Wasting Charms

Chapter 15

"Kailangan ba talaga natin ito?" Sambit ni Ree ng makita ang resignation letter para kina kuya Rio at sa kapatid niya. "Oo for assurance"

"Ibig kong sabihin ate ay kung dapat ba talaga natin'g mawalan ng katulong, hay ilang taon na silang nagtatrabaho dito ngunit akala mo ba'y sila ang magdedisisyon kung aalis ba o hindi pero mismo ang homeowner ang nagpaalis sa kanila."

"I know what you feel too, it's just that we should save the best for tomorrow, I feel sorry for them but you know it's complicated"

"Pwede'ng ako na lang din ang magpapasweldo sa kanila ate eh, kawawa naman, you can sell all your used things maybe a part of the solution hindi iyong dadamayin natin pati mga kasambahay... and it means you also need to be thrifty."

"Gusto ko lang gawin ito para kay mommy. Gusto ko'ng makauwi siya dito."

"Pero ate sabi niya tayo ang pupunta doon diba? So why not save it samatalang nagtratrabaho naman si mom doon sa labas para sa expenses natin pagpunta doon."

"No I won't sell my things for that.Hindi ganiyan ang ibig kong sabihin, I should save so that I'll use this money for mom's transportation fee's patungo dito, ayaw ko'ng pumunta doon and to that kapag nakapag-ipon na siya ng malaking pera ay babalik na siya dito para gamitin iyon sa expenses natin. How many years more to wait before my graduation ano."

"We can't force mommy about her decisions ate, if she needs us to go there w-well we don't have any choice "

"Ikaw? Iiwanan mo ba ang nililigawan mo dito?"

"H-hindi no pero wala ako'ng magagawa. Marami pa'ng oras at panahon para makasama siya ate."

"It's on you, wala ako sa tamang oras para pag-usapan ang ganiyang bagay."

"Eh,ikaw..."

Dumating sila kuya Rio at Roen sa living room na siyang kanina ko pa pinapatawag, liningon ko si Ree bago sa kanilang dalawa... they're wearing the blue uniform and black plants habang nakapalupot ang dalawang kamay sa harap.

"Good morning ma'am,sir... pinatawag niyo daw ho kami" ani kuya Rio.

"Ihahatid po ba namin kayo?" Si kuya Roen naman ngayon.

"Ah... no.. we need to talk to both of you today..." sinulyapan ko si Ree na ngayon ay nakayuko habang nakikinig.

"Uhm... kuya... this might be hard for you to understand... but we're offering you this..." ibinigay ko ang letter sa kanila at tinignan sila ng maigi upang makita ang reaksyon. Napatingin sila sa isa't isa bago bumaling ulit sa akin.

"It's going to be a big deal for the both of you specially that you weren't informed about it lately, pasensya na po kayo kuya... Ree and I are uhm..  s-should be practical starting from now... uhm.. if only mommy would be here then you don't need to leave..."

"Naiintindihan po namin ma'am"

"I appreciated the both of you everyday of our lives but that's what it has to be... We'll learn to be independent so that we don't need to make you serve us... all our times you have been spending your hours putting hands on the steering wheel making sure we get to our destination safely. You have been the best drivers of a lifetime... I hope you consider this." I gave a white envelope with the amount of money as the separation pay plus addends because of loyalty they gave.

Tiningnan nila ang laman niyon.

"P-pero ma'am masyadong-"

"No kuya... it's because of the efforts you made... you deserve it."