Reaching You

Chapter 3

Hanggang sa nakauwi ako ang tagpong iyon parin kanina ang umiikot sa isipan ko. Mabuti nalang at late nakarating si dad para sunduin ako, kung hindi naabutan niya na kami sa ganong tagpo ng lalaking yun. Buong biyahe pauwi tahimik lang ako dahil nasa isipan ko parin yung sinabi niya, hindi naman nagtaka si dad kasi lagi naman akong tahimik.

He knows my name. But I don't know him. Kanina ko lang siya nakita at nakilala.

He's last name is Demetriou. Kaano-ano niya si Prof Demetriou? Kaya ba ganoon siya makaasta kasi relative sila ni Prof?

What an arrogant jerk.

I don't know his intentions but one thing I know is I have to be cautious around him.

My deep thoughts are interrupted when I heard a knock on the door of my room.

"Come in. It's open" I said while looking at the door

Ilang segundo lang ay bumukas na ito. At tumambad sa akin ang mukha ni mommy.

"Nak the dinner is ready" she said smiling

"okay mom, susunod ako" sabi ko

"okay but don't take it too long, don't make the food wait" she said before closing the door

Bumangon ako sa pagkakahiga sa aking kama. Hinagilap ko sa ilalim ng kama ang aking panda bedroom slippers at isinuot ito. Lumabas na ako ng kwarto para saluhan ang mga magulang ko sa hapunan.

Naabutan ko si mommy na inaayos ang mga plato sa mesa habang is daddy naman ay nakaupo at pinapanuod si mommy. Nang mapansin ako ni daddy ay ngumiti siya sa akin at inimuwestra niya ang upuan. Tahimik naman akong umupo. Nang matapos si mommy ay umupo narin siya sa tabi ni daddy.

"Okay let's eat but before that let's pray muna, anak lead the prayer" sabi ni mommy na parang bata ang kinakausap niya.

Sanay narin naman ako kasi nag-iisang anak lang ako kaya hanggang ngayon parang bata parin silang mag-alaga sakin. They call me miracle baby. Kasi limang beses nakunan si mommy halos nawalan na sila ng pag-asa na magkaanak. Kaya ng nalaman nilang pinagbubuntis ako ni mommy tumigil muna siya sa trabaho at itinuon ang buong atensyon sa pagbubuntis pero kahit ganon na pag-iingat nila, pinanganak parin akong premature.

I uttered a prayer. Then we started eating.

I eat silently while mom and dad talking about work. They are both doctors so they really understand each other. Mom is an OB gynecologist while dad is a surgeon. So that explains why I'm pursuing medical course.

"Anak how's your day today?" mom asked in her worried tone

"Fine mom, Dean Gonzales ask me to join the student leader convention" I said in a flat tone

"That's great, I think you should join sweetie and make some friends, you should enjoy like normal youngsters do" dad said in his cheerful tone, like the convention is the answer to his problem

I look at them. There is some kind of hope in their eyes. Even if they don't tell me, I know that they are worrying about me being alone and don't have any friends.

I sighed

"Yeah, I already said yes to Dean Gonzales so I don't have any choice but to join" I said before I put the food inside my mouth

"Saan ba gaganapin ang convention na yan anak?" mom asked

"Sa Iloilo city mommy"

I look at them again and now they look like they're having a second thought about it. Knowing them, ayaw nilang magtravel ako ng hindi sila kasama.