Kupido's Alumnus

1

"You'll love this place. Trust me, Maine."

I don't understand the point of that line being said to me anymore. I love exploring! I love to see new things, meet new people, and go beyond my comfort zone.

Ngumiti na lang ako kay Papa na nakaupo sa driver's seat. Si Mama ang nasa shotgun, habang ako sa backseat.

"Mapapamahal talaga siya rito..." dugtong naman ni Mama kaya napabaling ako sa kaniya. "Kasi we'll stay here for a year!"

"Talaga po?! I can't wait to make friends!"

I'm a kid that's easy to please. Bungisngis ako at madaling mapasaya. Buy me an ice cream after an unfortunate day, and trust me, kahit na hapon pa, my smile would be as if I just witnessed the sunrise. And today's case is similar to that.

My father works as a military official. He's a soldier that moves from one place to another. At kami, bilang pamilya niya ay sumasama sa kaniya. My mother and I could easily settle to one place, I've thought of that before. Kaso sabi naman ni Mama ayaw niyang mapalayo kay Papa. They tried it, though, in my graduating year in elementary para hindi ako mahirapan. But I saw my mother get sad the more she doesn't see my father... kaya after that, even if I know it would give me a hard time, pumayag na lang din ako. It's a win-win scenario... since I've grown to like travelling.

And I want to make friends.

Kinalaunan ay narating na namin ang bahay na tutuluyan namin. It was a small two-storey house with a lot in its sorroundings. It seems serene, like that from the countryside we were last time. Lumipat kasi kami sa Dasmariñas ngayon. It's more civilized.

Agad din naming nilipat ang mga gamit na nasa kotse. I have a big room now! I smiled at myself as I opened the box filled of my favorite books. From textbooks to novels, I have it all! Although I try to be more thoughtful when buying... because we move a lot. Nakakapagod maglipat ng gamit.

"Maine." I heard a knock on my door. I was just about to sleep.

Tumayo ako mula sa kama at binuksan ang pinto. Si Papa. "Bakit po?" I asked kindly.

"Pwedeng pumasok?" I let him in. Kinuha niya ang monobloc na pansamantala kong gamit sa study table. He sat there while I sat on the bed facing him. "I'm sorry if we moved suddenly..." panimula niya. "Next week, you'll have to take an entrance exam to get into this school your mother tells you about. I know it can be stressful, so do you still want to study there? O roon na lang sa walang exam para 'di ka na mahirapan?"

"Pa..." I sighed before smiling at him reassuringly. "Kaya ko po. It's not my first time taking an exam, alam niyo 'yan. I can handle myself."

"Pero-"

"Dad," I cut him off. "I want to go there."

Natawa na lang sa akin si Papa at lumapit sa 'kin para guluhin ang buhok ko. He's such a good father and a loving husband. I could not ask more from him.