The Switch (girlxgirl/tagalog)

II

Chapter II

Riley's P.o.V

After putting the last shirt in my bag, I dropped down on my bed sighing. I feel anxious. I don't know how it feels like living alone. Well not actually alone. I'm staying at ate Rizza's apartment. But still. It's far from my family, my bestfriend, the town I used to roam around everyday. It will feel weird without having the same place you go, same routine you do, and same faces you see everyday for the past eighteen years of my life.

"Riley! Are you done?" Tawag ni mom from downstairs.

"Be there in a minute!" I shouted back.

Ngayon ang flight ko papunta sa US. Ihahatid nila ako sa airport which is nasa Manila. Sabi ko it's fine naman na ako na lang with kuya Redge para di na sila mapagod but mom and ate insisted in coming. Wala akong nagawa. Gusto ko rin naman yun. Para kahit ilang hours makasama ko pasila before I go.

I stared at my popcorn ceiling which was painted white and brown for the linings of the design before. Now I can see the paint has faded a bit and has little cracks on it. I'm gonna miss staring at it everytime I'm laying on my bed. Nakaka-inis. Nagpapaka-senti ang lola nyo ngayon. Urg.

I pushed myself up in a sitting position, looking around my room, nakaramdam ako bigla ng kirot sa puso. I'm gonna miss everything here. Parang gusto ko na ata mag-back out. Parang mas maganda ata na pumasok na lang ako sa isa sa mga exclusive universities sa Manila kaysa pumunta ako ng US. Haist.

I stood up from my bed ready to leave when I remembered something. Mabilis akong naglakad papunta sa wall of pictures ng aking kwarto. Agad kong nakita ang picture naming dalawa ni Flo. Wacky photo 'to. Napangiti tuloy ako. Pagtingin ko sa itaas nito ay nandoon naman ang picture naming dalawa ni Kristoff. Masyadong lovey dovey ang mata niya habang nakatingin sakin. Natawa tuloy ako ng maalala ko kung paano nakuha itong shot na ito. Nakita ko din ang photo namin nina mom, ate Rizza, ate Rhian, kuya Redge and of course, dad.

This is a copy of our family portrait when we were still young. Nakaka-miss lang kasi kumpleto pa kami dito. Kung buhay pa sana si dad, nakita niya sana akong grumaduate. Ako lang sa aming magkakapatid ang hindi niya na-attendan ng highschool graduation.

Buti na lang, hindi nag-kulang si mom sa paga-alaga sa aming magkakapatid since dad died. She's given all of her to us. Kaya din siguro ako nag-strive maging valedictorian is because I want mom, especially dad, to be proud of me. Para yung pinaghirapan nila mag-bunga. I just need to finish my college years and voila, makakatulong na ko kay mom through working in a great company.

"Yow Riley." kuya Redge startled me. He laughed a bit then asked if I'm ready to go. Tumango ako at kinuha na nya ang mga luggage ko.

Naghihintay sila sa baba including Kristoff, Flo and Migs. Talagang hindi sila papayag na hindi ako makita before I go. Ang mga kaibigan ko talaga. Mga baliw. Haha.

Sumakay kaming lahat sa van. Hindi daw papayag sina Flo na hindi nila ako maihatid sa airport. Sabi ko mag-bus na lang siya. Aba'y binatukan ako. Iba siya oh. Anyways. Gusto ko din naman yun. Of course mamimiss ko kasi silang lahat. Katabi ko si mom and ate Rhian. It's very nice of Kristoff na bigyan kami ng time. I know he understands what our family is feeling right now.

After a few good hours ng byahe, nasa airport na kami. Buti na lang at maaga kami umalis para iwas sa traffic. After an hour, I need to check in na kasi malapit na flight ko. And bawal na palang lumabas once nakapasok na sa loob. So I need to say my goodbyes to these people whom I'm gonna miss so much.