"Hindi niyo naman kailangang umalis." Tita Kristine, in her best convincing voice possible, said to mom na ngayon ay hawak na ang isang maleta. The latter just smiled reassuringly. "Ayaw na naming abalahin ka pa, Kristine. Atsaka sayang naman ang bahay sa probinsya kung hindi namin titirhan."
"Atsaka makakatulong din 'yun sa kalusugan niya," sabi ni dad habang inaakbayan si mom. "Wala masyadong stress," pagbibiro pa ni dad. Napangisi naman ako dahil alam ko kung anong gusto niyang iparating. Nang hindi ko na makayanan ang pagpaplastikan nila ay lumakad na ako ng mabilis patungo sa sasakyang nirentahan namin.
"Oh siya, lalakad na kami. Bisitahin na lang natin ang isa't-isa." Nakipagkamay si dad kay tita at yumakap naman si mom sa kaniya pero dumiretso na ako sa loob at isinuot ang earphone. I wanna get out of this place as soon as possible, it's making me sick.
As soon as I closed my eyes, my friends' happy faces, together with Dylan, flashed infront of me. Like a scene from a movie that you already expect to happen, but was never ready for the pain.
Four days after the graduation. It's been four tormenting days for feeling like i'm losing everyone in me, including mom who just got discharged. But speaking about friends, I can't watch them leave me, although, at the same time, i'm hating them for things that they clearly have the rights to do so. I can't complain about them from finding new feiends, nor them, getting close to Dylan. It's their choice, but sadly, i've already made up my mind too. I don't want to be close to them, ever again.
It's a blessing in disguise that my parents decided to finally leave now that i've finished highschool.
What a great feeling it is—leaving everything behind as you move on to the next step.
*****
My dad inhaled the province's fresh air as soon as we arrived at this insanely nostalgic place. He must've missed this kind of peaceful place while working abroad. I can feel it. Kasi kahit ako nga na nasa Pilipinas lang, nasasabik din sa mga ganitong uri ng lugar. Malayo sa sibilisasyon.
"Pumasok na kayong dalawa, nabuksan ko na 'yung bahay," agad na sabi ni mommy nang makalapit siya sa amin. "Mahal, 'yung pintuan muna siguro ang ipapaayos natin una. Ang hirap niya na kasing buksan tapos wala pang lock, anong ilalock natin diyan mamayang gabi?" Mom's voice faded as well as dad's when they started to walk towards the house.
Nanatili lang naman ako sa kinatatayuan habang pinagmamasdan sila saglit bago sumunod.
This place changed a lot just after five years. Aside from the house where my other aunt passed away, which is now full of rust and ruined roof and walls, the establishments here—houses and stores alike—have improved completely. Even the rough road where I used to remember walking through while heading to Tita Sheryl's house, is now turned into a cemented road.
"Ay, mare!" A sharp tone of voice echoed accross the house we're in. Napalingon ako sa may pinto habang tahimik na nakaupo lang sa hagdan. It was tita Sheryl who immediately hugged mom. I just watched them both, exchanging regards, until dad came and they talked and talked a lot. But even if i'm just near them, I can't seem to understand what they're saying.
It feels like watching a foreign movie without subtitles, i'm completely alienated.
Pilit na napangiti na lang ako nang lumingon sila sa akin. "Ito na ba si Juliet?" manghang tanong ni tita Sheryl. "Ang laki niya na, manang mana sa'yo pare o. Napaghalataang masyadong mahal ni misis," pagtawa niya pa na ikinatuwa rin naman ng mga magulang ko.
"Ay oo nga pala Ryl, may mga kakilala ka bang pwedeng tumulong sa pagpaparenovate sa bahay na 'to? 'Yung marunong talagang mag carpintero dahil magpapagawa rin 'tong si mister ng maliit na carenderia."
BINABASA MO ANG
Midnights of Us
General FictionJuliet Claire Corpuz is a hypersensitive girl, which in many ways, made her felt overwhelmed time after time because of also bearing the fear of abandonment. She grew up in a household that requires her to suppress her emotions until it drowned her...
