When Fate Went Right

Prologue

Prologue

Lavender Blue

"Is it too hot for you, Peri?" Tanong ni Mommy. Nilakasan niya pa lalo ang aircon ng kotse.

I am at the backseat of our car, fanning myself. Pakiramdam ko'y sobrang init pa rin kahit ang lakas na ng aircon. Wearing a thin spaghetti top and a short skirt and still feeling so hot with full blast air conditioning isn't a good thing!

"Malayo pa po ba, Dad?" Chartreuse asked.

"Not yet, anak. We should've used the chopper instead. Pero pagbigyan na natin ang Mommy ninyo. She wants a road trip here in the Philippines with us, complete," Daddy said. May accent pa rin ang pagkakasabi niya noon. He's learning the Filipino language naman na, yung accent niya lang talaga.

Sinanay naman kami ni Mommy na palaging magsalita ng Filipino kaya nasanay na rin kami ni Chartreuse. Meanwhile, Chartreuse always speaks in english. Kaya sinasaway siya ni Mommy minsan dahil hindi ito nakikinig sakaniya, minsan naman, kung magsasalita siya ng tagalog ay tagalog na tagalog. I find it cute, though. My little brother is just annoying sometimes.

"Bakit naman magchochopper? Ang lapit lapit lang, e," Mommy said. What?! Hindi kaya malapit 'to. Kanina pa kami nasa byahe pero hindi pa rin kami nakakarating kina Lola.

"Mom? This isn't near po," Treuse intervened. Yeah, right. Nag kibit balikat si Daddy.

"Plus, this is an experience! I want you to see the Philippines! Kayo naman, para namang hindi kayo nagroroad trip with your friends."

Hindi naman talaga. I don't even have friends in Minnesota..

"Mom, Peri doesn't have friends," Chartreuse said, sounding cautious. I smiled bitterly.

"Sorry," Si Mommy. Nginitian ko naman si Mommy, assuring her that it's all fine.

"Let's just follow Mom's orders, okay?" Si Daddy. Tumawa pa si Daddy at hinampas naman siya ni Mommy sa braso.

Daddy has always been like this to Mommy. He's always under her and he loves her so dearly. I remembered their walk in closet! Halos lahat ng mga damit doon ay kay Mommy. Not even half of it is Daddy's. Na consume na ng mga gamit at damit ni Mommy ang lahat ng space sa closet nila. It's huge, alright. Pero parang siniksik nalang sa mga gilid ang damit ni Daddy! Daddy didn't mind, though.

Ganoon din siya saamin. We're not spoiled but we're lucky that, somehow, we can have what we desire. But of course, we know out limitations.

Summer ngayon sa Pilipinas, dahilan kung bakit init na init kami ni Chartreuse. Ang boring pa rito. Wala naman kaming magawa ni Chartreuse. We've been talking and sitting the whole time!

Not that I am taking this 'family time' for granted, though. I'm just.. bored and feeling so hot. I need to freshen up!

"Can we stop over?" Tanong ko. Bumaling saakin si Mommy at tumaas ang kilay niya. Tumingin din saakin si Daddy sa pamamagitan ng rear view mirror at nagkibit balikat siya. He looked at Mommy.

"Drumrolls.." Chartreuse grinned.

Sabay sabay kaming naghintay sa sasabihin ni Mommy.

She sighed.

"Yes!" I yelled. Finally!

"Since nasa may mall na rin naman tayo, might as well enjoy the day here?" Si Mommy.

"Yes, Mommy! Mall!" I yelled again. Ang saya ko. Sa haba ba naman ng oras na bored ako rito sa loob ng sasakyan ay makakalabas na rin ako!

Naghanap muna si Daddy ng parking spot, nang nakapag park na kami ay inayos muna ni Mommy ang kaniyang bag bago lumabas. Daddy opened the door for me. I hurriedly snatched my Louis Vuitton cross body sling bag and fixed my hair as the hot wind of Philippines blew it.