Missing Chances

Kabanata 3

Kabanata 3

"ANAK, ayaw mo bang pagupitan ang buhok mo? Ang haba na," tanong sa akin ni Mama habang sinusuklay ang buhok ko. We're in sofa, inaantay si Kuya Macky dahil si Papa ang maghahatid sa amin sa school.

"Ayaw ko, Ma," I told her and pouted, inabot ko ang aking buhok sa balikat at marahang hinaplos. "I want it long so I can style it the way I like, bakit, Ma? Hindi ba bagay sa akin na mahaba?"

"Of course not, Daru." She chuckled, inilagay niya ang buhok sa likod ng tainga ko bago ako marahang pinaharap sa kanya. Our eyes met and I won't lie when I said I think I'm now looking at my older version.

When I became a woman, I knew I'd look a lot like my Mom. Beautiful and angelic looking.

Ewan ko lang sa ugali dahil parang ang layo ng ugali ko kay Mama. I am thinking I got my attitude more from other members of our large family.

"Any hair would suit you, anak." She smiled at me. "Bagay kahit ano, mahaba man or maiksi. I'm just curious why you don't like it short, si Zire at Scira nagpaiksi ng buhok, ah? Sabi nila sa akin may napanuod daw kayong movie na maiksi ang buhok ng bida kaya ginaya?" She noticed.

"Gusto ko rin sana, Ma, kaso nanghihinayang ako. And I like my long hair more, I was tempted to cut it short like Scira and Zire kaso I can't imagine myself in shorter hair, I can't tie it in a pony."

She chuckled and nodded, slowly touching my cheek.

"Sa bagay, maganda naman ang anak ko kahit anong buhok, right?" Her eyes were so soft that I couldn't resist but to hug her.

"S'yempre, Ma! Hawig kaya tayo, sabi nga ni Papa. He's positive na when I became a lady, kahit naman dalaga na ako ngayon, sobrang kamukha raw kita. He said, he's not ready to have a headache when boys started to approach and court me. Magpa-practice na raw siya ng suntukan kapag nalaman niya."

I pouted. She rolled her eyes teasingly.

"Si Dash talaga, hayaan mo at tumatanda na 'yang tatay mo at medyo bugnutin." She said cheekily. "Bakit, Daru, may manliligaw ka na ba?"

Lumayo ako sa kanya at ngumuso, napapaisip.

"Well...I have admirers," I confessed. "I've been keeping their letters, Ma."

"Hmm, I knew it." She pinched my nose. "Alam ba ni Papa?"

"'Yong letters?" I asked. She nodded. "No, baka maglista ng pangalan 'yon at alam mo na, Ma—"

"Anong letters?" Mom and I almost jumped when we heard the voice. Sabay kaming napalingon sa harapan at nakita si Papa na naglalakad sa amin.

"Pa!" I chirped. Nanliit ang mata niya at tumaas ang kilay. His black eyes sought for my mom's who only shrugged.

"Parang pinag-uusapan n'yo ako, ah?" he asked kaya napalunok ako bago sumagot.

"Hindi po," I said.

He then looked at me curiously and at my Mom smiling beside me.

"Babe?" he called.

"Hindi, ah." Mama smiled innocently.

"Oh, you two definitely has secrets, don't you?" he concluded now kaya sabay kaming napahugot ng hininga ni Mama.

He smirked. Lumapit siya sa amin, ginulo ang buhok ko bago naupo sa tabi ni Mama at humalik sa pisngi nito.

"So...anong sekreto n'yong dalawa?" he asked kaya natahimik na naman kami ni Mama, walang ni isang nagsasalita sa aming dalawa. "I heard about letters..."

Nakagat ko ang labi para 'di masyadong kabahan, napaisip si Papa at mayamaya'y kumunot na ang noo bago humarap sa akin.

"Darshana, don't tell me—"