Pieces of Pastiche

Kabanata 21

Kabanata 21

Days have passed and bukas na ang alis ni Archer. Since I've made up my mind, kasama ako bukas. I honestly thought Sandro and Lorenz will be against it pero sinuportahan nila ako sa desisyon ko. I think they know something is good on between me and Archer but I'm glad they chose not to talk about it.

I felt my phone vibrate kaya naman sinilip ko iyon. I saw my adoptive father on its caller ID. Nakalikutan ko na nga na tumawag pala siya sakin dahil sa dami ng operations ko rito.

"Good evening po, Papa." Bati ko.

"Iha, Kyla anak. Is it night time there?" I briefly closed my eyes when I heard him called me Kyla. Palagi na lang. When will I have an identity of my own? Dahil lang ba nasa akin ang puso niya, obligado na kong mamuhay bilang siya?

"Papa, it's Quinn."

"Oh, sorry anak. I must've miss your sister so much. Anyway, when are you going back?"

Kumunot ang noo ko. Bakit kaya niya tinatanong? I back tracked and I suddenly remembered na mag aanniversary na nga pala sila ni Mama. It'll be their 40th wedding anniversary at paniguradong may magarbong pagtitipon nanaman.

I don't like gathering when it comes to my family. I am expected to act like Kyla. Buong pamilya na lang.

"I'll be home on your Anniversary, Papa." Pagsisigurado ko.

Natapos ang usapan na alam nga nilang uuwi ako. They just don't know it is tomorrow. It's not that I'm ungrateful to them for adopting me. It's just that, sometimes napapagod na kong mamuhay ng expectations nila kay Kyla. They want Kyla to be a doctor so they supported me on my med school. Buti na lang ay gusto ko rin ito. They want Kyla to be a cardiologist and they were so disappointed i me when I took my fellowship in Neuro. They told me na kung si Kyla daw ay susundin sila.

But that's it, I am not Kyla. Maybe this heart beating inside me and keeping me alive was Kyla's but I am my own person. I hope they see that.

"Ang lalim naman ng iniisip mo."

I was interrupted with my thoughts when Archer nudged me.

"I'm just thinking until when will our medical group will stay here." Sabi ko na lang. He nodded at me and held my hand.

Nasa cubicle namin kami ngayon. May consult sya kanina sa isang pasyente ni Lorenz kaya naman umalis siya.

Kinabukasan, maagang dumating ang plane na magsusundo samin. We just had our breakfast with Sandro, Lorenz and Aurora and then we left.

Sa byahe, tulog lang ako. Medyo natakot pa ko nung una dahil baka magemergency nanaman.

When we landed, hinatid agad ako ni Archer sa condo. It kinda felt sad dahil wala sila Sandro. Suddenly, I missed them.

The next day, tumawag ako agad kina Lorenz. He answered my call at narinig ko kaagad si Sandro sa background.

"Bakit ikaw ang tinawagan? Nagtatampo na ko!"

"Hello?" Lorenz greeted. Tumawa ako habang kumakain ng toast na ginawa ko. My knees were folded and I'm hugging it. Binuksan ko kanina yung aircon kaya medyo malamig.

"Kamusta kayo diyan?" I asked.

"We're okay. Sandro cried when you left." Natawa ako sa sinabi ni Lorenz, "Hoy anong ako umiyak? Asa?! Ba't ako iiyak eh siya nangiwan!"

"Ang trying hard mo, Sandro." Dinig kong kumento ni Aurora. Namiss ko kaagad mga ingay nilang wala namang katuturan.

"How's Yukami?" I asked.