Chapter 29
"Sahil came here a while ago... I thought you're just in your room. Where did you go?" bungad ni Mommy nang makauwi ako.
Madilim na sa labas. I didn't expect that she'll wait for me. She's always busy these days. Bago sa akin ang paghihintay niya sa pag-uwi ko. Well, kasi ngayon lang naman ako inabot ng gabi sa labas.
I sighed when I realized what she said. So he came here? For us to talk, definitely. Buti nalang at naengganyo pa ako roon sa plantasyon makipagkwentuhan at hindi niya ako naabutan. I just really can't, today.
I smiled at my Mom.
She was sitting on her favourite couch while reading an old magazine. Dad was nowhere in sight. Siguro ay nasa kanilang silid na.
"Sa plantasyon lang, Mommy." tipid kong sagot.
Naaliw kasi akong pagmasdan ang tanawin doon. Plus the fresh air lured me to sleep. Nakatulog ako habang nakasandal sa makapal na lubid ng swing. Mabuti na lang at hindi ako nahulog. I slept for a minute. Nagising na medyo madilim na ang paligid. I didn't want to go home yet. Kaya naman tumambay muna ako kasama ang ilang trabahador doon sa kubo. They're fun to be with actually. Kaya mas napatagal ako sa pagtambay.
Tumayo siya at ngumiti sa akin pabalik. Then she gently patted my head.
"You visited the plantation? That's good to hear, anak..." I can trace the joy in her voice. Of course, she really wants me to be fond of her flowers.
"Yeah... doon ako sa swing nagtagal, Mommy."
She nodded then pouted. "Don't you want the plantation?"
Naguguluhan ko siyang tiningnan. Hindi nakuha ang ibig niyang sabihin, ngunit umiling siya at hindi na inulit ang sinabi.
"Let's eat?"pag-iiba niya sa usapan.
"How about Dad?"
"Tulog na ang Daddy mo, nauna na iyong kumain. He's just so tired..."
I nodded my head. Yeah. They're tired planning for my birthday. Naiintindihan ko naman at ayos lang naman sa akin kahit hindi na kami palaging sabay-sabay kumain gaya ng dati.
"Okay Mom, you shouldn't have waited for me. Pagod na kayong dalawa..."
She looked at me. Iyong tingin na nalulungkot. Probably she's thinking that I'm being sarcastic or something. Akala niya siguro ay ipinaparating ko na nagkukulang na sila sa akin at sanay na akong wala sila palagi sa hapag.
"I mean, it's really fine with me eating alone. I'm used to it and I don't really mind eating alone." I smiled at her, assuring that it's really fine with me. "I understand, you two are busy..."
Ngumiti siya. "Thanks, anak."
Tahimik kaming kumain. Mom seems like she's in a deep thoughts. Hindi na lang ako nagkomento dahil wala naman akong sasabihin o itatanong. Or if there is, hindi ko parin isasatinig.
Nagpresenta siyang magligpit pagkatapos namin. Hindi ko na siya pinilit. She insisted that I always do the shores. Hayaan ko naman daw siyang pagsilbihan ang anak niya. I didn't argue with that. Bumabawi lang naman si Mommy kaya dapat ay hayaan ko na.
I just couldn't forget the words she said before she ascend towards their room.
"You must learn to love the plantation, anak."
Simple words I couldn't fathom. She knows that I'm not fond of her flowers. Ayaw kong maarawan. Ayaw kong sayangin ang oras ko sa pagdidilig at pagtatanim.
