FOURS YEARS AFTER
Vee
Hay, Monday na naman. By the tone of my voice, I know na alam n'yo na agad kung anong nararamdaman ko. I hate Mondays, I hate to start my week off waking up at 4am. Hindi naman ako tamad, medyo lang hehe.
" Vee, baba na. The breakfast's ready!"
Tita Mommy shouted from the kitchen. Tita Mommy talaga, alam na alam na tuloy ng mga kapitbahay na kakain na kami, everytime.
" Yes po! Coming!!"
I checked myself once again at the mirror to see if I look just—okay. Dinampot ko ang bag ko at bumaba na.
" Ikaw talaga, ang tagal tagal mong mag-ayos. Malalate ka na oh!"
Nginitian ko lang si Tita Mommy saka nagsimulang kumain. Fried rice and sunny side up is always the best combi!
"Ay Tita Mommy, hiring po ba sa ice cream parlor?"
Tita Mommy stopped what her doing and consciously looked at me.
" What po? Balak ko po kasing magpart time, pandagdag lang po sa ipon ko." Pangangatwiran ko kaagad. Alam ko kasing aalam s'ya. Ayaw n'ya na kasi na nagttrabaho ako habang nag-aaral. She said, it'll be better if I focus on my studies. Tutal ako din naman daw yung magiging owner ng ice cream shop namin kapag nakatapos na 'ko.
" Diba sabi ko you should just focus on your studies? Paano ka makakapg-aral sa Maynila n'yan kung hindi ka magfofocus?"
I sighed as I temporarily surrendered. Pipilitin ko pa rin s'ya na magpart time ako sa parlor.
Alam ko kasing nahihirapan na si Tita Mommy. Ayokong maging masyadong pabigat sa kan'ya. Yes, she promised to my mom that she'll take care of me as long as she can. But that doesn't mean na she'll stop thinking of herself. Lagi nalang ako ang inuuna n'ya, hindi na n'ya iniisip ang mga gusto at kailangan n'ya. I'm sad that she can't be able to have her own child because she grew up having the responsibilities that aren't really hers.
I smiled at my Tita Mommy and stood up. Even though I'm sad, all I can do is throw a smile at her. 'Yun lang naman kasi ang kaya kong ipambayad sa lahat ng sakripisyo at paghihirap n'ya para sa'kin.
" Alam mo, Vee. I'm really happy that Ate gave birth to a wonderful child like you. I can't see myself without you by my side."
She cupped my face and kissed my forehead, just like what she usually do. I blinked a couple of times, trying to prevent the tears that have formed in my eyes. Ayokong umiyak, dahil alam kong sa kada butil ng luha na makikita ni Tita Mommy ay katumbas ng bawat saksak sa puso n'ya. She loves me more than herself, she hates to see me cry. Kahit happy tears pa 'yan.
" Si Tita Mommy, nagdrama na naman! Sige na po, papasok na 'ko. May reporting pa po kami sa first subject ko eh. Don't stress youself sa parlor ha. Call me when you need my help."
I grabbed my things and kissed her in the cheeks. Hinatid n'ya ako hanggang sa labas ng bahay.
" Vee! Papasok ka na ba?"
Liv cheerfully greeted me while putting her left arm on my shoulders. 'To talagang babaeng 'to. Feel na feel n'ya lagi yung one inch n'yang itinangkad sa'kin.
" I'll go first, ayoko na pala sumabay sa inyo."
Napakunot ang noo ko nang marealized na nasa likod pala namin si Sab. Sab never changed, she is still not fond of me and my cutie dimpies still don't know why. I mean, I didn't show her anything bad. Sabi ni Liv, gan'yan lang daw talaga 'yan. Pero deep inside, soft pala.
"Teka Sab! Hintay!"
Binilisan namin ni Liv ang takbo kahit na medyo maiksi yung palda namin. Naramdamn kong unti-unting binagalan ni Sab ang lakad n'ya. Bahagya akong napangiti, pakipot pa si Hope Isabeau. Gusto din naman pala kami kasabay.
We arrived at our school thirty minutes early. Nadatnan namin si Ven at Sky na hinihintay kami sa labas habang may dala dalang breakfast. Ganyan talaga 'yang mga 'yan. Lagi naman naming sinasabing kumain na kami sa mga sarili namin bahay pero walang palya! Lagi nalang may dalang sandwich at bottled water kada pumapasok kami.
" Wala na bang ibang tinda sa cafeteria at puro sandwich nalang ang alay n'yo sa'min ngayong linggo?"
Mataray na tanong ni Sab sa dalawa. She did the roll eye thingy, which she always did anyways.
" Ang feeling mo shabu shabu. Para to kay Vee saka Liv, bumili ka ng iyo sa cafeteria."
Pinandilatan ko ito ng mata para bawiin niya ang sinabi n'ya. Eto talaga, walang tabas ang dila. Lagi nalang inaasar si Sab, kaya sila nagkakasundo ni Ven eh. Pareho silang maloko.
" Charot lang, eto oh chocolate cake para naman mawala 'yang topak mo. Kawawa si Vee sa'yo eh."
Inabot ni Sky kay Sab yung styro ng chocolate cake na sinasabi n'ya. Tignan mo 'to, gusto n'ya lang talagang asarin si Sab eh. Pahablot namang kinuha ni Sab yung cake.
Ilang minuto lang ay nagring na rin yung bell. Pumasok na rin yung teacher namin sa GenChem. Wala pala kaming reporting, bukas pa hehe.
" Good morning, class. As you all know, today is the start of our second semester. I assumed that you all have received the class schedule for this semester. Also, the books had been emailed to your accounts so expect some surprise recitation any time soon."
She discussed while writing something on the board. I guess it's the grading system for this semester. Lagi namang may ganyan.
" Anyway, you have a new classmate. He came from Manila. Mr. Lunaria, you may come in."
L-lunaria?
Oh my God.
" Leotine Paris Lunaria, just call me Leo."
I felt my eyes tear up because of what I just saw. It's been four years since I last saw those eyes. Four years and it still haven't changed. It still holds the memories we had, every summer— at the 13th street.
