February 19, 2018
Monday, Afternoon
Lately this morning after I woke up. I found dad at the living room, he's watching the news and eating chips. I found a beer at the table before him.
I was just wondering. Bakit hindi siya pumasok sa trabaho?
"Luke, " he called out.
"Yes? " I answered.
"About yesterday..." he paused.
I stare at him, confused.
"Pwede ba tayong mag-usap?"
I look at the wall clock, there's enough time. Tumango naman ako.
"Halika dito" Habang tinatapik nya yung space sa tabi nya. Hindi ako umupo dun. Umupo ako sa isang upuan malapit sa kanya.
"Tungkol ito sa sasabihin ko sana kahapon"
Hmmm. Hindi talaga ako nagsalita.
"I'm not blaming your mother's death" panimula nya. "Pero this few days lang, I was not able to concentrate at work, I did crazy things, I miscalculated the stocks and had a bad report to the manager. He understands my current situation but he warned me that if I ever do it again, he will not hesitate to fire me. The future of the company depends on the worker and so does the management."
I remained silent, but I'm not looking at dad. I keep my eyes on the floor and sometimes outside.
"I know I'm too busy and hadn't enough time for us, for the family."
I'm glad you know dad, but I'll be happier if you decides to spend your time with us when mom was still alive.
"Look son, don't be shocked, I don't want to be a burden at the company and I don't want the company to be a failure. Your uncle Jee contacted me yesterday, he said that we could start a new life at the States."
That was the time that I look at dad, intensely.
"I'm planning to retire and leave life here, we could go to the US and start a new, you can have a better education there and I can find a new work there, we can live there and forget everything here."
"Forget?" Angal ko. "Kalimutan? Nagpapatawa ka ba? Eh baguhan lang nawala si mama tapos kakalimutan mo na? At isasama mo pa ako sa kagaguhan mo? Sabagay, wala ka namang pakialam di ba?" tumayo ako sa kinauupuan ko at tumakbo palabas.
Sa ngayon andito ako sa park.
Nagsusulat.
Galit ako kay dad.
Hindi ko talaga alam ang gagawin ko. What if I transfer to the states? What about my friends, what about the life I have in here?
Grace.
I think about Grace.
I can't live her here. I need Grace.
-luke
BINABASA MO ANG
Luke
Short StoryFebruary 3, 2018 10:48 pm If you're reading this right now, I may be gone by then. Sorry but I must go. - luke Follow the life of a not-so-typical teenage boy named Luke.
