A Thousand Second Chances

Kabanata 4

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Nang makababa ako sa sasakyan, agad akong sinalubong ng mainit na simoy ng hangin mula sa bukirin. Iba pa rin talaga ang pakiramdam ng pag-uwi sa probinsya. Walang traffic, walang ingay ng syudad, at higit sa lahat, andito ang pamilya ko.

Hawak ko ang maliit kong bag habang naglakad papunta sa bahay namin. Hindi ko sinabi kay mama at papa o sa mga kapatid ko na uuwi ako. Gusto ko silang sorpresahin, pero ang totoo, parang hinahatak talaga ako ng puso ko pabalik dito.

As I reached the familiar wooden gate, my breath hitched. The house stood just as I remembered. Warm, inviting, and filled with countless memories.

“Tyche?”

Napangiti ako. Ngayon ko na lang ulit narinig ang pangalawang pangalan ko.

“Pa!” Agad akong lumapit at niyakap siya.

Hinagod niya ang likod ko, pero hindi nawala ang pag-aalala sa mukha niya nang bumitiw siya. “Len! Adda ditoy ti anak mo,”

Sigaw niya kay mama gamit ang lennguwahe na madalas nilang ginagamit dito sa probinsya. Ipinapaalam niya na dumating ako.

“Anak?”

A warm feeling spread through my chest as I saw Mama rushing toward me, her face filled with joy and disbelief. No matter how long I had been away, this place, this family would always welcome me like I had never left.

Napakamot ako sa batok at umiwas ng tingin. “Gusto ko lang umuwi, namiss ko kayo.”

Hindi pa rin sila kumbinsido, dahil gano'n nga siguro talaga, ramdam ng mga magulang natin kung kailan tayo may problema. Bago pa man silang makapagtanong ulit, biglang lumabas mula sa bahay si JM, ang sumunod sa akin. Mas matangkad na siya ngayon kaysa noong huli kaming nagkita.

“Ate!” sigaw niya habang patakbo siyang lumapit. Halos mapatalon ako sa lakas ng yakap niya.

“Akalain mong nagpakita ka rin sa amin?” biro niya. “Anong nakain mo at na-miss mo kami bigla?”

“Nangupal ka nanaman! Hindi ko kayo nakakalimutan, noh!” Tumawa ako, pero sa loob-loob ko, alam kong may katotohanan ang sinabi niya. Ilang buwan na rin akong hindi nakakauwi.

Sunod na lumabas si Knyane, ang kapatid naming babae. Agad siyang sumigaw, “Ate Tyche! Hindi mo ba kasama ang kuya Huey?”

Nabigla ako, at nakaramdam ng pagkataranta. Hindi ko inaasahan ang tanong niya.

“Hindi niya alam na uuwi ang ate eh, hindi na ako nakapagsabi dahil biglaan lang din,” Pagsisinungaling ko.

Gusto pa sanang magtanong ni Knayne pero biglang lumabas ang bunso naming si JD. Mabuti na lang at naibaling ng mabilis ang usapan.

I let out a silent sigh of relief, grateful that I didn’t have to explain—at least, not yet. I wasn’t sure how to put into words the tension between me and Huey.

It wasn’t like we had a big fight, but something had changed. There was a lingering heaviness in the air whenever we talked, a distance that didn’t exist before. Maybe it was my fault, or maybe it was his, but either way, I didn’t know how to bridge the gap between us.

For now, I chose to push the thought aside.

“Ate, bakit ang tagal mong bumalik?”

Halos matunaw ako sa guilt habang tinitingnan ang cute pero nakasimangot niyang mukha. Lumuhod ako para magpantay kami ng tingin at hinawakan ang maliit niyang kamay. “Sorry, baby, medyo busy si ate.”

“Hmp.” Binaling niya ang tingin, pero hindi ko siya tinantanan.

“Paano kung bilhan kita ng favorite mong ice cream mamaya?”

Doon lang siya napatingin ulit sa akin, at unti-unting lumambot ang mukha niya. “Promise?”

“Promise!”

Bigla niyang binitiwan ang lollipop niya at niyakap ako nang mahigpit. Halos mapaiyak ako sa sobrang saya. Sobrang close naming magkakapatid, kaya kahit ilang buwan lang akong nawala, parang napakalaki na ng kulang sa akin.

Napailing si Mama at Papa habang nakatingin sa amin.

The moment I stepped inside, a smile formed on my lips as I looked around. A sense of nostalgia washed over me. Everything looked exactly how I had left it. My books neatly arranged on the shelf, my stuffed toys still sitting on the corner of my bed, and the familiar scent of home lingering in the air. Despite being away for so long, my room remained untouched, as if patiently waiting for my return. The soft glow of the afternoon sun peeked through the curtains, casting a warm light on the walls I once decorated with posters and small notes.

I walked towards my desk, running my fingers over its smooth surface. My old notebooks were still stacked in the same place, along with a few pens that had long dried out. The picture frame beside my lamp caught my attention—it was a photo of me and my siblings when we we're younger, grinning from ear to ear. A chuckle escaped my lips. It felt like nothing had changed, yet at the same time, everything had. Life outside this room had moved forward, but inside, it remained frozen in time, holding memories of late-night talks, quiet moments of reflection, and dreams I once whispered to the walls.

Sitting on my bed, I let out a deep sigh and smiled. The mattress felt just as soft as I remembered, hugging me in comfort. It was strange how a simple room could bring so much peace, making me feel safe and at home. I realized how much I had missed this place—not just the four walls, but the feeling it gave me. This wasn’t just a room. It was a reminder of where I came from, of the love and warmth that would always be here, waiting for me no matter how far I wandered.

This was it.

I was finally home.