what if we happened

18. Bad Day

Chapter 18: Bad Day

Seren

I let my parents head to the car and told them to wait for me as I needed to say goodbye to my friends. Ayaw pa nga nila akong paalisin dahil kailangan na raw namin umuwi pero sabi ko, bibilisan ko naman. Sa totoo lang, I needed a moment to cool off. 'Yong ginawa ni Mama, it felt so disrespectful and insensitive! I just hate it. I just f*cking hates it! She ruined my mood right away.

Si Thalia na lang nakita ko sa mga kaibigan ko na paalis na rin. She was with her parents. Viviana and Anais had already left—Viviana for a lunch celebration with her family at a restaurant and Anais to prepare for an out-of-town trip to celebrate with her family, while Thalia will be having a celebration at home. Sa group chat na lang daw nagpaalam ang dalawa, hindi na raw kasi nila ako mahihintay.

"Congrats ulit, Thalia," paalam ko sa kaniya dahil aalis na rin siya. "Ingat ka."

"You too. Saan kayo magce-celebrate ng family mo?"

I forced a tight smile. "Simpleng salu-salo lang sa bahay rin."

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I hope there would be something—perhaps a gift o hindi kaya'y like what I mentioned simpleng salu-salo sa bahay. I would appreciate it, kahit ano, just to celebrate this graduation with my family. Hindi puwedeng wala, espesyal 'tong araw na 'to sa akin.

Dumaretso na kami ng mga magulang ko sa bahay. And, the house is eerily quiet. Just the usual silence that filled the spaces between the furniture and walls. Kinutuban na ako. Una kong hinanap si Dilim para lambingin. Honestly, I was secretly really hoping for a surprise gift and a small celebration. However, Papa informed me that he has to go to work and Mama needs to take my younger brother for his monthly check-up. That's why I understand why they were in such a hurry earlier.

Hinubad ko 'yong suot kong toga at graduation cap. I went to the kitchen para uminom. My gaze fell on the empty table in front of me na medyo umasa akong puno ng mga pagkain o kahit cake manlang. Nakaramdam ako ng lungkot ngayong graduation ko. Why did I even expect anything when I was used to being disappointed by them?

Naupo ako sa couch, letting out a big sigh. "'Ma, 'Pa, aren't we going to celebrate? Hindi po ba tayo kakain sa labas o kahit dito manlang, kahit simpleng dinner lang po mamaya pagkauwi ni Papa?" I finally asked. I hated that I felt like I was begging for something they should have known already to do.

Napalingon sa akin si Mama habang binibihasan niya si Andrew at sandaling nagkatingan silang dalawa ni Papa bago muling ibalik sa akin ang paningin. She sat besides me. "We wouldn't have missed it for the world. But you only told us a few days ago that today was your graduation. Mabuti nga, napakiusapan ng Papa mo 'yong boss niya para mag-half day sa trabaho niya at um-attend kanina kahit biglaan. We've been busy. We have our own lives too, Seren. You know how things are. Naka-attend na kami sa graduation mo, I hope it's already enough."

My chest tightened because of it. "But still, may time pa po. Alam niyo naman pong Grade 12 ang anak ninyo at ga-graduate, so dapat may selebrasyon manlang kahit simple. It was really a big deal for me. Even a small cake would have been fine."

She sighed. "Don't worry, mas paghahandaan natin kapag naka-graduate ka na ng college. It's going to be more meaningful, and we want to make it special for you. Mas maganda kung educ ang tatapusin mo, talagang buong barangay magce-celebrate." Nakita ko pa ang pagngiti niya sa akin. Sana pala hindi na lang ako nagsalita at hindi ko narinig 'yon.

Napanting ang tainga ko at napanganga sa nakuha kong sagot galing kay Mama. I just f*cking couldn't process it. Did she even hear herself? Hindi ako nakapagsalita agad dahil sa pagkabigla. "So, are you saying I don't deserve a celebration now? That what I've done isn't worth celebrating?" matapang kong buwelta.