Reaching the Sky | ✓

24

Running away. . . Probably the best solution for cowards when crisis arise but for me? Running away does not necessarily mean being coward. Running away meant protecting your already broken inner peace.

It is an act that will give you time to think about solutions to your problems and a time to accept all the consequences of your previous actions.

Hindi ko hinintay ang pagdating nila. Natulog ako kaagad pagkatapos kong mabasa ang mga message nila. Hindi na nga ako nag-abalang kumain.

When I woke up the next morning amoy na amoy ko ang pamilyar na bango ni Wes, bakit nandito siya? Ah, oo nga pala, dito ako natulog sa kwarto niya. Bukas naman kasi ito at ayaw kong makaabala sa kaniya kaya hindi ko na siya tinawagan. Kahit wala ang presensiya niya basta naamoy ko ito, ayos na ako.

I yawned and jolted when I saw my mom looking at me. She looked weary, there were dark circles in the corners of her eyes and exhaustion is evident in her pale orbs.

“You’re living with him, here?” Ang gandang bungad para sa umaga. Umiling ako.

“He lend me this unit after Manang Neri barged in Tita Meisha’s unit and some of their men forced to get inside your unit.” 

Her forehead formed a thin line, confused. She blinked several times before nodding.

“Hindi sinabi ng daddy mo.”

“He’s too busy to tell you. Marami siyang kinakalap na ebidensiya para sa pagkamatay ni Tito Psalm at Tito Vince.” 

“How did you know about Psalm?”

“Dad told me. I saw him with Lailani in our school during last year’s foundation day.” Pain etched over her face. I can’t blame her, she’s the legal wife but she was always discarded.

While I acknowledge her pain, I can never tolerate her cheating issues. I smiled a bit before jumping off the bed. Maureen peeked at the door, she’s wearing a dress with a cookie in her hand.

“Galing ni Kuya Wes magluto.” Tumatango tango pa siya. Kumunot ang noo ko. 

“What? Nagluluto? Bakit?”

“E kasi gutom na ako, ate.” Mabuti na lang at mabilis siyang kinausap ni mommy para pagsabihan. Naligo na ako bago ako lumabas ng kwarto. Matagal din ang oras na ginugol ko sa pagligo kaya naman handa na silang kumain nang lumabas ako.

“Good morning!” Bati ko kay Wes na nasa bungad. Ngumiti siya sa akin bago bumati pabalik. The whole breakfast ay tanging sina Wes lang at Maureen ang nag-uusap.

“Why not chef Kuya?” Tanong ulit ng kapatid ko. Kanina pa niya pinipilit si Wes na huwag na mag-engineering.

“Well, I learned how to cook for survival but it’s not really my passion so. . .” Wes trailed off. 

“Pero mas marami ang nagugutom,”

“It’s true, but what about the people living under the bridge? Those who doesn’t have a proper shelter, kung mayroon man, hindi iyon properly built.” 

“People live under the bridge?”

“Yes. Those who are not born with silver spoons in their mouths, the unprivileged. They live under the bridges, benches inside the parks or sometimes the streets.”

Maureen’s head cocked to my direction asking for a confirmation. I smiled at her and nodded. Maraming bata na tulad ni Maureen, mga batang hindi nabuksan ang mata sa mga sakit ng lipunan.

Mga batang walang alam kundi ang mabuhay ng masagana kahit pa marami ang nagugutom. Of course, it isn’t their faults that they are born rich, it is their parent’s fault for not opening their children’s eyes to see the realms of our reality. How cruel the world is and how fucked up people have become.