Don't Go

002

"How's school?" daddy asked while we were eating in the dining room.

"It's fine naman po," I answered before I continue eating my chicken egg sandwich.

"Ate, madami ka na ba agad friends?" Paris asks that made me remember someone.

Naalala ko na naman tuloy si Lay.

"Wala pang masyado."

Tumango ang aking kapatid. "Sabagay. You were always with Kit kaya hindi ka masyadong nakikipag-usap sa others." She looked at me with her eyes twinkling. "Kumusta na siya, ate?"

I chuckled at her. "He's doing fine, as always."

Ever since ay may gusto na talaga siya kay Kit. Ni hindi niya nga gustong tinatawag ito ng kuya. Hindi naman mahiyain ang kapatid ko pero kapag nandito si Kit sa bahay ay tinatamaan din pala siya ng hiya.

Hindi ko alam kung nahahalata ni Kit ang pagkakaguusto sa kanya ng kapatid ko. Maybe he does, maybe he does not. Hindi rin naman namin madalas mapag-usapan ang kapatid ko.

"Oh. Did he take the same course with you, Venice?" daddy asked.

I smiled at him. "Yes, po."

I appreciate daddy's effort because he often asks about my whereabouts. At least I know that he truly cares for me. Siya rin ang madalas magbigay sa akin ng regalo kahit wala naman okasyon. Well, alam ko naman na he's a busy man because being a doctor is a tiring job. Kahit day-off minsan ay nagpupunta siya sa hospital kapag emergency. Kaya hindi naman na ako nag-de-demand ng time galing sa kanya.

I glanced at my mother who was silently eating her breakfast. Ganito siya kapag nasa akin ang topic. She never dared to say even a single word. Minsan nga naiisip ko na wala siyang pakialam sa akin. Pero bakit naman?

I am her daughter, there's no doubt about that. I look exactly her replica. People say, I am the little version of her. Mas kamukha ko siya kaysa kay Paris because Paris almost got her features from our father.

Lagi ko na lang iniisip that a mother always love her daughter so dearly. There's no need to worry. She loves me, hindi niya lang madalas maipakita.

Once, we finished eating. We continue doing our rituals before we left.

Pagkadating ko sa room ay agad akong nagtungo sa aking upuan.

"Hey, Ven. Nakapag-aral ka ba?" tanong ni Kit bago umiling. "Oh silly me. Lagi ka naman palang advance mag-aral."

Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata. "Bakit?"

"Narinig ko kasi na mahilig daw magbigay ng pre-quiz si ma'am Avila."

Tinanguan ko naman siya. Well, at least it will require all of us to study in advance on our lessons. Dapat naman talaga ganoon ang kailangan gawin. A good study habit is a must if someone wanted to finish this course.

Maya-maya pa ay naramdaman ko nang may umupo sa tabi ko. It may be Lay. Agad ko siyang tiningnan.

I debated on how I can pass the message to him. Kung huwag na lang kaya. Pero kawawa naman siya kung hindi niya alam. May fifteen minutes pa naman upang magbasa kung hindi siya nakapag-aral.

He looked at me with brows furrowed. "Why, miss Fortaleza?"

Happiness is evident on my face.

Hindi kaya naalala niya na ako?

"Kilala mo na ako?" I asked him and I know that joy in it is not hidden.

"Yes? May narinig akong professor na tinawag ka ng ganoon kahapon."