Nagmamasid lamang ako sa paligid, naghihintay ng oras. Oras na hindi namamalayan kapag masaya ka ngunit sobrang bagal naman kapag malungkot ka. Sa bawat oras na lumilipas, daan-daang pangyayari ang bumabalik sa isip na aking pinagsisisihan, mga imaheng dapat ginawa ngunit pinalampas lamang. Sa panahon ko, natuto na ako at tinitiyak kong hindi na ito mauulit sa ibang tao.
Napalingon ako sa aking kaliwa, nakita ang mag-inang masayang nagkukuwentuhan. 'Di mapuknat ang ngiti sa kanilang mga labi, mga halakhak nilang pumupuno sa buong silid. Nakakahawa, hindi ko tuloy mapigilang alalahanin ang aking kabataan.
"Say "aaahhh"..." My mom animatedly said.
"Aaahhh!" I said as I eat my food.
"Good job, darling! Someday it will be you who will feed Mama and Papa," my Mama said as she feed me again with a spoonful of cereals.
I chewed my food first before replying, "Yes, Mama! Kaya nga someday, I want to be a nurse so I can take care of you and Papa and all the people who needs my help!"
"That's so sweet of you, darling. I'll wait until that time comes and Mama will do anything for you," she said while caressing my back.
Sa aktong 'yon kami naabutan ni papa. Agad akong nagpunta sa kanya at naglambitin sa kanyang paa.
"Naku, Rica, ini-spoil mo na naman itong anak natin. Ini-english mo na naman kaya nalilimutan na ng bata ang tinuro kong Filipino, e."
"But, Papa! I can understand you naman kaya. I can also speak a few words..." I defended.
"Yes, anak, pero hindi sapat iyon. Paano kung pumasok ka na? Paano kung ang mga bata roon ay hindi gaanong maalam sa ingles? Edi mahihirapan ka pang makipagkaibigan, 'di ba," my Father said, wanting so bad for me to understand.
Sa mga panahong iyon, napakahirap pang intindihin ang mga sinasabi ng aking ama dahil sa isip ng batang ako, who will not befriend me? I'm kind and friendly. I have many friends in our neighborhood, and we understand each other because we talk the same language, so I'm confident that I can make friends. Little did I know that there is really a barrier in terms of communucation.
School year of grade one starts, I walked confidently, greeting the people I see as my Mother and I walk to my homeroom.
"Good luck on your first day, Gabana! Make friends, okay?" I remember what my Mom said when we reached our room. I giddily nodded then bid my goodbye to her.
As soon as I enter the room, I greeted my classmates with a smile. I went to a vacant chair, put down my bag, and joined the group of girls at the back.
"Hi! I'm Gabana, you are?" I greeted with a friendly smile. Isa-isa rin silang nagpakilala pero medyo nalimot ko ang pangalan nila pero sa isip ko matagal pa naman ang time para kilalanin pa sila.
"Thank you for not ignoring me. I want to be friends with you," I said.
"Ay, English spokening!"
"Mano-nose bleed tayo rito..."
"Naku, Inglesera, mayaman, baka mabash lang tayo..."
My smile slowly faded as I understand what they were saying. "No, no! I can totally understand you. I just can't really speak in Tagalog fluently, pero may alam naman ako," I said pero tabingi na ang ngiti ko dahil sa nangyayari ngayon. It looks like my first try making friends with them is failed. But there are still many chances to befriend them, right?
"Naku, uhm... Gabana, sorry, we can't really ano, speak and talk in English... Baka 'di lang tayo magkaintindihan. Sige, balik na kami," I watched them take their seats and I saw one who whispered something to her seatmate and they both looked at me. I smiled at them but they instantly turn away.
