Chasing the Wild Waves (Student Series #1)

Kabanata 19

For two months, I was thrown out of my grandparents' house together with Euro and his girlfriend, Carrie Monterey. Wala ang ibang kong pinsan, kundi kami lang tatlo. Carrie is fun to be with. She's nice, and I can easily deal with her. Palagi kaming magkasama sa dalawang buwan na iyon dahil kami-kami lang naman ang naroroon sa kina mamita at grandpa.

Good thing that they never let me do the household chores. Maybe they were already aware that I grew up in a house full of housemaids. Si Carrie minsan ang gumagawa ng mga gawaing bahay, at minsan naman ay si Euro.

"Magse-senior high ka na, 'no?" Carrie asked when we were left alone in the dining room. "Ano'ng strand ang kukuhanin mo?" she added.

I shrugged and sipped on my drink. "I don't know. Depende sa kanila mommy at daddy."

"You shouldn't let everything depend on them, it's your decision to choose the strand you want. What if 'yong gusto pala ng parents mo ay hindi mo gusto?"

"Wala naman akong magagawa roon, wala rin naman akong ibang gusto. I cannot even see myself as a doctor, teacher, or whatsoever," I said. "But I think they want me to choose the ABM strand since they have a business. Maybe they want me to take over it someday? I don't know."

She sighed. "Mahirap,'no? Na magulang mo mismo ang pipili sa mga dapat mong gawin?"

"Hindi naman, sanay rin naman ako," I voiced out. "Kahit ano rin naman, kakayanin ko. I don't even have the eyes right now about being a doctor, a teacher, an HM, or etc. Parang wala akong pangarap, eh, aywan. Mayaman naman kami kaya hindi ko na dapat pinoproblemahan pa ang trabaho ko someday."

"But you shouldn't depend on your wealth, Yuna," she said. "Because not all the time, you're on top."

It's good that it was okay with Grandpa and Mamita that Euro's girlfriend is here. Medyo nauna kasi ako rito ng mga ilang linggo bago dumating sina Euro at Carrie. Mamita and Grandpa are my mother's parents because my dad's parents have already died. Mabuti nga rin dahil close ang mga pinsan ko sa kay mamita at grandpa kaya minsan ay bumibisita rin ang mga 'yon dito. Mom is an only child, so I don't have a cousin by her side. Tanging pinsan lang na mayroon ako ay sina Euan lamang.

"Mabuti nga't nalagpasan na namin iyang senior high na 'yan, sa kolehiyo na naman," kuwento pa ni Carrie sa akin.

They just graduated from senior high school last school year, and now they're proceeding to college. Mas matanda kasi sa akin ang mga pinsan ko ng dalawang taon. Ayon kasi sa kina mommy at daddy, sa kanilang magkakapatid ni daddy ay siya ang pinakahuling nag-asawa at nag-anak. My cousins were born in the same year; I am the youngest among us. Euan Carlyle is the oldest, followed by Eurg Carlo, and then Eio Calhyl; fourth is Eujin Charles; Eurein Chiro is the youngest among the boys; and I am the youngest among them all.

"Congratulations, Yuna!" Niyakap ako ni Eyo nang bumisita siya isang araw. "Makakalabas ka na sa iyong kulungan!" he exclaimed.

Sinapak ko siya. Well, he has a point anyway. Habang nasa puder ako nina mamita, pakiramdam ko tuloy ay nasa kulungan lang ako. I cannot demand everything I want. I don't even have a choice but to eat what's on the table! Minsan nga ay hindi na lang ako kumakain dahil hindi ko gusto ang ulam. Bukas ay uuwi na ako sa amin. Dad and mom will fetch me here tomorrow because next week is the opening of the class.

"Masaya ka na ngayon, hija, na makakauwi ka na sa inyo?" si mamita nang makaalis ang bumisita kong pinsan. "I know that you don't like here, hija, pero isipin mo naman sana na isang bakasyon ito na dapat mong ikatuwa."

"How can I enjoy here, mamita? I am bored here! I only have Euro and Carrie. You are not even allowing me to bring my friends here," reklamo ko.

"Dahil hindi magandang impluwensya ang mga kaibigan mo sa 'yo, hija, kaya nilalayo ka namin sa kanila."