Ultimate Chapter
"Axev, your Lolo wants to see you. Gusto mo bang sumama?"
Mula sa ginuguhit ay inangat ko ang tingin kay Mama. Tipid ang ngiti niya sa labi at hawak ang kapatid kong sanggol pa lamang. Mahimbing ang tulog nito at mukhang napagod sa pag-iyak kanina.
"Sasama ba si Papa?"
My mother's smile faltered before she shook her head. Huminga ako ng malalim at binalik ang atensyon sa ginuguhit.
"Sabihin mo na lang kay Lolo, busy ako sa school." I said and went back to drawing.
"Ilang taon ka na niyang hindi nakikita, Axev. Ilang araw ka lang naman do'n. Ayaw mo bang makita ang mga pinsan mo?"
Hindi ako sumagot at nagpatuloy sa pagguhit. I heard Mama's sigh before she walks away. I stopped sketching and took a deep breath.
As much as I love to see my cousins, I also don't want to see my grandfather. Sigurado akong wala siyang ibang gagawin kundi hanapan ng mali si Papa mula sa mga sagot ko sa mga tanong niya. He's always been like that. He'd ask things about my father and with just one little slip of the tongue, he'd call my mother and tell her to leave him immediately.
Galing sa marangyang pamilya si Mama. My grandfather was a hotelier and my grandmother was a Doctor. They had three children and one of them is my mother who is the youngest and the only girl. Sabi ni Mama, gusto raw ni Lolo na mag-Engineer siya pero Nursing ang kinuha niya. My grandfather loves her so much that he let her get what she wants.
My mother met my father who was a professor. In simple words, they fell in love with each other. Nang pinakilala ni Mama si Papa kay Lolo, pinamalas agad ni Lolo ang pagtanggi niya sa relasyon nila. He looked down at the profession of my father and he sees him as a man with no interesting background.
Galing si Papa sa mahirap na pamilya mula sa Cagayan. My grandfather didn't want it. He felt like their riches and fame would be tarnished because his youngest daughter is in a relationship with a man like my father. He tried to set them apart but his opposition were no match to the love my parents have for each other.
Hindi ko alam kung anong ginawa ni Lolo at kung bakit natanggal si Papa sa trabaho niya bilang professor sa isang magandang unibersidad sa Manila. Sa galit ni Mama ay nagtanan sila ni Papa. And so they went to Cagayan where they started a new life and that's when they had me.
I met my grandfather when I was in Grade 3. He came to Cagayan and that's when I first witnessed his resentment towards my father. I don't understand because my grandfather treats me so preciously even when we first met. But when it comes to my father, his words and actions turns bitterly.
Kapag bakasyon, kinukuha ako ni Lolo sa syudad. My father didn't want it at first but I wanted to go so they had no choice. I met my cousins and my other family. Hindi ko pa no'n lubos na maintindihan pero nang magka-isip na ay nakuha ko rin ang lahat.
My grandfather wanted me to convince my mother to leave Cagayan and live in the city. Hindi diretsahan pero sa mga ginagawa niya at mga sinasabi niya, iyon ang sa tingin ko'y gusto niyang mangyari. That's when I lost my interest to visit the city whenever I have time.
I do love my grandfather but I love my father more. He may not be the richest man out there but he's the best father I know.
Hindi ko makita kung saang anggulo hindi nababagay si Mama kay Papa. Dahil ba mahirap lang ito? He worked his way hard to be a teacher! How could my grandfather tear that hard work away from him?
At first, I was angry at Lolo but I wanted to understand him too, pero minsan ang hirap lang. Lalo na kung napag-uusapan si Papa at halos disgusto lahat ng nasasabi niya. Hanggang sa mag-kolehiyo ako ay hindi nagbago ang tingin niya kay Papa. Minsan na lang ako magbakasyon sa syudad kahit pa gustong gusto ni Lolo na makita ako.
