Katulad ng sinabi ko, kinabukasan nag-pa-check up ako sa doktor at ganon din ang sinabi sa akin. I developed mild Asthma. Ni-resetahan ako ng gamot ng doktor, pagtapos ko doon ay dumirecho ako ng coffee shop. Huling dalaw ko doon noong bakasyon pa. Sinalubong ako doon ni Ling.
Ling was saying sorry for not being able to come to the grave of my parents, naiintindihan ko naman sya and besides, sometimes ina-update nya ako na nagpupunta sya kahit dalaw lang. I sipped my iced coffee from the straw.
"Okay ka lang ba?" Hindi niya alam ang mga naging kaganapan sa buhay ko kaya nag-aalala syang nagtatanong sakin ngayon habang naka-upo ako sa bar stools at nasa bar counter naman sya. I nod at her, yun lang naman din ang kaya kong isagot dahil wala akong ganang magpaliwanag o magkwento. Masyadong pagod yung puso ko para gumawa ng mga bagay na gusto ko o kaya kong gawin. "You don't look fine to me."
Hindi pa din kami nag-uusap ni Frances pero nag-text naman sya sakin about sa check up ko, hindi ko lang pinansin. As far as I know, he is working on his new song and its music video. Hindi ko pa yun naririnig, hindi niya din pinaparinig sakin dahil pareho naman ding kaming busy.Masama din loob ko, sa tingin ko hindi niya naabutan kung saan nagsimula yung pangyayari para ako ang i-call out nya, sa paniningn ko walang problema sa mga sinabi ko, matagal na akong nagtitimpi sa kanila, sadyang naabutan lang talaga na masama ang mood at pakiramdam ko dagdag pa ang pressure tapos dadagdagan pa nila, imagine that.
"Nakakunot na naman ang noo mo." sabi ni Ling. See, my face has the subtitle, paano ko itatago yung inis ko?
"Wala to."
"Nga pala... malapit na 18th birthday mo ah." Iinom na sana ako nung sabihin niya yun. Magbibirthday nga pala ako. "Wag mong sabihing kinalimutan mo?" Tinitigan ko lang sya.
Sa dami ng nangyari sa buhay ko, hindi ko na maalala na magbibi-birthday na pala ako. Sino ba naman ang gugustuhing magbirthday sa ganitong sitwasyon? Isa pa... parents ko lang naman ang nakakasama ko sa birthday ko because that's all I need. Siguro medyo weird para sa iba na I enjoyed my parents company than others. When I was in my old school, lagi kong bukang-bibig sa kanila na kailangan ko nang umuwi, my parents were waiting for me, it was almost like my parents were seen as the villains in my life but they didn't know how much I admire being with them.
My father is a musician, he works in the industry but he doesn't flaunt it. Kahit ako hindi ko alam kung anong company, my mom does music too, she was part of the theater. They are always busy in their lives but they are focused on me. My old classmates thought that they were strict, they didn't know I was the one who was strict for them.
And now, I understand why, because they are not permanent in this world, they are not made to last. Masasabi kong na-enjoy ko yung mga panahong kasama ko ang mga magulang ko but it doesn't mean that those days are enough. I still need them and I will keep on believing that I need my parents until the day I die if they don't meet the bridge earlier than expected. Napakurap ako when Ling snapped her fingers in front of my face.
"Tulog ka na!" sabi niya. I spaced out remembering old days.
"Ling. I'm not in the mood to do birthdays." sabi ko. My birthday lies in the week between Christmas and New Year, and that week is a busy week for everyone but my parents never forget and miss it. It's days from now.
"But they do." Kumunot naman noo ko sa sinabi ni Ling. Tiningnan ko sya with weirdness. May inabot sya saking peach na small size envelope. Walang nakalagay na sulat sa labas ng papel pero the paper was expensive. It has embossed. Katulad ng invitation ni Lili, may wax seal din to. "Hmm... sabihin na nating... pinabibigay sayo yan ng mga magulang mo. Di ko din alam yan eh, binigay lang yan sakin this year, weeks bago sila mamatay. Weird nung tagpong yun pero yah that's the truth. Sabi lang nila one week before your birthday ibigay ko sayo kase for sure tatanungin mo sila and they will be the one to explaine. Your family is entertainer talaga." sabi ni Ling with a smile. Weeks... bago sila mamatay... matagal-tagal na din. "The coincidence is just on point."
BINABASA MO ANG
The Bridge
Teen FictionCerium lost interest in life after her parents died in an accident. She was sent to live together with her aunt. She was enrolled in a prestigious school where she met the elites of a music club that would make her life run like a song and will lead...
