Before Sunrise (Scenery Series #2)

Kabanata 18

Gift

I was crying on my Dad's arms. Nasa hospital kami at kausap ni mommy ang doctor ni Lola. Rinig ko ay bigla itong nawalan ng malay sa gitna ng trabaho.

She was old enough for the job. Dad insist to let her rest, pero gusto parin nito na magtrabaho. Sinubukan naman niya, but it was only a day nang bumalik dahil namimiss niya ang company.

"I talked to our son. He'll work with the company, while Avi took theirs. I don't want you to get stress with that company. Hayaan mo ang anak natin ang magtrabaho," si daddy kay mommy.

Mom was sitting on a sofa. She looks stress. "Dion can't shoulder all the works there. Beside, may pamilya siya at may trabaho na kailangan din asikasuhin. He can't stay there forever."

I swallowed hard. Hinilot ni mommy ang kan'yang sentido. Daddy was standing beside her. May kasambahay na nagbigay ng tubig kay mommy. Kagaggaling lang namin sa hospital kung saan na confine si Lola. She's ill. She needs a proper treatment. Naiwan ang company nila. Abuelo was abroad and currently running a company too. Hindi puwede'ng iwan dahil tagilid narin. Now, my parents are planning to pass the company of my Lola to my brother.

"Dion will understand," si dad at tumingin sa akin. "And I'm sure he'll find a way. Our kids are smart."

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin, feeling guilty of something. Wala man lang akong naitutulong sa kanila.

Maaga akong gumising para dumaan sa bagong trabaho ni kuya. It will be his first time handling a cosmetic brand. Hindi ko alam kung bakit siya ang maghahawak at hindi ang kan'yang asawa.

I was welcome by the workers while walking on the lobby. Pansin ko na puro may edad na ang mga nagtatrabaho. I saw some familiar faces, na nakikita ko rin na kasama ni Lola. Maybe they are loyal servant of her.

Isang matalim na tingin ang sumalubong sa akin. Sinarado ko ang pinto sa likod at lumapit kay kuya na nakaupo sa isang round table, ang mga mata ay nasa akin na. Tinapunan ko ng tingin ang laptop na nasa gilid niya at ang mga sample products na nasa harapan niya. Kumuha ako ng isang sample ng lipstick. It was dark brown.

"Why are you here? You should be on your school at this hour," si kuya at tinignan ang kan'yang relo.

"It was too early for my first class. And..." Nilibot ko ang tingin ko sa office niya. "...gusto ko rin tignan ang magiging kulungan mo."

Narinig ko ang pagbuntong hininga ni kuya. Sinulyapan ko siya at nakita kong nakapikit na. I laughed. Wala siyang sinabi at pinagtuunan na lang ang mga products sa harap. He called someone over phone kaya nilibot ko na lang ang sulok ng opisina niya. It was minimal. I know my Grandma has a great taste of passion. But I didn't know she have this millennial type.

Binalik ko ang tingin kay kuya. Tapos na ito makipag-usap at nasa mga products na ulit ang mga mata. Tinignan ko ang hawak na lipstick. It was dark. I tried to put it on my hand for a test, it looks good, pero hindi ako satisfied.

Binalik ko ang mata kay kuya. Nakita niya ang ginawa ko. Binaba niya ang mga mata sa hawak ko.

"That will be out," he commented. "Some costumers don't like it."

Tumango ako. Maybe we need a better one to test this. It was actually good, pero katulad sa mga gumagamit, kulang at hindi sapat ang product.

I find it good, but I think, although it is dark, it needs to look light. Something that could overlap the darkness. Para babagay sa mestiza at morena.

I left after an hour for my class. Sinubukan kong magfocus sa araw na iyon para makalimot sa mga bumabagabag sa isipan ko. It was the last subject that hits me hard. Akala ko matatapos ang araw ko nang maayos, but I saw someone waiting outside our school.