"Gale, where are you going?" Dad said when I walked past him and Mommy in the living room. "You only stayed here for just two hours. Aalis ka na?"
Pagod ko siyang tinignan.
"I'm going to see Emma, andito siya sa Manila ngayon." Sabi ko, magpapatuloy na sana akong umalis pero nagsalitang muli si Daddy.
"Probably because of work?"
Every time he mentions the word "work", nag-aaway lang kami. And this time, hindi niya direktang sinumbat sa akin.
"I'm going." Sabi ko, binalewala ang kanyang sinabi.
"I'm not done talking, Gale."
"Well, I am," magpapatuloy sana ako kaso nagsalitang muli ako. "Uuwi na rin po ako. Thanks for the dinner, by the way. Too bad I didn't enjoy it."
"Gale Olivia!" Daddy shouted.
I saw Mommy held my father's arm. I took that as a signal that I can go now. Pagkalabas ay sumakay ako sa aking kotse at pumunta agad sa kung saan kami magkikita ng isang kaibigan.
Emma Allegre is my friend through Mommy. Mommy and her mother are friends since college. They weren't classmates but they knew each other because they went to some educational programs in the health care field. Tita Sol, Emma's mom, is a veterinarian while my mom is a surgeon.
Bata pa lang kami ay nakikita ko na siya sa mga events na pinupuntahan ng mga magulang namin noon, pero around age of 13 nang maging malapit na ako sa kanya. Meron siyang kapatid na lalake pero dahil siya lang lagi ang sumasama papuntang Maynila, hindi ako masyadong malapit sa kapatid niya. They live in Laguna by the way, their hometown.
"Gale! Long time no see!" Salubong sa akin ni Emma pagkarating ko sa isang Spanish restaurant dito sa BGC.
"It's nice to see you again, Ems. Grabe, ang tagal din simula noong huli tayong nagkita!" Sabi ko matapos naming magbeso at umupo na.
"Right! We have works. And I was expecting that I'm going to see you at the annual event dahil noong birthday ko, umuwi ka kaagad. Wala kayo ng kapatid mo no'ng annual event. Tita Olga and Tito Perry were there and they told me you two were busy."
I was really busy that time. I can make time for the event, but I didn't. I cannot come with my parents knowing we had an argument that time.
"Y-Yeah, we were. I'm sorry," Though I just knew that my brother was busy because of school.
Ngumiti siya.
"It's okay. I'm gonna be here for just five days." She pouted.
"That fast?" Sabi ko, nabiglang tunay.
"Yeah, pero babalik ulit ako dito next next week. Sa Forbes Park iyong na-design kong mansion."
Tumango ako.
"Wow! That's great!" I smiled at her.
"One of my huge projects," she said. "Anyways, please call me if you have time again. Gusto kitang makita ulit." She pouted again.
I smiled.
"Sure, Ems. I'll call you right away."
"Sabi mo yan ha?"
"Yeah, I'm sure." I smiled.
Bago pa maserve ang dinner namin ay nag-umpisa siyang magkwento sa mga nangyari sa kan'ya habang hindi pa kami nagkikita. I am proud of her achievements. Dati ay nangangarap siyang maging arkitekto, ngayon ay eto na at nagiging successful na. Her father owns an engineering firm. Bagay ang kanyang kurso sa pamumuhay ng kanilang pamilya.
Unti-unting nawala ang aking ngiti nang may napagtanto.
The two hours of chatting we had were fun. Matapos no'n ay nagpasya na rin kaming umalis dahil siya ay marami pang gagawin at ako nama'y may kikitain pa. She knows about my problem with my dad but she never asked about it the whole time we were talking. Thank God for that though.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Boy Who Can't Give Attention
Romansa"The moment I first met him, I realized it will be hard for me to make him notice me because he hates me. I know and I'm sure. And as my feelings grow more, I'm wanting his attention even if I know he doesn't give it easily, especially to me. I want...
