Souls in November (Holiday Series #1)

24

"Take care of Mommy alright? Daddy will just take the practice and then we can be together again later."

Half day lang kami ngayon sa school pero silang college ay whole day. So, I've basically settled on hanging out with my mom while I wait for Drazen to finish his practice. Time ko na rin ngayon para bumili ng mga kakailanganin ko sa foundation day gaya ng damit at mga bandana para sa costume namin.

I got there at the shopping center before our scheduled meeting time. I just went shopping at few boutiques to look for some red-colored clothing. Natagalan pa ako sa pagtitingin dahil wala akong makitang maganda. The only items of clothing that they had were sleeveless and crop tops, both of which are inappropriate to wear on the school campus.

"Excuse me po. Magtatanong po lang sana ako. Wala po ba kayong t-shirt na kulay red?" I tried to ask the saleslady.

"Ah! Meron po ma'am! Teka lang! Plain po ba or 'yung may design?" Tanong niyang nakangiti.

"Tignan ko na lang po silang dalawa." I chuckled.

"Okay po ma'am! Be right back!" she exclaimed.

She has a lot of energy and is very friendly to new customers. She makes others around her feel welcome and happy by smiling at them. Kanina ko pa siya nakikitang ganon. Kaya nagugustuhan siya ng ibang mga namimili dahil sa kaniyang ugali. She stands out from the other saleslady in this area.

Nang maipakita na niya ito sa akin ay agad ko namang nagustuhan. Kinuha ko na ito at nagpunta na sa cashier para magbayad. I had to rush through my shopping because I was starting to become worried about my mother. She should be here by now. Ngunit wala pa rin ito. Akala ko nga e tutulungan niya akong mamili. But she's nowhere to be found. Ang tagal-tagal ko na ngang namili pero wala pa rin talaga siya.

Hindi ko naman siya matext kasi wala akong phone. Lumabas na lang ako ng boutique, nagbabakasakali na makikita siya. Pero paano kapag hindi ito dumating? How can I contact her? Should I just go to our house and find out? But I'm sure Papa is there too. Mas lalong gugulo lang ang buhay namin.

Pagkalabas ko ay bumungad na agad sa akin ang mga taong nagkukumpulan at parang may pinapanood na drama.

"Oo! Anak ko siya at matagal ko ng inilihim! It's been fucking 17 years!"

"Napakawalanghiya mo talaga! Paano mo nagawa ang lahat ng ito?!"

Napalingon agad ako sa malakas na ingay na nanggaling sa isang restaurant. I quickly run forward to that area. It wasn't because I was curious about what I might find inside the restaurant; rather, it was because I recognized the voice I heard. At hindi nga ako nagkamali. I witnessed my mother shouting and swearing in front of a family.

A family.

"Sige! Subukan mo silang saktan! Talagang sasaktan kita dito!" That man had a voice as sharp as a blade. It is tearing us apart on the inside in little pieces.

My gaze, which had been directed toward my mother, shifted to the man who stood in front of her and guarded the woman and the girl who was my age. Parang nabiyak kaagad ang puso ko sa hindi maipaliwanag na nararamdaman. Akala ko wala ng mas masakit pa sa ipagtabuyan ako ng sarili kong ama. Meron pa pala.

"Si Papa..."

"Pwede ba tumahimik ka na?! Umalis ka na lang dito! Nanggugulo ka pa!" sigaw ni Papa.