Jump From the Air (Erudite Series #5)

Kapitulo 13

When Friday arrived, I first finished the meeting I had with my org for the anniversary activities before talking to Daddy. Mommy was busy cooking something in the kitchen for dinner when I noticed Dad was alone in the living room. He was watching the television.

Lumapit ako at tumabi sa kaniya. Daddy smiled at me and put his arm around me before kissing my head.

"Gutom ka na? Malapit na yata matapos Mommy mo," aniya.

"Hindi pa naman, I'm fine."

He put his eyes back on the TV. I breathed in and called him.

"Dad," tumingin siya sa akin at ngumiti muli. "Bakit?"

"Gusto mo bang... umalis? Like, a short vacation?"

His brows lifted and he said, "why? Do you want to go on a vacation?"

"I'm asking you, kasi if you do, I can help you convince Mommy."

"Okay, pero gusto mo ba?"

"Ikaw?"

Nag-isip siya habang nanonood ulit ng telebisyon.

"Gusto ko sana, kaso narinig mo naman ang Mommy mo, ayos na siya rito," he finally said after a minute.

"Then, let's tell her you want to go. Papayag 'yan kapag sa 'yo nanggaling," binalingan ako ni Daddy.

"Sige, kapag kumain tayo, sabihin natin," he stared at my face. "Hindi pa rin kayo umaalis kapag wala ako?" he adds.

"No, and I don't think she'd go out without you," paliwanag ko bago tingnan ang pinanonood ni Daddy.

He kissed my head again as if it was him apologizing. Inilapat ko ang ulo ko sa balikat ni Daddy.

The warmth of Daddy is the equivalence of Mommy's coldness. Before Daddy left for Italy, I had already known our personalities matched well compared to mine and Mommy's. Compared to Daddy, Mommy was the one to scold me more since I was a child. She was always the type to follow a routine rather than let spontaneity exist while Daddy liked to let loose and do some impromptu activities when he had time. He says it was what made life more exciting. Their opposite personalities delved into me not just because I was their daughter but also because I had lived with them. We have been in the same space for more than two decades already. So, I caught their traits more than I had realized.

For instance, after Daddy left, since Mommy liked all things neatly organized, I began a school routine and house routine. It was not only Mommy that influenced me to do that, her still legs also forced me to.

Kaya naman, palaging after dinner ako gumagawa ng homework. Dahil nasanay na akong gano'n. Hindi ko rin puwedeng unahin 'yon kaysa ang pagpapaligo kay Mommy.

Ang spontaneity trait naman ni Daddy, nailalabas ko kapag weekends at after class. After I study, I sometimes go out and visit Ugbo. Minsan-minsan, pumupunta rin akong Binondo para kumain mag-isa. Mommy doesn't like it when I ask for her permission so suddenly when I go to eat at those places, she lets me go anyway. She would just be irked.

Sometimes, I think of why they never had another kid after me. I've never asked them, it feels wrong. Hindi ko alam kung choice nilang dalawa o ayaw na ni Mommy. I wonder what my sibling could have been if I had one. The dynamics of my family would definitely change.

Maybe life would be easier if I had my sibling's hand holding mine right now.

My thoughts halt as I hear Mommy's call. Dinner was ready.

"Kuha ka ng tubig," utos ni Mommy sa akin. Sumunod ako.

Habang nilalagyan ko ng tubig ang mga baso, naglalagay na ng ulam si Mommy sa mga plato. Si Daddy naman ang nagsandok ng kanin. Pag-upo ay nagsimula na kaming kumain.