Crawling Back To You

CHAPTER 2

We've already finished eating dinner. Tinulungan ko si mama magligpit kanina ng mga pinagkainan namin at ako na rin ang naghugas.

It's actually past nine in the evening already. Nandito ako sa sala samantalang nasa kwarto na sila. Hindi ko alam kung papanhik na rin ako sa taas o maghihintay pa ng kaunti dahil wala pa ang kapatid ko. Wala si kuya Aron magmula pa kanina pagdating ko. I assumed he's at work dahil hindi ko na rin natanong sila mama pero hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin siya. Office hours is over. Siguro ay kasama na naman niya ang mga kaibigan niya, probably having their Saturday night out.

Nanatili muna ako sa sala nang ilan pang sandali at nang mainip ako ay napagdesisyunan kong wag nalang siyang hintayin. Pero sakto namang narinig ko ang pagbukas ng gate sa labas kaya nanatili ulit muna ako. Then suddenly, the door opened revealing my brother. Siya lang ang ineexpect ko pero pumasok siyang may kasamang babae na hindi pamilyar ang mukha sa akin.

"Oh, nandito ka pala," kaswal niyang saad nang makita ako.

Natigilan pa ako saglit pero agad namang nakabawi. Tumango lang ako sa kaniya at hindi na nagsalita pa.

Then he casually walk pass by the living room before going straight to his room together with the woman. I was taken aback but then I remember that this is not something new anymore. Nanibago lang siguro ako dahil ang tagal ko ring nawala, at akala ko hindi na rin siya ganito. But I was wrong.

I just sighed and made sure the door is locked before going upstairs to my room.

Nagbago na pala lahat. Pero hindi ang mga tao rito sa bahay. Kinda sucks.

Pagpasok ko ng kwarto ay pinanatili kong nakabukas ang ilaw. Kinuha ko rin sa bag yung envelope ko na pinaglagyan ko ng mg worksheet ng mga bata. I haven't checked it yet kaya ngayon ko nalang gagawin. Tutal alam konh hindi naman ako makakatulog agad knowing na may ibang babae-este tao rito sa bahay na inuwi na naman ang kapatid ko.

It's not that I'm worried na baka may mawalang mga gamit dito sa bahay o ano. I am just completely bothered by every woman he brought home. Hindi ako tanga. Alam ko kung anong ginagawa nila. Hindi ko na rin alam kung ilang beses na kaming nagtalo magkapatid tungkol sa bagay na 'yon pero napagod na ako dahil wala rin namang nangyayaring bago. Bagong babae, oo. It's like my opinion was not being counted here at this household. Kaya ginusto ko ring bumukod at mag-apartment nalang kaysa palaging manatili rito gayong may pagpipilian naman ako.

I kept myself busy checking the children's worksheets when I realized it was Aya's paper I'm already checking. Aya Isabelle Vergara. Pretty name. I smiled after checking when she got perfect again. Sa mga activities, madalas siyang perfect. Isang beses palang ata siya nagkaroon ng mali base sa mga chineckan kong papers, tapos one mistake lang din iyon. No doubt. She really is Darwin's child.

I suddenly remembered again the past. Back then when Darwin and I are still studying. He would always excel in academics. Kilala rin siya noon dahil hindi lang matalino, he was an active member of a club and he was also the student counsil president.

I've known him since high school. He was once my crush. Pero college na ako nung naging kami. I was a freshman and he was a third year college student. Simpleng estudyante lang naman ako noon, I was an average student. Hindi ako kulelat pero hindi rin ako sobrang talino. Nag-aaral lang ako noon samantalang siya, kung ano-ano ang pinagkakaabalahan. But having many responsibilities doesn't hindered him from being a boyfriend to me.

I was happy with him and contented. We do love each other. He made me feel loved in any way he can. Siya yung tipo ng boyfriend na talagang aasawahin mo. Well, that was really in my mind. I've already imagined him being a husband to me, a father to our kids, and just simply a lifetime partner.