SAUDADE: A Warrior In Every Inch

57- Kalawakan

"This was where I recorded your graduation gift, I used this keyboard." Kwento niya at pumindot ng iilang keys doon. "I was thinking of getting you a puppy dahil mag isa ka palagi but I figured you'll be looking for a job or magiging busy ka."

Umupo ako sa kama at pinanood siyang kumanta, his voice sounds exactly like what he recorded. Talagang soft spoken siyang tao pati sa pagkanta, unlike Kuya Freude.

"We are going to visit Dad tomorrow, is that okay with you?"

"Kaya nga ako sumama sa iyo para doon."

He smiles, he did not pressure me anymore. Hinayaan niya akong pumili ng susuotin habang nagpapahinga siya. Wala siyang pasok bukas kaya iyon lang ang free time niya.

"I have a room there, we'll stay for the night. Hassle kapag umuwi pa tayo dito, sayang sa oras at pahinga." Kwento niya at sumakay kami sa bus, doon kami sa may second floor at natutuwa ako dahil nakasakay nanaman ako dito.

"You don't have a car?"

"I do have a car, I left it with Dad. Hindi ko naman kailangan at wala akong pinupuntahan na malayo, just the hospital then on weekends ay bibisita sakanila."

"You changed."

"For worse?"

"No, for better. Sa Pinas, andami mong luho, kaliwa't kanan. You were always exhausted, managing the company and you were in med school. Now, you look carefree, riding the bus to work and...just happy."

Ngumiti naman siya. "Kulang pa din, wala ka."

"Saan ang place niyo?"

"Birmingham." Oh, kapag nalaman ni Lauren iyan, malamang ay mag fangirl nanaman iyon. Doon ang set ng favorite niyang series, e!

"I notice that your accent got strong, huh." Tawa ko sakanya, para naman siyang na concious.

"Is it bad?"

"No, it sounds sexy on you."

"Really?"

"Makes me wanna----"

"Stop, Sadie. We're in the public." Pagpipigil niya, inaasar ko lang naman siya pero mukhang malakas siya mag control ngayon ah? Sinandal ko ang ulo sa balikat niya at pinag usapan pa ang iba niyang ginagawa dito habang wala ako.

Dumating din naman kami sa Birmingham at dahil mas mataas dito, mas malamig. He pulls me closer dahil may sumundo sa amin, their driver. We both sit at the back at hinilan ko ang mga palad kong naka gloves. Lamig na lamig ako!

"Your mother is in the mansion, Theseus."

"What?"

"She arrived this morning."

Shit. Napalunok ako, hindi ako handa. Why is his mother here? Akala ko ay nasa Pilipinas pa siya? Ayaw ko pa namang makita iyon, may respeto ako pero nawala iyon noong mawala si Mama.

Seth grasps my hand to tell me everything will be alright. Kaya naman ito, bisita lang. Bibisita lang kami.

"Where is my father?"

"In the dining, Theseus." Sabi noong isang maid nila, we walk inside their big house. Maganda din ang lugar nila dito at mamahalin ang iilang bahay. The interior is great, too!

"Clementine, you're here already?"

"Kuya. Mom wants me to come back with her. I...did not know Saudade is coming." Bati ng bunso nila, napahinto ako, she's here too. Wala naman akong problem sakanya but she's the spitting image of their mother. Parang hindi ako agad makahinga sa lugar na ito.