Jump From the Air (Erudite Series #5)

Kapitulo 12

Things were so bright. Mommy was so smiley.

"Bakit hindi ka nagsabi? Paano ka nakauwi? Nag-taxi ka o nagpasundo ka sa mga kapatid mo?" sunod-sunod ang tanong ni Mommy habang pinagmamasdan si Daddy na binubuksan ang kaniyang suitcase.

I was staring at my Dad too, in awe, might I add. This was not a part of any imagination that I had today. So, to say I was shocked was an understatement. Daddy really knows when to come.

"Nag-taxi lang ako, ang tagal ko ngang naghintay, e. Hindi ako nagsabi kasi surprise. Napaaga 'yong sinasabi ko kay Meadow na leave, some things happened, and here I am," he answered.

"Nagugutom ka ba? May natira pang ulam, puwedeng initin," Mommy said while going to the fridge where our food was.

"Hindi, marami akong nakain sa eroplano, busog ako," agap ni Daddy para hindi na kuhain ni Mommy ang ulam kanina.

Daddy brought out some things and looked at me. Lumapit ako dahil alam kong pasalubong niya ang mga iyon sa akin. He always brought home something different every year. And, almost everything he ever bought for me from abroad was still here. Except for the things that couldn't fit me anymore. Pinamigay na lang namin ang mga iyon o tinapon. Iyong iba, minsan, hindi ko pinakakawalan dahil alam kong pinaghirapan ni Daddy bilhin iyon sa akin.

"Gaano katagal ka rito?" narinig kong sabi ni Mommy.

"Two weeks. Ayaw mo ba talagang umalis? Out of town? Beach, gano'n?" Daddy asked her.

Tiningnan ko silang dalawa at nakita ang hagod ni Daddy sa balikat ni Mommy. My mother showed a calming expression as if her mind was changing about going away for Daddy's leave. Only he can get her to look so vulnerable. 

She misses him every day, I understand why she looked so soft for him with just a touch. It wasn't simply the fact that he was holding her, it was everything. The 14-day stay that seems like forever. The suitcase he has is here. The third voice we'd hear here for the time being. The lingering feeling of missing Dad despite him being at arm's length.

Maki surrounded my parents and even put his paws on Dad.

"Ang taba mo, ah," biro ni Daddy sa aso ko habang kinakarinyo niya si Maki.

"Magpahinga ka na, ikukuha kita ng damit," ani Mommy habang pumupunta si Daddy sa fridge para kumuha ng tubig.

"Ako na, bumalik ka na sa kama. Meadow, dalhin mo muna ang Mommy mo. Tatabihan kita mamaya ng kaunti," paliwanag naman ni Daddy.

"Hindi na, ako na, sige, matulog ka na, Jil." Mommy said, motioning the stairs.

Oo nga pala, may pasok pa ako bukas. I had to get back to bed.

"Good night," saad ko sa dalawa bago pumanhik. Maki followed me to bed and slept in my room, on the ground.

The morning that happened after was such a good one. I think hindi natulog si Daddy, jetlag might be hitting him. Siya ang naghanda ng almusal. Mommy was actually awake too, by the time I went down, but she was just watching Dad. The TV wasn't turned on, it was just a silent morning, but it felt nice to be here.

"Sakto, I've cooked up some pancakes, kumain ka muna bago ka pumasok. Ano'ng oras ba ang pasok mo, Meadow?" Daddy asked me when he saw me.

"My class starts at 7:30, alis ako ng seven," sagot ko habang umuupo. "Kain ka na rin, Mom?" baling ko sa ina ko.

"Mauna ka na, hindi pa ako gutom," she answered while getting me a glass to pour me some water.

"Ikaw, Dad?" sabi ko.

"Kumain na ako," he glanced at Mommy, "bakit ayaw mo pa kumain? Kanina ka pa gising, ah," he adds.

"Hindi ako gutom. You haven't slept, why don't you just rest today? Matulog ka sa taas." Mommy replied while petting Maki who had just finished drinking water.