The Other Side of Dominance (BxB) ✔

Chapter 43 [Grief]

It felt like I wasn't used to the climate anymore when I stepped outside the airport. Nasanay na kasi ako sa lamig ng klima sa Canada sa nagdaang mga taong pamamalagi ko roon at ngayong nagbabalik Pilipinas ako ay hindi ko mapigilang manibago.

"Where's Atom? What's taking him so long?" nakahabol sa aking mga yapak si Kuya Evan bitbit ang aming mga bagahe.

We were on the parking area waiting for Kuya Atom's black bugatti but several minutes after, I was already sweating bullets. Tirik na tirik na ang araw kahit alas siyete pa lamang ng umaga kaya pareho na kaming pawisan ni kuya.

"Ang sabi niya malapit na siya." I muttered while checking his last text on my phone. "And that was ten minutes ago..." I murmured, thinking maybe he got caught in a heavy traffic.

I looked up at the clouds above and felt a sense of belonging, like I was finally getting a hold of my life. It feels good to be back but it doesn't feel the same anymore. It is really true that you cannot have everything in life all at once and at some point, you have to accept that you're gonna lose something. Lose time, lose friends, lose parents, lose love... it's just either one of those or some of those.

"He's awake.." Kuya Evan's voice pulled me out of my reverie and we both looked down on the stroller.

Baby Olli started to cry so I put down my bags and tended him. I don't know why I always end up babysitting other people's baby but this time it's no biggie since he's my little baby brother.

"Awww... baby big boy is crying... what's wrong?" I began baby talking to comfort him. Kanina lang ay tulog ito ngunit nagising yata dahil sa tagal ng aming paghihintay.

Nang kargahin ko ito ay saka lamang humupa ang kanyang pag-iyak. Hinaplos ko ang namumula nitong pisngi at pinahid ang kanyang mga luha. Napansin ko si Kuya Evan na pumuputang-ina sa isang tabi habang kausap si Kuya Atom sa telepono.

Ilang sandali pa ay huminto ang itim na sasakyan sa aming tapat, bumaba ang bintana nito at natanaw namin si Kuya Atom sa loob. Saglit pa silang nag-away ni Kuya Evan dahil sa tagal nito nang lumabas siya ng kanyang sasakyan.

"Baby's a big boy already! Come here! Did you miss me?" tuwang-tuwa si Kuya Atom nang makita ang aking karga. Ipinasa ko ito sa kanya pansamantala upang tulungan si Kuya Evan sa pagbubuhat ng aming mga bagahe sa likod ng sasakyan.

Nang nasa biyahe na kami ay hindi naman ako makatulog. I was on the passenger seat with the baby on my lap, I was playing with him a while ago but he fell into sleep right after a few minutes.

Naririnig ko ang pag-uusap nina kuya sa harap tungkol sa trabaho at sa kompanya samantalang nakatanaw lamang ako sa labas at sa mga nadadaanang gusali. Isinandal ko ang aking ulo sa bintana at hinayaang maramdaman ang mga bagay na pilit kong nilalabanan sa mga nakalipas na taon.

But I have come to realize that maybe it was for the better, that maybe it happened because life was teaching me something, that everything in our life is going to cause us some degree of pain. Absolutely everything. But the question is not what we can do to absolve or avoid the pain altogether but deciding what would be worth enduring it in the end.

But how will you know if it's gonna be worth it?

"I have to get the funding I need and secure some insurance and liabilities. I don't even know if it's even a viable option in the area..." boses iyon ni Kuya Evan patungkol sa negosyong plano niyang itayo.

"It's one of the top industries for startups but also  has one of the highest rates of failure. You just really have to study your market..." advice ni Kuya Atom sa kanya.

"Yeah, I know.." Kuya Evan hummed.

Nang mapansing nakikinig ako sa usapan nila ay nilingon ako ni Kuya Evan mula sa likuran at sinilip si Baby Olli. "Is he asleep?" he asked, brows half-creasing.