Escaping Yesterday's Shadows

KABANATA ONE

Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako habang pinapadausdos ang hintuturo ko sa malamig na bintana ng kotse, sinusundan ang galaw ng bawat patak ng ulang tumatama sa glass barrier. My breath fogged up the glass, so I tried to draw a smiley face on it. Feeling satisfied, I smiled, still looking out the window.

"Wow. This is new! You'll attend?" Napatingin ako kay kuya Lucio nang nag-salita siya.

Sa pormal na pananamit, at nakaayos na buhok ay mahahalatang may importanteng okasyon itong pupuntahan.

Hindi ko siya pinansin, at ibinalik ang paningin sa bintana. Wala na roon ang kaninang masayang mukha na iginuhit ko. For the second time, I exhaled, making the clear glass foggy. Using my index finger, I created two small circles.

                                         
I was about to draw the curved mouth when my brother jumped inside the car, and sat beside me. Natamaan niya ang braso ko kaya naman imbes na smiley face ang ma-drawing ko, naging sad face iyon. I frowned while looking at the sad face. The window was reflecting my expression.
                                         
Galit kong binalingan si kuya pero prente lang siyang nakaupo animo'y walang ginawang kasalanan. Bored itong nakatingin sa harap habang nasa tabi ko. His gaze turned into my direction when he probably noticed my eyes throwing deadly glares at him.

"What?" He asked innocently. Parang matatawa pa.

I jerked my thumb at my back. Pertaining at my drawing.

He cast a glance at the window, which had my drawing on it. He then let out a wry chuckle. "Oh, kamukha mo and you still have that habit of yours?" Tunog nang-iinsulto ito, "Drawing smiley emoticons and all that stuff."

"But that isn't the point here! You completely ruined it!" My brow furrowed even more as I pout at him.

"Did I?" He asked with a puzzled expression on his face.

"Yes. You meanie! Justice for my dear emoticon," I said, frustratedly, while giving him a dagger look.

Napahalakhak siya. "Really, huh?" He said while smirking. I nodded, pouting more. "That's a serious accustion there, young lady," he laughed, obviously not taking this seriously.   

Inirapan ko na lang siya nang mapagtantong walang patutunguhan ang away naming dalawa.

"Aww, what a pouty baby," Kuya Lucio jokingly pinched my cheeks.

Feeling irritated, I slapped his hands away from my face. Mabuti naman ay inalis niya na 'yon kung hindi ay baka naitulak ko na siya.

"Are you really sure you'll attend, though? If I'm not mistaken, this is your first time going to a formal event after what? A decade? Not that I don't want you to attend but I don't think this is your thing, Yumi." He said with an as-a-matter-of-fact tone but I stayed silent.

"You'd rather stay inside your room and binge-watch on Netflix than going to social events like this. Baka naman may sakit ka?" His eyes narrowed a bit while staring intently at me.

Umakto pa siyang ididikit ang palad sa noo ko pero bago pa man 'yon dumikit ay pinalo ko na palayo.

"Pwede ba? Wala akong sakit. I-I want to go because I heard manang that you're not going to attend. Kaya naisip kong ako na lang mag-isa kasi nakakairita kang kasama," I lied.