Captured in His Words

Chapter 1

"So you're saying that I will be their co-manager?"

I gently placed the cup of water I was drinking in the table at inayos ang pagka-upo ko. After classes, one of my classmates told me someone wanted to meet with me. And it turns out it was the head manager of our school's band Cuatrovated; the famous Reece Alvarez. She waited for me and eventually invited me to this small coffee shop near our school.

"Yes." She nodded. Mukhang sure pa siya sa kanyang desisyon.

"Bakit ako?" Tumaas ang dalawa kong kilay nang magtanong ako sa kanya. No matter how hard I think about it, nothing was making sense. I tried really hard to remember if I did something for them to say this, but nothing came up.

"Someone...recommended you." She hesitantly said na para bang ayaw niya pang sabihin sa'kin iyon. I observed her for a little and she looked like she really wanted me in. Hindi 'ko alam kung bakit pero tinitignan ko talaga sa mata ng mga tao ang feelings nila.

It's because I believe that sometimes the eyes say much more than words.

"I'll give you time to think about it, Alyssa. Just call me if you finally have a decision. You have my number." Hindi na niya ako pinagsalita at tumayo na siya while getting her sling bag. "Nabayaran ko na ang bill. Ingat ka sa pag-uwi." She smiled at me before pushing the door open and finally leaving the place.

"Co-manager." I whispered to myself while also getting my stuff to leave.

Pagkauwi ko sa bahay, kaagad akong sinalubong ng nanay ko na mukhang kakagaling pa lang sa pagluto. She had her hair tied in a bun, and she was sweating. Nakasuot din siya ng apron at dahil doon naamoy ko ang niluluto niya.

"Sinigang." I told her and moved my face closer so she could tell that I smelled it from her.

"Oo anak, I cooked sinigang." Ngumiti siya sa akin at pinapasok na rin ako sa loob. Binaba ko ang bag ko sa sofa at dumiretso kaagad sa kusina para tignan iyon. As I thought, pagkapasok na pagkapasok ko ay amoy ko na kaagad ang ulam.

My mom was tasting the soup with a spoon and she asked me to taste it also. "Okay ba?" She asked. Tumango nalang ako biglang sagot. Masarap naman talaga ang mga luto niya kaya hindi ko pa siyang sinasagot na hindi.

"Your dad's favorite."

I gave her a look as she showed me a bitter smile and went back to cooking. My eyes automatically looked at the floor at the mention of my dad. Right. Today was his birthday, I already knew she would do something like this. It was always the same.

Napansin pa ata ako ng nanay ko na nakatingin pa rin sa sahig kaya tinapik niya ako sa balikat. Inangat ko ang ulo ko para tignan siya. Her eyes were telling me that she was okay and that she also wanted me to be.

"Okay lang ako." Bumitaw na siya sa balikat ko kaya naglakad na ako paalis ng kusina. Dinala ko ang bag ko sa sofa bago ako umakyat para pumasok sa kwarto ko. Pero bago pa ako makaakyat sa hagdan ay may nakita akong maliit na table sa gilid.