Kapit Bitaw

Chapter 17

Julian wasn't at the year end celebration of our school. I was supposed to apologize for all the things I've done at the beach pero hindi ko siya namataan doon sa school. Maybe he didn't feel like attending.

Mabilis akong nakarating sa bahay pagkatapos ng tradisyon namin nila Maria na pumunta sa town pagkatapos ng mga party sa school. Bumaba ako mula sa sasakyan pagkatapos magpasalamat sa driver namin. Pumasok kaagad ako, unaware of the fact that my parents were, again, fighting.

Ngunit iba ngayong pagkakataon. I felt it because they immediately stooped talking. I looked back and forth at their figures. Mom put on a [fake smile] and ushered me in. Dad sat down and drank the coffee on the side table as if nothing happened.

May something.

Lumiit mata ko. "Liana, tapos na school year 'di ba?"

"Yes?" bakit niya tinatanong? Alam naman niya 'e.

"Saan mo gustong pumunta, for summer break. Will you be fine with just staying here in the Philippines for this year?" usisa pa niya, I didn't know why she was asking such questions. Alam naman ng lahat na wala akong sabi sa mga trips namin 'e. I carefully nodded.

"Kahit saan po."

"Great! You hear that, Rodulfo? Payag naman siya."

"Po?" I was getting confused.

"Nothing. Nothing. Puwede ka na umakyat sa kuwarto mo." she comforted me. I nodded and followed, I could sense na may papagusapan sila na hindi ko dapat marinig. I could also sense that it was about me.

Lumipas ang isang linggo, bored na bored na ako. I didn't have anything to do here at all. Then, came a knock. Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pagaayos ng kuwarto ko noong biglang pumasok si mama. "Liana."

"Yes?"

"Ayan. Mabuti't nagaayos ka na ng gamit. Pack your bags, pupunta tayo sa Bataan."

"Po? Ilang araw po?" honestly I'm thrilled na lalabas na kami sa bahay. Sobrang bored na ako kulang nalang ay bilangin ko ang mga buhok na nasa ulo ko. Every summer, we would go out of the country for 1 month. 'Di ko alam talaga kung bakit pinili nila mama na hindi na kami umalis. I'm not complaining though. I understand naman.

"1 month." tipid na sagot ni mama at sinarado ang pinto.

Mahaba ang biyahe papuntang Bataan, I was cramped up beside my bag at the back seat, nakasuksok na rin ang earphones sa tenga ko. I downloaded songs para hindi ako mabored dito sa kotse.

The other reason why I chose to wear my earphones is so that I wouldn't hear the endless debate my parents had. Pero kahit na full volume ang pinapatugtog ko, rinig na rinig ko pa rin ang mga boses nila. Sometimes I just want to shut down once in a while.

I looked out the window, we were nearing a village? or was it a resort? Basta iba ang itsura ng mga bahay 'e. Lakas maka-sinaunang panahon. Old Manila. Words inscribed in the poster at the entrance were Mabuhay !

Bumaba ako ng sasakyan, walang ka-hangin hangin. Ang init. May sumalubong sa aming lalaki na naka uniporme katulad ng mga tao na nasa lobby. Casa San Miguel ang pangalan ng building na ito. Binulsa ko ang cellphone ko ngunit nakakabit pa rin ang earphones sa tenga ko. Ang suot kong plain na t-shirt at shorts ay mukhang tipid kasalungat sa suot ng ibang staff dito sa lobby.