The Audacious Pillars

Chapter 7: The Decision

It's been two weeks simula nung nag-debut ako. Finally! I'm 18.

Ito ang pinaka-aabangan ko pagkatapos ng debut ko. Ang pagtungtong sa legal age. And it only means one thing for me, makakapag-drive na ako!

I know how to drive naman na since nagpapaturo ako kay Mr. Gomez in my spare time. Dito lang naman kami nagpa-practice around the mansion and he said that I'm a fast learner kasi nakukuha ko na raw agad yung mga tinuturo niya and that made me confident.

I just need the formality dahil nga wala pa ako sa legal age to get my license, but now, I can finally have the time to bond with my car. Of course, with guidance pa rin ni Mr. Gomez dahil nga sa sabi ni Mom, my safety comes first at all times.

Nakabalik na nga pala ulit si Kuya sa America. I cried again nang umalis siya pati na rin si Mom. I know that Dad is also sad sa muling pag-alis ni Kuya but we can't do anything about it. Hindi na siya nagpahatid sa airport kasi baka raw lalo siyang hindi makaalis kapag nakita niya pa kami, and besides, kaunting tiis na lang daw ay uuwi na siya. Hindi raw namin mamamalayan ay nasa Pilipinas na ulit siya.

Hours before his flight, he tried to humor me and Mom. Siguro nafi-feel niya na malungkot na ulit kami sa pag-alis niya, kabaliktaran nung dumating ulit siya sa bahay last week. We got good laughs and when the time came, niyakap na lang namin siya and bid our goodbyes.

Being a doctor is his dream and if being apart with us ay ang kapalit 'nun, then we can't do anything about it. Sabi nga ni Kuya Preston, temporary sadness is better than a lifetime of what ifs. That's when I fully understood his decisions.

He's very decisive.

At sa bawat desisyon na ginagawa niya, he makes sure that it's worth it because if not, why bother 'di ba?

I know we'll see each other soon at hindi ko na lang mamamalayan ay doctor na siya.

The days passed by so quickly and so as the pressure kung saan ba talaga ako mag-aaral for college. After some deliberation, I settled in the decision na I'll be taking Biomedicine so that I can be like Kuya Preston. Ang saya siguro 'nun na pareho kaming nasa medical field. Sasabihin ko na lang siguro sa kanila over dinner.

As for the university, I'm still thinking kung saan. Kung hindi ba naman dahil kasi 'dun sa letter, I should have settled sa private universities here in the Philippines but every time na magaapply na ako for admission, napapaatras ako to consider that institution na nasa letter. Such a headache.

Dahil wala ako magawa, I decided to declutter my walk-in closet at maglinis na rin ng room ko. Although may mga kasambahay naman kami, marunong naman akong maglinis dahil ayaw kong pinapalinis sa kanila yung kwarto ko. It's my own personal space and I don't want anybody entering my room without my permission. I don't know. It's just that I'm not comfortable with it. Kahit sila Mom, Dad at Kuya Preston, every time they will enter my room, kakatok muna sila at magpapaalam.

After eternity ng paglilinis ay natapos na rin ako. Medyo matagal-tagal ko rin kasi 'tong hindi nalinis. Nang ma-satisfied na ako nagligpit na ako ng mga rugs na ginamit ko. Naligo na ako at bumaba. Dahil nga walang tao sa bahay ay pumunta na lang ako sa likod ng bahay namin wherein nandun yung small garden ni Mom at sa gitna ay isang malaking rectangular pool.

Kakaligo ko lang pero parang hinahatak ako ng tubig kaya naman I decided to swim. Wala rin naman akong ginagawa and now is the right time to practice my swimming skills na matagal-tagal ko na ring hindi napa-practice.

I just changed into a blue one-piece swimsuit and quickly dived in.

Ang sarap talaga sa feeling mag-swimming during summer. The cold water and the warmth of the sun are perfect.