ANG BAHAY AMPUNAN NI ALENG CARMILITA

-CHAPTER 4-

"you don't know some basic manners, do you? Like For example, knocking??" Tanong sa'kin ng lalaking nakahilata sa kama ko.

I couldn't see him completely because the room was so dark, my eyes can only recognize his silhouette.

"Why would i knock sa sarili kong kwarto? Teka sino ka ba? Anong ginagawa mo rito sa kwarto ko??"

Kitang-kita ko ang paglingon nito sa'kin, "kwarto ko??," he confusedly asked. "This is my room dummy," aniya Bago tumawa ng bahagya.

Ibinagsak ko ang mga hawak kong bag sa sahig, then I crossed my arms with disbelief, "Kwarto mo?? E ito yung sinabi sa'kin ni Aleng Carmilita, kwarto ko raw!"

"Hmm...let me guess... Did she said on your right side?"

I looked up to the ceiling, questioning myself if the old lady told me to turn right. Right hallway, she said.
"O-oo, bakit?" I reluctantly asked after i confirmed my thoughts. He's good in guessing i see.

"I knew it, didn't she told you na mirrored ang bahay niya?" Mirrored? Is that even possible???

"Left is on your right, right is on your left, got it?" He added emotionlessly.

"Oo, alam ko, hindi ako bobo pero pano nangyare yo-"

"I don't have time to explain it to you, miss. Now do you mind closing my door?" Ma-awtoridad nitong utos sa'kin dahilan para agad ko siyang sundin. You follow orders from strangers now chandelier huh?

Napabuntong-hininga ako ng isara ko ang pinto at sumandal dito. I once again faced the door, i was about to punch it nang makita ko ang plaka sa labas 'Do Not Enter without the owners permission - Anthony " Anthony pala name niya, ang pangit!

I pulled my luggage papunta sa right...left... Peste!, basta papunta sa kuwarto ko!

Tama naman, ikatlong pinto nga ang kwarto ko, may name ko sa labas eh. The other two rooms na dinaan ko ay may pangalang Agatha and Michelle, mga Estudyanteng Inampon rin siguro ni Aleng Carmilita. Sana mabait sila, if not, then I'll have my worst nightmares here.

I stood in front of my door and knocked, no one responded. This is bullshit!, why would i knock on my own door ba kasi! At least sure na ako na walang tao dito.

Without hurrying, i opened the door and examined the room before entering it.

As I was inspecting the room, I realized that its interior was identical from the others, hallways, living room, and base narin sa kwarto ni Mr. Feeling may Ari ng bahay, SI Anthony.

The flooring was the same. Also the walls, ceiling, and even the furnitures. But there is one thing opposed from the others, which I like the most, The sunlight. It penetrates more into my room. Hindi tulad ng sa kwarto ni Anthony, brightness doesn't exist in his vocabulary.

The room was also in standard size, just enough for one person. There's a double sized bed with four pillows and a thick furry blanket, good for cold seasons. A Vanity on its right side, and corner wardrobe with loft bookshelves on the other side.

There's also a mini fireplace sa tapat ng kama, malamig siguro rito palagi.

Pinasok ko ang mga gamit ko at saka pinatong ang iba nito sa study table na nasa gilid lang ng pinto, i took my slippers out of my bag at isinuot ko ito, then i continued exploring the room.

I walked towards the mini fire place, napansin ko kasi na may mga shelves ito sa taas. There were three shelves to be exact, yung unang istante ay puno ng mga libro, entitled; if i stay, vanishing girls, I'll give you the sun, before i fall , and breaking beautiful. I do read books but I've never heard of those. I'mma read it when i have time.

Sa ikalawang istante naman ay puno ng figurines, which kinda scares me, mga figurines kasi ito ng human skeleton, and grim reaper. What's with them? Parte ba sila ng aesthetic ng bahay??

Then I lifted my head up to check kung anong meron sa ikatlong istante and by the time i was able to view what was on it, i was shock sa nakita ko. Family picture ko??? With my mom and dad??

My brain started to develop questions, nag send ba ako ng pictures Kay Aleng Carmilita?? Hindi. Do I post on social media?? Hindi. Then where the heck did she get those pictures???

I was busy arguing with myself when somebody knocked on my door.

*/Knocking "Eijah, pwede ba akong pumasok?" Si Aleng Carmilita yon. She's back?? Already?

"Opo, pasok po" I doubly responded.

Aleng Carmilita then entered my room. I didn't give her a glance since my attention was stuck sa photo frame.

"Nagtataka ka ba kung bakit nandyan 'yan?" She asked, I looked at her and nodded.

"Your friend Kate gave it to me, she said your family is very important to you, they're your inspiration. So, naisip ko na ilagay yan dyan, it will motivate you to start a new day everyday." She explained softly. Okay, gets ko na, Buti naman kala ko kung ano na.

"Tama ho kayo, Sila po ang inspirasyon ko kung bakit ako kumuha ng scholar at nag aral sa malayo, I want to return everything na ibibigay nila sa'kin" I said, agreeing with her.

Kahit pa napalayo ako sa kanila, itinuloy ko parin ang pag-aaral ko rito sa maynila dahil gusto ko silang bigyan ng magandang buhay
I know that it sounds upturned, but that's how life works.

Parents work for their children, and children study for their future and parents. I didn't want to graduate for myself, I wanted to graduate for them.

But I remembered what our pastor said to us his youth, hindi trabaho ng anak na suklian ang magulang, pero nasa bata ito kung ibalik niya ang sakripsisyo ng kaniyang ama't Ina.

I chose to repay, that's why I'm here.

"Halika na sa hapagkainan at kakain na tayo kasama ang isa sa mga housemates mo. Ipapakilala kita sa kaniya." Saad sa'kin ni Aleng Carmilita.