“Late ka .” Dad told me as he unfold the newspaper in front of the coffee table . Maaga si Dad today . He supposed to go home 9 . And it’s just 7:30 for Heaven sake ! Kung kailan nagtrabaho ako doon sya umuwi ng maaga . Anong idadahilan ko ? He raised his eyebrow as he bring back the newspaper to the table and look at me intently , As if he is waiting for the perfect answer from me .
“Dad . Look ..” I try to explain but he stops me . “Are you dating someone without asking a permission from me ?” He asked .
“Hell no ! Dad , I told you when the matter is all about love I will asked you everything .!” Sinabi ko sa kanya . Seryoso akong nag iisip ng idadahilan ay nakaisip naman sya ng mga bagay bagay sa mundong ibabaw . Dating ? Though malapit na ang February 14 at wala pa akong date pero who cares ? We’ve been celebrating it with my friends for quiet time .
“Then why my baby Bebs late ?” Tanong uli nya . Sh*t ! I think I can’t hide it anymore .
“I am working .” Based on my imagination , Lumuwa ang mata ni Dad sa gulat . Pero as I typed . Imagination lang iyon . Lumapit ako sa kanya at ni kiss ko ang pisngi nya . Sa sobrang tense ko nakalimutan ko syang kiniss .
“You … what ?” Tanong uli nya noong nakabalik na ang eyeballs nya sa pwesto nila .
“Nagtatrabaho po ako Dad .” Sabi ko tsaka ko nilapag ang bag ko sa sofa sa side nya at umupo sa tabi nya .
“Bakit ka nagtatrabaho ? Kulang ba ang allowance mo ? May binabayaran ka ba sa school ? Why not tell me ?” Sabi nya sa akin .
“Oh dumating ka na pala . Bakit late ka ?” Si mama . Kararting lang nya . May dala syang mga supot ng mga pagkain . Midnight snack siguro .
“Ma ! Nagtatrabaho ang anak natin .” Sabi ni Papa kay mama at kinuha yung mga plastick bags kay Mama .
“Nagtatrabaho ? Bakit naman magtatrabaho iyan ,?” Tano ng ni Mama kay Dad at umupo rin sa sofa namin . Bale silang dalawa doon sa mahaba at ako naman yung nakaupo sa single sized at para akong nasa Korte dahil nasa harapan ko silang dalawa .
“Bakit ka nagtatrabaho ?” Tanong naman ni Mama sa akin wearing her concern eye . Kahit naman walang ginawa si Mama sa storyang ito kung hindi tawanin ako I knew she cares for me .
“Kasi po may concert si Tay dito sa June . Nakakahiya naman po …”
“Para lang sa concert ng si Tay na yan nahihirapan ka . Aba ! Sumusobra ka naman ata sa pagiging fan sa kanya ! Nagpapakapagod ka para sa kanya samantalang ikaw , Hindi man nya alam na nabubuhay pala ang katulad mo .” Sabi ni Mama sa akin .
At some point , napaisip ako sa sinabi nya . Well , yes . Ako may bagong post lang sya sa twitter hindi na ako mapakali sa kakasigaw . May bagong picture lang sya , nagtatalon na ako . Mabalitaan ko lang sa mga ka swiftie ko na may concert o may kakilala o kinausap si Tay mag raresearch na kaagad ako kung ano ang connection nila sa isa’t isa . Pero hindi naman nya ako kilala . She doesn’t have any clue that I’m existing . But everything is alright . The happiness that her songs brings in me is amazing . She inspires me to play guitar . Are those things such happiness aren’t enough to love her ? To do things to be with her ? By the way , Me watching her will never ever change her name . Still , The Taylor Swift that the crowds love . The taylor Swift with a guitar singing and enjoying .The Taylor Swift who cares about the people listening to her . But me , Watching her gives me all the credits . I will enjoy watching her . For me that’s actually a history . Right ? I didn’t bother to answer my Mom instead I just look at her eyes . Then , Bull’s eye ! She was captured . Napatigil si Mama noong narealize siguro nya na there’s something wrong about her words and look at Dad . Dad like me , Just look in my eyes . Then he declared words that really change the mood .
“I see myself in you . When I was young I did that too . Do things because I will earn something for me . Ok . You will work . I Will let you . Just assure me that after all of your sacrifices you will be happy little girl .” Then he patted my head ang go to the kitchen to prepare the meals that my Mom bought .
It’s just me and my Mom left . She just look at me . I look at her too .
“Sorry .” She said as she hug me . I smile by that gesture of my Mom . I smile at her and hug her in return .
“Maghahanap din ako ng trabaho . Para may idagdag ka para sa V…”
“No ! You are not going to work . You will stay here Mom .” Sabi ko sa kanya . Magtatrabaho sya para sa akin ? No . Hindi pwede .
“Ok hindi na . Ikaw na lang . Ganito na lang , Ipagluluto nalang kita araw araw ng lunch mo para kahit nag babanal na patiwakal ka . Ay busog ka pa rin .” Sabi nya . ‘banal na patiwakal?’
“Saan mo po nalaman ang HaraKiri ?” Taong ko sa kanya at hindi pa rin kami kumakalas sa hugs namin .
“Dumaan din ako dyan . Tipid tipid para sa That’s entertainment .” Sabi ni Mom .
“Kung makapanglait ka kay Taylor ko , Ikaw nga . Kilala ka ba ni Manilyn ? Sheryl ? triplets ? Hindi po Mom kaya ingat ingat s mga term ha ?”Sabi ko sa kanya .
“Kaya nga sorry na .” Sabi nya at tumingin sa direksyon papunta sa kusina . I follow her gaze at nakita ko si Dad wearing Apron at may dalang sandok nakatingin sa amin ni Mom . Tumakbo sya papunta sa amin at nakisawsaw sa Hug namin ni Mom at saka sumigaw na “group hug !”
Here they are . The not so perfect but obviously happy family . Meet them again .
Author’s note :
Hello ! Kumusta ? Kwentuhan nya naman ako sa mga plano nyo sa Valentines . Ako magkukwento na . I will stay at home and read my favorite book . That’s it !
Sorry kung hindi nyo gusto yung update . Ok lang sa akin . Ha ? ano daw ? (slow ? Meaning , Kahit hindi gusto ng reader’s wala na kayong magagawa . Tamad masyado ang author kaya walang edit edit !)
Bebs
