wishful thoughts

01

"What do you mean she's nowhere to be found?" I heard my Mom shouted as soon as I went inside the house.

"Call her again," Dad commanded. Tumango naman si Kuya bago tumalikod at eksaktong natapat sa gawi ko.

Nang mapansin ang presensiya ko'y agad itong bumuntong hininga.

"No need to call her, she's already here."

"Louella, where have you been?" Tanong ni Dad. I was about to answer when Mom slapped me, real hard.

"MOM!"

"TIFFANY!"

I blinked multiple times. Surprised by her sudden aggressive action.

"Alam mo bang kanina ka pa namin hinahanap?" Nanggagalaiting tanong niya.

"You're supposed to be home by eight since your class ends at seven. But look at the time. It's already 9:30, Louella. Uwi pa ba 'yan ng matinong babae?"

I bit my lower lip, "I lost my phone. I think I dropped it somewhere in school so I... I looked around the school, hoping that I could still find it... But I got no luck."

Mom massaged her temple.

"Napaka-liit na bagay ginagawa mong komplikado. Kung totoo mang naiwala mo 'yon, then for sure, someone took it already. Inuwi sa bahay nila, ginamit, binenta or whatsoever."

"Akala ko ba matalino ka, ha? Hindi ba sumagi sa utak mo 'yon?"

My lips went half open after hearing those words.

"Tiffany, that's too much!"

"Stop protecting your daughter! Kaya tumitigas ang ulo niyan kasi palagi niyong kinokunsinte."

"She has a reason. And, must you get physical? Nauna mo pang saktan yung bata bago pakinggan ang paliwanag niya."

"That's part of parenting, Niccolo."

"Oh, please. Being abusive shouldn't be considered as part of parenting," Dad retorted.

"Let's walk upstairs." Ani Kuya bago ako hinila palayo sa mga magulang naming patuloy pa ring nagtatalo. I sighed.

"Have you eaten?" Tanong niya nang makarating kami sa kwarto ko.

"Not yet. I'm not hungry."

Tinitigan niya ako ng ilang segundo bago bumuntong-hininga.

"Huwag mo na lang pansinin si Mommy. Stressed lang 'yon sa work tapos nasaktuhan pang wala ka rito sa bahay kaya sa 'yo naibuhos lahat ng inis niya."

Tumango ako. "I know."

"Bibilhan na lang kita ng bagong phone bukas. What brand do you want? Iphone? Samsung? Name it."

Matagal bago ako nakasagot. Mariin kong kinagat ang ibabang labi habang pinipigilan ang nagbabadyang mga luha.

I don't want to look fragile in front of anyone. Kahit sobra-sobra na ang frustration, ang pagod, at ang sakit na nararamdaman ko, hindi ko 'yon ipinakikita sa kahit na sino dahil ayaw kong isipin nila na mahina ako.

"Anything will do as long as it's perfectly working," sagot ko. "Will surely pay you after a couple of months. Kailangan ko pa kasing mag-ipon sa ngayon."

"Nah uh. I want something unique in return," he said before raising his brow.

"How about being a top student of your class?"

"You mean, rank one?" I asked with full of curiousity.

He nodded in response. "Mmm."

"Well, that's quite challenging," saad ko.

It is, really. Because Kejadian's a formidable opponent.

"Paano kung hindi ko magawa?"

"Then, I'll think of other way on how you could pay me. With no money involved."

I smirked, "Okay, deal."