No Other Choice

Chapter 7

The finals month came by so fast. After magbakasyon nila kuya sa Batangas, school papers agad ang inasikaso nila. He didn't even come home for some nights dahil fina-finalize na raw nila yung research paper nila. I almost forgot na my kuya's leaving high school na nga pala. He's already preparing for college, and good thing na may papasukan na siyang school. Sila, actually. Kuya and Joaquin will be taking Civil Engineering together in the same school. BFFs, huh?

I also spent my days studying and finishing all the requirements needed for the finals. Minsan ay hindi ko na nasasabayan sila mommy kumain ng dinner dahil either nauna na akong kumain, or nauuna sila.

Today's the last day of exams and finally, summer na! I've been waiting for this day since the start of the finals month! Since kuya is graduating, mom and dad decided na we'll go out of the country to celebrate. Choice ni kuya yung country. We planned to go to Europe.

I saw Kitty on my peripheral view standing and submitting her paper. Kanina pa ako tapos, pero I didn't want to pass my paper yet. I'm certain na wala na akong gustong palitan sa answers ko, ayoko lang ng feeling na nauunang magpasa. Feeling ko kasi kapag ganun, may mga hindi ako sure sa answers ko kaya ako natapos agad. When she went back to her chair, I stood up and passed my paper. Sabay kami lumabas ni Kitty ng room.

"Ahh, finally!" Sabi ni Kitsch paglabas. She even sighed.

"I know, right? We can finally rest!" tuwa kong habol.

*

A lot congratulated my kuya when he graduated. My mom held a party at home, and all of our close family friends and relatives are invited. Even the parents of my kuya's friends are here. They greeted my kuya for graduating with high honors and also took time to greet me.

"Tamara, ikaw na ba iyan?" Tanong ng isang katrabaho ni daddy. I smiled. "Pare, may dalaga ka na pala ah. Ingatan mo 'to, baka marami nang umaaligid dito," pabirong sabi nito kay daddy. "Kaya nga eh, lalo na ngayon aalis na 'tong panganay ko ro'n sa school nila," natatawang sagot ni daddy. I just shook my head and chuckled.

I went to Kitty who's heading sa buffet table. Sasabayan ko na siyang kakain ng dinner, tutal snacks lang ang kinain ko kanina. Nakisama kami sa table ng friends nila kuya. They were all talking about the vacation they'll be having. They're even planning to spend  some time in Palawan together.

"Do you girls want to come if ever?" tanong ng isang kaklase ni kuya. Nagkatinginan kami ni Kitsch bago sumagot. "Uhm, sure po." She clapped her hands in joy. "Ayan ha, masaya 'yan. The more, the merrier!"

*

Our Europe trip was sooo fun! I honestly cannot wait to come back pero ngayon, nag-aasikaso muna ako ng gamit para sa Palawan trip namin ng friends nila kuya. Tomorrow's our flight, and finafinalize ko na lang yung mga dadalhin ko. We'll stay there for a week, the family of my kuya's friend owns a hotel there. After packing, I went down kasi I heard mom and dad arriving.

"Ikaw na bahala sa kapatid mo ha," bilin ni mommy. Natatawa namang sumagot si kuya.