The Broken Hearts Club

03

From being one of the richest family in our province to being none, from having luxurious things to having simple ones. I thought it could only possibly happens in a movie but little did I know that it could also happen in reality. Yes, it really is.

Sinuyod ko ang kabuuan ng aming bagong nilipatan. Hindi ganoon kalaki ngunit hindi rin naman ganoon kaliit, sakto lang para sa apat na tao. From having four aircons before now we have nothing but a single stand fan. We have two rooms, a small-spaced dining and kitchen area, and a single bathroom, with only a bowl inside—bath tub and shower no more.

Adjustments... We did a lot of adjustments in our first month of staying here in our new home that they called payag. The once walls was now replaced by amakan, tiles into woods, and color roof to nipa. From having a mansion to a bahay-kubo.

But to be honest, I like more our life like this. I may be born with a silver spoon but that doesn't mean that I couldn't appreciate the beauty in simplicity.

It's been three months since we left our dear province, Negros Oriental and transferred here in Cagayan De Oro.

Mahigpit ang pagkakahawak ko sa strap ng aking bag habang tinatahak ang daan pauwi sa amin. Yes, for living and studying here for three months, I still didn't gain new friends. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ilag ang mga kaklase ko sa akin, hindi naman nila ako pinagkakatuwaan kahit transferee lang ako pero ayon, hindi rin ako pinapansin. Kahit si Ate. We are inseparable before but I don't know what happened now. Para na tuloy akong hangin na nararamdaman nila ngunit hindi pinapansin.

"Ate," I called her. Nakita ko siyang nasa labas ng bahay at nakatitig sa kanyang telepono with her unreadable expression. She looked up into me.

"Oh?" tamad niyang sagot at isinilid pabalik ang kanyang telepono sa bulsa nito.

"Laro tayo, Ate," I enthusiastically invite her.

"Pwede ba tigilan mo na ako? Hindi na ako bata. Kung gusto mong maglaro, maglaro kang mag-isa mo. I am not your playmate. Not anymore, sister," she said emphasizing the last words. Inirapan niya ako at ng akma siyang papasok ng bahay ay pinigilan ko siya.

"What's with the changes, Ate? Where's my Ate who used to play heroine just for me? Where's my—"

"You really are a drama queen, sister," she said full of sarcasm. Where's the Ate I used to know? "Cut the crap! You should ask that to yourself. This. Is. All. Your. Fault." and she leave me alone with my mind full of thoughts and eyes that full of tears.

Is it really my fault? I can't exactly remember what happened that day. Ang huli kong nakita't-narinig ay ang sigaw ni Kuya Mario pagkatapos nun sinakop na ako ng buong kadiliman. Then I woke up and found myself in the airport. Ready na ang lahat ng kakailanganin namin para makaalis: mga maleta, tickets, at iba pa.

I asked them what happened, they told me nahimatay ako sa sobrang kapaguran. They also explained to us that we need to move out because it is all for our own good. That's the time that Ate started giving me cold shoulders, she's not talking to me unless it is very needed or important.

The worries in their eyes before we left... It bothers me.

"O, anak, nariyan ka na pala. Bakit hindi ka pa pumapaso—wait, are you crying?" agad kong pinahid ang luhang pumatak galing sa aking mga mata bago nakangiting bumaling kay Tatay.

"Hindi, Tay," sagot ko. Kinuha ko ang kaniyang kamay at nagmano. Hinalikan ko rin siya sa pisngi gaya ng nakasanayan naming gawin ni Ate.

"E, ano 'yong nakita ko kanina? Tumatanda na ang Tatay anak pero hindi pa malabo ang mata ko," ani nito habang pinaninigkitan ako ng mata.