Mirae

Kapitulo 22

Kapitulo 22

Unwelcome

"Ate, punta ka rito uli mamaya, mag-dinner ka rito."

Paola was happy to see her sister again after everything. Hindi kailanman nagalit si Paola sa ate niya dahil siya ang nakaaalam kung gaano kahirap ang pinagdaanan ni Cyra. While away, Paola was the only person Cyra contacted occasionally. Alam ni Paola na mali na hindi niya inamin sa magulang nila na magkausap sila nitong taong nagdaan, pero iyon ang hiling ng ate niya sa kaniya—ang tumahimik.

"Hindi puwede, Paola, baka mas lalong magalit sina Mama at Papay. Baka mamaya..." Cyra looks at her sister. "Atakihin pa sila sa puso sa sobrang galit."

She could still feel the palm of her mother on her cheek. The slap didn't leave a mark, but it scathed her heart.

Umakiyat si Cyra sa kuwarto ng kapatid niya. Pagbukas ng pinto, humihilik ang kapatid niya nang makita niya. Cyra took her time staring at her now older sister. She was away and didn't get to witness her sister entering college. Heck, she didn't even see her sister's debut.

Ramdam ni Cyra ang kahihiyan at panghihinayang sa oras na lumipas. She wasn't a good sister. She wasn't a good daughter. She wasn't a good wife. But she wanted to be all of those now, even if it would tear her apart.

"E, kailan ka babalik dito? Bukas? Kailangan mong kausapin sina Mama," Paola reasoned.

"Oo, susubukan ko ulit sa ibang araw. Sa ngayon, si Adiel ang... gusto kong makausap nang masinsinan."

"Oh, what happened? How did he react when he saw you?"

Cyra's mind flashed how Adiel fled the house. "Galit. Umalis siya no'ng dumating ako. Tapos, kaninang umaga, umuwi para maligo. Umalis ulit para sa trabaho. He... was evading me. So, it would take a while siguro, bago ko siya makausap."

The younger sister frowned and hugged her. "Maaayos din 'yan. Kaya mo 'yan."

"Ano oras pasok mo?"

"Mamayang one pa."

"Tulog ka uli, aalis na 'ko."

"E," Paola suddenly takes Cyra's arm. "Bumalik ka rito for dinner."

"'Di nga puwede, magagalit ulit sina Mama."

"Sige na," pangungulit ng kolehiyala.

"Kapag okay na ulit, Paola, magdi-dinner na ako rito madalas."

"Alam mo, Ate, mas magandang sundan mo na agad ng usap kaysa 'yong pinatatagal mo. Hihintayin ni Mama paliwanag mo, 'no, kahit galit 'yon. 'Tsaka si Papa, sobrang miss ka na no'n. He'll miss you more now that you came and didn't explain."

Cyra didn't exactly understand how her sister could say those words considering their parents left her a while ago. Sa tingin niya, hindi 'yon ang kaso. Kaya, uunahin niyang kausapin si Adiel. Pare-pareho lang silang galit sa kaniya, but the top of her priority list was her husband.

"Sige na, matulog ka na," she stood up and walked out of the bedroom.

She went home and ate lunch. Kinain niya ang niluto niya kanina at pumunta sa living area. Malinis ang bahay, wala siyang kailangan gawin kahit na gustong gumalaw. Umupo na lang siya sa carpet at inabot ang bag na dala niya. The things inside her bag weren't the things she brought with her when she left. Bago na ang mga damit dahil nangayayat siya.

Taking her phone from the bag, she tried to remember when the birthday party of Gwyneth's kid was. Ang pagbabalik ni Cyra ay sakto sa birthday ng bata, kaya naman plano niyang puntahan 'yon. Gwyneth, although unaware of Cyra coming home, still sent her an invitation to the party. Nakakausap kasi minsan ni Cyra si Gwyneth no'ng umalis siya. Ito lang ang tanging sumubok na kausapin si Cyra nang paulit-ulit. Their other friends tried but stopped eventually due to anger.