In Between (SC, #4)

Kabanata 30

Kabanata 30

Constant

Sometimes, I wonder if this should be the path I should take. That maybe every step I seize, every breath I bestow, every attention I grant, I am wasting a day or worse, an opportunity. Last month, I promise to myself that I'll study hard and well enough this summer vacation. Mag-advance reading or mag-practice akong mag-program, mag-code para mas humasa ako sa Programming. A month later, I did zilch but to squander hard.

Sad hours usually start at 9 pm when I realized I did nothing to be better. I breathed a sigh and closed my laptop. Tomorrow will be better. I still have days to conquer. Humiga ako sa kama at sinubukan kunin ang aking tulog. Papapikit na sana ako nang umalingawngaw ang boses ni Mama na may kasamang katok sa pinto.

Napakagat ako ng labi.

"Isabelle, sunduin mo na ang kuya muna kina Hunter."

"Po?" I feigned my voice to be raspy, para kunwari kagigising 'ko lang. Baka magbago isipan ni Mama at si Jere na lang ang sumundo kay kuya Kit. But I doubt it, since it is passed nine. Hindi na papalabasin si Jeremiah o baka tulog na ang bata.

"Sunduin mo na ang kuya mo dahil baka mahuli pa tayo sa graduation niya bukas," Mama's voice is gentle. I break into a full grin before getting up. Hindi na kailangan na sumuway pa 'ko. It's kuya's big day tomorrow! Kaya ganito na lamang ang hinahon ng boses ni Mama. I know how proud she is to my brother and so is Papa. Magkakaroon na sila ng Engineer!

"Opo!" sagot 'ko pabalik.

I ran my hands through my hair. Ilang beses 'kong pinasadahan ang aking buhok hanggang sa makuntento ako. Tumingin lang ako saglit sa salamin at binuksan 'ko na ang pintuan. Paalis na si Mama at pababa nang buksan 'ko iyon. Mama looked over her shoulder and told me again the same words. Na sunduin 'ko na si kuya dahil graduation niya bukas and so on.

While going downstairs, I saw Papa and Jere watching a basketball game. Dumaan lamang ako sa harapan nila para magpaalam pagkatapos ay nagtatakbo palabas. Cold evening wind pressed against my skin. I shivered quickly but still went on. The crickets' sound boomed against the surrounding. Ilang tricycle and motorcycle ang dumadaan pa sa ganitong oras. But dead nights are usual in Bocaue.

Mahigit limang minutong lakad lamang ang gugulin 'ko para makapunta sa bahay nina kuya Hunter at Maia. Kailangan 'ko lang pumasok sa isang kalyeng katabi ang Eden's bakery. Wala akong nakasalubong nakakilala kaya madali akong nakapunta sa lugar. Sometimes, I hate it because I usually panic when a familiar person pass through me. I can't even make an eye-contact.

Maybe, I really have an awful self-esteem. Or, most probably don't want to engage.

Sa labas ng bahay nina kuya Hunter, rinig na rinig 'ko ang boses ni Tripp. "HERE'S TO MANY MORE HEARTBREAKS!" lasing niyang bulalas. "AND HERE'S TO MANY MORE REASONS TO LOVE EVEN HEARTBREAKS RUIN US."

Nakarinig ako ng hiyawan pagkatapos no'n. Mas nangingibabaw ang boses ng kuya 'ko. Someone whistled, but mostly almost everyone shouted their triumph. Sumilip ako at nakita 'kong nagtatalon sa kalasingan si kuya Hunter, kuya Kit, at si Tripp. Na hawak-hawak ang microphone at humihiyaw. I was taken aback when I saw their demeanor. They are wearing their toga like their confident armor. Pero sina Kit, Landon, at Hunter lamang ang may suot nito. Ang kaibahan lang ay may hawak na Smirnoff. My eyes sweep around their place.

Ang tatlo, nagtatalon habang sumisigaw. Sina Kit, Hunter, at Tripp. Sina Landon, Garrett, Jace, at Genesis, nakaupo habang kinukuhanan ang tatlo na may ngisi sa labi. Napasinghap at nanlaki ang aking mata nang matapunan ni Tripp ang toga ni kuya! Ngunit hindi naman niya iyon napansin dahil inumpisahan na niyang kantahin ang lumalabas sa videoke. Natitiyak akong kapag nalaman ni Mama iyon. We're going to meet Mayon Volcano again!