Disgrace

Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

Weeks had passed after I got discharged from the hospital and my family doesn't really have a good connection between each one of them. I got used to the house being quiet and peaceful, but there was something more than just that that's gone. It felt empty.

During weekends or some days, Aunt Janna would visit the Manor and have a chat with mommy la in her office. Kasama niya palagi si Chelsea tuwing bumibisita pero napansin ko nitong nagdaang araw, hindi ko sila makitang pumasok sa front door. I would know if they're here because Aunt Janna's voice is loud and although I'm in my room, I can hear her voice from downstairs, eachoing in every corner of the house.

It's just impossible for them not to visit here. Wala namang trabaho si Auntie dahil si mommy la ang kanilang source of income. Mommy la was the one who told her to not work. She would visit here almost everyday, so I really don't know if the family quarrel had something to do with this.

Natapos rin ang intramurals at bumalik na rin ako sa pag-aaral. Simula noong umuwi kami galing hospital ay madalas na si mommy bumisita sa silid ko. Daddy was also often at home, especially on  weekends. Pero may mga trabaho rin sila kaya ang ginagawa nila bago umalis ay magpaalam sa akin at sa dalawa kong kapatid na aalis na sila para sa trabaho. It somehow felt oddly weird.

Mom and dad were the ones who would drive us to school, mommy prepared for our lunch, just to tell you, I have never brought a lunchbox before. Niko and Fourth were the ones who would bring lunchboxes so it wasn't a big deal to them, well not that I made it a big deal, pero ba't naging kasali ako?

"Who's driving you to school? The car is different and you're always talking to the driver after you get off." Klent was curious.

"I am talking to daddy. Silang dalawa ni mommy na ang naghahatid sa akin."

'Di ba? It was unusual for my parents to drive me to school. Bakit, wala na ba kaming driver? Sinisante ba nila si kuya Pedro? Oh no, now that I've thought about it I asked mom if they did fire him on the way home after school.

Sila na rin ang susundo sa akin pagkatapos ng klase. I would see mommy standing beside the car and dad talking to the school guard. They're both in their working attire so I figured that they immediately went here after work and it looked like I'm a little girl in kindergarten and my mom and dad are waiting at the parking lot. I don't mind, though. They're not my friends to be embarrassed about this thing and besides, they don't know me. In fact, no one knows me well.

Napabuntong hininga na lang ako nang sinabi ni mommy na hindi sinisante si kuya Pedro, sinabihan rin nila akong nakabalik na sa trabaho si kuya Chester. It was a relief that mommy la brought his job back, but then I felt guilty recalling why he got fired.

"We'll pick up your brothers. Is there a place where you want to go?" Daddy suddenly asked.

Katatapos lang ng klase ko at dumiretso na 'ko sa parking lot. Klent told me to inform him when I'm finished with my last class so kinawayan ko na lang siya sa malayo dahil may gagawin pa raw siya sa library.

About the question, hindi ko alam ang isasagot. "Po?"

"After we pick up your brothers, is there a place where you want to go?" He rephrased the question. Daddy was glancing at mom and I don't have a slight idea of what they're up to.

Bumaling si mommy sa akin nang nakangiti. "Sweetheart, we'll eat outside and we want you to decide kung saan'g restaurant..." She giggled and looked at daddy. They're both smiling now while I'm here at the backseat looking back and forth to them.