Haplos ng Hangin (Yutang Bulahan Series #3)

HNH - 31

THE FAME.

“I want us to have an agreement, Sandreanna. Mother to daughter agreement.”

Mom and I were left alone inside my room to have a conversation. Nanatiling nasa labas ang iba pang kasama namin sa condo. Gusto ko nang magpahinga pero ang gusto ni Mommy ay mag-usap na muna kami and I can rest after the talk. I agreed eventually.

“Kalilimutan namin ang lahat ng ginawa mo noon. Babalik ka sa pamilya natin na parang walang nangyari. At hahayaan ka namin sa trabahong napili mong pasukan… sa isang kondisyon.”

“What is it?” wala sa sariling tanong ko, parang zombie pa rin, wala nang emosyon.

“You can have all that privilege in your life just broke up with that Siggy Lizares. He’s no good for you, San-”

“Fine. What else?”

Mom was silent when I interrupted her lament about that talk. Siguro nagulat sa diretsahan kong sinagot.

I heard she cleared her throat before talking again.

“And you’ll cut ties with him.”

“Consider it done,” walang pag-aalinlangan na sagot ko sabay tingin sa kaniya.

“That fast?”

“That fast. That’s what you want right? And I can’t associate myself with a rapist and incest.”

Pathetic, Sandreanna. Sobrang pathetic. After everything, babalik at babalik ka rin talaga sa bagay na tinatakbuhan mo. Pathetic and disgusting.

“Oh… right… right! Since it’s fine with you, pack your things now. You’re going to have a one week vacation with us, your family, Sandreanna, sa Negros. The Hinolans have an upcoming reunion and we need your presence there. Don’t worry about your manager, he’s fine with it and I also invited him to be with us.”

I sighed and looked away, endulging myself with the view outside my window. “Okay.”

Mukhang wala na nga yata ako sa katinuan.

The Hinolans, indeed, have a reunion. It was grandiose and I was there to perform. Yeah, to fucking perform! At para na rin ipagsabi nila sa lahat na anak nila ako. The Sandi Hinolan who is rising above the stars is the eldest of Dr. Bernardo and Dra. Cindy Hinolan! Damn it.

Parang double purpose na rin kung bakit ako nandito. I got the time to bond with my siblings after a year of not seeing each other. Lalo na si Dahlia, nakausap ko rin sa wakas. Hindi alam ng mga kapatid ko kung anong nangyari. No one said it to them and I will never say it to them. Labas sila rito.

I also got the time I needed for myself. Nakahinga ako kahit papaano. I’ve been ignoring him since that day. Ignored his calls and messages. To simplify it, I just turned off my phone.

But that one week went by so fast. Pagbalik ko sa Manila, gumawa ako ng sulat na ibibigay ko sa kaniya. He, kahit papaano, needed an explanation from me. It was a short letter, almost a note. I said sorry because I’m breaking up with him and I can’t do it personally because I am too busy to face him. Kahit hindi naman talaga.

I used Mikan as the mailman since he’s the only one I knew here in Manila na kahit papaano’y may contact sa kaniya. Mikan didn’t asked about what happened. Because I remained silent.

But that escalated quickly. Akala ko magiging smooth ang lahat at tapos na ang lahat sa amin after I gave him a note. He got an opportunity to corner me from one of my taping days. No security, no manager, no staffs, no other people around. Malalim na ang gabi at gusto ko lang sanang mapag-isa ng mga time na ’yon sa van dahil hindi ako makapahinga sa tent na naka-assign sa akin. It was jampacked with people kasi and they’re having a meeting which excluded my presence kaya um-exit muna ako. Hinayaan din naman ako ng mga taong nandoon kasi secured naman ang buong place and it was rented just for our shoot.