When He Left

Chapter 5

"ANAK? Can you open the door? I brought you a glass of milk." Napabuntong hininga ako at hinubad ang eyeglasses na suot nang marinig ko ang boses ni Mama sa labas ng kuwarto ko. I stood up from my chair's study table at pumunta sa pintuan upang buksan 'yon. I sweetly smiled at my mom bago ko siya hinalikan sa kanang pisngi niya at ku'nin ang basong naglalaman ng mainit-init pang gatas.

"Thanks for this 'Ma, pero hindi mo na naman kailan pa 'tong gawin. You know, I'm no longer a child?" Ngumiti pa ako ng alanganin na tinawanan lang niya.

"Oh don't start with me, young lady. You're growing up so fast anak, but you're still the baby girl I carried for nine months and will love for eternity." Paliwanang niya bago muling naglitanya.

"Nag-aalala na nga kami ng Papa mo dahil unti-unti nang lumalayo ang loob mo sa aming dalawa. It's inevitable anak, we know it. Alam din namin na soon, mag-uumpisa ka na talagang mag-entertain ng mga manliligaw mo. Kaya habang kaming dalawa pa lang ng papa mo, we'll make the most out of it." Marahan pa nitong hinaplos ang braso ko. Napangiwi ako when she mentioned the thing about "manliligaw".

The thing is, ngayong junior high school pa nga lang, wala nang nagkakamali. Paano pa kaya kapag nasa senior high school o kaya college na ang anak niyo, 'ma? Besides, I have my full attention to someone who's not even looking at me the same way I look at him. It's impossible for me to entertain courtship right now since I have feelings for someone.

I just sighed with the thought, nakita kong lumingon si Mama sa likod ko.

"Can I come in?" Masuyo nitong tanong kaya tumango na lang ako kahit na busy ako sa pagre-review sa nalalapit naming periodical exam.

Umupo si Mama sa upuan ng study table ko at tinignan ang mga papel at mga notebooks na nagkalat sa lamesa, kinuha ko ang bean bag ko na nasa gilid ng cabinet ko at doon umupo. Magkaharap na kami ni Mama ngayon dahil tumagilid ito ng upo paharap sa akin.

"So you're reviewing for your third periodical exam?" She asked me while holding my notebook in Math. That's where I'm focused at since it's kind of my favorite subject, although I'm not that smart, I enjoy studying Mathematics in grade nine. It's thrilling and enjoyable especially when you finally figured out how to solve a Mathematical problem.

"Yes Ma, our periodical exam will be one week from now kaya nag-uumpisa na akong mag-review so that I won't be pressured on reviewing for the following days." I took a sip from my glass of milk bago naghihinalang tumingin kay Mama.

"So, bakit niyo po gusto pumasok dito sa kuwarto ko? You know, I'm not that kind of child that will do some nasty things in her own room. So you don't need to check on it." I joked and she laughed with that bago niya ako maiging tinitigan kinalaunan. She reached for the strand of my hair that falls in front of my face and tucked it behind my ear.

"Anak, you know these past few months nagiging busy kami ng Papa mo sa bagong tayo naming negosyo. I hope hindi ka nagtatampo sa amin ng dad mo, we're just making sure that when we're gone, mayroon kaming maiiwan sa'yo na alam kong pangangalagaan at iingatan mo kapag nawala na kami. It's also to secure your future." She tenderly smiled at me kaya naman napanguso ako.

"Ma, don't say that. Hindi pa kayo mawawala ni Papa. Kung makapagsalita ka naman parang iiwan niyo na talaga ako, ni hindi pa nga po ako guma-graduate from high school eh. Stop saying things like that." Nakanguso ko pa ring saad.

I'm not used with this kind of conversation with Mama. We always bond and talk about my future when we're together kaya nakakapanibago para sa akin ang pag-open up niya about dito.