Time And Beyond

Chapter 1

July 09 2018

Morning came and ayon na naman ang feeling of emptiness. I don't feel anything, to be exact. Hays.

Bumangon na ako at pumunta sa banyo para magsipilyo. Napatulala ako sa salamin. Am I really here?

When I finished freshening up, agad akong bumaba. Nakasalubong ko pa si Avril na nagbabasa ng libro sa family area ng bahay, inirapan niya ako bago ibinalik ang tingin sa binabasa.

Pagpasok ko pa lamang sa dining, I can smell the aroma of food. Sarap. 

Agad akong naupo at nagsandok ng fried rice.

"Ako ang nagluto niyan," si yaya. Alam niya talaga ang mga paborito ko.

Kumakain ako ng tahimik nang dumating sina dad. Umupo na rin ang mga ito at nagsimulang kumain. Hindi kk naman sinasabing sinasabayan nila ako dahil in the first place, sigurado akong mom don't want to join if I'm in the table. I just wonder why.

Lumapit naman sa'kin si Vhan para humalik. "Good morning, ate!" masayang bati nito.

"Good morning din." nakangiting bati ko.

While eating, dad break the silence. "May pupuntahan tayo mamaya." He said while slicing something in his plate.

"Where, dad?" Bigla namang sumulpot si Avril. Naupo ito nang hindi inaalis ang tingin kay dad.

"Surprise." maikling tugon ni dad. Surprise? Ang weird talaga ng mga matatanda. Kung saan man yun, bahala sila. In fact, I'll rather just stay at home than to go somewhere na wala akong idea.

"I'm staying." Kaswal na sabi ko. I didn't look at them para hindi ako kainis sa reaction ni mommy. She's always like that, palaging may violent reactions sa mga sinasabi ko.

"Why?" Daddee asked while munching, nagpunas ito ng bibig bago ako tingnan.

"I just don't feel going out, you know." Sabi ko.

"Oh, you're always like that. You don't like going out, you don't like this, you don't like that, don't be so maarte at times like this. You're not a kid anymore, grow up, Beatriz. Sakit ka talaga namin sa ulo ng daddy mo." Mahabang litanya ni mom. See? She's always like that, maraming say sa lahat ng opinions ko. It's like she's invalidating whatever I feel and even my opinions.

I mean, girl, I have opinions. She's always using the "Grow up, Beatriz" card whenever things like this happen. I mean, I don't have time for that, even though kararating ko lang.

"Triz, you have to be there. It's a family thing. Lakad pampamilya 'to, so everyone will be going. No kore questions, no buts, understand?" Dad said in a calm but with authority voice. I just nodded in response.

KASALUKUYAN akong naghahanap ng isusuot ko mamaya. Hindi ko alam kung saang lupalop naman ng Pilipinas kami pupunta kaya't hindi ko alam kung anong isusuot ko.

Sa totoo lang, tinatamad talaga ako, but then again, if it wasn't for dad, I won't do this.

No no pilit kasi.

I decided to wear my favorite cropped sweater paired with high waisted jeans tapos sneakers. I put my hair into ponytail na may nakalaglag na kaunting buhok sa gilid. I just put powder and a lip therapy.

Pagkababa ko ay nakita ko na agad si Avril at Vhan. Naka-dress ang bruha na pinaresan ng heels na three inches. Si Vhan naman ay naka short na puti na pinaresan ng kulay green na t-shirt at puting sapatos. Gwapo ng bunso namin, di katulad ng isa diyan.

Inintay lang naming makababa sina dad at 'mom' para makaalis na kami. Hindi naman naka-formal si dad, si mom naman ay naka-dress lamang na kulay beige.