Sincerely, Elena

Chapter 2: Dante

As soon as I got home, Tita Rizza, my mom's only sister, my auntie, and my teacher, greeted me with her dead glaring eyes. I'm currently residing at their house in the meantime while I'm still studying here.

Living with them was quite alright, quaint and homey, unlike what I was used to in States. The only good thing I have liked about my situation was that as soon as I stayed here, Tita Rizza treated me like her own son, like how a mother should treat her child. It is just sometimes; I keep reminding myself that she's really not my mother.

I sighed.

Umupo ako sa sofa malapit sa kanyang kinauupuan. Bago pa makapagsalita si Auntie Rizza, inunahan ko na siya. "I told you Auntie, I don't need a tutor." I slumped my back on the couch and closed my eyes for a minute.

"Anong hindi mo kailangan Dante? Nakita mo ba ang grades mo? Paano ka makakaabot ng scholarships sa grade mo? Alam mo na noong simula nang iniwan ka sa'kin ni Ate naging responsibilidad kita."

Oo nga, iniwan ako rito ng nanay ko mag-isa sa lugar na hindi ko alam. "Akyat na po ako. Magbibihis lang po ako."

"Hindi pa tayo tapos mag-usap, Dante," galit na galit niyang sinabi.

Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at lumingon kay Tita Rizza. Clenching my fist, I gritted back, "Ako na pong bahala tita. I'll make it up to win the championship and earn my scholarship."

I noticed how her back slumped as soon as she realized it. "Dante, hindi kasi iyon ang punto ko. Nag-alala lang naman ako na baka hindi ka makakakuha ng scholarship sa maganda school dahil sa grades," paliwanag ni Tita. Lumapit siya sa akin at hinaplos ang aking braso. "Pamilya mo kami hangga't nandito ka sa bahay ko, okay? Kaya aalagaan kita hangga't kaya ko," dagdag nito.

I stooped my neck down. I gripped tightly on the strap of my bag as the words from her lips run through my ear like a vanishing wind.

She sighed, releasing her soft palms on my shoulders. "Pero kung ayaw mo, hindi naman kita mapipilit. Nasasayangan lang ako dahil heto lang ang magawa ko kay Elena, para matulungan ko silang maglola."

Matulungan? Napakunot ako sa ulo. "Bakit tita? Tulong? Siya?"

She slighlty nod. "Nagtanong kasi siya sa akin noong isang araw kung may trabaho akong alam na pwede niyang pasukan para makatulong sa kanyang lola. Uliran na din kasi siya. Sympre napamahal na rin sa akin ang bata, kaya eto hangga't sa akin makakaya, gusto kong makatulong sa kanya. Matalino pa naman at masipag." Iniwan niya ako sa sala, tumayo siya sa kanyang kinauupuan at pumunta sa kusina.

"Sige Dante, umakyat ka na at magbihis," dagdag niya habang nagaayos ng hapunan.

Umakyat ako sa hagdan at sinarado ang pinto. I didn't change my clothes. Instead, I plummeted down on my newly made bed, feeling really bad.

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Pagkatapos ng araw na iyon, hindi natuloy ang tutoring session namin. Hindi na rin ako pinilit ni Auntie Rizza. Alam ko naman na 'it's all my fault.' I felt sorry for what I did, knowing how she badly needs it. However, I just can't handle the fact that I have to go with this tutoring session.

Kaya ko naman. Ayoko lang.

I was wrong about what I knew about her. When she walked out that day, I was pretty astonished, knowing she has the guts to do that. Hindi ako makapaniwala na isang Elena Payton kilalang tahimik, cold at uptight ay may character din pala. She's small, may look closed off to everyone, however, she's definitely someone whom you can never judge by its cover.