Zeno's Sapphire

Chapter 2

"Mom, where are you going?" I eagerly asked Mom when I got out of the bedroom.  She's already wearing a french coat, sa palagay ko ay aalis siya.

"Oh. I'll just buy some ingredient to a wet market nearby," Mom said. Nakaupo siya ngayon habang isinusuot ang kanya boots.

Naglakad ako palapit sa pwesto niya, "Sama ako..." I said almost a whisper. I don't find wet market interesting but I always want to go with them.

Tumayo siya at bahagyang pinagpagan ang suot. "Hmmm.." Mom hummed. "Why don't you just stay here? Baka mawala ka nanaman," mahinahong dagdag nito.

I pouted and sit to her seat. Hindi naman na mauulit iyon, takot ko na lamang na tuluyan akong mawala.

"I will not na.. please?" I pleaded. Napalingon ako saglit sa kwarto nila, " and where's dad? Hindi mo rin naman kabisado rito mom diba?"

Mom got up to drink some water. She handed me one as well bago niya sinagot ang tanong ko, "We already went here before,"

My mom doesn't want me to come but I still manage to persuade her. Hindi ko naman talaga gusto sa maraming tao but I would rather not mind people as long as I'm beside them.

I feel anxious and think negative things kapag wala ako sa tabi nila.. I know this shouldn't be a normal thing. We already talked about this and I have also visited a doctor too. Nagiging okay naman na ako but sometimes I can't help it but to worry about things too much.

I remember when they leave me in the philippines to fly out with kuya here for the first time. Umiyak ako ng umiyak para ipilit na sasama ako but after series of talking and kuya conditioning me of the situation, napapayag nila ako. But of course, nagkasakit din ako those days. Kung hindi ko lang naalala na older sister ako ni Clane, magmumukmok pa rin ako hanggang ngayon. I feel guilty of my actions.

But I'm getting better and compared to before; I'm at my best. Naligaw lang naman ako kaya ganoon pero sa palagay ko naman ay nakakayanan ko na rin... minsan...

Medyo may kalayuan na ang paglalakad namin. The street isn't familiar, hindi pa ata namin ito napuntahan kahapon or maybe I'm just bad at remembering one lalo na at may pagkakatulad.

"There's Dad," Mom announced pagkatapos ng paglakad-lakad namin.

Napalingon naman ako roon. Nandito pala si Dad, that's explain why wala siya kanina sa apartment. I wonder why...

"Oh. You wake up early? Thought my children will wake up late because of yesterday," salubong sa amin ni Dad after giving him a kiss on his cheek.

Mom just shrugged. Before, whenever they about to go outside they knew I would always come with them. Hinahayaan din naman nila ako but now that I'm doing fine, hindi na masyado. Kuya Duke always reminded me too that I'm getting older.

Pinagmamasdan ko lang ang pagligid nang magpatuloy kami sa paglalakad, still wondering where are we going? Napabaling ako sa kanila, there I saw them wearing a matching inner clothes. I know this habit... whenever my parents date they wear a complementing hoodie. I don't know why though, but thinking of joining them makes me feel guilty.

This is not the first time but I understand that they need quality time too. Hindi naman din madali ang pag-aasikaso nila sa magkaibang business. Saglit akong sumilip para matignan ang dinaanan namin, I still can go back, right?

"Mom, Dad.."

"Why?" mahinahong tanong agad ni Dad nang mapatingin sila sa akin.

"May masakit ba sa iyo?" sunod na tanong ni Mom, nag-aalala.