Once There Was A Twist

MCG 6

CHAPTER 6: LATE NIGHT DANCE

"HOW ARE WE going to eat all of this?"

Natampal ko ang noo ng makita ang binili niya. Five pieces of one liter ice cream. Ba't ba hindi ko napansin kanina na malaki ang hawak niyang plastic.

"I don't know what flavor you want most so I bought five." Inilapag niya ang mga binili sa lamesa.

I couldn't believe this man!

"Tsk, you should have asked me what I want most if that's the issue,"I told him. Hello? Uso ang magtanong.

"What's your favourite?" he asked instead. Seriously?

"Rocky road." Inisa-isa niyang ipinalabas sa plastic ang mga binili niya.

"We have rocky road here so that's fine."

Oh great, asking me after buying. What a way of thinking. I know he had a lot of money but five Liters? Parang ginawa na niyang kanin ang dessert lang dapat.

Kumuha na ako ng maliit na bowl at  kutsara. Inilapag ko 'yon sa harap niya at binuksan ang ice cream. Ako na rin ang naglagay para sa kanya.

"Where are your parents?" Napa-angat ako ng tingin at sinalubong ang mga mata niya. Nagulat lang ako kung bakit niya 'yon naitanong.

I don't usually talk about personal matters but I guess there was nothing wrong if I tell him some background about me.

"Mmh, where should I start?" I acted as if I'm thinking of a memory years ago.

"You should not cry, okey?" Sinundan ko pa ito ng tawa.

"Well, I grew up with my dad. Mom died when I was just two years old due to sickness. I don't have any idea kung ano but that was what they said. Dad married again when I was 7 and he left me at my Aunt's care. I wasn't treated as part of a family though." Tumawa ako ng pagak pero nasasaktan pa rin ako hanggang sa ngayon tuwing naiisip ko ang mga nangyari sa nakaraan.

I was abandoned and left alone. And I was hurt and the pain was even more dreadful every time I think how my dad left me.

Hindi madaling mamuhay mag-isa. Pero hindi iyon ang  masakit, mas masakit isipin na hindi ka naman dapat talaga nag-iisa. Ang kaso, wala ng tatangap sa'yo kahit kadugo mo pa.

I have gone through years of sleepless nights crying. Hindi lang sa gutom kundi pati na rin sa emosyonal na sakit.

"Basta gano'n. Kapatid siya ni papa at ayaw nila akong paaralin so I decided to run away. I lived my life working and then going to school. Uy, naka-graduate ako ng college on time. It was my biggest achievement but I have no one to share my happiness with."

I saw sadness deep within his eyes. He must be thinking of how miserable I was.

And he was right. I endured 10 years of maltreatment in my Aunt's house. Wala naman akong magagawa,wala rin akong matatakbuhan.

Mas maayos pa nga siguro ang maging katulong na lang, may sweldo na, kumakain ka pa.

Eh ako? Kung ano ang matira, iyon ang akin. I really don't understand why they don't like me.

"Don't think about it. It's in the past," sabi ko. Pero hindi pa rin nawawala ang seryosong tingin na ipinupukol niya sa akin. Sa nakaraan na nga iyon, pero ang hirap kalimutan. I can't even think of forgiving them.

If my dad and I ever crossed path, I will never recognize him. Kahit siya pa ang dahilan kung bakit naririto ako sa mundo. Alam kong mali pero hindi niya ako masisisi. If he did just care for me, maybe I'm not like this.