KABANATA 2
"Ilang beses ko na bang kailangang sabihin sa'yo na wala kang mapapala sa pagsasayaw na iyan?"
Papa stood up from his swivel chair as he looked at me with his downturned eyes that I couldn't even tell what he was feeling. But based on his lips, set in a grim line, I could tell he was serious.
I secretly rolled my eyes. He was at it again, showing how he despised my chosen career.
"May audition pa ako sa Saint Petersburg, Papa," were the fewest words I could say, knowing that he wouldn't really open his ears for any answers from me. We'd been discussing this too many times. I didn't give much effort defending myself anymore.
His face reddened, handa nang bumuga ng apoy.
"When will you ever take education seriously, Francess Reverie!?"
"I am indeed taking it seriously! And it's ballet that I want! I learned my skills from it. I go through all the blood, sweat and tears involved in it! It challenges me every single day! So it is indeed a part of education!"
Nakita ko kung paano umusok ang kanyang ilong. Nanginginig ang kamay niyang itinuro ang pintuan.
"That's it. You're not going back to Albany anymore. Dito ka mag-aaral at wala na akong iba pang gustong marinig mula sa'yo. Now turn around and go to your room. Huwag ka nang magtangka pa na bumalik pa doon dahil na sa akin ang passport mo."
Tuluyan nang nanghina ang aking katawan. My brave stance slowly weakened. Wala nang ibang salita ang gustong lumabas mula sa aking bibig. Padabog kong isinara ang pintuan ng opisina ni Papa at dumiretso na sa kwarto ko.
Kaagad akong umupo sa harap ng aking vanity mirror. Nang makita ang papatak na luha ay agresibo ko iyong pinunasan.
Litaw na litaw ang kulay kape kong mga mata na halos magmukha nang dilaw. Namumutla ang aking balat, kung hindi lang kulay rosas ang mga labi ko'y nagmukha na akong multo. Ang buhok kong kasing kulay ng aking mga mata'y nakalugay lamang.
"Thank you everyone for coming!"
Mula sa lakas ng speaker sa labas, rinig na rinig ang galak sa boses ni Papa.
Agad akong tumayo at isinarado ang pintuan ng balkonahe ng aking kwarto. Bakit pa kasi dito ginanap kung pwede namang sa isang hotel nalang.
Pagkasarado ko ay kasabay ng paghina ng boses kung kaya't hindi ko na ito masyado maintindihan. Bumalik ako sa dati kong upuan.
It has only been two years since my mother passed away. Hindi pa gaanong katagal. Pero bakit parang sobrang dali lang kay Papa na kalimutan ang lahat?
Did he even mourn my mother?
Tumayo ulit ako at binuksan ulit ang pintuan ng balcony. I watched him raise his glass slowly, making a toast to the guests and of course, to his fiancée.
Maya-maya pa ay isang batang babae ang inaalalayan ng isa sa aming mga kasambahay na lumapit sa kanila. She hugged my father's knees. And when he noticed the hug, he immediately carried her.
Oh. I just realized. That little girl is two years of age.
I laughed sarcastically.
It's just disgusting how he was able to impregnate another woman right after my mother's passing.
"Ba't ngayon ka lang?"
Mama's words, though hushed, woke me up. It was two in the morning and I was hugging my hypo tightly behind my bedroom door like it would save me from eavesdropping.
BINABASA MO ANG
Reverie (ON-HOLD)
FantasíaFrancess, an aspiring ballerina, has always been known to be an ambitious student. She has always been hungry for the spotlight- for the main character, but she was never given the chance to act as one. She assured herself that in two years' time, o...
