The Senses II

Chapter 9

Serene

Okay... This is world is like so not real talaga. Sino ba naman kasi ang maniniwala na totoo ang mundong ito kung saan palaging pinupuri ako ni Lola? Bumuntong hininga nalang talaga ako sa sitwasyon ko ngayon.

It's just been a day ever since I woke up in this nonsensical world. The first thing that greeted me? My grandmother's smiling face, which really was the first clue that this world wasn't real.

I mean, come on... Never pang ngumiti si Lola, lalo na sa akin pa talaga. Paano ako maniniwala kung ganun ang una kong makikita? Naaalala ko pa kung paano raw siya nag-alala dahil bigla nalang ako natumba sa loob ng bahay.

Like, hello? This is like my first time here rito no, so why would I know ba?

Not that I'm insulting my Lola but she never, and I mean this with no hyperbolic gesture, praised for anything that I did.

I became the first honor in my class, Lola already did that.

I became the a well known chef while in my teens, pfft... Lola was already a world renowned chef at my age.

I began to manage some branches and train for the family business in my young age, Lola was building this business from scratch.

In short, lahat ng pwede kong gawin at nagawa na ay naachieve na rin ni Lola. So would I feel down? Of course not, I may have reasons to be sad but as if wallowing in self despair would help me surpass her, not to mention it would also damage my skin.

So ganyan nga. Hindi naman sa iniinsulto ko ang sarili ko mismong lola pero hindi pa rin talaga ako makapaniwala na pupurihin niya ako.

Isa rin sa nagpalakas ng kutob ko na hindi ito totoo ay dahil nakatira kami ngayon sa bahay namin bago kami lumipat sa Granville. Suspicious, am I right?

While looking outside my window of our so called home. I heaved a heavy sigh. Nasaan na ba ang iban? Hindi naman pwedeng umalis ako rito na walang plano. Baka makita ko pa talaga ang mga tauhan ng Erebos sa labas kung susuwertihin ako.

I turned around and walked out of my room. I paced our hallways until I arrived at our living room. I found my grandmother sitting on the sofa. Oh right, clue #2. My grandmother was never at home because she was so busy, emphasis on busy, because of our business.

She saw me and waved me to come closer. With my doubts still in place, I followed her. Nang umupo na ako ay hinawakan niya ang kamay ko.

"Serene, kamusta ngayon ang araw mo?"

Ugh, Lola would never be like this.

"It's like okay lang."

"Ganun ba? Ano ang gusto mong tanghalian? Ipapaluto ko iyon," dagdag pa niya.

"Just make tanong nalang kay Tranquil kasi I want him to enjoy the meal," sagot ko sa kanya.

My grandmother smiled warmly at me. "Ang bait talaga ng apo ko. I swear, I'm so lucky to have grandchildren like you and Tranquil. I only wish your mother was here to see you grow up and to be a respectable person."

Liar. My grandmother was mad at my mother for leaving the house with my father. She was never proud of us and made us feel as if we were a disgrace borne out of a disgraceful daughter.

I tried my best to smile. "Uh... Sana nga po."

Well, according sa mga chismis,.. erm, I mean balita na nalaman ko mula sa mga kasambahay rito, namatay daw ang nanay ko nang ipinanganak niya si Tranquil. Ilang buwan din raw halos hindi maayos ang pag-iisip ni Lola dahil sa pagkamatay ng anak niya. Ah right, sa mundong ito, iniwan rin si mama ng papa namin pero di tulad sa tunay na mundo, tinulungan siya ni Lola at namuhay sila rito ng mapayapa.