My Strings of Love

Chapter 2: Reunion

Joe's Pov

Pagkadating ko sa bahay, bumugad sa akin ang galit na mukha ng aking tatay. Sumalampak ako sa sofa at tinignan siya ng deretso. Nakita kong ngumiwi siya at nag-aalab na sa galit ang mata niya. "Hanggang kailan ba hindi ka magbabago?!" Galit na batid niya. "Pack your things or I'll forget you as my child." Is he mad because i went home late? Oh boy, I'm done with these boring lessons of a boring dude.

"Okay, I will go to Ilocos Sur. So that i will stop seeing your face," i eyed him and grinned. "I'm quite bored on staying at this house."

Nakita kong nagtiim-bagang ang kanyang dibdib. Before he could utter a word, i ran upstairs. Mom helped me pack my things. I shoved her away because i can do it.

Pagkababa ko ay bumungad sa akin ang mga nagkakaguluhang mga tao. Nakita ko ring nakipagbeso si mommy sa bagong dating na mag-asawa. Nakipagkamag naman si daddy. Nang mapansin nila ako: "This is my daughter, Joe."

"Wow, joe was a tough name," the old man said, smiling. I moved forwards like a madman while dribbling my basketball. "I am kinda confused." I'm gonna rip this old man's face. It's pissing me off. Beside him was a girl. She has a black long hair, turned up like a ponytail. May cap siya kaya hindi ko masyadong maaninag ang mukha niya. She has an eyeglasses.

"So, who's this lovely child?" Tanong ni mommy sabay turo sa babaeng nakacap.

"She's Jane," Sumagot ang asawa ng lalake. I believe that the man was my mother's brother. He's Uncle Leo. And the woman was Aunt Luz. Its been a long time since they last visited. "The first time you saw her was when they were 9 years olds. I think this is a reunion."

Lumabas ang mga matatanda papuntang garden. Reunion? I don't care about that. Napadako ang paningin ko ang nakatalikod kong pinsan. Matagal na pala simula nung unang nagkita kami. Ito yung pangalawang bisita nila sa Pinas galing Canada. I was girly back then.

Flashback 7 years ago...
"Mom, i don't want that," Nakita ko ang isang batang ipinasok ang isang supot ng kendi sa kanyang bag. "What will we do here?"

Baka siya na nga si Jane. Huwag kang kabahan Joe. This is your first time to meet her. Inayos ko ang pink kong dress at ponytail. I approached her and smiled. "Hi, I am Joe."

"Oh, I'm Jane. I'm from Canada." Oh my gosh! That was our first conversation, ever! I went in the house. This was my grandma's house. It was an old antique house. Nakita king nakikipag-usap si Jane kay Jam at John. They are my cousins to. I felt a thud in my chest.

Bakit ko to nararamdaman? Nagseselos ba ako dahil ang close na nila kahit ngayon lang nagkita? Is it because she is friendly? Baka naman dahil ang yaman yaman nila.

No pareho lang kami na galing sa marangyang pamilya. Mas maganda naman ako sa kanya. I hate her! I want to kill her.

End of flashback...

Simula ng araw na iyon sinubukan ko ang lahat para mapansin nila. Kahit na bumalik na sila sa Canada ay wala parin nagbabago. Hanggang sa nakalimutan kong babae pala ako dahil sa sinapit ko. And now she's back? I can feel my girly hormones coming back. Pero kailangan kong maging boyish. I must stop these.

She turned arouned and looked at me. Dahil nataranta ako ay ngumiti ako. I know it was a weird and fake smile. She turned her back. Anong ginawa ko? I turned around the people laughing, chit-chatting, and eating. Pumunta ako sa dinner table at kumuha ng maraming pagkain. Hindi ko na pinalampas ang mga putaheng nakahain dito. Wala akong pakialam sa mga poise poise na iyan. Pagkatapos kumain ay pumunta ako sa veranda. Napatingala ako sa mga bituin. Balita ko mag-aaral dito sa Pinas si Jane. Pero at least ako pupunta na sa Ilocos Sur.

I looked at my old worn out jacket and sneaker shoes. Ibang iba ang mga kasuutan ko sa kanyang pananamit. Nakaleggings siya at blouse. May pink dollshoes pa siya.

"You have a great voice." Napatingala alo dahil sa nagsalita. "Hi, I'm jane."

"Joe." I said almost gritting my teeth. I cannot help but have a smug on my face by eyeing at her smiling face.

"Do you know how to speak english" what, the is she insulting me?

"Of course i can speak in English you idiot. Besides, i can speak that godamn language way better than you even if you're from frickin' Canada," i said leaving a qoutation on canada (i mean like this " ") with my hands. "So you better squeak all out your way and get lost. I'm kinda pissed here. I like to scallop your damn face and sell it in a burger shop."

I stormed out and went on my room. Inhagis ko ang aking gitara dahil sa inis. Sinuntok ko ang black and white na  pader. Wala akong pakialam kung masakit basta maibuhos ko ang galit na aking nadarama. Ever since she went here, she was the chief topic among my cousins and relatives. I hate her. Tumulo ang mga luhang pilit kung hindi ibuhos sa mga nagdaang dalawang taon. Hindi ko alam kung ito ay dahil sa pinsan ko o dahil sa best friend ko. Magkahalong inis, galit at lungkot amg nadarama ko. Gusto ko nang pumunta sa Ilocos. I quickly held my trolley bag and went downstairs.

"Oh my God anong nangyari sa kamay mo?!" Nagaalalang tanong ni Mommy.

"I dont care. Just give me my passport and i will go now to ilocos." mahinahon na sabi ko. Nakita ko sa gilid ng mata ko ang umiiyak ba si Jane. Marahil ay dahil sa sinabi ko.

"But yung sugat mo."

"I DON'T CARE ABOUT MY FRICKIN' HAND. I WANT TO LEAVE NOW!"

Fine, the attention is hers. Hindi ko na na siya gugulhin pa.