. Nagulat pa si Mom nang makita sila lalo na si Marga na umagang-umaga pa lang ay narito na sa bahay.
"Good morning, Mrs. Gargalicano!" Marga exclaimed, beaming from ear to ear. Mom raised her brow at her.
"What brings you here, hija? You're so early," Mom asked. Marga received a meaningful look from me. I knew what she was up to. She'll just risk her own life!
"May I bring Rafaela to our journalism workshop po ba?"
My lips parted. I noticed her look at me. Manang Lucy's lips formed a small smile, which quickly faded. Gulong-gulo naman ako ngayon. Teka, ano ba ito? Pagsisinungalingan talaga nila si Mom?
"May Kumon siya ngayon, Marga," my Mom looked at us suspiciously. Ito na nga ba ang sinasabi ko, e! Mahuhuli lang kami ni Mom!
Marga smiled at her. "However, Mrs. Gargalicano, this training is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Rafaela. Mga sikat na journalists po ang magiging speakers ng event. Marami po kaming matututunan doon," pagdadahilan ni Marga.
BINABASA MO ANG
Secret Secret (Dès Vu Series #1)
General Fiction(NO PORTRAYER INTENDED) "Fallen shoulders and soaking clothes, even the blasting music sounds quiet to me. I let my frustrated voices out hoping that they'd be washed away in the rain..."
