So Near, Yet so Far (COMPLETED)

6

042020

Chapter 6

Coleen looked at the mirror and was horrified of the bags under her eyes. She had been deprived of sleep the past two weeks.

Her appearance had never been an issue, but that day, she went to her mother for beauty tips and so so. Napatitig ito sa kanya sa taka. Mas inaalagaan pa raw kasi niya iyong mga computer kumpara sa sarili niya. Totoo naman dahil buwan-buwan ay mismong siya ang naglilinis ng mga ito.

"Anong meron, anak?" sabi nito saka may kinuha na card sa drawer.

"Mommy, people change," sabi lang niya.

"Gradually, yes," sabi nito, "pero ikaw kasi agad-agad, and it's out of your character. Mana ka sa daddy mo sa katigasan ng ulo. Puro kayo computer."

She shrugged. Kanya-kanya naman ang hilig ng tao. Hindi maiintindihan ng mommy niya at kuya niya dahil wala naman dito ang mga puso ng mga ito.

"Mommy, I can't tell you but consider them as answered prayers of yours."

"Support naman ako anak," sabi nito saka inabot sa kanya ang isang business card ng isang clinic. "It's just my curiosity, and-- overwhelmed that finally you starting to open up."

She forced a smile. "Mommy, sorry for being a disappointment."

Her mother was taken aback. "Who says I'm disappointed. Worried lang ako na puro ka lang computer. Baka hindi ka na makapag-asawa niyan."

It was her turn to raise a brow. "Mommy, twenty-two lang ako, please."

"I had your brother when I was nineteen," her mother said matter of factly.

"Well, that's too young!" Umiling-iling siya. "That's too early..."

Her mother looked at her with accusing eyes. "Ba't ganyan ka makatingin?"

Umiling ulit siya. "That's too early."

She did all the beauty regimen her mother taught her and went to a beauty clinic. More than the knowledge she gained about taking care of skin and all, she learned that talking to her mother was an odd, good experience and somewhat distressing. She should do it often.

Dumating iyong araw ng report niya kay Sir Saavedra. Prepared siya sa lahat. Surely, it was a rare chance to impress him. Hindi lang siya nagpaganda pati utak hinanda niya. She's even prepared to fire some smiles to complete the operation. 

She stood at the front with the first slide of her presentation on stand by when the person she's  waiting entered the room.

Her shoulders sank and all the confidence that making her chin up disappeared into thin air when an unfamiliar face showed up, announcing Sir Saavedra's unexpected absence for the day.

All along the presentation she wore a pissed look, delivering all what she studied lazily like her body had dried out of vitamins and minerals.

Pagkatapos walang nagtanong dahil para siyang kakain ng tao sa tingin niya. Even the possible debate and the extra research she had done went for nothing. Di man lang niya nailabas sa utak niya ang mga ideya na nagpa-realize sa kanya na matalino pala siya. She got excited for no reason at all. May papunta-punta pa siya sa clinic na nalalaman.

Sa dami ng araw ng raw na iyon pa umabsent si Sir Saavedra. Gusto niyang lagyan ng bug ang computer nito ng wala sa oras.

Sa sobrang bwisit niya ay di man lang niya tinapunan ng tingin ang guro ni isang beses. Kunwari ay isang hangin lang ito sa tuwing makakasalubong niya at kapag tinatawag naman siya ay hindi siya tumitingin sa mukha nito kundi sa bag ng laptop nito. Pati ang pagdadala ng mga quizzes at assignments nila sa table nito ay tinigil niya.

Nakuntento muna siya sa nag-iisang picture nito sa kanyang kuwarto.

---End of Chapter---

042420