Claiming the Opposite ✔

Prologue

BEING a scholar for two years in Stanford University is really a big blessing to me. After I gave birth to Xiency, I really didn't expect that I'm one of the lucky Asians who got in.

I was really so thankful because roughly more than four million are already covered by the Stanford Fund Scholarship including my yearly tuition, food, housing and my health insurance. So, saan ko pa 'yan hahanapin ang ganyang halagang pera? And the fact that I ran away from my home. So I got no one's help.

The application process that year was test-optional, which suggested that taking stardardized exams like SATs and ACTs were optional. Academic grades, subjects taken in high school and the previous year in my first year college, honors and extracurriculars, and my personal essay were used to determine acceptance in that year.

"Mommy, where's Dada? Why he's not sumama with us here in Pilipinas?" tukoy ni Xiency kay Cyrill.

Natawa na lamang ako dahil may pagka-conyo talaga 'tong anak ko. Nakakatuwa pang pakinggan ang malalim nitong accent.

"Next week, nandito na si Dada Cyrill mo. Besides we're just five days pa naman here, 'di ba nak? Miss na miss mo na agad si Dada?"

Xiency frowned. Nakangiting niyakap ko siya at pinuno ng halik ang kanyang pisngi.

"Grandpaps is very madaldal. Si Grandmi naman ay madaldal rin but I like her! I have sobrang daming toys na!"

Ang rason na bumalik ako sa Pilipinas kasama na ang anak ko dahil nagkabati na kami nila Daddy at Mommy. They're apologizing sincerely to me through video call. Sila na rin ang nagpumilit na umuwi kami dito para makita na rin nila sa personal ang kanilang apo.

I'm a professional voice over artist in California. Being a voice over artist is really my dream and I couldn't believe that I'm living with my dream now. Ang bilis talaga ng panahon.

Since then, I trained my voice for years and taught myself how to make any communication easy. That's why I'm already so pro on how to control rhythm and breath, so the audience won't hear any disturbing pauses while listening.

I can do anime voice over and any commercial. Last week ay kakatapos ko pa nga para sa international voice over for the soft and hard sell. Pero ito ang masasabi ko, ni kailanman ay hindi ako nagreklamo dahil sa pagod. I really enjoyed voice acting, as in. Kahit ang daming schedule, go pa rin. That's because I love my work.

"Ilang years po tayo here, Mommy?" Xiency asked.

Nanggigigil kong mahinang kinurot ang pisngi niya.

"Excited ka na talagang bumalik sa California, e noh? But anak, we're just really here for a vacation so don't worry."

The next day, may pinuntahan akong kompanya dahil may na-received akong email na inanyayahan akong mag-voice over para sa isang local commercial. Kahit dito pala sa Pilipinas ay may nakakakilala rin sa akin. Nakakataba ng puso.

Pagkatapos iparinig ang boses ko gamit ang iba't-ibang emosyon at tono ay napapalakpak ang ilang staff. Pinag-usapan agad namin kung kailan kami magsisimula.

Nagising ako ng maaga at nagsimulang linisin ang kwartong para kay Cyrill. Though, malinis na rin naman pero gusto ko yung well-organized masyadong tingnan.

"Anak, Ayen asked me about you. Nakita ka raw niya no'ng isang araw. Nahihiya daw siyang i-approach ka," nakangiting wika ni Mommy.

"Ah... gano'n?"