Letting Go Liberty

Chap 05

Talking to Louie pushed me to face my mom. If he can do it, I can also do it. If kinaya niyang mag speak up maybe I could too. I hope it goes well because if it doesn't, I don't know how to feel about Mama anymore.

Right when I was about to text Papa that I'll be going home, my phone rang, Papa was calling.

"Anak, how are you?" Papa sounded as if he was up to something.

"I'm good, po."

This is why I'm not entirely a fan of calling, ang awkward! I hate the silence. And I don't know how to break it every time!

"Pa. I'll go there later, maybe lunch? Is it fine?" I straight up told him because I can't handle prolonging this.

"Why are you asking if it's fine? Of course, it's fine!" He paused, collecting himself. "This is your home, Callista. You don't need permission to come here, okay?" He meaningfully said.

"Okay... I'll get ready and drive there myself, wag niyo na po ako ipasundo kay Manong."

Para akong nakahinga na ulit nang maputol ang tawag pagkatapos mag paalam ni Papa.

I immediately got ready, I didn't bother to put on makeup dahil sa bahay lang naman ako pupunta. I was wearing something casual. White ribbed tank top, my sweat shorts, and a pair of white shoes. I pulled my hair up into a ponytail.

I drove to our house thinking of things that I would tell my mom. I needed to be firm, there was no room for stammering or faltering. You're not frail, Liberty... You're not too young to decide for yourself, you're not in need of constant protection.

It was a short drive from my apartment in Taguig to our house in Alabang. The guards immediately opened the parking barrier allowing me inside the subdivision. It was nice to be back here.

Noong mga bata pa kasi kami ni Louie at Jai, they always come to our house because my mom prefers me to stay at home. And when we were in high school ayun na yung nakasanayan nila, they would fetch me and drop me home whenever we would go out na mostly sa Town Center or the Country club kaya naman this place is close to my heart.

Bumusina ako and Kuya Dante came running to open the gate. When I was parking my car I saw that he had a smile on his face.

"Liberty, buti napadaan ka," Kuya Dante said when I got down from the car, "Namiss ka namin dito,"

We were walking in the pathway leading to our house nang makasalubong namin si Ate Marie, siya yung nag aalaga sakin simula pag ka bata ko.

"Ma'am Lea! Andito na po si Liberty!" Ate Marie excitedly said pagkatapos niyang itigil ang pag tri-trim ng mga halaman.

"Nako, Liberty! Inaalagaan mo ba ang sarili mo?" She lightly pulled me towards her while we are walking, "Kumakain ka ba ng maayos? Magaling ka na ba magluto? " Ate Marie held my arms and was examining me and she was stopped when I saw my mom standing in front of our big wooden door arching her brow at us.

Her figure was dominating, two arms were crossed as her posture stood tall, her chin was held high and her eyes was piercing, her silhouette towering over us as she was standing on the entrance of her house. 

Ate Marie let go of me and distanced herself, automatically, I stood up straight and held my chin up.

"Ano pang hinihintay niyo?" Mama looked beside me and Ate disappeared like a bubble," What's taking you so long to come in?" Masungit na bungad niya sa akin. Tumalikod siya at direderetsong nag lakad papasok.

What a warm welcome that was.

When I entered the house, I was welcomed by high ceilings, chandeliers, and tall glass windows. My eyes scanned the walls, there were pictures of us, and they were all family portraits. My smile was disappearing as I got older. There were pictures of me, and our family during out-of-the-country vacations but the house still felt empty.