Jump From the Air (Erudite Series #5)

Kapitulo 3

"Magsaing ka na," Mommy ordered after I got her out of the shower. 

Katatapos niya lang maligo. 

Katatapos ko lang siya paliguan. 

Utos na naman.

It was Friday today, it had been some days since I fed a stray cat. I couldn't go to Dominique's game today because Mommy told me to come home early. Sabi niya mahirap na raw sumakay pauwi kung pupunta pa ako sa game ni Dominique. Nagpaalam na kasi ako kahapon, pumayag naman siya, pero biglang nagbago ang isip niya.

She often did that—changing her mind at the last minute after I asked to go out. Sometimes, she lets me go out, most times, she tells me to stay in,

During the first few times she did that, I didn't think of anything about it. But after months and years, I realized she actually wanted me to always stay beside her. It was like she was controlling me to her advantage because when I was at home, she could do anything. When I was out, she could only clean, eat, and watch the day go by.

But that wasn't my fault.

Yet, I was paying the price for it.

It was so... horrible to think about. Awful feelings started to surface in my heart every time she'd say I should just go home.

Dominique gave the ticket that I was supposed to use to another person since I backed out last minute. I think sa pinsan niya. Sina Wren at Magnus ay inasar ako na palusot ko lang daw ang Mommy ko dahil tinatamad akong lumabas. Hindi lang nila alam na imbalido si Mommy, hindi ako... makahihindi sa kaniya sa kahit anong request niya.

At, nanay ko pa rin siya, susundin ko pa rin naman siya sa ganitong bagay. Pagagalitan lang din ako kapag sumaway ako. I didn't want that, didn't need any more scolding either.

My college friends didn't really know about my situation in life, I wasn't comfortable enough to share it with them. Hindi ko rin nakita, sa ngayon, kung bakit kailangan kong ipaalam sa kanila. Only one person knew about my hardships since high school, my cousin, Hulio. He goes to UST right now, and we haven't been able to see each other unlike during high school. Galing kasi kaming same school no'n before college. But we do chat. We've tried to match our schedules, pero alam naming pareho na busy kami sa sariling buhay, kaya hindi ganoon kadali magkipag-meet up. Marami rin kasing ginagawa 'yon, last time we talked, he was thinking of joining an exchange program in Spain.

Bumaba ako mula sa ikalawang palapag at nagluto na ng bigas. I was still in my outside clothes. Ganito ang ginagawa ko, hindi muna maliligo, uunahin ko muna si Mommy at ang pagsasaing para diretso kuwarto na ako kapag bagong ligo.

"Gusto mo ba ng bagong sapatos? Sabi ng Daddy mo may sale ng ilang brands do'n, s-in-end niya raw sa 'yo, pero hindi mo pa nakikita. Sagutin mo siya, pumili ka sa s-in-end niya." Mommy told me as motioned me to help her to the stair lift when I went back to the floor of our rooms.

"Okay po," sagot ko bago ibaba ang wheelchair niya.

Kumain kami kalaunan at bumalik sa taas matapos hugasan ang mga pinggan. Mommy was already in her room while I was bathing. I was mentally counting the things I had to finish tonight. Gagawa na muna ako ng midnight snack after maligo, para hindi na ako bumaba mamaya kapag magutom ako.

So, I went and made a sandwich and took a pack of chips up in my room after I put on my clothes. I also put water in my flask and brought it upstairs.

Then, a long night of studying began until my eyelids dropped.

***

Days later, I got the new shoes Daddy bought for me. I chose to get a black one since my old black ones were already nearing their end. May binili rin si Daddy para kay Mommy na damit at vase.