Between Odds [ON HOLD]

Chapter Four

Four

"Gaga ka talaga, binibiro lang naman kita tapos bigla kang nag walk-out! Affected much?" tawang-tawa na tugon ni Chelsea.

"Buwisit ka kasi! Kung anu-ano sinasabi mo!," bulyaw ko sakanya.

"Ouch Georgina Dale ha, my ears! Sige na nga, I have to hang up na. I'll do something pa e. Bye! Love you!" paalam naman niya.

Matapos nung pag walk out ko sa PubLib ay walang ibang ginawa si Chelsea kundi tawanan ako. Binibiro lang pala ako tapos ako naman tong si gaga na OA kung maka react. Nakatanggap pa ako ng text galing kay Rage, tinatanong kung anong nangyari sakin pero binalewala ko nalang.

Nag-aayos ako ng kama ng may kumatok sa pinto, binuksan ko naman iyon at bumungad si Ate Rose.

"Be, anjan na Papa niyo. Tinawag ko na si Koreen, pero ang sabi, saby nalang daw kayo bumaba. Mag-dinner na kayo."

"Sige ate, bababa na ako mamaya. Salamat po."

Bago ako bumaba ay sinundo ko muna si Koreen sa kuwarto niya. Magkahawak kamay naman kaming nagtungo sa dining area.

"Good evening Papa," sabay na sabi namin at humalik sa pisngi niya.

"Good evening, umupo na kayo at kakain na tayo," sabay ngiti niya. Mukhang good mood si Papa.

Habang kumakain kami ay kinamusta ni Papa ang pag-aaral naming dalawa. Hanggang sa napunta sa usapang boyfriend.

"Georgina, do you have a boyfriend?"

"I don't have, Pa."

"Well, you're doing great in your studies, at least, okay naman magkaroon ng special someone dahil nasa tamang edad ka na rin but then, I would love kung wala muna unless you already gained your license." paalala niya.

"Yes, Papa."

"What are your plans after your graduation?" Eto na, feel ko after nito hindi na good mood ulit si Papa.

"I'll take the board first and will proceed to Med School."

"That's fine. You must, so I can leave our hospital at your hands. What specialization do you want?," Eto na talaga.

"Obstetrician-Gynecologist Pa" kinakabahang tugon ko.

"What? Be a Cardiologist, better pa kung maging Surgeon ka. That would be great." he said. Sabi na nga ba, dito na naman mapupunta ang usapan namin. Hanep, jowa lang kanina tapos napunta na rito sa pangarap niya para sa akin.

"But Pa-" before I can explain, he already cut me off by talking to Koreen about random stuff.

What a life. I sighed.

After that delicious meal with heavy conversations, well, for me, Koreen and I went to our bedrooms.

Tiningnan ko naman ang oras at saktong 10:30 PM pa lang, maaga pa kaya napagdesisyunan ko namang aralin nalang ulit yung report namin.

I must do good tomorrow or else our grades will fail, I don't want to be a burden to my group. Nakakahiya lalo na sa effort ni Marco mag lead at mag explain ng ibang mga bagay na hindi namin masyadong maintindihan.

As usual ay alas dos na ng madaling araw ako natapos. Ganito lagi ang routine ko kasi 9 naman madals ang pasok ko, Monday at Friday lang ang may 7 AM class scheule.

After I reviewed, I fixed my things and dove to my bed. Of course, sisilipin ko muna ang social media accounts ko, lalo na ang messenger baka may messages. Bumungad sakin ang chat ng mga ka grupo ko. Nagpapaalala lang ng mga konting bagay para sa report namin bukas. Sobrang big deal kasi sa amin 'to dahil nakasalalay ang Midterm grades namin for this subject.

After that, something urged me to tweet. Siguro ay dahil na rin sa kaba at lungkot na nararamdaman ko sahil sa pag-uusap namin ni Papa kanina.

@georginadalev.
Pressured & exhausted.

Tweet sent!

Matapos kong i tweet yun ay napagpasyahan ko ng matulog. I set an alarm for 4:30 AM then hugged my pillow tightly.

Five minutes after I closed my eyes, a call on my phone arrived. I automatically thought that it was Chelsea, baka nakita niya kasi yung tweet ko kanina and gusto niya akong kumustahin.

Ganun kasi siya everytime I tweet or post something na kahina-hinala sa paningin niya. Tatawag siya agad to check up on me and to remind me that I have her, that I can lean on her whenever I am upset. And that's my favorite part about her.

But, I was wrong.

Rage calling...

I didn't know why pero sinagot ko na lang din. Maybe because I feel sad, and I wanted to hear comforting words.

"Hello?" I answered the call.

"Hi ssob, are you okay?" He sincerely asked.

Maiinis na sana ako sa tawag niya sakin kaso hinayaan ko na lang.

"Okay lang. Bakit?" I lied.

"I know you'll say that. But I know you're not. Go ahead. I will listen."

"Ano lang to, ahm, mababaw lang naman, pressured lang ako sa report namin tomorrow tapos dumagdag pa yung pressure galing kay Papa, he keeps insisting kasi of his dreams for me. He doesn't want to listen whenever I try to explain what I want," sabay buntong-hininga ko.

"It's true that our parents know what's best for us. But, we must let them know that we can actually decide for our own, lalo na when it comes for our future. You still have a long way to go, just use that time to prove to your Dad na you can do better in the dreams that you wanted for yourself, not his dreams for you."

"And don't ever think na mababaw lang 'yan. Hindi yan mababaw kasi pinoproblema mo nga, e. And remember that however petty or huge a dilemma you are facing, I will always listen," dagdag pa niya

"Thank you, sige, I have to sleep na. May 7 AM class pa ako bukas. Good night. Salamat ulit, ha," paalam ko.

"No problem. Good night. And good luck bukas! Kaya mo 'yan," and after that, the call has been cut off.

Hindi ako makapaniwala na nagawa kong mag-kuwento sa hindi ko ganun ka-close, well, tama nga siguro ang sabi nila, it's also good to open up to a stranger, no judgement daw kasi.

And honestly, I was also mesmerized by his sincerity. I really felt his thoughtfulness.

Wait.

What am I thinking?

Jusko. Do I appreciate him now?

-tbc-