Flashed Golden Photographs (Sunset Avenues #1)

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Date

To be lost in a city of history solved a missing piece in me. At the same time, I was able to see a reflection of my old self. To realize things on my own.

How you were before. Why did you behave like that? How you became the person you are now. Staring at the familiar kalesa and the smiles of people roaming around, in here, time is constant. Indeed.

What do you usually utter if you are lost? Asking for direction, perhaps, their way back home. But for some, it is an opportunity to find their own. A path where they feel more connected.

There are a lot of things to be realized in a day if we give appreciation to them one by one. Things we failed to notice. Lessons we wasted because we were more focused on what we think is convenient and easy.

I started at the very reason why I joined the show, why I went rushing to Quirino Stadium, why I was lost in Vigan City, it was all because of him.

Kasi tanga ako. Kaibigan ka 'lang' pero kung tawirin mo ang distansya, akala mo matibay ang papel na hawak mo. But even so, I couldn't consider that one as something to regret. Bakit ko naman pagsisisihan ang isang bagay na siyang dahilan upang ako ay maliwanagan?

I built a wall between me and my family. Hindi ko man lantarang pinapakita.

But now.. I didn't know how. Where and when. But a part of me lightened up. Part of the wall collapsed. Something that I should have done at the very first place.

Looking at them in the eye. I realized I was a horrible daughter. Ang salitang 'kinakahiya' ay napakabigat na. Sinumang magulang ang makakarinig niyon sa sarili nilang mga anak ay manghihina.

Pinaramdam ko iyon sa kanila. How childish of me to have ambitions that are too quite high to reach. I depend much on what they must give. I forgot to earn it on my own. To gradually reach what I want in life. To take the ladder step by step.

"Nakakawala ng respeto, huh."

"Hemi, inaantok pa ako. Tahimik ka muna diyan please."

Saturday morning, nagising ako sa mga mura ni Hemi. Mas gugustuhin ko na lang yata na papasok siya sa university kaysa nandito siya sa bahay pero mura lang naman ang lumalabas sa bibig.

"Eh di matulog ka! Inaano ba kita?"

I rolled my eyes. Hinila ko ang kumot at itinakip sa buong katawan ko. Mainit ang panahon pero naiinis ako kay Hemi. Umagang-umaga. Inaano raw? Eh ang ingay niya.

"Kanino kaya galing si Archi? Ang sama ng ugali ng mama niya! Punyeta, palibahasa inuuban na!"

Kagabi ay ito ang dinadada niya. Pagtulog namin, iyon pa rin ang paulit-ulit niyang sinasabi. Ngayong umaga naman, iyon pa rin.

Hindi ko naman siya masisisi.

"Dios mio. Kaya ikaw, kapatid, huwag na huwag kang mahuhulog sa politiko! Huwag mong gawing komplikado ang buhay mo."

Is Archi a politician though? Mayor's son but not a politician. However, his name is associated with politics.

"Mukha ba tayong nanghihingi ng donasyon?"

Tinanggal ko ang kumot na tumatabing sa katawan ko. Hindi na ako makatulog.

"Cellphone mo! Kahapon pa tumutunog!"

Mabilis kong sinalo ang cellphone kong basta na lang na ibinato ni Hemi. Nang buksan ko ang internet connection niyon, sunod-sunod na ang tunog ng messenger. Sa messages at call history naman ay puro si Archi at si Hemi. Marahil ay kahapon pa ang mga ito. Binuksan ko ang mensahe ni Archi.