Finding Ms. Right

Chapter 48: Help Rejected

JANA

I just sighed at sumandal sa upuan ko dito sa classroom. "It's good to be alone." Mahinang bulong ko dahil ako lang ang nandito ngayon sa classroom. Kasama kasi ang Section C sa 'mission' na pinagawa ko. And until now, hindi pa sila bumabalik.

I looked at the wall clock and saw that ilang minuto na lang, 5:00 na ng hapon. While I am waiting, I took my phone out of my pocket at tinawagan ang mga tanda na 'yon.

I dialed Kuya Jake's number pero nagtaka ako dahil hindi niya sinasagot. Hanggang sa narinig ko na ang bwiset na boses ng isang babae. Cannot be reach daw si Kuya. Psh.

So I only dialed Kuya John's number. After four rings, he answered it.

"Yes princess?" Napairap na lang ako.

"Where are you Kuya? Sa bahay?" Tanong ko. Hindi ko kasi alam kung saan sila pumunta after they left AU a while ago. Hindi naman siguro trabaho agad ang inatupag nila, ano?

"Yeah, I'm home." Sandali akong napakunot noo ng banggitin niya ang word na home. It sounded different to my ears. Parang may ibang meaning. I just ignored that thought and asked my real purpose on calling.

"Anyway, ano nga palang pumasok sa utak niyo at umuwi kayo ni Kuya Jake?" Tanong ko.

"Well, we just want to visit out dear little princess. We heard nagkasakit ka daw, is that true?" Napangisi na lang ako doon. Hindi naman ako nagkasakit eh. Maybe I fainted in the Daycare Center because of the hotness of the atmosphere. Yeah, 'yun lang 'yon.

"Hindi ako nagkasakit Kuya. Nahilo lang ako dahil sa init." Palusot ko. But I'm sure he won't buy that excuse.

"Oh whatever, princess. We did all of our works there para pwede kaming makauwi ni Jake for you. But Papa can't go home now, he has a lot of works to do. Please understand him, princess." Napangiti na lang ako. Kaya pala hindi sila tumatawag kasi tinatapos na nila lahat para makauwi at mabisita ako. And it really doesn't matter to me if Papa can't go home now. I understand him, always. Though, it hurts me because I really miss him but I can't hug him right now because he's not here. But well, that can wait. Sigurado naman akong pupunta siya sa araw ng birthday ko.

"I understand Kuya. By the way, where's Kuya Jake? He's not answering my calls a while ago."

I heard him heaved a long sigh before answering me. "As usual, the playboy. He's in a bar, playing with Filipinas." Natawa na lang ako habang napapailing-iling. My Kuya Jake will always be the playboy type of a man. Ilang beses na naming sinabihan 'yon na tumigil na pero sige pa din siya. Hinayaan na lang namin. For 'fun' naman daw. He was just enjoying his life because he believe in the saying that "You only live once" kaya gano'n siya.

But I just don't get it why Papa and Kuya John only let him do that. Then whenever the topic of me having a boyfriend, they will immediately shook their heads and say 'NO'. Ayaw nilang tatlo na magkaroon ako no'n. My aunts and uncles in America always tell me to have a boyfriend para daw ma-enjoy ko din daw ang kabataan ko. But the three men of my life will immediately refused that thought. I don't know but I once heard Kuya John said that I'm already reserved for someone in the future. Pero pakeelam ko ba sa usapang love life na 'yan? The hell I care? Foods lang ang aasawahin ko. Duh?

My brother and I only had a little conversation before he said bye because he wants to rest. Pumayag na lang ako dahil siguradong pagod talaga iyon dahil sa flight nila.

Saktong kabababa ko pa lang ng phone ng may biglang magsalita.

"Jana."

Nahablot ko kaagad ang bag ko at naibato papuntang pinto. "Tangina!"