* 2 years ago *
Time check: 1:30 A.M.
"Dad, why are you packing up?" I asked my dad, rubbing my eyes, once I got up from all of the noise they were making. Although it was obvious they were packing up because we were going to move out, I still asked why. Wala namang mawawala, diba? I mean- para sigurado din ako na mag-momove out nga talaga. . before I freak out. Kidding aside.
"Ah, buti nagising ka na 'nak," sabi niya while facing me habang nakayuko pa rin siya dahil hindi pa siya tapos mag-impake para sa bunso kong 'kapatid', "I was just about to wake you up. Pack your things, we're moving out of this home." dagdag niya pa.
"But dad," I said, refraining from rubbing my eyes and standing up straight, eyes still half-closed, "Saan naman tayo pupunta? Pang-ilang beses na nating magmove ng tinitirhan. Ano ba tayo, nomads?"
He chuckled softly, I guess he didn't realize na seryoso ako sa sinasabi ko, "Masyado pang maaga para maging sarcastic, young lady. Hindi tayo nomads, we're not in the stone age anymore. Your mother-" I cut him off.
"No, not 'your mother.' She's not my mom, nor is she my brother's mom. Zea's her only daughter in this-"
"Oo na, point taken," he rolled his eyes, "Anyway, ayun nga, we decided na magmove since we heard of this city na puno daw ng 'adventure' and we just wanted to try it out."
"Psh," I scoffed and rolled my eyes, crossing both of my arms, "And ano namang mapapala natin sa 'adventure' na sinasabi niyo dyan, dad? Wala naman ah." sabi ko, kasi totoo naman e. Pinapahamak lang nila kami, what the f-ck. "Besides, nandito trabaho niyo, nandito school namin ni kuya Yves at ni Zea. Why do we have to effin' move?"
"Xyri, you won't understand. Me and your. . ." he trailed off, seeing the look that told him I didn't want to hear him address my stepmother as my own mom, ". .stepmom and I don't really have many years in our lives left on this world. Sabi nga nila diba, life may begin at 40 but the fun really starts at 50. Pagbigyan mo na kami, please?"
"Fine, whatever." As if I had another choice. They'd win over any conversation even if they're wrong, anyway. "Ano bang city 'yang sinasabi mo, dad?"
A smile that I didn't like crept up on his face, "Error City. Pack your bags. Now. We'll leave in an hour."
━━━
"Kids, wake up. We're here." Natulog lang ako buong trip, it took almost 5 long hours. Wala rin kasi akong balak na maging gising the whole trip. Last time that we had a long trip, bangayan lang ang naging result. I wouldn't waste time arguing with them this time, sayang oras. Ako lang din naman ang talo.
We got out of the car to unpack our things. Ayoko muna pansinin 'yung surroundings ngayon, I'm not really in the mood. After unpacking, I looked at our new house. It's not the same like the one we had before, I felt anger rushing through my veins but I don't really know the reason why. I felt someone's hand on my shoulder. I turned around to look whose hand it was. It was my brother's.
"Alam ko, ayaw mo dito. I overheard your conversation with dad earlier." sabi niya, agad naman akong napa-buntong hininga. "If anything, si Zea din may gusto nito. It's a 3 out of 5, hindi rin tayo mananalo sa sarili nating tatay dahil mas mahal pa rin niya 'yung kabit niya at 'yung anak nila. Let's face it, Xyri. Malaki na rin naman na tayo. Pagbigyan na natin si dad, ilang taon na rin naman na sila. Pagpasensyahan mo na lang."
"But I can't let that happen, Yves. Not that hindi pa naman tayo sure na safe dito. Tingnan mo nga oh, the name of the city itself suggests na hindi tayo safe dito. Hindi ako mapakali, I know death would be final when it comes. Yves, think about it. Do you want to die early?"
"No, who the hell would even want that Xyri? But I'm not afraid of death. Oo, death is final when it comes. But Xyri, things happen for a reason. Like 'yung kamatayan ni lola. Siguro kung hindi siya namatay, hindi magsisipag 'yung babaeng 'yon." He laughed. He noticed na naka-simangot pa rin ako, "Joke lang, Xy. Alam ko kung gaano kaimportante sa'yo si lola. Just- 'yun. Hayaan mo na lang. Go with the flow. Hindi naman masamang i-try 'yung gusto nina dad." After saying that, he removed his hand from my shoulder then left to help in moving stuff.
I couldn't laugh because nothing was funny, kailan lang naman namatay si lola kaya hindi pa ako fully recovered d'on. At ayoko talaga ng idea ng ganito, malakas ang kutob ko na hindi kami safe sa siyudad na 'to.
━━━
R.I.P
Yves Kazuhiko Esquivel
4.17.1992 - 12.22.2014
I sighed. Mabasa ko lang talaga ulit pangalan ni kuya, nalulungkot ako. I remembered everything he said when we first moved to this city. "Sabi kasi sa'yo, hindi tayo safe dito. Tamo, of all people, ikaw pa napatay ng mutant na iyon. Ayaw niyo kasi maniwala sa'kin. Lagi niyong iniisip na sarili ko lang din kasi iniisip ko. Oo na, I'm selfish. But alam niyo kung bakit? Kasi ayokong mawala kayo sa'kin. Kahit stepmom at stepsister ko lang sina Zea. You're all that I have left in the world, why would I want to lose you all?" I felt tears were about to fall from my eyes. No, hindi pwede. I have to be strong. Kailangan kong tanggapin na wala na kayo ni lola sa buhay ko. Kailangan kong tanggapin na nawalan ako ng kaisa-isa kong kasundo sa lahat ng bagay.
I left the bouquet of flowers there, stood up, and fixed myself. The question that bothered me years ago still bothers me up to now: What other mysteries does this city hold for a girl like me?
BINABASA MO ANG
ミヤコの弾丸。
Random{ EERW3 } ; This is where my life is laid out on a day-to-day (?) basis.
