Being Wet Behind Ears

O N E

"Mom, Dad, please. Payagan niyo na akong pumunta sa Cagayan De Oro..." I pleaded while pressing their both hands.

They looked at each other, having a conversation using their eyes. For pete's sake, isang buwan ko na silang pinakiki-usapan tungkol sa pagpunta ko sa CDO. I just got out of college. I wanted to go there. Tutal, I already made them proud for being a Magna Cum Laude when I graduated. Siguro naman ay papayagan na nila ako sa request ko.

I've always wanted to live at CDO. Almost all of my relatives are there. Ewan ko ba at parang ma'y humihila sa aking pumunta roon.

"Anak, wala kami roon para mag-bantay sa'yo." Mom spoke softly.

I sighed heavily. "Mom, I'm already 21. Please let me live my own life."

That's all I'm asking. I've been sheltered all my life. I've been a good daughter to them. Wala silang narinig mula sa akin na reklamo. I always envy my classmates before because they're living their own lives. I never even got to experience being drunk. And heck, I badly want to experience it. Ano kayang pakiramdam na lasing ka? Totoo bang aalon ang paningin mo?

I wanted to go to Cagayan De Oro, dahil nandoon ang mga pinsan ko. Gusto kong turuan nila ako sa mga bagay na gusto kong gawin. Ako lang naman kasi ang inexperienced sa aming mag-pipinsan, e.

"If that's what you want, then fine. You'll go to CDO tomorrow. But please, take good care of yourself always, anak. We'll try to visit you there every now and then." Daddy finally gave in.

Happines was written all over my face. I couldn't help but hug them both tightly. Pinudpod ko sila nang halik sa pisngi at natatawa na lang silang dalawa dahil sa ginawa ko.

"Oh, Mom and Dad, thank you so much. I am in bliss." I sincerely said and smiled at them.

"We're going to miss our baby." Mom almost cried.

Masayang bumalik ako sa sa aking kwarto at tumalon-talon pa. I sent a text message to my cousins at CDO saying that my parents already granted my request. At siyempre, binaha ako ng mga reply nila. Like me, they are happy, too.

True to Dad's words, ay kina-umagahan agad ako umalis. Umiyak sila nang inihatid nila ako sa airport. Halos hindi pa ako pakawalan ni Daddy. I am going to miss you both, too. But I wanted to do this.

It's just less than one hour flight. Pero umidlip pa rin ako. I slept very late last night because it took me a few hours to finished packing my things. I brought a lot of things with me, ma'y plano kasi talaga akong mag-tagal sa CDO.

Sabik na sabik na akong maka-apak sa CDO. Matagal ko itong hinintay. Iniisip ko pa lang ang mga gagawin ko kasama ang aking mga pinsan doon ay halos gusto kong tumalon dahil sa excitement.

And my first agenda is...to experience partying.

I already told my cousins about that. Mas na-excite pa nga sila kaysa akin. Hindi nila inaasahan na ako pa mismo ang mag-aaya sa kanila.

I'm cold towards people. I don't socialize with people. Dahil sa takot kong ma-impluwensyahan at baka mabigo ko ang aking mga magulang. Pero ngayon ko lang na-isip na, na kahit ano pang pagiging bad influence ng mga tao sa paligid mo ay nasa saiyo pa rin naman iyon. It's gonna be your own damn choice. Kung madadamay ka man sa kanila, don't you blame them.

But believe me, ma'y kaibigan naman ako. Pili nga lang.

"Welcome to Cagayan De Oro, Flynn Atascha Guererro!" All my cousins shouted.

Napatawa na lang ako sabay umiling. Tumingin tuloy halos lahat ng mga tao sa airport dahil sa ginawa nila. We all did a group hug afterwards. At kinuha na ng mga lalake kong pinsan ang mga maleta ko.