After that day, they always visit our house that month. My brother and Gun became close friends and so as we are but I know what's between us is a little bit different.
And I remember that when Gun and his Mom visit our house, he always brings a piece of flower and gives it to me. I was six years old back then but I learned to keep all the flowers he gave me on a used wine bottle.
I wanna keep all the flowers because I feel happy seeing them, and after one month in Japan Gun and his Mom went back to the USA, but our communication doesn't stop there.
As I grew up, Gun and I didn't stop talking to each other and we became closer than I expected.
"Tadaima (I'm home)" I said as I opened the door and removed my shoes here at the entrance and wore my house slippers.
"Okaerinasai (Welcome Home)" Mom said while washing the dishes in the kitchen.
"Anata no denwa o shiyo dekimasu ka (Can I use your phone?)" I said as I lean on the kitchen and pout at my Mother.
"Denwa o tsukau dake (Just use the telephone)" walang ganang sambit ni Mama. I nodded and smiled before I ran to my room and changed my clothes. I'm excited to call him.
I'm already in grade 6 now, and every time I go home from school, I will always borrow Mama's phone or the telephone to call him.
After changing my clothes, I quickly ran to the leaving room and seat beside the telephone. Dial his number and call him.
I can't hide my excitement whenever I'm going to call him even though he always does this every day, hindi pa rin ako sanay.
After a few rings, he answered, "Ohayo (Good morning)" I bet it's 4 in the morning in Washington right now while it's here in Japan it's quarter to 4 in the afternoon, siguro nagising ko nanaman siya.
"Good morning," he answered with his sleepy voice, I smiled and looked out the window.
Gun is already a first-year high school student just like my brother, "How's your day?" he asks. "It's fine" I answer and sigh.
"How about the essay contest?" He asked and I heard him yawn from the other line.
"Second place again," bagsak balikat kong sagot, last year I won second place too until now no improvements.
"Wow, congrats!!!" Gun said and make it sound so cheerful, alam kong ginagawa niya lang iyon para pagaanin ang pakiramdam ko dahil alam niyang gusto kong abutin ang 1st place pero kahit anong gawin ko di ko magawa.
"I know you're just saying that because you wanna make me feel better," I said and heard him sigh from the other line. "Because I know you'll feel sad again, don't worry maybe this is not your time but maybe next year you'll win a," he said, since I met him, his simple words comforts me a lot.
I smile and take deep breath to release this sadness inside of me, "By the wa---" hindi ko natapos ang aking sasabihin ng marinig ang malakas na pagkabasag ng pinggan mula sa kusina.
"What's that?" Gun asked, he heard it too. "I'll call you later," I said and turned off the call, and instantly ran to the kitchen.
"Koko de nani ga okuro ka? (what happened here?)" I asked when I saw a broken plate on the kitchen floor. While Mama remains standing and facing the sink.
"Mama daijoubu desuka? (Are you ok Mama?)" I ask at nilapitan ko siya, paglapit ko sa kanya natigilan ako ng makita siyang umiiyak habang nakayuko at madiin ang pagkakahawak sa sponge.
"Ma" I whisper and just watch her cry and didn't speak, hanggang sa bigla na lang niyang binitawan ang sponge at "O sara o arratte kuremasen ka (Can you wash the dishes for me)" she said and lock herself in their room.
Wala akong nagawa kundi linisin ang nabasag na plato sa sahig at hugasan ang mga plato, hanggang sa dumating na si Kuya at ako na rin ang naghanda ng aming kakainin sa hapunan.
"Yushoku wa junbi ga dekite iru mama (Dinner is ready Mama)" I said in front of the door, hoping that my mother will eat with us.
"Oniichan Issho ni tabete mada manpuku desu *Eat with your brother, I'm still full)" mahinang sambit ni Mama mula sa loob, bagsak balikat akong tumango at naglakad pabalik sa lamesa.
"She's not eating Kuya" I said but my brother seems to understand what's happening and continue eating, tahimik kaming kumain ni Kuya at pagkatapos ay agad siyang dumiretso sa kwarto niya at nagkulong samantalang ako ay naiwan para linisin ang aming pinagkainan.
I also prepare foor on the table, para paguwi ni Papa sabay silang kakain ni Mama.
Maybe Mama is just tired and stressed out, after cleaning the dishes I went inside my room and lay on the bed.
After a few seconds of laying on teh bed, biglang tumunog ang telephoen dito sa aking kwarto na nakaconnect sa leaving room.
Mabilis ko itong sinagot, "Hello?" who's this?
"On my way to school" si Gun, agad akong napaupo sa kama at sinagot siya. "Ingat," I said, I can speak three languages Japanese, Filipino at English and so as Gun is, but he's still learning when it comes to Japanese.
"What happens a while ago by the way?" Gun asks and I can say that he's in the car by the sound from the other line.
"I don't know either I just saw a broken plate on the kitchen and Mama is cry----," natigilan ako ng marinig ang sasakyan ni Papa sa labas, agad akong sumilip sa bintana para tignan siya.
"Bakit umiiyak si Tita?" Tanong ni Gun pero nakafocus ako sa pagsilip kay Papa sa labas hanggang sa makapasok ito sa bahay, binuhat ko ang Telephone upang madala ito habang sasalubungin ko si Papa.
Pero nangsubukan kong buksan ang pinto ay natigilan ako ng masilip si Mama na lumabas na sa kanilang kwarto habang pinupunasan ang kanyang luha, does she cry the whole time she's inside?!
Imbis na lumabas ay sumilip na lang ako sa maliit na pagkabukas ng pinto ko. "Hey, still there?" i heard Gun ask from the other line, "Yes, nandito pa ako," sambit ko at nakitang kong nilapitan ni Mama si Papa pero nilagpasan lang siya nito.
"Bakit mo ba ito ginagawa sa akin!!!" natigilan ako ng biglang nagsalita si Mama na nakapagpatigil ng paglalakad ni Papa.
"Pagod na pagod na ako sayo!!!! Sawang sawa na ako sa ganito!!!" Nagsimulang lumakas ang boses ni Mama at tumulo muli ang kanyang mga luha.
"Lagi na lang ganito!!!" lumapit si Mama kay Papa at hinampas ang likod nito gamit ang kanyang kamay, habang nanatiling nakatalikod si Papa kay Mama at hindi ito umiimik.
"Mabuti pang maghiwalay na lang tayo!!! Maghiwalay na lang tayo! Babalik na lang ako sa pilipinas, kesa sa makasama ka!!!" sigaw ni Mama.
"Sienna?" I can still hear Gun's calling my name, but I can't speak right now.
"Maghiwalay na tayo!!!!!" umiyak ng umiyak si Mama habang pinaghahampas ang likod ni Papa, I don't know what's happening but suddenly tears started to fall from my eyes.
"Pagod na gagod na ako sayo, pagod na pago----,"
"Sonogo,sarimasu! (Then leave!!)!" Papa just said those two words but it seems like Mama's whole world stops.
Dahan-dahang umatras si Mama palayo kay Papa tumango-tango ito. I don't know but my heart is breaking witnessing this scene.
"Oo tama, aalis ako! Aalis ako at isasama ko ang mga anak ko!!! Aalis kami" sambit ni Mama. "Bukas na bukas aalis kami ng mga bata!!!!" Mama said and walk pass through my father.
Nakita ko kung pano bumuhos ang luha ni Mama ng malagpasan niya si Papa at tumuloy sa kanilang silid. Si Papa naman ay muling lumabas ng bahay at agad umalis.
Napatakip ako ng aking bibig ng masara ko ang pinto ng aking kwarto. "Sienna are you ok? Narinig ko ang lahat" suddenly Gun speak from the phone.
Nandito pa pala siya, dahil sa tanong niya bigla akong bumigay at tuluyang umiyak...
I just witness how my family started to break. "Magh-hihiwalay n-na s-sila M-mama at P-papa" I whisper and because I'm crying so hard, it's hard for me to speak properly.
"Shhh I'm here, everything is gonna be alright, whatever happens, tomorrow I'll be here at your side ok, don't cry" He gently said.
Kinabukasan ay nagising ako ng napakatahimik ng buong bahay, paglabas ko ng aking kwarto isang malaking maleta sa leaving room ang nakahanda habang nakaupo si Kuya at Mama sa dining table.
"Ohayo (Good morning)" hindi ko alam kung dapat pa ba akong bumati sa ganitong sitwasyon. Parang ang bigat ng buong paligid.
"Uuwi na tayo ng Pilipinas Sienna" seryosong sambit ni Mama, agad akong napatingin sa kanya at kay Kuya na walang reaksyon.
"Pagkatapos kumain maghanda ka na at aalis na tayo ang flight na'tin ay 10:00 am" dire-diretsong sambit ni Mama.
"Naayos ka na ang maleta mo kaya maliligo ka na lang pagkatapos nito" napatingin ako sa maleta sa leaving room, teka bakit dalawa lang?
"Yong kay Kuya?" Tanong ko at tinignan si Kuay pero hindi niya ako tinignan at nagpatuloy sa pagkain.
Mama just looks at me and continues eating, "Kuya?" I tap my brother's shoulders. "I'm staying here, walang kasama si Papa pagumalis din ako" he said with a serious tone of voice.
Suddenly tears fall from my eyes, "You're not coming with us? Magkakahiwalay tayo?" I ask.
"I'll visit you guys during school breaks at ganon ka rin babalik ka dito tuwing bakasyon niyo," He said and pat my head and mee with my hair after he smile but I can see how sad he is. That makes me cry even more.
After eating Mama talk with Kuya while I take a shower with a heavy heart, I don't wanna leave this house? I don't wanna leave Papa and Kuya.
But I also don't wanna see Mama in so much pain, and staying here would cause her more pain.
"I'll see in the next three months I guess," Kuya said as I hugged him so tight. "Don't forget to call me every day" I whisper.
"Yup noted," he said, "Be strong Kent, take care of your father, at patawarin mo si Mama" Mama said and hugged him so tight, "Mahal na mahal kita anak ko" Mama said to him and after that, we ride the taxi to the airport.
And while the taxi is moving away from our house while I still glancing at my brother, I saw Papa's car stop in front of our house and he step out of it and look at us, with his broken emotions.
I'll see you soon Papa....Mama just needs me now...
"Calling all the attention of passeger flight 104 please proceed to gate 4, again flight 104 philippines please proceed to gate 4" agad tumayo si Mama at hinawakan na ang aking kamay.
"Tara na anak," she said and smile at me with pain in her eyes.
I nodded and take a last glance around.
"Bye Japan," I whisper.