My Unforgettable Spectrum (Cariñoso Series #1)

Chapter 30

Chapter 30

"Kaya mo 'to, Claire." I whispered to myself when I exited the airport. It was my first time going here... After 12 years. Ngayon nalang ulit ako umuwi rito. 

I'm back here in the Philippines after 12 years.

"Ma'am, ako na po riyan," kinuha ng driver 'yong maleta ko at siya na ang naglagay sa sasakyan. I thanked him before riding in my van, trying to calm myself.

Ever since I stayed in New York, I cut off my connections from everyone except my friends. Pero hindi rin ganoon kadalas ang pag-uusap namin dahil pare-pareho kaming busy at may ginagawa. Madalas ay nagte-text lang din kami sa isa't-isa. 

Si Francesca naman ay aksidente ko lang na nakatagpo. She told me that she just was offered a job by her cousin kaya tinanggap niya. Ilang taon palang siya roon sa New York at madalas din ang uwi niya rito. Pero ako... Kahit kailan ay hindi bumalik dito. Ngayon lang talaga.

I told my mother that I wanted to give justice to my brother... Pero hindi ko kayang umuwi. Gusto ko lang ng hustisya para sa Kuya ko kahit nasa malayo ako. Si Mommy ang nag-asikaso noon habang nag-aaral ako. When I graduated, I worked under her company in New York.

Life. I learned a lot from it and came to many conclusions. For years, I endured the storm and the gloom with sorrow. There was no light and no color around. I felt trapped in the pitch-black room as it poured with rain.

Bago ako dumiretso ng bahay ay pumunta muna ako sa puntod ni Kuya. I miss him. Hanggang ngayon, masakit pa rin. Nandito pa rin 'yung bigat. Mayroong mga bulaklak na nakalagay sa gilid at kandila. 

"Hi, Kuya... Nakabalik na 'ko pero saglit lang ako rito. Si Hendrix kasi, eh. May project na in-offer tapos bawal ako tumanggi." Pagkwe-kwento ko sakanya. "Kuya, kamusta ka na? Miss na miss na kita."

I smiled as I tried wiping my tears. I miss my brother so much. "Kuya, alam mo... Hindi pa rin ako okay. Hindi ko pa rin napapatawad ang sarili ko... Pero sinusubukan ko. I'm taking therapies, Kuya at sabi ng doctor, I had a huge progress! Hindi ba 'yon ang gusto mo? Aren't you proud of me, Kuya?" I tried smiling. I offered a prayer before standing up and asking the driver to go to the house.

"Anak! Oh my gosh!" Tumayo agad si Mommy mula sa kusina nang makita niya ako pagpasok sa mansyon. She quickly hugged me and kissed me on the cheeks. "I cooked your favorite dish!"

I smiled. Minsan bumibisita rin doon si Mommy pero mas madalas siyang nandito dahil may kumpanya rin siya rito. I followed her in the kitchen and saw Tita Tina smiling at me widely.

"Hi, pamangkin!" She kissed me on the cheek. She's my aunt, kapatid pala talaga siya ni Mommy kaya siya nagtrabaho sa school ko dati. "How's New York? It's been what? 12 years? Wala pa ring boyfriend?" She gave me a teasing smile.

"Tita! Daming tanong! Work ang ginagawa ko roon, okay?" Ngumuso ako. "And I've been discovering more! I also tried traveling and roaming around the world alone. Masaya naman pala."

I didn't know that being alone could be peaceful. I tried traveling around during my vacations and tried different hobbies. I discovered a lot about myself. Sometimes, we just needed time. Time to reflect and realize everything. 

"See? You've been to different places pero wala ka pa ring kahit crush man lang? I heard marami ang pumoporma sa 'yo roon, ah! Nate right?" 

Tita Tina knows too much! Never siyang pumunta roon pero parang ang dami niyang alam! I didn't know that I will see Nate there! It turns out that our mothers were friends kaya noong sinama ako ni Mommy sa meet up nila, nagkita rin kami ni Nate. And we entered the same university noong college kaya madalas ko rin siyang kasama.