Stay With Me

Kabanata 2

Leila

"Ikaw ha?! You're out of focus. Kanina, I tried to call u pero I got nothing. Sino bang iniisip mo?" basag ni Kuya Lewis sa katahimikan aa pagitan naming dalawa. Kasalukuyan kasi naming tinatahak ang lugar sa kung saan naka-park ang sasakyan.

"Ah.. Wala naman kuya" tipid Kong sagot habang nagpupunas Ito ng kaniyang pawis sa noo.

Lewis Alejandro Solomon, that's the full name of my Kuya. As for the others, they look at him as a perfect guy, an ideal guy. Gwapo naman talaga si Kuya at kuhang-kuha sa hitsura ni Dad. Akala nga ng iba ay lilok lang siya at ang pattern ay si Dad. He has good characteristics and has a big dream in life.

Yun na siguro ang dahilan kung bakit kilala siyang "Perfect Guy" pero sa kabila ng gwapo at maamong mukha na meron siya, hindi nila alam na minsan na itong nag-committed sa suicide and fortunately, nasagip siya agad ni Dad.

Mahal na Mahal niya ang basketball. Parang kambal na nga dahil hindi kumpleto ang araw niya nang hindi naglalaro ng paborito niyang sports kaya parang nabagsakan na din siya ng langit nang ma-injured ito sa mismong finals nila.

"You better open up to me, Lei." sabi ni Kuya bago siya pumasok sa sasakyan. Sumakay na lang at piniling wag na lang magsalita sa biyahe.

Weeks have passed at mas ramdam ko na ang excitement. Paano ba naman, pasukan na namin sa Monday. And guess where will I study? Sa UP. Yeah, sa University of the Philippines. May kaunti mang kaba pero mas nangingibabaw ang pagkasabik.

Last week ko lang nabasa ang email na naisend sa akin at doon ko nga nakita na I passed the UPCAT. I received congratulations to my family and also to my friends noong araw na iyon.

"Congrats, Lei. You worked hard for this" sabi noon sakin ni Kuya. Nagpahanda pa nga noon si Mom na kaunting pagkain para sa achievement ko. My biggest achievement so far.

"Ano bang kinuha mong course, Lei? I'm expecting that you enrolled a course related to the business. That would be fine to me" tanong sakin ni Dad nang makaupo ito sa aking tabi.

I looked at my Dad and he's too tired. Dad is now in his golden age. I want him to be happy, I want him to be proud of me. I don't want to disappoint him that's why I took a Business Management.

Naalala ko kasi ang Lola ko noong nabubuhay pa siya. She said that long time ago, my Dad was a big business man. They're very rich that time kasi nag-boom ang business niya. Nakapagpagawa pa nga sila ng company and even invest in other company. One day, may nag-order sa kanila ng product but Unfortunately, they lack in stocks regarding with that product. By that, nawalan na ng trusts ang share holders ng company at lumipat na sa iba. Maski ang mga trabahador niya ay nagsialisan na rin. That's my Dad's biggest nightmare, downfall in his entire life kaya pinangako ko sa kaniya na kapag natapos ko ang pag-aaral ko at naging asensado sa buhay, bubuhayin ko muli ang business niya.

"Yeah Dad. I took Business Management" I smiled wholeheartedly.

Nakita ko naman ang pagsang-ayon niya sa aking sagot. Tumango-tango pa Ito pero halatang may gustong sabihin. I lend my ears as he sat beside me.

"You know Lei, I'm not pushing you to take Business Course. If you really love Engineering, then go for it.." sabi ni Dad sa akin saka hinawakan ang aking kamay.

"No, Dad. I don't want to disappoint you. I want to do this for you. I promised that I'll build again once I become successful"

He simply patted my head, hinaplos haplos ang aking buhok. I'm always sweet when it comes to Dad. I just want him to be happy and I don't want to disappoint him.