"Are you sure you're fine with your new school?"
Napahinto ako sa paglalagay ng mga spring notebooks ko sa bag dahil sa sinambit ni Mommy. Her face looks uneasy. Her eyes looks so worried. And I know what she's thinking right now.
"I'll be fine, Ma. It'll be easy." Mabilis kong pinasok sa bag ang notebooks ko at sinara ang zipper nito. "There's nothing different with my former school and my new school. Parehas lang naman may teacher at may matutunan ako, right?"
She gestured so that I'll sit beside her. "The environment's different. May assurance na safe ka sa former school mo dahil pinahahalagahan ka nila dahil sa family background mo. But, your new school? I doubt everything. If you want, I can talk again with your dad? Pipilitin ko siyang bumalik ka sa former school mo?"
Inilingan ko si Mommy at niyakap ang baywang. "I told you, Mommy. I'll be fine. Anak niyo kaya ko. Isa pa, last year ko na ito sa high school. Isang taon na lang naman ang itatagal ko sa paaralang iyon kaya huwag kang masyadong kabahan. Don't stress Daddy with this simple issue."
She brushed my hair using her fingers. "Are you sure?"
I nod once again. "Isipin niyo na lang si Daddy, Mommy. Paniguradong malaking adjustment iyon para sa kanya. He needs someone to adjust completely with his new job."
It's been two months simula nang 360 degrees na bumaliktad ang buhay naming pamilya. From being one of the well-known family in the business industry, we became the no-name Garcias in this new town.
Yuan, my older brother, was confined due to cancer. My parents were too devastated that time. Dalawa lang kaming magkapatid and he was the eldest. Siya ang inaasahang hahawak ng kompanya sa oras na magbitiw si Daddy sa posisyon.
He was confined in the hospital for a month. And we, as his family, supported him with his chemotherapies. Both of my parents are restless. They focused with mh brother to the point that they forgot about our company's state.
And my father's best friend took this opportunity. He slowly stole my Daddy's title. He manipulated the stakeholders and make fake evidences that cause them to kick Daddy in the company.
Nasa punto kami ng buhay namin nun kung ano bang uunahin. Is it our name as Garcias? Or, my Kuya Yuan's condition? And our family choose the latter. Naubos ang savings namin para gumaling si Kuya Yuan. From a big house, we started to live in a one-storey house. From an exclusive school in town, I enrolled in a public school.
But all those sacrifices are worth it. Umaayos na ang pakiramdam ni Kuya Yuan. My uncles and aunties asked to lend a hand and took my Kuya in the States. Mas advance raw kasi ang technologies doon kaya mas sure ang paggaling ni Kuya. He told us that his condition is now stable at ilang tests na lang ang gagawin para mas maging maayos na siya at cancer-free. He will be back to Manila soon.
A knock from the door stopped us from cuddling.
"I'll open it, Mommy."
She nod kaya tumayo na ako at lumapit sa pinto. When I opened it, a man holding daisies showed up.
"Who's that?"
I smiled from ear to ear at lumayo sa pinto. "Ma, may manliligaw ka."
Nagulat si Mommy at napatayo. "Ano? Sino? Magagalit ang Daddy ko. Seloso pa naman yun."
Mas napatawa ako dahil sa reaksyon ni Mommy.
Hindi naman kasi lingid sa kaalaman ng lahat na maganda si Mommy. She's the living example of the word gorgeous. Kahit dalawa na ang anak, namamaintain pa rin niya ang kagandahang taglay niya.
"Paalisin mo na habang wala pa ang Daddy mo."
I laughed hard when the man on the front door entered. His face is unexplainable dahil sa mga sinabi ni Mommy.
"Hindi ako seloso, My."
Sinara ko ang pinto at sinandalan ito habang nakatingin sa mag-asawang sumasayaw sa harap ko. They're dancing sweetly without music. As if, they were drowned in their own melody.
Even though my Daddy has to go back to square one and starting our new lives as a company employee, I feel proud thou. Both of my parents supported me and Kuya Yuan. They have flaws, that's a fact, but their flaws are their perfections for me as their daughter.
I look at our wall clock.
It's already 7 in the evening.
Tomorrow will be start of my new life in my new school.
Tomorrow, everything will finally begin.
