Maybe Next Time (A Series #2)

Prologue

Sinundo ko ang aking kapatid sa eskwela niya. Binusinahan ko siya nang nakarating na sa tabi ng kanilang paaralan. Nakauniporme pa rin siya ng football jersey nila at tumakbo patungo sa sasakyan habang hinahawakan ang kanyang malaking duffel bag.

Sinalubong niya ako ng malapad na ngiti. "My game is on weekend, Ate. You'll watch, right?"

Natawa ako sa sinabi ng kapatid at ginulo ng konti ang kanyang mukha.

"Put the bag on the backseat, Trisha."

She grinned and did as told.

Nagmamaneho ako sa sasakyan palabas ng kanyang paaralan. Paminsan kong nilingon ang kapatid na naglalaro na ngayon sa kanyang cellphone.

"Let's grab a drive-thru," sabi ko.

Umangat ang tingin niya sa akin at bumusangot ang mukha. "What do you mean, Ate?"

Humalakhak ako sa kanyang sinabi at umiiling lamang. I pulled the car over to a fast food chain and grab a medium sized fries and two burgers. Nilahad ko iyon sa aking kapatid ngunit tinititigan niya lamang iyon.

"You're always doing this when you're about to do something bad." she said with emphasis.

Nilapag ko ang fries sa tabi bago kinuha ang float drinks. "I'm just buying you a snack, Trisha,"

She frowned more. "Tell me..."

"Thank you." sabi ko sa cashier bago patuloy na nagmamaneho pauwi.

Trisha is my half sister. She's born in Tacoma, Washington and until now, she can't speak Tagalog. Minsan may kataga siyang nalalaman ngunit bulol palagi. The only words she can say without slangs is Ate and Mama.

Malungkot akong ngumiti sa kanya at ngayon, ang buong atensyon niya ay nasa akin na.

"You're not thinking of going back, right?" pagdududa niya.

She's my sister at the same time, my best friend. I always tell her everything that happened in my life and she tells me the same to her life. Malaki ang agwat namin sa isa't isa ngunit nagkakasundo kami palagi.

"I already have my ticket."

Dumaing siya at pabagsak na sumandal sa upuan. "Before my game? Really, Ate? Come on, that's not fair!"

"That's the cheapest ticket I could get, Trisha. Besides, I will watch your play online. Mama will surely put it on live stream."

"Oh no, Ate. You're not being true here. What if you get hurt there? What if you're going through the same hardship?"

Ngumiti ako sa kanya.

"What if it's not worth it, Ate?"

"Enough with what ifs, Trisha. I will strike back right away if it's too much for me." nakangiti kong sinabi.

Kumunot ang kanyang noo sa isang malungkot na ekspresyon. "The person you're going back for isn't the same anymore, Ate. It's been so long, don't you think it's time to freely let go?"

Natigilan ako sa kanyang sinabi. I've been preparing for that, I've been rehearsing this so many times but still, I get speechless and dumbfounded.

"It's okay. I'm an adult now, I could take any pain life throws at me."

I smiled widely at my sister but she didn't look convinced. On the inner side of me, I know she's right.

Inayos ko ang aking mga bagahe sa iisang maleta lamang. Hindi ko alam kung magtatagal ba ako roon kaya konti lang ang dinala ko. Tinulungan ako ni Trisha kagabi upang mag-impake at roon siya sa aking kwarto natulog.