Leaving Was the Easy Part (Millennia Series #1)

16

#LWTEP16

I kissed my dad in the cheeks. He did the same.

I am standing timidly beside him samantalang hindi naman ganito ang ayos ko kanina.

"Let's go inside. Your mom's already waiting in the dining." 

I trailed behind him until we reached the dining.

"Celina, anak! How have you been?" Concern laced my mom's voice.

"Okay lang, ma." I assured her and kissed her cheeks as well. "Si Ely po?"

"Nasa itaas pa! 'Di bale, pinatawag ko na kay manang. Sit beside me, okay?" Pinaupo niya ako sa tabi ng madalas niyang puwesto. She gently squeezed my shoulders and kissed the side of my head.

Nagpaalam siyang titignan ang mga nilutong putahe kaya naiwan na naman kami dalawa do'n ni Daddy na ngayon ay nakaupo na sa may kabisera.

"How is it going with you, Celina? Are you catching up well in class? Nahihirapan ka bang mag-adjust?" Dad asked while sipping his cup of coffee.

I swallowed the lump in my throat before answering.

"Y-Yes, dad! Everything is well. Kaya ko po." I tried to maintain a straight face kahit nanginginig na talaga ako.

"No distractions at all? Not even one?" Tumaas ang kilay niya sa makahulugang tanong.

I tilted my head. "None so far."

Mabagal ang pagkakasabi ko no'n kaya mas nadagdagan ang kunot ng noo niya. Do'n ko lamang narealize na maling iyon ang sinagot ko. Mabuti na lang at hindi na 'yon nasundan pa dahil nakabalik na rin si mommy mula sa kitchen at kabababa lang ni Ely galing sa taas.

Umayos na kaming lahat. Naupo si mommy sa tabi ko habang sa tapat ko naman si Ely.

"I missed this! We should do this more often," I turned to her and smiled to assure her that we will.

Hindi ako kumportable noong dito pa ako nakatira nang nagkamalay na ako tungkol sa mga bagay-bagay kaya laking tuwa ko nang pumayag silang makitira ako sa condo ni Alleah. But still, I'll try my best for my mom. She deserve it.

Hindi na nadugtungan pa ang pag-uusap namin ni daddy dahil tuloy-tuloy na nagkwento si mommy. And I cannot thank her enough for that!

Nang matapos kami, nagpresinta akong tumulong kay mommy. I also missed her being around. Ang hirap din maging independent dahil puro ako ang kailangang kumilos dahil wala namang ibang gagawa no'n para sa akin.

"You should've invited Santi. He dropped you off?" Nakangisi siya sa akin.

"Oh..." Nahihiya akong tumango.

"Don't be ridiculous! There is nothing to be ashamed of. He's a good man, I can see that. You're probably worried about your dad at ako na ang nagsasabi sa'yo... he's just being over-protective. You're our unica hija! Hindi mo maiaalis sa amin ang mag-alala."

Hearing those words coming from her seems very reassuring. 

The silence stretched.

"Do you still feel pressured?" She is drying the dishes and I stood beside her.

Tumango ako. "At times, yes. But I understand."

"Nag-usap na kami ng daddy mo tungkol d'yan. But he seems not to understand my point. He is pressuring you to be exactly just like him! And I hate—" 

"Mom," pinutol ko ang sasabihin niya.

Hinarap niya ako at umiling.

"I just hate seeing you being pressured to be something I know you're not. You do not deserve it."