The Wedding Crasher

Chapter 24

Chapter 24
Erotica

I spent one hour fixing myself. Nag-apply ako ng kaunting make-up sa mukha ko at nagsuot ng isang simpleng long sleeve dress na hanggang tuhod.

Nauna na siya sa kotse at sinabing doon niya na lang daw ako aantayin. He just scanned me from head to foot once and started to drive away from that parking lot.

Nobody dared to break the silence reigning between us. While he drives, I stares outside. Tinatatak ko sa isipan ko lahat ng nakikita ko. Because this is the first time I've been out of the country and this is also the farthest place I've been. Nakakatuwa rin palang maging secretary ng isang mayamang tao dahil nabibigyan ng pagkakataon sa mga ganito.

Nakarating na kami sa isang mamahaling restaurant pero wala pa rin siyang sinasabi. At nakontento ako doon dahil hindi ko rin naman alam kung paano siya kakausapin.

Palagi rin siyang nangunguna sa paglalakad. So he lead the way to a private and secluded corner of the restaurant. He talks with the servant while I stare at the scenery outside.

Gusto kong matandaan ang lahat ng ito pati na kung ano ang pakiramdam para maikwento ko sa pamilya ko lalo na sa mga kapatid ko. And I even took out my phone to take pictures of the shining city behind the glass wall we were sitting.

Someday, I hope I can be able to let my family see whatever I am seeing right now. Gusto kong maranasan nila kung anong nararanasan ko ngayon. And with that thought, it means I need to work harder to give them such experience.

"Love the scenery?" paninimula ni Sir Felix ng usapan na kanina pa ata ako pinapanood.

Nahihiyang ibinaba ko ang cellphone ko. "I just want to collect stories that I can share with my siblings, Sir."

He licked his lower lip and nodded a bit, as if letting something sink inside him. "You're really close with them, aren't you?"

Tumango ako at napangiti dahil naalala ang mga kapatid. "We are a total of nine. Three boys and the rest are girls. But sadly, our youngest sister died recently," pagkwento ko.

Naramdaman kong muli ang kalungkutan pero kaagad kong pinilit ngumiti para magpatuloy sa pagkwento. Dahil mariin siyang nakatitig sa'kin na para bang pinapanood ako habang nakikinig.

"The oldest is Ate Irah then me," I resumed. "As one of the oldest I really work hard to give them everything they need and want. Ayokong naiingit sila sa iba lalo na sa mga ka-klase nilang may kaya sa buhay. Mahirap lang kami but I don't blame my parents for that. Tanggap ko kung ano lang ang kaya nilang ibigay sa'min at sana ay ganoon din ang mga kapatid ko."

Humalukipkip siya at sumandal habang mataman pa ring nakikinig at nakatitig sakin. Na para bang pino-proseso lahat ng sinasabi ko.

"Mahirap na nga kami, lalo pa kaming nahihirapan. My father has a lung cancer. My brother Izzie has leukemia and my sister Isah has a minor asthma. And our youngest died because of heart complication." Napakagat labi ako nang maramdaman ang pangingilid ng mga luha ko. Ang sakit pala talaga kapag nagkwe-kwento ng ganito. "It's frustrating and depressing but everytime I see them happy I feel like all my hardworks are worthwhile. There are more things I should be thankful for, anyway."

Bumuga ako ng hininga para maalis ang kung ano mang bumabara sa lalamunan ko. Talking about my family always really brought me to tears. Siguro ay dahil iyon sa kung gaano ko sila kamahal kaya kung gaano iyon kasaya ay ganoon din katindi ang sakit.

"First and foremost, I am not sick and because of that I can work tirelessly. Second, my other five siblings aren't sick too. Third, amidst all the hardships we are complete and happy. Besides the tiredness I get is the fulfillment of my family. Nakikita ko kung gaano kadeterminado ang mga kapatid ko na mag-aral and I am so proud of my brother who's already pursuing his dreams to be an engineer."