My Life With You

Chapter One

Chapter One

My life turned upside down...

I knew that every once in a while, teenagers think that their life sucks. I am not one of them, but I think I am now. All I think after everything is that the world is wrong and we're not being treated fairly. Ofcourse. After what happened to my dear family, this is what I would think.

As I sat down on the plane flying towards Manila, I wished that, what if I spend my every free time talking and laughing with my family? Na sana kasama nalang nila ako nung umalis sila ng umagang iyon. Edi sana ay hindi ako nagdudusa ngayon. My life had been perfect but was a lot worse at this moment. I just wish that I woke up in this nightware. But who am I kidding?

I was placed in Tita Emma's custody. As I had no other realtives. Although I know how to handle myself, I still need someone who'll accompany me in everything because I'm still in college. Ang alam ko ay siya muna ang mamamahala sa negosyo ni mommy until I graduate.

I've never had the chance to meet her but that day. She is mom's bestfriend, they've grown up and attended school together. Napunta lang siya ng Manila dahil taga roon ang lalaking napangasawa niya.

Habang nasa eroplano ay pinipigalan ko ang sarili ko na humagulgol dahil sa ala-ala ng pamilya ko. Hindi ko talaga malaman ang dahilan why life seemed to be unfair to me. Hindi lang ako nawalan ng pamilya, I also flying away from my home with a woman I didn't even know.

It took us two hours bago makarating ng Maynila. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mayroon kay Tita Emma because she looked nervous.

"Is there anything wrong tita?" I asked.

Napalunok naman siya. "Charm, did I ever tell you that I had seven boys?"

Kumunot ang noo ko. I looked at her in disbelief. Is she kidding? Tita Emma had seven boys? How was I ever going to survive? Hindi ko pa man sila nakikita ay alam ko nang magiging disaster ito. I never had a boyfriend before, even flings. I am not accepting suitors ever since because I don't wanna dissapoint my family. Though I had guy friends, we're not that even close. Lahat ng kaibigan ko ay babae.

Nang naglanding ang eroplano ay hindi ako makagalaw. I cannot believe that I'm really in Manila now. Bumaba na kami ni Tita Emma sa eroplano at naghintay sa waiting shed ng NAIA. Hindi pa raw kasi dumarating ang asawa niya na susundo sa amin.

While waiting, I asked Tita Emma to tell me about her kids. Ngumiti naman siya at tumango.  I took out my notebook and ballpen while wiping away a few shed of tears.

"Ethan is 27, my oldest son. He's now an engineer and already engaged to his girlfriend. Si Owen naman ay 22, he's my nephew. He's still in his college years. While Calvin is 20, he's also my son. He also took up engineering in college and known as varsity player in basketball. My nephew, Carlos is 19. Taking Biology in college. Nathaniel is 17, he's in senior high school. Noah is 14, also my nephew and still in junior high school. Lastly, my youngest son, Isaiah is 10, still in elementary. I just hope that they will be good to you," she explained.

Later on, a man approachingly went to us. He's probably Tito Michael. Nang makalapit siya sa akin ay agaran niyang niyakap si Tita Emma. She cried on his shoulder, there was some deep dark part of me that didn't feel bad for her. Nawalan siya ng kaibigan, pero nawalan ako ng lahat, walang natira. Unlike her, I didn't have a shoulder to cry on because my entire family was gone. I wonder where my friends are, hindi ko na sila nakausap after ilibing nila daddy. Sila na nga lang ang mayroon ako ngunit nalayo pa ako sa kanila.

This deep, dark part of couldn't help but blame Tita Emma, though it's not exactly her fault. Hindi naman sana aalis ang pamilya ko ng umagang iyon kung hindi siya nagpasundo. Ipinilig ko naman ang aking ulo and clear my nasty thoughts, a sign of respect. She had only shown me kindness. Kung hindi sa kanya ay mag isa lang dapat ako ngayon. I'm still thankful for her though.

"Hindi sana mangyayari 'yon kung hindi dahil sa akin. Buhay pa sana sila," she mumbled. Her husband hugged her tighter. "It's no one's fault," he uttered.

Napatingin naman siya sa akin. "I'm sorry, Charmaine," aniya, nakalimutan na kasama nila ako. "This is your Tito Michael, my husband," she added.

He held his hand for me. Hindi ko alam kung tatanggapin ko ba iyon. Maybe, he didn't know how to greet me. Paano nga ba magpakilala sa isang taong nawalan ng buong pamilya? They didn't know my pain, that's why. But then, I shaked his hand. I couldn't help but tighten my grip. Maybe anticipating that their presence is so important right now. He smiled, assuring me that everything will be okay. There was something about him that told me that living with them isn't bad at all.

"Tara na, naghihintay na si Garry. Akin na ang mga gamit mo," aniya bago bitbitin ang mga maleta na dala ko.

Pumasok kami sa isang van, si Tito Michael sa front seat at kami ni Tita Emma sa likod. May driver naman na hula ko ay si Kuya Garry. I suddenly remember Mang Gardo and Aling Bebang, I wonder where they are now. Saan na kaya sila magtatrabaho?

I guess I am not the only one whose affected after the death of my family...

Pagkaupo ko pa lang ay ipinasak ko na ang aking airpods sa aking tenga. There was nothing better than a sad song to drown all your sorrows in. Nagusap pa sila about sa naging biyahe namin. Dahil sa kagustuhan na hindi sila marinig, I turned up the volume. As we drove away from the airport, I witness how Manila is so different from Davao City. Sobrang traffic dito at ang daming matataas na building, though madalas ko na itong makita sa balita ay iba pa rin kapag napuntahan mo talaga.

Habang palapit sa kanila, I became more depressed. Having a thought about how will I ever live here?

Finally after seemed like forever, huminto na kami sa isang gate. My jaw dropped. It is not a house, it is more like a mansion. May guard pa na nagbukas ng gate nang matamaan ang aming sinasakyan. Pagpasok ng sasakyan sa kanilang parking lot ay nakita ko pa ang iilang sasakyan na naroon.

Nilibot ko ang paningin ko. Hindi ko maiwasang humanga sa laki ng bahay nila. Sabagay, ilan ba naman ang nakatira dito. Masasabi ko man na malaki ang bahay namin sa Davao, walang wala ito sa laki ng bahay nila dito sa Maynila.

Tumikhim si Tita Emma kung kaya't nabalik ako sa reyalidad. "Feel at home, Charmaine. Mababait naman ang mga alaga ko pero ngayon lang kasi may babaeng makakasama nila sa iisang bahay maliban sa akin," aniya. I smiled at her, a not genuine one. Naramdaman niya naman na hindi pa ako kumportable na pagusapan iyon kaya natahimik na siya.

"You ready, Charmaine? You looked pale," Tito Michael said. Of course I looked pale! Sino ba naman ang hindi kung lumipad ka half way of your country kasama ang mga taong kailanman ay hindi mo nakilala dahil namatayan ka ng pamilya. Hindi lang 'yon, they had seven kids, all boys! I could already imagine my life into this situation.

"Charmaine," she called me. Nandoon siya sa gate na nasisiguro ko na papunta sa kanilang backyard. I followed her.

At first, she was all I see. Standing on a pool deck. But then I also saw them in the water. They were blissfully floating and splashing around — completely shirtless, seven admirable boys.