What Would It Be? (COMPLETED)

#1

#WhatWouldItBe

"Stefan, pakiabot nga ng sandok kasama ng mga rekado,"

Agad ko namang sinunod ang utos ni mama at binigay sa kaniya ang hiling. Nginitian niya ako bago kuhanin at nagpatuloy sa pagluluto.

Today is before New Year's Day. December 31 and I'm helping my family, at least, to cook foods for later midnight.

I think I was forced here or volunteered. I don't know.

I continue doing this ulam recipe and kept switching to cooking the spaghetti sauce. Sabi ng mga titas and titos ko, I cook so good spaghetti kaya ako ang nilagay nila sa pagluluto ng gusto nila.

This is not new to me. Ever since I started to know how to maneuver the gas stove and learn how to do proper cooking, kasama na ako sa paghahanda ng iilang celebrations sa isang tao.

It's good. I'm not saying anything because it is fun. Hindi lang contentment sa sikmura ang nadadala kundi ang bonding din with my family.

God knows how much I love them even if some days are just hard for some of us.

"Tapos ka ba diyan, hijo?" napabaling ako ng tingin sa nagsalita.

"Almost, lola. Konting halo na lang.." ngiwi ko.

She patted my shoulder and went far away from us. She used to cook with us, especially before but.. there's no deny na tumatanda na siya..

Sayang. Gustong-gusto niya magluto para sa mga anak at mga apo niya ngunit ayaw na ng mga buto ng katawan niya.

That's why now, we're multi tasking to finish cooking because ilang oras na lang, sasapit na ang alas dose.

Tagaktak na ang pawis ko and I didn't even noticed it until Mama passed me a clean and Downy-ih face towel.

"Thank you," I said and rub it on my face.

Nang matapos sa pagluluto, I assembled it to the way that was taught by me a while ago. Nag-iba kami ng routine so I need to do different from what I used to do.

"Tapos na 'yan? Ang iba? Mga ulam?" My Aunt said that.

Sinabi ko na tapos na ako sa ginagawa ko and she just nodded. Umalis ako sa tapat ng mesa at hinanap si Mama.

I found her standing beside the human sized mirror and our flat-screen TV.

"Ma.." I called her.

She's swiping from her Facebook when she looks at me, "Bakit?"

"Natapos ko na 'yung niluluto ko. Can I go inside my room na? I still have a lot of readings to rush, I can't help with some leftovers food na kailangan lutuin,"

Our schedule is hectic now. I'm graduating and it's excuse na marami na talagang ginagawa. One mistake, a hundred possibility that I won't graduate.

So I really tried to help the family from fixing the foods, I don't want it to do but I can't dodge it because.. they are my family.

"Sige lang! Salamat sa tulong, anak.." nanlambot ang puso ko sa ngiti niya.

I wanted to hug her but I'm sweaty like I've just come from hell. Pag-akyat ko sa kwarto ay pinatuyo ko muna ang sarili kasabay ng kahit papaano ay pagbasa kahit saglit lang.

When I made sure that I can take a bath, agad din akong naligo at saka suot ng damit na komportable sa akin.

Hindi ako nagsisinungaling, ang dami kong babasahin because after this holiday, exams kami kaagad sa UW. It's fucking unbelievable but what can I do?