HULING SANDALI (SEQUEL)

07

Career

Chapter 7

Bianca called me the next day. Sabi niya ay bigla niya daw ako namiss kasi kahapon ay nagpplano ang buong section para sa event next week. Sakto nga at makakapunta ako dahil uwi ko din next week.

They were so thrilled kasi madaming activities this year unlike last academic year. Well, I guess that's what happened when you vote the right people for the position. Iyong may ambag sa katungkulang ginagampanan at hindi mistulang display lang ng pangalan sa bulletin board.

I remember so many people but I won't say anything though.

"Anak, nasabi mo na ba kay Aden?" Mommy asked me when we were having lunch. Dad was busy on his phone dahil may biglaang tawag mula sa business namin sa Philippines. Kuya was eyeing me.

 I nodded, "Yes po."

"Alam niya na babalik ka para umalis ulit?" Kuya asked. He sighed. Mukhang alam niya na sagot.

Kuya shrugged, "I hope you tell him sooner." 

After lunch ay pumunta ako sa kwarto ni Ate. She was lying on her bed for days already. She eats earlier than us. May schedule kasi ang pagkain at gamot niya. We understand kaya minsan ay sumasabay ako sa kanya mag lunch dito sa kwarto niya. 

It's just that this time she wanted us to eat... without her.

I knock a few times when I heard her in a low voice saying 'come in'. I opened her door and saw her reading a book. Pero nang makalapit ako ay natanaw ko ang isang kakaibang cover. It was a book for fashion designers. She really love clothes.

She noticed my attention to her book. Kaya naman ay pinaupo niya ako sa tabi niya.

"Gusto ko talang magtayo ng clothing line, Ayana." Ate Al was smiling when she said that. I held her hand and nodded at her.

"We both want it." 

"You love dancing and acting." Ate Al pointed out. Napaisip ako, oo nandon na ko. Pero hindi ko kasi maimagine ang sarili ko na ginagawa ko siya habangbuhay. Alam mo yon, kapag career yung tipong worth it ng pagod mo someday. I didn't say na dancing isn't worth it, iniisip ko lang na baka hindi iyon ang field para sakin.

"I guess, it's just my hobby now. Kaya sasamahan kita sa kung anong gusto mo Ate."

She look disappointed.

"Ginagawa mo ba yan kasi naawa ka sakin?"

My eyes widened and immediately shook my head. "Of course not!"

"Ate Al, bata pa lang ako mahilig na ako sa dress up. Diba, Y3? Narealize ko Ate na kung may gagawin man ako na paghihirapan ko, yun ay ang paggawa ng damit. Iba kasi fulfillment kapag nakikita mo na yung tinatahi mong damit ay naisusuot ng iba. The feeling is just,,, right."

I saw her sighed then smile. Which made me smile too!

"Tsaka, Ate Al nalimutan mo ba na nagpaturo pa ko kay Mommy na magtahi kasi gusto ko talagang bihisan yung stufftoy na bili ni Dad? Nung unang beses ako gumamit ng makina para sa TLE o yung Home Economics na subject. Yung striktong pagpili ko sa mga sinusuot ko. Feeling ko Ate Al nandito ang puso ko." Pagpapatuloy ko. Totoo. Gustong gusto ko nito. 

Hindi dahil pangarap din ni Ate Alice, kung hindi dahil nakikita ko ang sarili kong ginagawa ito sa magdadaan pang taon. 

"Pasensya ka na, nagduda pa ko." Pagpapaumanhin ni Ate Al. I shook my head. There's nothing to be sorry about.

"Ate Alice.."

"Feeling ko kasi these days everything that you do is for me." She said.

I nodded, "Well, it's true naman. We love you, Ate Al. And we'd do everything for you. You know that."

"Ayana.." She looked at me and held my hand. 

"Thank you. For being a reliable sister. A supportive one. A sweetest one. Thank you."

I saw a tear fell from her eye. She smiled at me and hugged me. I hugged her tight. Si Ate Alice naglalambing na naman, nagpapaiyak pa!

"Ate naman!" And we cried for hours.. 

Sometimes, love isn't just about a partner in life. This is love. A sister love. The feeling that no one could ever top. 

~ imiddlemistred