Chasing The Sun

Chapter Three: Trouble

#CTSTrouble

I am not the friendly type and far from the social butterfly my mother wanted me to be.

"Baka mabaliw ang anak mo, Von. She's been in your library for hours! Kung hindi ko pa tatawagin para kumain ay hindi siya bababa. Kasalanan mo 'to!"

Papa only chuckled as I saw him pour some wine in their glasses. Nasa balcony sila ngayon samantalang nasa likod ako ng isa sa mga naglalakihang bookshelves para ibalik ang mga librong hiniram ko kaninang umaga.

They probably didn't notice me. I mean, with my height?

"Let her be. Ganyan din naman ako noon—"

Sa sinabi ni Papa ay lalong naggalaiti si Mama. "Exactly! Kung hindi lang kita kinulit noon ay hindi ka aalis sa lungga mo."

I smiled a little at sinulyapan sila mula sa malaking awang ng mga libro. Papa hugged Mama from behind, their figures being overshadowed by the swaying curtains. "It's okay, Andrea. Don't worry. We'll let her out from her cocoon."

That's just one of the days I hear them talking outside the library. Akala ata nila hindi ko naririnig. Ugh. But this is for them! Sa sipag kong magbasa, I ace my tests! I'm always number one.

And that's why Mama insisted that I should be enrolled in a ballet class every summer. Nung first time ko, sa Makati ako in-enroll. The following summers, sa LBSD na sa Katipunan. Just near Ateneo.

Last year, nag-request ako na Music and Art class naman ako ng summer. Kaya lang, mas naging aloof daw ako. I mean, that field requires extensive concentration. How can you work with rhythm and creativity if you're babbling with people there?

"Mama, can I skip ballet today?"

Mama sighed and put down her cup of tea. Si Papa naman ay sumilip mula sa newspaper na binabasa niya. Two weeks after our moving up ceremony, in-enroll ako ni Mama. Two weeks na kasi akong nagbabasa lang o kaya naman nagpe-paint sa office ni Papa. I don't know why it bothers Mama so much.

"Darling, no. Ayaw mo ba roon? Do people bother you there?" As usual, nag-aalala na naman si Mama.

I looked down on my plate. I spread the margarine on my pancake and sliced a portion of it before munching.

"Wala naman po." Lie. "I just don't feel like it. Can we just travel instead? Visit the libraries? Or go to the museums?"

Hindi naman sa binu-bully ako. I'm just not fond of making friends. Hindi ko nga masyado nakakausap mga kaklase ko. Yes, I'm a loner but not the outcast type. As if I care. Since I ace at everything, the profs and our ballet instructor often praise me. Three weeks na ako roon but I still haven't made any friends.

I only ended up getting hated because Miss Angel and most of my "classmates" there praised me. Nakarinig ako ng usual words na natatanggap ko.

Show-off.
Pabida.
Brat.
Sipsip.

Ugh. Is it my fault that I excel at things?

Why would I feel sorry for something I'm good at? For something I worked hard for? Especially now that I'm one of the selected dancers to be screened for the Swan part. It's for our recital. Three weeks from now na iyon.

"I just want you to make friends, anak. Besides, why are you going to skip today? It's your final screening! Your instructor's set her eyes on you. For sure ikaw ang mapipili. You're a Clemente!"

Tuluyan nang binaba ni Papa ang newspaper niya. He smiled at me. "Do it, sweetie. Make us proud."

Palaging iyon ang sinasabi ni Papa. Oo, daddy's girl ako. Kaya kapag ganyan na ang sinasabi ni Papa, napapa-oo na lang ako. I want to make him proud!