Jump From the Air (Erudite Series #5)

Kapitulo 25

Para akong high tuwing naaalala kong mahal na ako ni Kalon. The past days, I have been smiling like an idiot and listening to all the love songs out there. Lahat ng lyrics, bagay sa situation namin ni Kalon! Specifically, Taylor Swift's Daylight has been on repeat.'It's brighter now,' ang paborito kong parte ng kanta.

One time, I thought about how he confessed. Hindi ko talaga maisip bakit bigla niya na lang sinabi 'yon. Ano ba 'yong naging trigger? Wala naman yata akong ginawa no'ng araw na 'yon. Walang espesiyal sa araw na 'yon, we just ate dinner, we just talked. It was our usual date. But maybe for him, there was something different in the air that day. 

How do you really know when to say that to someone?

When they smile?

When they look extra beautiful?

When your heart beats quicker than usual?

"Anak," Mommy called out as I was bathing Maki.

It was a Saturday today. Maki was getting so dirty, I felt it whenever I touched him. Kaya naman pinaliguan ko na ngayon. Hindi ko lang alam bakit parang ang bilis niyang dumumi, baka hinahayaan ni Mommy maglaro sa labas masiyado.

"Pagkatapos mo, magsaing ka na, papunta na ang mga Tita mo," ani Mommy habang pinagmamasdan ang aso kong may shampoo.

"Okay," sagot ko.

Since Mommy and I talked about her friends coming over, she had let more people come. Pati ang mga pinsan ko ay pumarito na rin isang beses. Now, it was her siblings that will come—magla-lunch sila rito.

Unti-unti kong tinatanggap ang pagbabago niya ng may galak. Although there was still a little expectation that things might take a turn for the worse again. But my hope that this would turn out to be great was bigger as time went on. 'Tsaka, pati si Daddy ay masaya nang malamang nagkita na ulit si Mommy at ang mga kaibigan niya. Ako ang nagkuwento kay Daddy no'n. Hindi siya makapaniwala na nangyari 'yon—other people stepping in our house. He's glad Mommy's becoming open, and even said she might agree with a vacation the next time he comes home.

Pinunasin ko ang tubig sa katawan ni Maki. Lumabas ako ng medyo basa ang mga damit at nagsaing na. Mommy was busy cutting mangoes on a plate. Ang ulam ay malapit na yata maluto, alam ko asado ang niluto niya ngayon dahil hilig daw nila iyong magkakapatid.

"Maligo ka na muna," sabi ni Mommy nang isalang ko na ang bigas sa rice cooker. "Para pagdating nila, makakain na tayong lahat," tumango ako at umakyat na.

I went up and took a bath. Nagsuot ako ng lumang vestida para magmukhang medyo presentable sa mga darating. Then, I dried my hair. My phone lit up as I was combing my hair, so I checked it out for a bit. Kalon messaged.

Mangundapat Kalon: hi, what are you up to today? want to watch a movie tonight?

Mangundapat Kalon: nag-aya mga kapatid kong magpunta sa jump yard, nakita raw nila sa internet

Sumagot ako at bumaba na. My relatives just arrived when I went to the dining area. Nagmano ako at yumakap sa ilan. Madalang ko sila makita dahil sa ayaw ni Mommy na pumuntang family reunion tuwing Disyembre. Kaya naman na-miss ko sila.

"Dalaga na! Ang ganda naman, mana sa 'kin!" ani tita Lorrie.

Nginitian ko siya at pumunta sa isang libreng upuan.

"Hindi lang maganda! Matalino rin! Sabi ng Mommy niya, Dean's Lister siya! Congrats, MJ!" si tito Cris.

Napalingon ako kay Mommy. Hindi ko inakalang kinukuwento ni Mommy 'yon sa relatives namin. I smiled in secret because I knew she was proud, so proud she bragged about it. Ayaw kong sinasabi sa relatives ang grades ko, pero kapag galing naman kay Mommy, okay lang sa akin. Dati kasi, sasabihan niya lang ako na proud siya. Hindi naman sa hindi enough 'yon, sadiyang nakatutuwa lang din na niyayabang ako ni Mommy kahit papaano.