Tying the Water

Simula

"Hey, i heard you'll flying back to the Philippines?" Bungad ng aking matalik na kaibigan.

I'm in Los Angeles for almost half of my life. Looking back at the last year of stay there, if i were the young Athena again, i would cry myself to death in my room because I'm terrified. But no, the years I've spent here make me stronger.

Everything seems so perfect. Everyone envy me, dahil sa nag iisang anak lamang ako ng mga De Pasco.  Everyone adore me because of my name. Everything's perfect for me, lalo na't kasama ko ang aking ina.

"Athena..." Malamig na tawag sa akin ng aking ina. Nakaupo ako sa harap ng tukadod habang sinusuklay niya ang aking mahabang buhok.

"Mama?"

"Did you ever wish for your father's attention?" She coldly asked.

I grew up without him. Limang taong gulang ako ng umalis kami sa bahay ng aking ama. The only thing i can remember is that he's scary. Sa tuwing nagkakasagutan sila ay puro pasa ang aking ina. Umaayos lamang ang lagay nila tuwing kaharap nila ang aking Lolo.

"No. How could I wish for someone's evil like him?" Diretsa kong sagot.

"Good. Don't ever get close to him. Never." Matigas na sabi nito. Salungat ang boses nito sa haplos ng kaniyang kamay sa aking buhok, malamyos tila pinapatulog ka nito. "We don't need him. You don't need him, I'll make sure of that." She said it as if it's a spell that can not be broken.

That was the words kept me calm everytime, before until now. I have so much trust to my Mom. I was contented just by being with her. She's my light. And when the darkness came, I wasn't prepared.

"Miss Athena, the great De Pasco are expecting you in his mansion." A man in black suit said. Sinundo ako nito sa kalagitnaan ng aking klase.

"Lolo? Why? Can't it wait? I'm in the middle of my class." I said.

"I'm sorry, Miss." Yumuko ito at umatras, inaasahan ang pagsunod ko sa kanikang gusto. Tumango ako at bumuntong hininga.

Bawat hakbang ay palakas ng palakas ang kabog ng akong dibdib. My Lolo asked for me, it must be really important.

"Naroon na ba si Mama?" Tanong ko habang nasa byahe kami patungo sa mansyon ng mga De Pasco. Walang sumagot sa akin. Nanatili silang tikom ang mga labi.

The silence made me tremble. Palakas ng palakas ang kabog ng aking dibdib, tila gusto nito makawala.

"Good afternoon, Miss Athena." Bati sa akin ng mga kasambahay. Ginala ko ang aking mga mata uoang tingnan kung may bakas ng presensya ng aking ina.

I never go everywhere without her. She's scared to leave me on my own. Kaya't nasanay ako na lagi siyang nasa paligid ko.

"Kasama na ba ni Lolo si Mama?" Tanong ko sa sekretarya ng aking Lolo. Siya ang naghatid sa akin patungo sa study ng mansyon. Tulad kanina, wala rin akong nakuhang sagot.

"What's happening?" Nag aalalang tanong ko. Tikom ang bibig ng mga tao sa aking paligid.

"Pumasok ka na loob, kanina ka pa hinihintay ng iyong Lolo." Simpleng sabi nito at tinalikuran na ako upang iiwan doon.

Agad agad akong pumasok sa loob dahil sa kagustuhan kong makakuha ng sagot.

"Lolo!" Tawag ko dito. Bagsak ang mga balikat nito. Nakayuko na tila hirap na hirap.

Agad umangat ang kaniyang tingin sa aking tawag. Tumayo ito at sinalubong ako ng yakap.

"My grandchild. My sweet Athena." His tone is so soft, far from his usual authoritative tone. Hinaplos nito ang aking buhok habang yakap yakap ako.

"Lolo? Where's M-mama? What's happening?" My voice started to shake.

I knew something was wrong. Everything feels wrong. Maybe i was denying the fact, expecting some good news but no...

"I failed to protect my daughter, I'm so sorry hija. S-she's... gone."

... that was when the darkness embraced me.

I flew to Los Angeles after that. My Lolo fixed everything for me, so i can leave immediately. He promised me to make sure everything's will be okay, when, someday, i came back.

"Leave immediately, hija. I promised you, no one will gonna harm you, even your Dad. Everything's goona be just fine. I'll make sure you're protected. You'll come back here when it's time for you to claim what yours. I love you." It was his promise.

I left everything. I even left my heart just to keep my life. I grew up in darkness and heartless. I fought for my heart but in the end, I'm just going to leave it there.

"I don't want to marry you. I hate the thought of we're going to get married just because our company will merge. I want to merge our company only because we're getting married. Let me prove myself to you first and we'll decide on that." Matapang kong sagot.

I tied myself with him using the water. Walang kasiguraduhang mananatili itong para sa akin. Nangako akong papatunayan ko ang aking sarili na bagay akong maging kabiyak niya sa habang buhay, ngunit iniwan ko ito na walang pasabi.

"Hey, Athena..." I get back to my senses with Avalon's voice.

"Yeah, uh... it's time." Simpleng sagot ko. Nag iimpake ako ng mahahalagang gamit sa aking duffel bag. I need to have a secret entrance, that's what i planned. Hindi ko kailangan ng maleta o kahit anong agaw pansin na baggage.

"Oh, sad. You're gonna leave me here?"

"Of course. Why don't you move your ass and go back too. I heard your twin are pregnant."

"Maybe when she already get her offspring out of her tummy." Balewala nitong sagot.

"I'm gonna chopped Dave's ass for you, you want?" Biro ko dito ngunit tinignan niya lamang ako ng masama.

"When's your flight?" Tanong nito.

"Later."

"Agad? Bakit ang bilis?" Gulat nitong tanong.

"My Lolo's sick. I need to get back there immediately."

"Who said that?"

"Unknown number."

"What? Baka mamaya scammer 'yan! What if they kidnapped you once na lumabas ka ng airport?"

"Grabe naman iyon. Talagang taga ibang bansa pa ang biniktima nila, ano iyan 'scammer pro'?" Biro ko dito.

"Siraulo. Seriously, Athena..." Puno ng pag aalala ang boses nito.

I sighed and tumabi ako sa kaniya.

"Look, Ava. I know you're worried. I am too. But if this is a false news, how come they get my number? Or let's just they're luring me out. How the hell did they get my number gayong sobrang higpit ng security ni Lolo. I was perfectly hidden for almost 13 years, why now?"

Avalon is like a sister i never had. 3 years after my stay here in L.A, she came here, broken. We helped each other to be fine. She have a twin sister, sa akin niya binubuhos lahat when she missed her. She cried her heart out go me every year when it's her lost child's birthday.

"Contact me as soon as you landed, okay?" She hugged me tight. Tumango lamang ako at sinuklian ang kaniyang yakap. "I'll come back home too, soon."

"I'll be waiting for you in the Philippines. See you soon." Paalam ko. Pinakawalan niya ako mula sa mahigpit niyang yakap at hinayaan akong maglakad papalapit sa eroplanong maghahatid sa aking pabalik sa aking tinuturing na dagat. I'm ready to be their waves, and I'm sure no one can surf with it.

I'm about to claim what should be mine and come back to someone who tied my heart with his.