The Face of Fate

Chapter 2 [ready]

Chapter 2

After the lunch and catch up with Uncle Rio, hinatid niya ko pauwi. Unfortunately, umalis pala si Dad because of business matters kaya hindi na sila nagkita. Maybe next time. He's a really good friend of both my parents.

Buong hapon, inabangan ko lang ang result ng exam. Uncle Rio did promised na kakausapin niya yung kakilala niya para mabilis na ma-process yung exam results, kaya ngayon palang naghihintay na 'ko. Hindi ko alam kung bibili na ba ako ng mga gamit o ano dahil kahit naman confident ako sa mga sagot ko, hindi parin ako sure.

While waiting for my dad, I cooked dinner. Nagulat ako nang tumunog agad ang phone ko, the school emailed me the result. That was fast, kaya hindi agad nag-sink in saakin na nakapasa ako.

Nakatulala akong naghihintay maluto ang rice nang dumating si Daddy.

"What happened? Tulala ka? Did something happened sa university? 'Di ba ngayon ang exam mo? How did it go?" Sunod sunod na tanong niya habang may binababang box ng cake sa counter.

I snapped back when I remember that I passed. Hindi ko muna sinabi at naghain na ng pagkain.

While eating, I told him all about what happened sa school. It's so normal for us to talk about our day, lalo na kapag kumakain. This is what kept us so close, together with Mommy.

Dad was serving the cake when I decided to broke the news. He was so happy that he even wanted to drink wine. Hinayaan ko nalang. Kahit hindi niya sinabi, alam kong stress na siya sa mga ginagawa niya, lalo na sa pag-aasikaso ulit sa trabaho.

Dad said that before we left Philippines, binalak nila ni Mommy magtayo ng business. But Mom's family opposed, they offer to give my father a job basta sasama kami sakanila sa ibang bansa. My Dad... he's not really in good terms with them, ever since. Alam ko kung paano nila pag-usapan ang Daddy ko kapag wala ito, alam ko kung paano nila siya husgahan.

I really don't know much, but I know how they hate him just because he's not from a known family, and that Mom run away from home because of her love for Dad. They don't want him because... he doesn't have money. 

Do we really need to label love like that?

"Ako na ang magliliniㅡ"

"Ako na, dad. Magpahinga nalang po kayo,"

"Are you sure?" nag-aalinlangang tanong niya.

"Yeah," I said, nodding. I know he's tired already.

Pumasok siya sa kwarto niya kasama ang wine na iinumin. Niligpit ko nalang ang mga pinagkainan at nag-ayos na.

Pagtapos maglinis, I decided na tumambay muna sa lumang hammock sa likod ng bahay. May maliit na bakuran na pupwedeng tambayan dito. I remember this hammock. My dad made it for Mom dahil madalas na nagkakaroon ng problema si Mommy sa katawan niya noon pa man. Ginawa niya 'yon para may mauupuan na komportable si Mommy dahil hilig noon ang mag-alaga ng mga halaman. Sa bahay namin sa States, iyon ang pinagkakaabalahan ni Mommy. Siguro ay madami rin halaman dito noon, namatay na lang din sa tagal. Well, I can't really remember na. 

I sat there thinking about how my life change drastically after what happened. Looking at my situation now, who would've thought na babalik ako rito, without Mommy? 

I smiled at the thought of her.

"Mommy, where are you now? I hope you are happy. I'm sorry kung palagi po akong kumakatok sainyo, hindi lang talaga ako sanay na hindi ka kinekwentuhan," I got a bit teary. Yumuko ako at pinaglaruan ang mga daliri ko.

"Si Daddy ayun, busy. Kaya pagpasensyahan mo na po kung hindi ka niya madalas makausap, medyo naninibago pa rin po kami dito eh..." I sighed. "Alam mo ba, Mommy? Nakapasa po ako sa isa sa mga kilalang universities dito, with help of Tito Rio po. I promise to study hard to help Dad in the future..." nanginginig ang boses ko sa kwentong iyon kay Mommy. I really miss her so much. She would always brush my hair habang nagkkwento ako sakanya, silently listening to my banters.