Breathe Underneath

Kabanata 18

It feels heavy to wake up the next morning. Nagising nalang ako sa kama mag-isa at may nakatalukob na comforter sa katawan ko.

Masakit ang ulo ko and I feel heavy na tila lalagnatin pa ako, nilibot ko ang tingin sa kwarto namin ni Vernon, pansin kong wala siya at ang kanyang gamit. Maybe he left early.

Umupo ako sa kinahihigaan ko at sumandal sa headboard ng kama habang hawak ang ulo ko.

Kinuha ko ang phone ko sa side table at binuksan iyon. There are lots of message from my office colleagues, I also forgot to check that I told Lara to send me.

Bigla kong naalala na may trabaho ako, I look at the wall clock and I am two hour late! I am ready to get up when my phone rang.

I hesistately took the call because it's an unknown number, "Hello? Who's this?" I asked.

"[Ma'am! This is Lara po. Don't bother to go today po sabi ni Ms. April, nagemail po sa management ang DAGC na may sakit raw po kayo.]"

Tumango-tango nalang ako na parang nasa harap ko lang si Lara. "Sige, salamat. Please forward me the remaining designs and also I need the full photos of new summer set na phinotoshoot kahapon, I need it edited by 3pm."

"[Sure, Ma'am! Ingat po!]"

And after that I ended the call. Tumayo na ako sa kama at binun ang buhok tsaka ako pumasok sa banyo. I did a wash and brush.

Kinuha ko ang laptop ko at lumabas sa kwarto when I saw Nice who just got up and kakalabas lang ng kwarto niya.

Her eyes widened when she saw me. Ready to explain herself why she didn't go to school today.

Akma siyang magsasalita, "Let's eat first." I said.

Bumaba kami sabay and Manang Grace already cooked bacons, eggs, and fried rice for us kaya ako nalang ang naghain.

Nice sats on a vacant chair, mukha siyang pusa na tulala at bangang sa itsura niya, nakanganga pa at tila kulang sa tulog.

Hindi niya rin napansin ang paglagay ko ng pagkain sa plato niya.

Umupo na ako at gumawa ng kaluskos ang upuan sa pagkahila ko para bumalik siya sa ulirat.

"So..." I look at her who sips on her warm milk, "Why did you took an absent today?"

Napapikit siya ng mariin at kumain bago nagsalita, "Pagod ako, Ma. Napakadaming gawain sa school—"

"Madami palang gagawin doon, e bakit ka nandito? You supposedly helping your classmates with it, Racene."

When she heard me say her first name she immediately look down. I'm not angry but I can't tolerate their tardiness.

Kumain kami ng payapa when I remember Uno. Joke iyon ng joke kagabi for me to forgot his guidance parent's summon.

Uminom ako ng tubig before I speak, "'Nak, do you have idea on your brother's case? The school are summoning us there." I said as I open my laptop.

"Ewan ko po. But he said that he just protect himself because his classmate annoys him last prelims." She even shrugged.

Napairap ako sa ere. She said ewan but she has an idea naman pala.

I made her do the dishes since she's getting older and she should at least know how to do chores, hindi puro asa kay Manang na nagdidilig ngayon sa labas.

I am left in the dine in with my laptop on. I opened my email there and I check the mails that was sent yesterday. Inuna ko ang Cebu Project, iniscan ko iyon and I made a lot of readings.