Almost Perfect

PROLOGUE

(Finally! Babalik ka na dito sa Pilipinas!!!) Janine blunt out.

"Yes, finally. After a long long years of staying here." I said and let out a sigh. Janine was my bestfriend for almost fifteen years. Nag uusap kami ngayon gamit ang video call. She's in Philippines and I'm here in New York for almost five years.

(I really miss you. Ba't mo pala naisipang bumalik dito? Is it for good? Or Is it for work?) she said and gave me a questioning look.

"It is for vacation. Im just gonna finish my work in here and I will take a break in there. Maybe I will stay there for three to four months, It depends." I smiled at her and pick some potato chips and put it on my mouth.

(Really? For just four months? Why not stay here for a year?) she rolled her eyes.

"I can't, you know my life is here." I said a little bit sad.

(But you were born in here! Duh!) she said the matter of fact.

"You're right but my work is in here. Pag natapos na yung bahay na pinapatayo ko diyan sa isla, dadalas ang bakasyon ko diyan sa Pilipinas." I said while chewing.

(Yeah you better comeback in here.)

"Anyway, bago tayo mag bonding diyan sa Manila, pupunta muna ako sa isla namin. Kina Lola, tapos titignan ko rin doon ang bahay na pinapatayo ko. So maybe, two months muna ako doon sa isla tapos the remaining months, sa Manila na 'ko. So, saka palang tayo pwedeng mag kita or what." I explained. Kelangan ko kasing mag bisita kay Lola doon at kelangan ko ring tingnan kung may progress na yung bahay na pinapatayo ko.

(What? So you mean, kunting oras lang yung bonding time natin? Sa tagal tagal nating hindi pagkikita?!) ngayon, ako naman ang napairap.

"Anong tagal? Nagkita palang tayo last last month! Noong nag bakasyon ka dito! Tsk." I hissed.

(Last last month lang ba yon? Sorry, I thought It was already a year.) maarteng sabi niya. I checked my phone and its already time for my new errand.

"Janine I'm sorry, I need to go now." I said with apologetic eyes.

(Yeah right. Good bye.)

"Bye. See you soon~." I waved at her and she waved back. Pinatay ko na ang laptop at nag madaling lumabas ng bahay.

I need to finish some works of mine para mas mapadali ang pag lipad kong Pilipinas. Anyway, Im a fashion designer in here, I design and make a lots of clothes. Dito mas kumikita at mas kilala ang mga damit na ginagawa ko kesa sa Pilipinas kaya, dito talaga ang kabuhayan ko.

My Mom and Dad are divorced, they have their own family now. My Mom is a Filipina and my Dad is an American. Tumatawag naman sila sakin minsan through cellphone.

My Mom is in Philippines with her family and my Dad is in America with his family too. Hindi ko lang alam kung nag uusap pa ba si Dad and Mom but I guess, not.

Oo, may hinanakit pa rin ako sa mga magulang ko pero ano pa nga ba ang magagawa ko? Matagal na panahon na 'yon. Bata pa ako ng mag desisyon silang mag divorce.

"Hey Winter." lumingon ako sa tumawag sakin. Im here in my work place, in my office to be exact.

"Yes? Thea?"

"Here are some of my designs, can you please look at it?" inabot niya yung sketch pad nya at mabilis ko na ni-scan. Her designs are beautiful. Thea is my workmate and she is a new one.

"Yeah Its beautiful. You really learn fast eh? You can pass it to Mr. Martinez and let him know how good you are." I said and hand her sketch pad.

"Really? Thanks." I nod at her and she said goodbye to me first before heading out.

-----

"Hey Mom." I greet her. Yayakapin niya sana ako pero umiwas ako. Ngumiti nalang siya ng tipid.

"How are you? You tired?" she ask, I nod at her. Lumipat ang tingin ko kay Tito which is my Step Father na nasa tabi ni Mom. Tipid lang akong ngumiti sa kaniya.

"You can rest first, kami na ang mag papadala ng mga gamit mo sa kwarto mo." he said, tumango ako at umakyat na sa hagdan. Agad akong nahiga sa kama.

I'm here in Manila, in the house of my Mom and her family. I tried to be cool with my Mom's family and same goes for my Dad, I can still feel na tinuturing rin nila akong anak pero hindi gaya ng pag trato nila sa mga step-siblings ko.

Bukas yung byahe ko papuntang isla. Dito muna ako dumeretso para iwan ang ilang gamit ko. Sa Licuas Island ako halos lumaki, nadoon ang Grandmother ko -from Daddy's side- halos siya yung nag alaga sakin noong panahong nag divorce ang parents ko. Maybe I was ten that time tapos doon ko rin nakilala si Janine. Nag babakasyon sila doon then, we became friends and look, up until now we are still friends.

"Tao po~" sigaw ko mula sa labas ng gate. Nakailang sigaw na rin ako. Wala kasing doorbell. Halos ganon parin naman yung bahay ni Lola mula dito sa labas, walang pinagbago.

"Ija, nandito ka na pala. Kanina ka pa ba dito?" tanong ni Manang Lany at agad na binuksan ang gate.

"Medyo po." sabi ko at nginitian siya. Agad akong pumasok ng nabuksan na niya yung gate. Ang init rin kasi dito.

"Ganoon ba? Pasensiya na, medyo di kasi rinig sa loob." sabi niya ni-lock na ulit yung gate.

"Okay lang po." sabi ko at pumasok na sa bahay. Malaki itong bahay ni Lola kaya lang sobrang luma na, pero maayos parin naman, may doorbell naman ito dati eh pero ngayon wala na, baka nasira or what.

"Lola!" agad akong nag madali sa pag  lalakad nang makita ko si Lola sa sofa.

"Apo! Finally you're here!" dahan dahan siyang tumayo at niyakap ako.

"I missed you."

"I miss you din apo. Bakit di mo sinabing ngayon ang dating mo?" tanong niya at iginaya ako para maupo.

"I want to surprise you." I giggled and look at the interior house. It doesn't really change even a bit.

"Lany! Mag handa ka na ng pagkain! Sigurado akong nagugutom na itong si Winter." utos nya kay Manang Lany. I smiled at my Lola. She's getting older. I guess she's in 73 or so, but she's still beautiful. She can walk just fine but not that fast. Matagal-tagal na rin ng huli akong naka bisita dito kay Lola. Wala siyang ibang kasama dito kundi si Manang Lany, siya nalang yung natitirang kasambahay namin dito.

"Pagod ka ba Winter? You want to check your room?"

"Later po. I just want to sit beside you right now." I said and lay my head in her shoulder. How I miss this.