Love Me in Brooklyn

Chapter 3 - Journey

"Then tell me Tita!" I pleaded. "Bakit po ba umalis si Mama? Bakit iniwan niya kami dito ni Papa?"

Tita Myra kept her mouth shut. Umiling lang siya at pinuntahan ang kapatid niya. I crossed my arms and frowned.

"Wala ba akong karapatan malaman?" I asked Marina. "Hindi naman na ako bata. Bakit ba galit na galit sila kay Mama? Bakit tuwing binabanggit ko siya, ayaw nilang magsalita?"

Marina just looked at me, probably because she didn't know what to say anymore.

"Tama na Sab, baka magaway pa kayo ng tatay mo," Kuya Milo pointed out.

Tumayo ako at naglakas loob umakyat sa taas. I knocked on my father's bedroom door and opened it when he didn't answer. Natigil sa paguusap sila Tita at Papa nang makita nila ako.

"Pa..."

Tita Myra looked disappointed and troubled but she just exhaled and left quietly. Pumasok naman ako sa loob at umupo sa tabi ng tatay ko.

"Gusto ko pong malaman mong mahal na mahal kita Papa. Hindi magbabago kahit kailan 'yon. I'm not leaving you just because I wanted to see mom."

"Hindi pa ba sapat kami ng Tita mo at ng mga pinsan mo para punan ang pangungulila mo sa kanya?"

"I am loved, I can feel that."

"Then why, anak? Bakit kailangan mo pang puntahan ang nanay mong kinalimutan ka na nga?"

"The truth is, I am only going to her just to ask her some questions." I touched his hand and smiled. "Naaalala mo po ba ang kababata ko na naging first boyfriend ko noon sa daycare? His name is RJ and I want to find him. Si Mama lang po ang makakapagturo sa'kin kung nasaan ito."

"I can find him for you---"

"I highly doubt you'll help me find a new husband since you're not on my side..." pagnguso ko.

"So this is because of our deal? You think that kid is your soulmate?"

Tumango ako. "Who knows, maybe he is. Pero hindi ko po malalaman kung hindi ko siya makikita ulit. I only have a few months of freedom left. Hindi ko naman po kasi maintindihan bakit nagmamadali ka pong ipakasal ako kay Simeon. It's not like you're sick or something..." Akala ko tatawa siya pero sumeryoso ang mukha niya kaya nagtaka ako. "You're not sick, right?"

My eyes widened when he didn't answer me. "No! Pa! Hindi pa ako ready mamatay ka!"

Iiyak na sana ako nang sumimangot siya. "Ikaw, napaka praning mong bata ka!"

"Then why aren't you saying anything?!"

"I am not dying, but I have a mental illness. I get paranoid and overthink most of the time. Napapansin mo naman siguro ang pagbabago sa ugali ko."

Tumango tango ako.

"I was advised to no longer go back to managing our businesses. Nagkakandaloko loko na kasi dahil sa sakit ko. I sometimes think our workers are plotting something behind my back. Kaya maski ang matatagal ng mga trahabador natin, nagsisialisan na. I'm afraid if I continue this, Navar Lands will fall down."

"Can't Tita Myra handle it? Bakit po kailangang sila Simeon pa?"

"Simeon and his father know the farm more than my sister."

"Pero Pa, ayoko pa po talagang magpakasal. Unless kay RJ, pwere rin naman. HAHAHA!"

He rolled his eyes and sighed. "A deal's a deal. Sige na, papayag na akong umalis ka tutal alam ko namang walang kahahantungan 'yang ideya mong 'yan. You will come home before my birthday without anyone beside you."