The Last Dance

Chapter 6

"Six years and nothing has changed!" naiiling na komento ni Maggie habang nakatingin sa labas ng sasakyan. "Wala man lang pinagbago. In fact, lumala pa nga 'ata." Sinipat ni Maggie ang wristwatch niya. "Oh heck! We've been stuck here for almost 30 minutes! Gumagalaw pa ba tayo, Kuya?"

Natawa lang si Kuya Richmond. "Of course, we are! At saka anong ine-expect mo sa traffic sa Pilipinas, mawala na lang na parang milagro? It ain't Manila if there's no traffic."

Humugong siya at ipinaikot ang mga mata.

"Well, kung may nagbago man, ikaw 'yon. Naging mas reklamador at mas mabunganga ka, Margarette. Paano mo natagalan 'tong mala-armalite na bunga nga ni Maggiepot, Arthur?" Sinulyapan ng kuya niya si Arthur na nasa backseat na noon ay tahimik na kinakalikot ang cellphone nito.

Ngumisi si Arthur. "Easy," umpisa nito bago nag-angat ng tingin. "I use earmuffs," natatawang patuloy nito. Pumutok ang tawanan sa loob ng sasakyan.

Nilingon niya ang magaling na lalaki at inirapan. "You're joke is definitely not working. I am annoyed as hell, Arthur," aniya bago muling itinutok ang mga mata sa daan.

"Relax, Maggie. Pinapagaan ko lang pakiramdam mo. I know this trip is--"

"This trip messed up my schedule for the final quarter of the year. No more, no less!" galit na putol niya kay Arthur. Bumaling siya sa kapatid. "At kasalanan mo 'yon, Kuya!"

"Oh, ba't ako na naman sinisisi mo? Ako ba ang magpapa-party? Si Daddy naman ah," depensa ni Kuya Richmond.

Umirap siya dahil tama ang sinabi ng kuya niya. She's clearly just frustrated that's why she's doing the blame-game. "Why are they making a big deal out of this retirement send off whatchamacallit program? Seriously, why throw a party when you can use the money for... I don't know... maybe a plane ticket to New York!"

Hindi sumagot ang kuya niya bagkus ay pinakatitigan lang siya. Parang nananatya at may binabasa sa mga mata niya. Marahan itong umiling bago ibinalik nito ang tingin sa kalsada at walang imik na muling pinausad ang saksakyan.

Pagod na sumandal sa passenger's seat si Maggie. Aminin man niya o hindi, hanggang ngayon na nasa sasakyan na siya pauwi sa bahay nila, hindi pa rin talaga siya sigurado kung tama ang desisyon niyang pagbigyan ang Daddy niya na umuwi siya para sa retirement at farewell party nito sa kumpanyang pinagsilbihan nito ng 35 years. Ilang linggo rin siyang sinuyo ng Daddy at Mommy niya na umuwi. Noong una ayaw niya at marami siyang idinahilan. But when her parents questioned her love for them, doon na siya bumigay. Well, hindi naman agad-agad. She knocked her senses off with a couple of bottles of vodka before she made the most insane decision she had ever made for the past six years and that is to go home.

Home. She blinked at the thought and looked outside the window. May pamilyar na pagkabog sa dibdib niya na hindi niya alam, matapos ang ilang kasong hinawakan niya abroad, ay puwede pa rin pala niyang maramdaman.

Well, it can't be helped. For her, home equates to sadness, disappointments and stupidity.

Stupidity. Lihim siyang napailing nang dumaan sa isip niya ang isang eksenang para sa kanya ay sukdulan ng katangahan.

Mahigit kalahating dekada na siyang wala sa Pilipinas. After she passed the CPA Board Exam six years ago, Atty. Maribel Avanzado, her and Arthur's mentor, recommended both of them for an opportunity to work and study at Yale University. At first she wasn't sure. Her mother was against it. But her Father and brother were both pushing her to grab for what they say a once in a lifetime opportunity. After weeks of indecision she finally took it, learned the ropes of the trade and the rest as they say is history. She's now a successful corporate lawyer based in New York under Kirkland & Ellis, one of the most prestigious law firms in the world.