A Deferred Asset

Chapter 22

"Oh s'ya anak, hanggang dito nalang kami." Ani Papa at tumigil sa paglalakad.

I smiled at them and nodded. "Thank you so much Pa, Tita."

"Feel free to visit us again." Tita Delancey said.

"Of course po." I nodded. "In that short span of time, I got attached to Australia. I would miss the air, and so I'll come back if I have a longer time."

"Mamimiss ka namin." Saad ni Papa at niyakap ako. Kagabi pa siya ganito at hinahayaan ko nalang.

"Why don't you just visit me in the Philippines?" I suggested and Etienne's eyes sparkled so I laughed.
"Parang may nasasayahan sa suhestyon ko ah."

"Masyadong maraming papers ang ipaprocess para magawa namin yan. Pero we'll try." Tugon ni Tita Delancey. "Maybe by summer? Or so."

"I'll look up for that." I said and smiled at them. After a short conversation, I bid goodbye and hugged the three na siyang naghatid sa akin dito sa airport. I stepped inside while waving at them, and when I'm far from them already, I completely turned around and walked to the counter where I'll checked in.

It was one of my best holidays and I will forever cgerished thise memories I had in this country. Forgiving my father and adjusting my wall is the best decision I had. Hindi naman kasi maaari na parati nalang akong magtatago sa ilalim ng dingding na ginawa ko, minsan kailangan ko ring lumabas at tanggaoin ang kung ano mang meron ako. Ngayon, unti-unti ko ng naiintindihan ang mga bagay-bagay, na siyang nagsasabi sa akin na tuluyan na akong nagtanda at kaya ko ng tanggapin ang sitwasyon.

It wasn't easy for me to do it for 5 long years as I was left alone, while them, they had their own family. But now, I now get it and I'm slowly forgiving them and throw the grudge that I'm holding.

Siguro pagkabalik ko sa Manila kakausapin ko si Mama. She might not be the best mother for leaving me behind, I could be a good daughter to forgive her after everything. New Year, New Life.

Naalala ko tuloy kung paano ako tinanggap ni Tita Delancey ng buong-buo. Tinuring niya akong parang tunay na anak at siya pa mismo itong kinabahan nang makita ako dahil raw baka magalit ako, but I would not be. Siguro dati, oo. Pero ngayon na naiintindihan ko na ang sitwasyon at tinatanggap ko na ito, hindi na ako magagalit kasi wala namang magagawa ang galit ko, kundi magbibigay lamang ito ng poot sa aking buhay.

Forgive and forget. It's the best way to live a happy and unbothered life, and I chose to have it.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Local time is 4:39 in the afternoon and the temperature is currently 35 degrees Celsius."

Nagising ako dahil sa landing announcement at umayos ako ng upo saka tinanaw ang paligid mula sa bintana. Good thing, this time I sat on the window seat, which I had a very clear view of the outside from the airplane.

"On behalf of Pacific Air and the entire crew, I'd like to thank you for joining us on this trip and we are looking forward to seeing you on board again in the near future. Have a nice day!"

And just a few minutes later, the passenger's starts to deplane and I went along. Ngayon, tatlong maleta na ang dala ko na para bang gaano ako katagal abroad, eh two weeks kang naman. Pero ito kasing si Tita Delancey, andaming binili para sa akin kahit na sinabi ko na hindi na niya kailangang mag-abala, pero she keeps on insisting. Ayan tuloy, siya ang nagbayad ng exist ng bagahe.

Kinuha ko ang naunang bagahe ko at nilagay sa gilid saka naghintay ng kasunod. Nakatingin lang ako sa baggage carousel nang may mahagilap ang mata ko. Isang lalaki na kumakaway habang nakangiti. Nasa kabilang baggage carousel siya at tila galing rin siya sa ibang bansa. Sa tindig niya palang, alam ko na kung sino siya, pero ayaw kong mag-assume kung ako ba ang tinitingnan niya kasi hindi ako sigurado kung nakikilala niya ba ako, lalo na't nakasuot ako ng sunglasses.