The Antiquity of Us (La Fortuna Series #2)

Kabanata 6

Kabanata 6

Beast

"How's Art school?" Dad's gentle yet firm voice hung in the thin air.

Isang malamig na ere ang bumalot sa atmospera ng dining room at sa pagitan naming lahat, ako ang pinakaapektado roon. It was one of the rare days that we were able to eat dinner altogether—Mommy, Daddy, Kiro, and me. The only thing is, it was also one of the rare days that I knew for certain that I would receive an intense amount of pressure about my life decisions.

Humugot ako ng malalim na paghinga bago nagsalita. "It's okay, Dad."

"Okay?" He arched a brow, his eyes filled with ridicule although he tried to conceal it.

Sinubo ko ang isang kutsarang kanin at ulam, sinsusubukang umaktong hindi ako kinakabahan kahit ang totoo'y kumakarera na sa kaba ang puso ko. Mommy cleared her throat in front of me. Like Dad, her gaze was concealing its dim and expectant glint as well.

"Yes. Okay lang naman po."

"And you're okay with being okay?" may halong isulto 'yon. "How are your projects going? Have they been graded? And if so, mataas ba ang nakuha mong marka?"

"They're... fine..."

"Fine!" Binitawan niya ang kubyertos niya upang ipalipad sa ere ang mga kamay niya. I braced myself for more verbal scoldings from him. "Hija, your first month in LFU is ending and as your parents, we deserve to know about your performance. Huwag mo naman kaming bigyan ng fine mo na 'yan. Fine won't get you to the top!"

Napalunok ako. If this was three years ago, I would've teared up already. This time though, I was immune to it, more so because I was harder on myself than they were. Hindi nila alam na hindi pa nila ako napapagalitan, napagalitan ko na ang sarili ko.

"I know that, Dad. Pero ginagawa ko naman po ang makakaya ko. It's just that, everyone's good at LFU—"

"Of course, they're good! Nasa pinakamagaling at pinakaprestihiyoso kang paaralan!"

He gave me a disappointed look and sighed. Habang tinitignan ko ang galit niyang mukha, mas naging malinaw sa mga mata ko kung gaano na siya katanda. May linya na ang gilid ng mga mata niya at ang noo niya'y meron din.

Hindi ko man gustong nagagalit siya dahil sa nanghihina niyang kalusugan, wala pa rin akong magawa. Especially when the topic was about my performance. Strikto na sila dati pa, pero nang mamatay si Yona, tila ba sa 'kin napunta lahat ng pressure na kaya nilang ibigay.

"I can't believe that you're using that reason to justify your lack of talent. At huwag mo ring itago ang mga nakukuha mong grado sa amin kasi may koneksyon kami ng Mommy mo sa mga propesor mo. We know that you had one of the lowest scores in your first project."

Natigilan ako, napakagat-labi, at napayuko na lang. Right. My first project—the one that I spent a lot of time with and the one that Atlas saw when we were at the Cadet Barracks. Puta, ang baba ng score ko do'n kahit ako ang isa sa pinaka-unang nagpasa.

"Hon," Mommy tried to calm him. "Don't be too hard on her. She's still exploring her style."

Binalingan siya nito. "Olivia, your daughter's already eighteen. We can't always treat her like a child. Ang mga kadete nga sa kampo'y palaging nasisigawan ngunit hindi naman sila napariwara. The scoldings make them brave and heartstrong!"

"I know. Pero huwag mo naman siyang pagalitan lalo na't nasa hapag tayo. Just give her some advices." Nilingon ako ni Mommy sa mapupungay na mga mata. She smiled. "Yona, baby, ano ba talagang nangyari?"