A Better World With You

Chapter 19

"Tonigh was fun!" Ate Lori commented as we all walked together to our hotel room, hotel rooms apparently since Mama and Papa decided to rent a room for them and for Ate Lori and I. The room they have has only one master bedroom and of course we couldn't fit there so they just rent another one that has two beds.

"Glad you enjoyed it, Lori." Papa spoke and ate just nodded with a smile while I am thinking the opposite things about the party. I mean it's fun, I had a great time but something just really ruined my mood. I don't want to blame mama for this, however, a never - ending decision of partnerining me to some highly - influential stranger does not really hype me up.

"How about you, George?" Mama asked. I stayed quiet for a while and when I'm ready, I answered her question with a lie. Of course, I'm going to say yes because if not, a lot of question will be made and I think she will be disappointed again, which is the thing that I don't want to happen for this night.

Sa patuloy na paglalakad namin ay maya-maya naman ay nakarating na kami sa aming respective rooms na magkatabi lang naman. We all bid our goodnight's before going in and once we're done we decided to finally rest in our beds. Lumapit ako sa kama na nakapwesto sa kanan at doon ako dumeretso ng higa kasabay ng paghinga ng malalim.

"Hindi ka talaga nag-enjoy ngayon, George." Banggit ni ate habang abala ito sa pagtanggal ng kanyang sandals.

"Hindi naman sa ganoon. I love that ambiance of the party, most people are kind, and I kinda had fun looking for architectural inspirations in here, but what really ruined my mood is mama..." I said and stopped for a while. It's really hard for me to blame all of this to mama, but what can I do if all my life I was being controlled.

"Come on, George. Continue." She said and I followed.

"Okay, I just met this Lovato family and I really found that they are a very known here in the Philippines because of their success and wealth. Mr. and Mrs. Lovato seems kind, but Alessandro came up on the scene and mama is now convienced that someday he would be the man that she wants me to be arranged with, but I hate the set up, I hate the man, and I hate being on a relationship."

"Ang dami na ng signs na sinasabing ayaw ko na nga, limang beses na ngang palpak pinipilit pa rin ako sa mga ganitong bagay. Hindi ba sila napapagod? O hindi baka naman hindi na anak tingin nila sa akin at isang hamak na instrumento na lamang na magpapaganda ng buhay nila. But come on! Kung iyon man ang tingin nila sa akin, kaya ko naman silang buhayin nang hindi ako pinipilit sa mga bagay na hindi ko gusto." Paglalabas ng damdamin ko ate at napahilamos na lamang ako sa aking mukha sa sobrang inis. Lumapit naman sa aking gawi si ate at sinimulan ako nitong tabihan para pakalmahin ako.

"George, sorry for being a bad sister." She suddenly said as she hugged me, but I didn't hug her back yet since I still can't process what she said.

"W-what are you saying? You are not a bad sister I'm assurring you." I said with a hint of confusion.

"I should have stopped the cycle before it's too late, but I do not have the power now since mama is sufferring from her sickness." She said with regrets and that's where I decided to hug her back, but a call interrupted us for now. Napairap naman ako dahil kung kailan nagd-drama kami dito ni ate ay saka naman may tumawag.

"George, a name Justine is calling." Ate Lori exclaimed and I immediately stood up to reach my phone in order to answer that call.

"Wait, 'yan ba 'yung isa pang guitarist ng Estrellas?" Tanong ni ate at dahan-dahan akong tumango habang hawak-hawak ko ang cellphone ko na hanggang ngayon ay nag-iingay pa rin dahil sa tawag. Nagtaka naman ako sa biglaang pagngisi ni ate dahilan kung bakit napataas kilay ko dito.