Barcelona Escapade

Chapter Eighteen: Truth

Chapter Eighteen
Truth

I barely can recall that time I was a kid when my parents enrolled me in a theater and music workshop. That time, I was around 10. My parents, as long as they have the money to sustain and do whatever they want, they'd put us in things that they think would make us learn something like a theater workshop.

"Clementine, halika na at aalis na."

Inakbayan ako Nana at marahang isinama sa kaniya palabas ng kwarto ko. Nana was my new nanny then. Before her, I have around 5 nannies who warded me but none of them lasted for so long. Walang nakakatagal dahil siguro sa ugali ng Mamá. I don't know how Nana bore that for years. I am not really surprised if she wouldn't be able to handle it too.

Hawak-hawak ko ang manika ko pagbaba mula sa kwarto. Si Mamá ay nakatayo sa ibaba ng hagdan habang nakahalukipkip. Nakasabit sa isang kamay ang isang bag na naalala kong binili sa kaniya ni Papa nang magpunta kami sa Europa.

"What's that?"

Iminuwestra ni Mama ang paningin sa manika kong akap-akap. Dahil pa sa pagpuna niya ay inilagay ko 'yon sa likuran ko. Nana panickedly went in front of me, snaking her arm over my shoulders tighter. Nana once instructed me not to bring it with me but since I was adamant, she only gave up.

"Senyora, kung pwede sanang dalhin ni Clementine at iwan na lang sa kotse-"

"Clementine doesn't have time for that stuff, Miranda," she said dryly. "Put that away. We'll get going."

Nanubig ang mata ko sa sinabi ng Mamá. I was young and soft then. I abide with my parents that the only action I can do is to feel sad for things I don't like that they want me to do. Takot na lang ni Nana kaya marahan niyang kinuha sa'kin ang manikang ibinigay pa ni Kuya Hugo. Malungkot siyang ngumiti.

I didn't have choice but to storm inside the car with nothing on my hands. Nakita ko pa ang repleksyon sa salamin bago pumasok. I was wearing a classy trench dress coat and a small fascinator hat on the side of my head. I have white ruffle frilly socks underneath my shiny black Mary Jane shoes too.

Nang makasakay, umandar ang kotse at lumabas ng mansyon. Napatitig ako sa labas ng bintana hanggang sa dumaan kami sa isang playground sa paligid. May mga bata roon na naglalaro ng bola, naghahabulan, nagtatawanan at nagsasaya. Lumago ang interes ko na napahawak pa ako sa bintana para mas maiging tingnan.

I never tried to do those. Bata pa lang ako pero hindi ko nasubukan man lang na maglaro sa harap ng bahay, o 'di kaya ay maghabulan kasama ang mga kapatid sa kwarto. My parents didn't allow me do those things. I only dwell in the corners of our house or outside an airconditioned place, indulging myself with things my parents told me to give compassion to.

Napangiti ako nang mapansin ang isang batang nadapa nang naghabol ng bola. The kid she was with also laughed at her unfortune. She helped her friend up and even nuzzled on her knees to get rid of the dirt.

"Mamá, I'm a kid too, am I not?" wala sa sariling naiusal ko habang nakatitig sa kanila. "Am I not supposed to play like the other kids? I'm just ten."

Mamá found my gaze outside.

"You have a lot of things to learn aside from playing around and sweating," aniya na halos mandiri sa sitwasyong nakikita sa labas. She doesn't know how it feels to step on the grounds barefooted or fall on her knees when she stumbles. That's why I'm growing up not knowing how that feels too. "You're not like those kids. You are over the top."

Malungkot ang pagbuntong-hininga ko habang umaayos ng upo.

"They looked happy, Mamá. Don't kids need to learn how to be happy?"