Underneath The Horizon

01 : Marli

01 : A Not So Meet Cute.
  
  
  
If it's meant to be, it's meant to be. Pure bullshit.

I grew up believing that corny catchphrase thinking it was romantic and sweet. It wasn't. Now, here's our family falling in shambles.

Tumawag sa akin si Ate Marj, my second sister. Nagta-trabaho siya sa Mindanao so she stays with dad who's also there. Kinausap niya ako kanina tungkol sa bills ng bahay dahil ako lang naman ang tumatao roon.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. Simula noong inasikaso ng mga magulang namin ang divorce nilang dalawa, ako na lang halos ang naiwan mag-isa sa bahay namin dahil ako na lang naman sa aming tatlong magkakapatid ang nag-aaral.

Since hindi naman legal ang divorce dito sa Pilipinas, my parents had to go abroad. Ilang buwan silang nagpapabalik-balik doon. At one point, I think my mother doesn't even want to go home anymore, and maybe she did.

Then, just before this year started, I officially became a child of divorce. Bye-bye to their twenty-two years of marriage.

My mom is currently staying in Italy, enjoying her husband-free life while our father stays in Davao with his new found romance. From a cutesy lovers to total strangers. I know that trope pretty well.

For some, siguro nakakahinayang ang twenty-two years, but for me it was just right that it happened. Although confused, I sincerely think it was for the better. Oo nga't financially stable kami, we live a peaceful life as a family so what went wrong? Why did we fell apart?

Ewan ko.

I may be old enough to know what's happening but I'm still my family's baby. No one told me about our parents having divorce, nalaman ko na lang after three months of the process. Hindi ko nga rin alam na madalas na palang mag-away ang mga magulang namin even before the topic of divorce came into picture.

Bilang bunso, inisip ko na lang na ayaw nila akong madamay dahil hindi ko naman problema iyon and that I should mainly focus on my studies. But that's also the problem. They disregard me too much just because I'm not as wise and experienced as they were.

Akala siguro nila ay dahil sila ang mas nakatatanda, sila ang mas may alam at mas may experience kaysa sa akin and I'd just be of no help. Pero pamilya pa rin naman nila ako. I deserve to know just as much as my older sisters did. Don't I?

Narinig kong tumunog ang phone ko kaya agad ko itong kinuha sa loob ng dala kong tote bag. Akala ko ay tumatawag na ulit si Ate, but my face instantly lit up when I saw who it was. The art exhibit owner was calling.

Last month kasi ay nalaman kong magkakaron pala ng art exhibit ang isa sa mga kaibigan ng malapit kong professors so I personally requested na magdadala ako ng sarili kong piece for the exhibit. It didn't matter to me kung pe-presyuhan nila iyon o hindi. I just wanted people to see my work.

"Hija, I'll send you an email of the invitation as a special guest of the exhibit. You'll be joining the other artists I know who also offered their works. I'm just giving you a heads up now kasi within this week na iyon," paliwanag ng may-ari sa 'kin mula sa kabilang linya.

I couldn't help but smile. This used to be my dream, something I badly want to happen kaya nga ako nag-art major because it was one of my goals. Although hindi ko pa naman sariling exhibit iyon, at least I'm a lot closer to the reality I'm aiming for. However, for now, baby steps.

Huminga ako nang malalim bago sumagot. "Sige po, I'll wait for the email. Thank you po!"

Agad akong tumayo matapos ang tawag saka niligpit ang mga gamit kong nakakalat. Nasa may outdoor court kasi ako ng campus ngayon dahil ang daming tao sa canteen. I wanted a change of scenery kaya dito ko naisipang mag-sketch.