How to be in the Same Page With You

Page 1: Villa Himalaya

The 9-year-old Trese...

"Dad do we really need to do this?" I asked my Dad, who was busy packing my, yes, "MY" things in a suit case. "You know, we should not go this far?"

I tried to smile at him, but all he did was raise his brow and look at me in disbelief.

"Oh, you think we should not go this far, young lady?" I gulped and faked a cough when I heard my dad's famous serious tone.

"Y-Yah?"

"See?! You are not even sure yourself." He said, pointing at me.

"How can I be sure if you are gawking at me?!"

Oh, that shouldn't come out of my mouth-

"Language!" I covered and zipped my mouth. "At tsaka diba nag-usap na tayo na magtagalog ka?"

I simply rolled my eyes.

Eh paano ako magtatagalog kung sa private school mo ako pinapasok tapos lahat ng bata doon walang ibang alam sabihin, puro sila English!

"Opo, pasenya na Dad. It's a habit I can't stop." Nagkamot na lang ako ng batok na tumingin sa tatay kong dire-diretso lang sa pag-iimpake ng gamit ko.

Inilibot ko ang paningin ko sa buong kwarto ko.

I still find it funny because it is so pink and full of girly stuff, na kabaligtaran ng mga trip ko sa buhay. But if there's one thing I love in this room, it would be the window.

From here I can see the full view of the sun when its rising and when it is time for him to rest.

"Dad? Do you think Mom will make the same decision as yours if she is here right now?" As I expected, my father did not answer my question and acted as if he was not hearing anything.

Nilingon ko ulit ang tatay ko na nakataas ang kilay at tama nga ang hinila ko. Nag-iimpake pa rin siya ng gamit ko.

"Dad, I want to be with you." Maiiwan siyang mag-isa kung pati ako ay aalis.

"Trese listen, I am doing this for you okay. Dahil busy ako sa trabaho napapabayaan na kita, isipin mo hindi ko alam na nabu-bully ka na pala. Anong klaseng tatay ako?" That's the reason why I'm not telling you, Dad.

Sarili niya nanaman ang sisihin niya.

"Kaya po dadalhin mo ako sa probinsiya? Na malayo sa siyudad?" Tumango naman ang tatay ko, making me feel frustrated.

Hindi ba niya nage-gets na ayaw ko umalis?

"Your Lolo and Lola will take good care of you there." Parang na-miss ko bigla ang sumang balinghoy ni Lola.

Tapos isasaw sa latik.

Okay, Trese, wake up! Stop day-dreaming with Sumang Balinghoy! Ang goal mo ngayon ay makumbinse ang tatay mo na huwag kang dalhin sa probinsiya!

"Dad naman eh! Paano ko matutupad ang mga pangarap ko eh ang layo layo ng probinsiya?!" My Dad looked at me in disbelief.

"Trese okay ka lang?! 9 years old, ka pa lang! Why are you so worked up?" Sumimangot ako sa kanya at inayos ko ang strap ng jumper kong nalalaglag kasi maluwag.

"Because I promised Mom I would help you at aalagaan kita!" I said, pouting.

Paano ko matutupad ang pangarap ko sa probinsiya? Makakapag-aral ba ako ng architecture doon? Do they have infrastructure that will pique my interest?!