Chasing Sunsets

Chapter 36:

♪♪ With every small disaster, I let the water still. Take me away to some place real...

Excited na yung mga bata para sa competition. One week kaming nagrerehearse at malakas ang feeling ko na mananalo kami.

The program started early. So far, we're doing good and I'm enjoying the whole thing. Wala rin akong nararamdaman na paranoia na may makakakita sakin kahit malapit lang to samin. Fifteen minutes drive lang sana makikita ko na ulit ang pamilya ko.

Nikos was so happy. Pinapanuod ko sya habang pinapanuod nyang magperform yung mga bata at sobrang saya nyang tingnan. He'd look at me every once in a while and we will cheer our students.

Nagdecide akong lumabas ng hall when I got hungry. Pumunta ako sa labas at kumuha ng pagkain. May batang babae na humarang sa akin nung papabalik na ako sa loob.

"Have we met before?" Tanong sa akin nung batang babae. Maputi sya at singkit. Ang ganda nya at ang ang sweet ng boses. Student siguro sya ng ibang school. Nilapitan ko sya at umupo ako para magkalevel ang mga mata namin.

"I don't think so, my dear. I'm a teacher from the other school. What's your name?"

"I'm Nica po. You're so pretty, teacher. I think you should meet my uncle."

"Really?" Nakangiting tanong ko sa kanya.

"Opo. May kinuha lang sya sa loob but he's gonna be here." May sasabihin pa sana sya nang may tumawag sa akin at bigla akong napalingon.

"Serene! Nandyan ka lang pala. Halika na. Magpeperform na si Avi and Kath." Tawag sa akin ni Nikos.

Pagtingin ko sa tabi ko, nakaalis na si Nica. Siguro hinanap na nya yung uncle nya. Hindi na ako nakapagpaalam at sumunod na ako kay Nikos.

"Who were you talking with?" Tanong nya sakin habang papasok kami sa loob.

"Just a little girl who's about to match-make me with his uncle."

"Buti na lang pala dumating ako agad." he said, smirking.

At the end of the competition, our school was hailed as the champion. Our students and their parents are so proud. Syempre kaming mga teacher din.

We decided na magpaiwan dito sa Manila. Medyo late narin kasi para bumyahe pa ng ilang oras. The students went home with their parents.

Nikos drove smoothly through the highway. Late na kaya medyo maluwag na ang traffic. Our favorite album was playing on his car.

I watched the city lights. Na-miss ko to. I drive alone everywhere in some nights dati. Just to see enough lights to get me through the dark night.

Sometimes, my brother drives and I watch him from the shotgun seat. Minsan kasi nalulungkot din sya but he had to be mature dahil sya ang eldest. I wish I got his strength.

I regret na hindi ko sinabi sa kanya yung pag-alis ko. Alam ko namang maiintindihan nya ako e. He had always known how I felt about everything. Alam kong makakahanap ako ng kakampi sa kanya. Sana pala kinausap ko sya. He'll know what to do.

Suddenly, it was all familiar. It almost felt like home. But it's not. I long for the warmth, my mom's voice, the sound of my dad's footsteps, and my brother's hilarious antics. I miss home.

"Nikos, I want to go home." Tumingin sya sa akin.

"We are going home." Sabi nya.

"No, to my family. Ang familiar kasi ng lugar na to. I suddenly missed them. More than a year na mula nung umalis ako."

He looked concerned. He slowed down the car.

"Oh. Ngayon na ba? Pwede kitang samahan?"

"Hindi ko alam kung paano e." Tumingin ako sa labas. The lights are dimming in my vision. I realized I was crying. "Mag-iipon muna ako ng lakas ng loob. What I did was unacceptable. My father might disown me."

"Don't cry, Serene. Your parents love you. Tatanggapin ka nila." He took my hand and kissed it. "Don't worry, I'll be there for you."

*****

I didn't sleep that night. I was caught between the familiarity of the place and the unfamiliarity of Nikos' guestroom.

I felt better when the morning came.

I know I'm gonna find my way back home eventually kaya siguro hindi dapat ako nalulungkot.

We were going somewhere in the afternoon. Hindi ko alam kung saan. Malalaman ko rin daw mamaya.

I wore a decent sunday dress. Dun daw kami maglalunch before we go back to Tenerife Heights.

Thirty minutes syang nagdadrive bago kami nakarating sa isang magandang subdivision.

Tumigil sya sa harap ng isang maganda at malaking bahay. Pinagbuksan sya ng gate ng dalawang guard.

"Magandang tanghali po, Sir." Bati nila sa kanya. Nikos greeted them back.

"This is where I grew up." Sabi nya bago lumabas ng kotse at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto.

Kasing laki ito ng bahay kung saan rin ako lumaki. Different architecture and landscaping lang.

May sumalubong sa amin na batang babae pag pasok namin sa bahay. Mukhang 8 years old pa lang sya. Ang ganda nya. Medyo kahawig sya ni Nikos.

"Kuyaaaa! I missed youuu!" Sigaw nung bata habang tumatakbo papunta kay Nikos pagkatapos ay niyakap ito.

"Serene, this is my sister Lena."

"Ikaw si Ate Serene?! Oh my God! Ate, you are so prettyyy!" Hyper na sabi ni Lena.

"Thanks Lena. Ang ganda ganda mo rin! You can be a beauty queen when you grow up!"

"Wow Ate, you are soooo honest!" Tumatawang sabi ni Lena. "Wait lang po. I'm gonna call mom and dad." Sabi nya pagkatapos ay patakbong pumunta sa loob.

"You didn't tell me I'm gonna meet your family." Pasimpleng bulong ko sa kanya.

"They're gonna like you. Wag kang kabahan dyan." Natatawang bulong nya.

Mayamaya ay dumating na ang isang lalaking kamukha ni Nikos but older at isang babaeng kamukha ni Lena. That must be his dad. His biological mother passed away when he was 10 so I guess that's his stepmother.

"Serene, my parents."

"Hello po." Bati ko sa kanila. I was shaking. Hindi ko alam kung yung words na lumalabas sa bibig ko pero sana naman okay lang. "It's good to finally meet you po."

We continued talking over lunch. Comfortable naman pala silang kausap so no pressure. Mababait naman sila. Wala nga lang daw yung kuya ni Nikos because of business. Lena was really hyper. Tito Arthur was fun and Tita Lynn was really kind and sweet.

Masaya akong ayos na si Nikos at ang family nya. Base kasi sa mga kwento sakin ni Nikos dati, he was mad at them except his siblings before he met me. I'm really happy for their family.

We had to leave nung hapon na. Pabalik pa kasi kami sa Tenerife Heights. Lena said she can't wait for me to be her sister. Nikos' parents said they want us to visit again soon.

Hinatid nila kami sa labas. And there, we said our goodbyes.

"Serene." Tinawag ako ni Tito Arthur bago pa kami makasakay sa kotse. "I'm really thankful my son has met you. Welcome to the family."