Beyond Distance

Beyond 10

Chapter 10

"Honey, I forgot to tell you," nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Mommy.

We're having a late lunch today. Dad is busy and I just woke up...but I do not feel tired. It's just that I have no urge to come out to bed this morning.

I'm having this thinking since last midnight that maybe I can ask my parents if I can go back to Manila by myself. I'm super bored here. Isa pa wala akong pinagkakaabalahan dito katulad nila. Dad has a lot of plans about the reconstruction and development of the whole farm and plantation. Si Mommy naman ay hindi maiwan si Daddy. I am just the one here who have nothing to do. Second, there's a lot of stuff in school that i'm missing. At panghuli, ayoko ng magsalubong pa ang landas namin ni Sid. My feeling were getting out of hand and I have to do something about it. Katulad nga ng akala ko, maybe i'm just not used not being in a relationship.

"What is it, Mom?"

"Sid called yesterday. Asking if you got home safely. You're already resting upstairs, so I don't wanna bother you anymore."

"Okay. Thanks for that, Mommy."

I'm preparing to fire some opening words about me going back to Manila when the padre de pamilya wipe the side of his mouth with the table cloth.

"Did you get his requirements?"

"I did...but I do see a little problem about it."

His eyebrows furrowed.

"It seems that he really didn't want to study in Manila. I can see his doubt while giving me his requirements." pagsisinungaling ko.

I don't know what i'm doing. Basta ang alam ko lang he can't come to Manila. What I have for him will stay here.

"Maybe you're wrong, iha. He was very sure about it when we talked in Dumaguete. He even initiated to talk about it." ngayon ay ako naman ang naguluhan at bahagyang nagulat.

I didn't respond as quickly as I could since there's a little curiosity in my head about what made him changed his mind.

"Okay...then I will leave his documents to your office later, Dad." hindi ko na hinintay na matapos akong kumain at sinabi ko na ang plano ko. I know I can convince them. I'm all grown-up.

"I was thinking if I can go back to Manila by myself? Probably, by tomorrow or thursday?"

"You can't, Iris. Is your business in Manila can't wait till we get home?" Dad said.

Bernard Moratella was not so pleased about what he heard, and either me. I'm not very used in this kind of conversation. Madalas ay pinagbibigyan nila ako. That's why I grew up getting what I want.

"I missed a lot this semester so I wanna cope up as soon as I can, Dad." I said. Starting to get frustrated. Hindi alam paano mangkukumbinsi.

"Deal with that next week."

"Honey, your Dad just want us to go in Pistang Bayan. It's the first time that we will go there as a family. So we'll stay for another week, okay?"

Wala akong ideya kung ano ang magaganap ngayong araw. Pinagbigyan ko nga sila Daddy na manatili pa dito sa Siquijor para sa Pistang Bayan. As if I have the power to decide for myself.