Captures of Perfect Timing (The Art of Life #1: Life Version)

08.18.17 - A Closer Glimpse

"Ate Avien!"

The twins rushed to me when I entered the house.

"Ate Avien, you're early!"

I smiled at Riguel and Niguel who immediately rummaged through my bag, searching for the snack I bought for them.

"Hello po, la." Pumunta akong kusina para batiin si lola.

She glanced at me while doing the dishes. "Kumain ka na, apo. Pina-una ko na 'yung kambal kasi gutom na raw sila."

"Kayo po, 'la?"

"Osige, sasabayan kita. Tapusin ko lang ito."

"Wala pa po si mommy?"

"Wala pa. Alas dos pa raw uuwi. Hanggang alasingko pa naman ang card mo 'di ba?"

I nodded.

I grew up having only my mom beside me. Lola only started living with us when I was 12.

But after mommy's business got bankrupt and she started working full-time, I would now be left only with lola most of the time. Umaalis kasi si mommy nang 7 a.m. at mga alas sais na ng gabi nakaka-uwi.

Kami-kami lang, minsan dumadalaw ang kambal para kay lola at pati na rin sa 'kin.

My father was already dead. He died of cancer.

I hadn't met him at all since he abandoned us. Hindi niya pinanagutan si mommy. Hindi niya ako tinustusan.

He left mommy while she was still pregnant of me. He cheated and only asked for forgiveness when he was already on his death bed.

Mommy came to see him but didn't give her forgiveness. She said she still couldn't forgive him that time. She also didn't grant his request of seeing me so until the day he died, we didn't meet.

Mommy only told me about his death two years later and I remembered not feeling any remorse nor hatred for him nor mommy after knowing that.

Si mommy, mukhang nakamove on na siya at napatawad ang tatay ko nung mga panahon na 'yon... Ako naman, walang maramdaman para sa kaniya. I just thought he was such an asshole for abandoning us.

"Ate Avien, borrow ng phone mo." Riguel pulled the hem of my shirt while I was washing the dishes.

"Ate Avien, ako rin, please," sambit naman ni Niguel.

"Ate Avien, ako muna, please," pagmamakaawa ni Niguel.

"I borrowed it first!" his twin protested.

"I was born first!"

Napa-iling na lang ako. "Di ba tawag kayo ni lola? Matulog daw kayo ah."

They shook their heads aggressively, hating the idea of sleeping.

"Sige na nga..." pagbigay ko kaya agad naman silang nagtakbuhan paakyat ng kwarto ko para sa cellphone.

Matapos maghugas ay sinundan ko rin naman sila roon para naman simulan na ang script namin.

I placed my chin on my knuckles and stared blankly at the screen of my laptop, didn't know how to begin.

I sighed heavily and skimmed through my notes in Values, trying to conceptualize a plot from the topics. When nothing still came to mind, I just leaned on the chair and took off my anti-rad glasses to massage the bridge of my nose.

I loved writing. I badly wanted to write but I was terrible at fighting writer's block.

"Ate Avien!" Kinalabit ako bigla ng kambal at inabot ang nagriring na phone.