A Chasing Misery

Dalawampu't walo

After few days, Andrius and Tita Nellie fly to US. Naiwan akong kasama si Lola and some of my cousins na nakatira lang din malapit sa amin.

Ang dami pang binilin sa akin ni Andrius bago siya umalis. He even put his phone number on the speed dial of my phone. Pinabantayan niya rin ako sa mga kaibigan niya. May araw kung kailan nila ako bibisitahin at kung kailan kami lalabas. Nagmukha tuloy silang baby sitter pero ayos lang naman daw sa kanila.

"Did your mom called you?" Lola asked while cleaning the vase.

We're cleaning her collection, vases. Marami rin siyang mga halaman na narito sa loob ng bahay. Siya lang mag-isa ang nag-aalaga nito. Kulang na nga lang ay puno dahil sa daming halaman, halos pulos berde na ang makikita sa loob ng bahay.

Mayroong hanging plants, mayroon ding nasa wall at karamihan ay nakapatong sa mga bagay na narito tulad ng nasa lamesa at shelf.

"No" I simple replied.

"Since when?"

"Since the day I live here" nag-iisip ko pang sagot.

"Try to contact them. Maybe they're waiting for you to call them" and she handed me the telephone.

"I don't think so" sagot ko at hindi na lang siya pinansin.

If they truly care about me, pagdating ko pa lang ay sinubukan na nila akong tawagan. Ang dami ko nang nagawa rito pero ni isang mensahe mula sa kanila wala. I even asked Ali about them but he didn't heard anything.

Malapit na ang due ni Megan that's why I think they're busy taking care of her. Ang dali nga para sa kanila ipadala ako rito without knowing that I have lots of plan there.

"Anyways, you're enrolled but sadly" Lola opened up.

"Sadly? What?" curiosity kills me.

"You're home schooled" naiilang niya pang sabihin.

The smile on my face faded. I don't know what to react. I should be happy that I'm finally enrolled and I'm studying college here but knowing that I'm home schooled and not able to socialize with other people makes me sad.

"I'm just afraid..." malungkot niyang saad.

I smiled for her to know that I'm okay with it.

"It's fine Lola as long as I'm studying" nakangiti kong sagot.

She came near to me and hugged me. She helped me to complete my needs for my online schooling. Pumunta rin kami sa University of Greendale kung saan ako naka-enroll. Kinuha ko lahat ng mga kailangan ko, from the modules, books and requirements.

Namangha ako sa kabuuan ng school. The way how it was built, hindi mo maiiwasang mapaisip. You'll see some ancient design all over the place.

"Explore everything here, let's see in the parking lot" Lola said while talking one of the officer of the administration of the school.

"I'll be back" nakangiting tugon.

I hold the strap of my small bag. Nakangiti ako habang iniikot ang patingin sa paligid. Tinatahak ko ang daan ng hallway. Nakikita ko kung gaano kaganda ang ibaba ng university na ito. Nakaramdam naman ako bigla ng lungkot dahil hindi ko ito matatanawan tuwing papasok ako.

"Ang ganda..." tanging naibulalas ko habang nakadungaw sa ibaba.

I saw couple of cars na tumigil sa may gate ng school. Hindi na ako nakiusisa pa dahil mukhang mayaman ang mga iyon dahil naka-coat and tie pa. Sinubukan ko pang tignan sila kaso napapalibutan sila ng maraming tao. Marami rin kasi ang nag-aayos ng requirements nila dahil malapit na ang pasukan dito.