Strings in the Beginning (Abrupt Series #2)

EPISODE 01

EPISODE 01

"Aside from caring for our business, my son is now taking a Master's in UST de Legazpi." Tita-Nang skimmed on her son, smiling like she was so proud of him. "Nakakatuwa nga dahil gusto niya pa rin makuha ang titulong MSA, kahit kung tutuusin naman ay hindi na kailangan but we want him also to succeed on his own ways."

Again, I've heard some applause and it doesn't help me to go through the air inside my chest. Feeling ko may kung anong pumipiga sa dibdib ko na hindi ko malaman kung ano. Nakatitig lang ang pareho kong mata sa mag-ina na naging parte na ng buhay ko.

Tita-Nang kept her smile on her lips while her right arm was on her son's back, and she looked delighted. Ang anak niyang makisig ang tindig na nasa tabi niya ay nakangiti rin na nakaharap sa mga bisita.

I did not expect this.

This is abrupt. Sudden. I never knew this.

Hindi ko gugustuhin na magtagpo muli ang mga mata namin kagaya kanina but I couldn't stop staring at him when I am still on processing about everything. Iginalaw ko ang aking ulo paraan ko upang humugot ng malalim na hininga at dahil sa reaksyon kong bumabalot sa aking mukha ay nahuli ko ang pagtingin sa akin ni Mama.

"Anak," mahinang tawag niya at napatingin ako nang kalabit niya ako. Sa paglingon ko ng ulo ko sa kanya at 'saka ko lang na nalaman na pare-pareho pala silang nakatingin sa akin.

"Ayos ka lang?"

I stopped breathing to answer her.

They know I am not.

"Wala po bang binanggit sa inyong uuwi na pala siya?" I sounded rude the way I asked because of confusion, and I feel tensed!

Pinanood kong nagtinginan sina Papa at Mama na tila tinatanong rin ang sarili nila. Asmy mother looked back at me, she shook her head.

"Wala, anak. Carmen never mentioned me this, na uuwi na pala si Conrad. Hindi ko talaga alam, at kung alam ko naman ay sasabihin ko ito agad sa 'yo," mahinang sagot niya.

Crushing my tounge was I did while gazing to his family's table and I saw Tito Luke clapping along the crowd. At doon ko lang nalaman na magsasalita na rin pala ang anak niya at si Tita-Nang naman ay nagsimulang maglakad palapit sa asawa upang tabihan ito.

Conrad was about to catch my attention because he started talking behind the mic, but suddenly Ate Carm made me glance at her. She mouthed from her table asking if I was feeling okay. But my mind is full that I cannot be able to anwer her, ngunit sumagi sa isipan ko na baka mag-alala siya sa akin kung sasabihin kong hindi.

I nodded matching my precious smile. "Okay na okay," I mouthed.

But I wasn't.

I took a deep breath and thinking a chance to escape the commotion in front. His message didn't matter to me— I was uninterested in whether it was genuine or heartfelt. I just needed to escape and vanish, like I wasn't important on this occasion.

Habang nakayuko ako ay pasimple kong minasdan sa aking likuran ang posible kong daanan pabalik sa kusina. Both of my parents are listening to him. Si Mama naman ay nasisilay ko ang labing nakangiti sa dahilan minsan niya lang makita ang lalaki.

I grinned in dismay when I thought that she also loved him, the way she loved me.

Kahit na sabihin na nating hindi maganda ang ginawa nito sa anak niya.

Mabuti na lang din ay nakikisama ang tainga ko na huwag siya pakinggan sa pinagsasabi niya mula sa stage. Kahit na pakiramdam ko ay malaki ang pagbabago ng kanyang boses dahil siguro sa edad niya pero hindi ko iyon pinuna.