No Matter

6

Hindi ako tumanggi sa trip na sinasabi nina Miss Amber pero walang nagsabi sa akin na kinabukasan na pala agad ang trip na iyon. Nagising na lang ako kaninang umaga sa phone call ni Marcus na sinasabing susunduin niya ako by 8 am. I immediately rushed myself into the bathroom and packed everything I thought I needed to bring.

Marcus offered to pick me up at my house but I insisted to meet him at the cafe. 15 minutes na lang bago mag-alas otso kaya tumayo na ako at kinuha ang lahat ng gamit. Chineck ko ang bahay at sinigurong walang maiiwan na bukas. Sinarado ko ang pinto at naghintay ng taxi. Marcus was already there when I got to the cafe. He really is punctual.

Maganda ata ang gising niya ngayong araw dahil sobrang light ng aurang ibinibigay niya habang nakangiting pinagmamasdan akong lumapit sa kaniya.

"Good morning! Excited na ako, yiee!"

Hindi mawala wala ang malawak niyang ngiti kahit sa pagsasalita kaya natawa ako. "Hindi ba nangangawit 'yang panga mo?"

"Nope! Not at all! Shall we go?"

Tumango ako sa kaniya at awtomatikong binitbit niya ang mga gamit ko habang naglalakad kami papunta sa sasakyan. "Kaya kong dalhin ang bagahe ko, Marcus."

"Sige na! Maganda ang mood ko ngayon kaya hayaan mo na ako!"

Napailing ako't ngingiti ngiti nang sumakay ako sa kotse. "Where's Miss Amber?"

"Tsk. Call her tita! Masyado kang pormal."

"Whatever. Where is she?"

"Nauna na roon, kasama ang team niya. Tayo na lang ang hinihintay."

"Oh."

It took us less than an hour to get to the airport. Business class!

When we were already on the airplane, I suddenly felt sleepy. Nagpuyat kasi ako kagabi pagkauwi galing sa dinner namin dahil bakasyon naman. Hindi kasi talaga sinabi ni Marcus na ngayon na pala ang pagpunta sa Siargao.

I wanted to take a nap for a few minutes but my mind won't let me. My thoughts were busy sailing together with the plane. The sky really has something which makes me calm every time I look at it.

But it did not last long when I suddenly remembered the last time I was on an airplane. Mapait akong napangiti habang pinagmamasdang salubungin ng eroplano ang mga magagaang ulap na sumasabay sa galaw ng hangin. I was occupied by my thoughts when I felt Marcus put something in my ear.

Music.

You can never go wrong with a soothing music when your mind is loaded with things. I looked at him and smiled as a sign of my gratitude. He did not say anything but he tapped his shoulders. Tumango ako bilang tugon at lumapit ng kaunti sa kaniya para maisandal ang ulo ko sa balikat niya. Pumikit ako at doon itinuloy ang pagiisip.

"Daddy, will mommy be okay?"

"Of course, sweetheart. She's your wonder woman, right?"

"But why is she not with us?"

"She had some things to take care of, anak. We'll wait for her after we get home, okay?"

I was still a little girl back then, and everyone expected I wouldn't understand a thing. But they were wrong and I kept it all inside because I did not want them to worry. I pretended to not know anything.

But no, I still remembered how the fate played around and let the cruelness manipulate my family. I still remember the scream of pain, and how every tear felt like a stab on my chest. That was the first time I realized how unfair life is. That was the first time I learned my whys and I still couldn't find the answers even after 8 years. It was that moment all the truths unfolded and I was finally able to see the bitter reality.