I'll be Home [On Going]

Chapter 40

Nana came in to Hope's room and she saw her facing her laptop. "Ano yan 'nak? Enrollment?" she asked, as she can see the site per Hope was their school portal. Hope glanced at her and removed the earphone from her left ear so she can clearly hear her speak.

"Opo, back to school na naman po in two weeks." she sighed after saying that and leaned her back against the chair. "Ang bilis ng summer break!" she added, that's just their term since most schools in the Philippines ends in April and they don't, sounds displeased as though there is no plenty time for her to enjoy the remaining days of her vacation. Nana looked at her sideways, "Parang ayaw mo pa bumalik ah, eh last last month lang ayaw mo mag-summer? Gusto mo diretso na ng August!" she commented and laughed and so is Hope. Indeed, she said that right the day before her art class started, that was when Lea came in the picture.

She really does want summer to pass so fast when she learned that Lea would be staying with them. Time seemed to pass quickly, not that she's enjoying, more like a whirlwind for her after her art class and the event planning at the orphanage within two months now that Lea is just around the corner. And she doesn't feel fulfilled yet.

"Nanghihinayang lang po kasi ako, sa sobrang bilis ng term break I felt like  I haven't done so much yet. One minute I'm excited for the activities I am about to indulge myself into, next thing I know it's done and here I am, doing nothing." she ranted. 

Nana sat beside her on the bed looking at her laptop then to her. "Natapos mo ang art class mo di ba? Nakapagpasaya kayo sa annual party para sa mga bata. Tapos nakapag general cleaning ka din ng kwarto mo... Little things are counted Hope. Ano pa bang gusto mong gawin o mangyari ngayong bakasyon? Eh kung tutuusin dapat ay nagpapahinga at nag-eenjoy ka ngayong bakasyon. Aba di biro ang ka-busy-han mo naman kapag may pasok na! Halos di kana makalabas dito sa kwarto mo, late ka na nakakatulog, eh di na rin kayo magkita ng daddy mo... Isa pa yun, sobrang busy." Hope went silent for a moment. That's true, both her and her father are busy during school and work days. Well atleast she has the weekends unlike her father, he barely has a day with her. And that's what she hates about this family of hers. "Eh kung yayain mo kaya ang daddy mo mag-outing? Naku yung mga ibang teenager nga dyan eh kung saan saan nakakarating kasama mga barkada eh... Di ko sinasabing gayahin mo sila, ang akin lang i-enjoy mo... Ano? Gusto mo labas tayo? Ano pa gusto mong gawin?" Nana even added with all smile. Hope wanted to laugh with her long response. She wasn't expecting that. Suddenly, Nana has made up her mind and suggested this thing to her. She wondered now if Nana was doing such thing with her children during her rest days especially during summer.

"Ganon din po ba ginagawa nyo nina Joy?" she asked curiously referring to Nana's youngest daughter.

Nana stopped and pursed her lips in thin smile "Hmm..." she just hummed while nodding. Nana then thought, she might be over suggesting things that Hope might feel lonely. Yes, she saw her went for an out of town trip with some of her family's friends and even out of the country trip with Aga. But most of those are due to some occasions that were really something to be celebrated for. Summer usually takes a family in a place to relax and bond since obviously it's vacation and students were out of school to rest, not really for particular occasion.

Hope on the other hand thought of Lea. There is no improvement between them. Not even a bit. Since the day she came here, they would act as if there's nothing that needs to be talked about.

But didn't she ask you for it and you said you're not ready? Stupid!

For a second, she thought that it might be that thing she's been looking for the whole time, this summer. And she just keep on dismissing the idea to satisfy her anger and loath towards her.

She wanted answers yet she doesn't want her around. She wanted peace yet she's shielding herself from her.

Warm hand of Nana got her back from her reverie. "Ayos ka lang? Natahimik ka?" she asked. She just smiled at her.