Soledad

Kabanata 1

New York City.

FALL would always be Solea's favorite among all the seasons. The first experience of fall in San Francisco weeks after arriving left a deep irreplaceable impression on her young heart. It was like rain, only with dozens of yellow to orange colored leaves falling on her that was an enchanting sense of an experience being immerse to the nature's natural beauty.

Kasalukuyan siyang nasa Central Park kasama ang bunsong kapatid na si Saniah. It was early morning and the place kind of emit a tranquil romantic atmosphere and add to that the few people roaming around. Day-off niya ngayon at dahil bumisita ang kapatid sa kanya mula San Francisco ay nahila siya nito sa pamosong parke. If it was just like her ordinary day-offs, she would definitely spend it coop inside her apartment sleeping or watching Netflix shows.

Dalawang taon na rin magmula nang magpasya siyang lumipat sa New York mula San Francisco para sa kanyang trabaho bilang associate fashion designer sa isang luxury clothing line na ang main branch ay nasa siyudad. Her internship paved way on being absorbed by the company after her graduation. She had been working in the same company for seven years now. While her pay was really good and hefty, so was her work-related stress. Hindi biro ang kanyang trabaho upang makapag-produce nang mga disenyo nang mga damit na aayon sa panlasa nang kanyang boss at clientele. Sa dalawang taon na pananatili niya sa siyudad ay mabibilang lamang sa daliri ang pagpasyal niya sa Central Park.

These days, she admits, she had been lacking inspiration to come up with new trend setting designs for summer.

It was really a good thing that Saniah was with her. Kahit papaano ay na-relax ang utak niya sa tanawin nang mga dahon na nahuhulog mula sa mga puno. Isang linggo itong maglalagi sa siyudad dahil sa ilang appointment at photoshoot na gagawin nito.

"So, where do you plan to take me next?" Tanong ni Saniah na dahilan para mula sa mga naghuhulugang mga dahon ay mapalingon siya rito.

Saniah was five when they came to the US in 2001. Bagamat nakakausap naman nila ito at nakakaintindi nang salitang Tagalog ay kabaligtaran naman sa salitang Ilocano. It was impossible. Sa kanilang lahat ay ito ang mabilis na naka-adapt sa buhay sa America dahil marahil ay bata pa ito noon, habang ang kanyang mama naman ang pinakanahirapan sa pagbabago nang nakasanayan. Both her parents had a couple of odd jobs in order to make ends meet on their early years. Until her father got into car dealership, and the rest was history.

Full-time youtuber ang kapatid niya na may malaking bilang nang mga followers sa nasabing website. Saniah's content were more on travel vlogging and fashion. Kaya naman kung saan-saan ito napapadpad. Maboka rin ito at napaka-positive nang personalidad na siya rin marahil ang naging puhunan nito bilang youtuber. Saniah was for her, the epitome of freedom.

Their brother, Samuel, gave up his career on game development industry after five years of working and became a full time game streamer also on youtube. He, like their sister also had a huge following.

Saniah was urging her to become a youtuber also. Siya lamang ang umaayaw dahil dagdag alalahanin lamang iyon sa parte niya. Her work-life balance may go off balance, and that she did not want to happen.

The somewhat carefree lives of her siblings kind of ticks her off. Pero, wala naman siyang magawa dahil iyon ang mga nagpapasaya sa mga ito at kumikita rin kahit papaano. And she could see that her siblings are happily contented on how they live their lives.

Something that she realized then and again that she somewhat set aside on her part.

Her early school years had been tough. Lalo na at nasanay na siya sa wikang Tagalog at Ilocano na siyang pangunahing ginagamit niyang salita. It was awkward making friends as she was not fluent with the English language. Mabuti na lang din at may ilang Pilipino siyang naging kaklase kaya kahit papaano ay nakapag-adjust siya.