Point of Safe Return (Crossroads Series #1)

Kabanata 3

I was heading the way to Marvi’s house when I saw Uncle Nardo, my dog Spanky was barking and following him. My dog is very fond of him. Ngumiti lang ako’t nilagpasan sila dahil alam ko namang hindi sasama sa ’kin ang aso. And I still have a practice to attend. It is the second week of April and Kapitan announced that the practice for street dance and festival dance will start today, three in the afternoon.

Grade five kami unang nakasali rito. Noon ay hanggang nood lang dahil bata pa at hindi pinapayagan. It was a good a start because the first time I joined, I immediately received an offer to participate as the Reyna. I refused the first time, and so the second time.

“Marvi!?” Sigaw ko nang makarating sa bahay nila.

Nang hindi pa rin s’ya lumalabas ay sumigaw akong muli sabay kalampag ng gate nila. Akma sana akong papasok ngunit nang matanaw kong hindi nakakulong ang mga pato nila, hindi na ako nagtangka pa dahil nanghahabol iyon at nanunuka. May sapak katulad ng amo. Ngumiwi ako sa naisip at pinanood ang kaibigang tumatakbo palabas ng bakuran nila.

“Fae sumabay kayo kay Kapitan kapag late natapos ang ensayo!” Pasigaw na bilin ng mama n’ya habang nakasilip sa bintana nila. Hindi na nag-abalang lumabas pa.

“Opo Auntie!” Sigaw ko pabalik at kinawayan nalang s’ya.

Sa Plaza malapit sa school ang practice, at the northern part of our barangay. Our house is at the southern part and we have a Plaza, too. Ako ang sumundo kay Marvi dahil mas malapit sa kalsada ang bahay nila, samantalang ang amin ay nasa looban ng Plaza.

“Hindi makakasali si Saldrin dahil last week pa ng May ang balik nila. Hindi s’ya sigurado sa eksaktong araw pero susubukan n’ya daw manood ng parada.” Kwento ni Marvi habang naglalakad kami papuntang school, kung saan malapit ang bahay ni Gladys. Nasa tapat lang ng school ang bahay nila at isang tawid lang, nandoon na s’ya.

We talked about random things along the way kaya naman noong natanaw ko na ang Health Center na katabi ng Plaza, inilabas ko ang smart phone ko upang tignan ang oras. Nakita iyon ni Marvi at agad na nanlaki ang mata.

“Wow! Bago ‘yan ah! Umuwi ang parents mo?” Mangha n’yang tanong at agad na inagaw sa akin ang phone, kating-kating kinalikot iyon.

“Hindi sila makakauwi. Nagpadala lang ng package. That’s my graduation gift.” It was the latest iPhone but I’d rather have my parents here.

They are both Doctors in Canada. We have a house there and a condo unit in Manila. They are saving a lot because they plan to buy a property in Valenzuela. It was a highly urbanized city in NCR so they want to develop the property into a village. The village is supposed to have as many trees and plants as possible because my mother is one with nature.

“Oh? Grade four pa ata tayo noong huling uwi nila ah?”

“Yeah, they actually have a gift for you and for Saldrin.” Iniba ko ang usapan upang makalayo sa pangungulila.

“Talaga?! Bakit hindi mo dinala?” Excited n’yang tanong.

“Pagdating nalang ni Saldrin para sabay n’yong buksan.”

“Paano kung cellphone din ‘yon? Ibigay mo na bukas!” Makulit n’yang wika. Feeling naman nito.

“Cellphone ka d’yan. Anak ka ba?” Mataray kong sagot.

“Malay mo naman...” Ngumuso s’ya at ibinalik na ang phone ko.

“Asa ka. Wrist watch ‘yon ‘no.” Sabi ko at lumiko na papuntang Plaza. Pero hinatak n’ya ako’t binigyan ng nang-aakusang tingin.