Training The Ensign

TTE: 20

Chapter Twenty: Goodbye, LA.

I braided the sides of my short hair properly before wearing my white sandals. I'm wearing a cowl neck violet velvet dress paired with a long white sandal and gold accessories.

Kinuha ko ang makapal na puting faux fur coat at bag bago lumabas ng kwarto. Today's my 18th birthday. My debut. And we're going to celebrate it far away from here.

"Are you ready to go, anak?" Mom asked as she put the last of her luggage inside the trunk. "Yes," I whispered while helping her put my luggage next.

Kuya's still inside the house, checking the things that we might forget before we leave.

"Walang naiwan, Rolie?" Mom asked Kuya.

"None, Ma. Let's go, baka ma-late tayo. Get inside the car, Rilynn," he pointed at me.

Pumasok ako sa kotse atsaka sinuot ang coat na dala ko. Sobrang lamig dito sa Los Angeles kaya kailangan kong isakto sa style ang mga susuoting kong jacket. Buti na nga lang at maraming fashion jackets dito, e.

"Did you check everything, Rolie? Ang stoves?"

"I did, Ma. Okay lahat," Kuya answered while driving.

We are on our way to Burbank Airport now. Hindi kami pwedeng ma-late dahil si Lolo ang pumili ng tickets namin and he'll be mad kapag na-late kami.

"Ang lamig..." Mom whispered. Even though she's sanay sa malalamig na countries since she spends a lot of time travelling, iba pa rin talaga ang lamig ng panahon dito.

Inabot ko sa kaniya ang spare coat na dala ko para mabawasan ang panlalamig niya. "Thank you, anak," she smiled.

When we arrived at the airport, naghintay kami ng ilang oras bago sumalang sa eroplano. This feels so surreal. Parang panaginip na kahit kailan ay hindi ko naisipang magkaka-totoo. I finally got the chance to go home. To live again and to be happy again.

Nang makarating kami sa NAIA ay sinalubong kami ni Lolo at ng kaniyang mga tauhan. A year ago when they visited us in LA, lola died. Ever since that day, Lolo has been living with his maids and men.

It's actually a good thing that mom goes to the Philippines to visit him. Kami lamang ni kuya ang naiiwan sa LA dahil sa pagaaral ko.

"Rilynn, apo!" Lolo hugged me tightly while caressing my hair. Gano'n rin ang ginawa niya kay Kuya at kay Mommy. Dahil sa jetlag, pinauwi kami ni Lolo sa mansyon niya dahil mas malapit iyon sa aiport kaysa sa bahay namin.

"Magpahinga muna kayo. I'll ask my maids to prepare dinner." Lolo handed me the key to my room.

Pagkagising ko ay bumungad sa'kin ang malalim at maitim na langit. The stars and the full moon are the only thing that's giving the dark sky light. Katulad ng gabing iyon.

**

"I wanna see them one last time... Dad please..." I begged. Patuloy lang akong kinakaladkad ni daddy papasok sa sasakyan niya para makapunta na raw kami sa airport.

"Please..."

"Fine. Dadaan tayo sa bahay niyo but you will tell them that you want to come with me! Or else, I'll hurt you all," banta niya. I just nodded but a plan was actually building in my mind when he was dragging me.

I asked my friends to call kuya a while ago. I'm pretty sure kuya's got a rescue plan for me and all I have to do is get the chance para libangin si daddy at si Miradeth.

Mom taught us things like this after dad started to threaten us. She taught us how to properly respond to things like this kaya naman alam ko na ang dapat kong gawin ngayon.