IRENE
Kuya Bong, Aimee and I decided to go to our sala right after Vida asked us to leave. Naabutan naman namin ang mga kuya niya sa na naguusap usap. Aimee sat beside Simon, Kuya Bong and me sat together on the vacant couch.
" We all knows na I am the favorite apo ni Mama Meldy because i am the first grandchild " Borgy says
" Really? Alam ko talaga, ako ang paborito ng Lola eh. " Hirit naman si Sandro
Nagdedebate pala ang magpipinsan kung sino talaga ang paborito ng kanilang lola.
" Its not because you are a Ferdinand, ikaw na kaagad ang paborito no. " Simon said that cause everyone to laugh
" Hindi naman nagiisa yang si Sandro eh. Ferdinand din naman kami. " singit ni Kuya Michael
" Oo nga, si Borgy, ako, at si Mike ay Ferdinand din. " hirit naman ni Alfonso
" Fernando is different from Ferdinand. " Luis backfires
" Still, I was named after Lolo Macoy. " Alfy proudly said
" Hay naku boys. Yung totoong paborito ng Lola niyo, ayun nasa kwarto niya umiiiyak at babalik na ulit ng amerika mamaya. " Bonget said na nakapag patahimik sa kanila. I lean on my brother's shoulder. Nalulungkot ako kasi ngayon na nga lang namin makakasama si Vida, ipinagkakait pa ni Ate. Kahit na ayokong mainis kay Ate, hindi ko maiwasan dahil nakikita ko ng nasasaktan yung pamangkin ko.
" I heard them shouting nga ni Mom kanina paglabas ko ng room ko. " Matthew said
Kung kanina nagdedebate sila about sa kung sino ang paborito ng kanilang Lola, ngayon nagrarant naman sila dahil hindi man lang nila makakabonding si Vida ng matagal. Yung tatlong kapatid nga ay hindi rin maiwasang magtampo sa nanay nila dahil hindi manlang daw sila mapagbigyang magkasama sama. They feel so pity for their sister.
Bigla silang natigil sa pagrereklamo ng biglang lumabas si Ate Imee sa kwarto ni Vida. You can't describe the looks on her face. Kanina nga she's so stuned sa mga nasabi ni Vida sa kaniya na kahit ako nagulat. Kitang kita ko kasi yung pangungulila ni Vida sa Mommy niya.
Ate Imee was about to enter her room when Vida got out of her room, she's wearing a jeans and a plain white shirt and her eyes are still puffy. She's talking to someone on her phone.
" I'm on my way. No, I don't have, Im just gonna grab a cab. " we heard her say before she go out of her room
" Yeah sure. You didn't tell me that you'll be able to follow here right away. What happend to the meeting? " We're all shocked ng ilabas niya sa kwarto niya yung maleta niya
" Oh really? Well, they can't afford to continue without a Vida Marcos that easily. " she said and gave a fake laugh
" Are you really not going to say goodbye to me? " Ate Imee blurted out that stop Vida from walking
" For what? Aren't you excited that I'm leaving and never coming back? " Vida said but hindi siya humarap kay Ate
" You're the one who want this, Mom. Not me and not anyone else. " After that nagsimula na ulit siyang maglakad kaya agad na tumayo ang mga Kuya niya at sumunod sa kaniya
" Ime, can you please let Vida stay kahit for a week or two lang. Kawawa naman yung bata. " Kuya Bong said and stood up to follow everyone
" And Ate, I need to talk to you about Vida. You need to know somethings. " after Aimee said that kaagad din siyang sumunod kila Kuya. While me, I stayed on my position and just stare to Ate
" Are you going to lecture me too, Irene? " Ate asked
" No Ate. I know you and kahit naiinis ako sa'yo ngayon, alam kong may matibay kang rason. " I tapped the couch so, she deeply sigh and immediately sat beside me.
" You always have me, Ate. Always. "
" Thank You, ading. " she suddenly hugged me and cried on my shoulders.
I was about to ask her kung ano ba talagang reason niya why she's pushing Vida away from her but Aimee join us.
VIDA
Once I got out of our house, I heard some footsteps. Giant's footsteps. I know sila Kuya ito and I know na pipigilan nila akong umalis. Pero ano bang magagawa nila kung ito ang kagustuhan ni Mommy? Wala. Baka pati sila mapagbuntungan ng galit ni Mommy na hindi ko alam kung saan nanggagaling.
" Bunso.. " Kuya Borgy called me
" Vida, please stay. Kami bahala kay Tita Imee. " Kuya Alfonso said
" As long as I wanted to be with you guys, ayaw talaga ni Mommy. You can still visit me on Cali naman eh. " I said while I'm fighting back my tears.
" Iba parin yung nandito ka, Therese. " hirit naman ni Kuya Sandro. They indeed want me to stay.
" Ganito nalang, I'm inviting you all to visit me in California and let's spend a week together. Kasya naman tayo sa bahay ni Tati Irene eh." I jokingly said. I'm trying to enlighten the mood because Kuya Matt is tearing up already
" Do you have to go, nak? " It's Papa Bong
" That's what she wants eh. " I said
" Kuya Alfy and Kuya Luis, si Tati Irene ha? Don't stress her out. Always buy her an Iced Passion Tango Tea and a Blueberry Oat Cake when she gets irritated. That calms her down. " bilin ko sa dalawang Araneta
" Kayo naman Kuya Sandro, Kuya Simon at Kuya Vinny. Stop teasing and stressing Tata Liza, okay? Always show love to them. Even si Papa Bong at Unco Greggy. " I tried na pigilin ang luha ko a tear fell and I know they saw it all.
" Mga Kuys.. Kayo na bahala kay Mommy. Just always do what makes her happy so, hindi na niya ako isipin. Drive for her kasi you know naman na she has a poor eyesight. Don't let her drink too much alcohol kasi baka makatulog na naman yan kung saan. Love her as much as I do. Please? " I said while sniffing
" Bunso naman eh.. Please don't leave na.. " pagmamakaawa ni Kuya Borgy
" Gusto ko din kayong makasama Kuya, pero ayoko namang pati sa inyo magalit si Mommy. " I went to my brothers to hug them.
" Sasama nalang ako sayo Vids, magaling naman tayo tumakas diba? " Kuya Matthew said
" Kay Mommy, Oo. Kaso you're just elected as the new Governor of our province. Hindi ka pwedeng tumakas kasi they're now your responsibility. " I smile at him then he started to cry na
" Kuya Matthew naman eh. Ang laki laki mong tao umiiyak ka tas papaiyakin mo pa ako. " nagtawanan naman kami
" Basta magiingat ka anak ha? " Papa Bong said and went to hugged me tight
" Ikaw na bahala sa nanay ko, Papa ha? Kahit may saltik yan mahal ko parin siya. " pagkasabi ko nun lalong hinigpitan ni Papa ang yakap niya sa akin
And because of what Papa Bong did, I couldn't stop crying as I hugged him. I kept whispering to Papa Bong how much I loved them and how much I wanted to be with them.
After saying goodbye to them, nilagay ko na sa cab yung mga gamit ko. Inaasar pa nga ako ni Kuya Matthew at ayaw ibigay yung backpack ko. As i hopped in and the driver start the engine, I saw my Mom ran outside with my aunts. Probably she's going to lecture me na naman kaya sinabihan ko na yung driver na ihatid na ako sa airport.
Napagod siguro yung utak ko kakaisip ng dahilan kung bakit ayaw akong makasama ni Mommy kaya nakatulog pala ako. My eyes are puffy kaya sumingkit ang mata ko. The driver woke me up pagdating namin sa Laoag Airport. Hindi pa ako nakakababa but I already saw Axiel standing and looking on his phone.
He's all I got now.
Pagbaba ko, I immediately ran to him and gave him a hug. Hindi ko na din napigilang umiyak habang nakayakap sa kaniya.
" Hey, It's okay. I'm here now. " he hugged me back and kissed my head
" I feel so unwanted, Ax. I really hate this feeling! And It's more painful because It's my mom who make me feel that feelings again. " I rant on his shoulder
" I'm still here, Imo. I will never let you feel that way. " Axiel just let me hugged him and cry on his shoulder
I am really fortunate to have Axiel because he is constantly at my side when I am not feeling well, whether I am upset or hurt. He is my knight in shining armor when loneliness eats me up. And I can't stand it if he leaves and disappear also.
" Stop crying Imogen. Let's just go back to California. " He said while rubbing my back
" Thank you for coming Ax. You're my forever savior. " I kissed his cheeks and hugged him again
Author: Qota ka na sa yakap Axiel ha? Vidababes ko yan eh chariz
" Always, Imo. I'll do everything just for you. " he said
" Uhm, Imo? Based on the way they stare at me, it appears like I will be killed today. " Axiel said out of nowhere
" Huh? " I looked up to him with a confused look kaya. And my eye followed where he was looking.
When I realized who he was referring to, I instantly let go of Axiel's hug. I was so astounded that I pushed him and caused him to fall.
" Oh God, I'm sorry Ax. " I helped him stand
" Vida, who is he? " Papa Bong asked with his chinito eyes glazed over as they walk towards us.
He's with my brothers and cousins kasama din nila si Mommy at Tati Irene. I was desperate to find Tata Aimee since she knows Axiel and she can help me with my Kuya's sharp looks at me.
" I'm Dr. Axiel Mikhail Wolf, Senator. I'm one of Vida's colleagues. " Axiel shook hands with Papa Bong.
" And her suitor, Senator. " Axiel added that made me nervous up to my spine
" Nice to meet you Hijo. I'm Bongbong Marcos, only uncle slash Dad of Vida and I'm no longer a senator so, you can call me Tito. " Papa said
" Care to introduce us to him? " Kuya Matthew seriously asked kaya ginawa ko nalang
" Ax, they are my Kuya's. Mga Kuya he is Axiel. " I said before Axiel also shook their hands
" Teka, bakit ba kayo nandito? Don't tell me you will try to stop me again? " Nakapamewang kong tanong sa kanila kaya biglang nagliwanag ang mga mukha nila.
" Tita Imee is letting you stay na. So, we're here to fetch you and force you to come home. " Kuya Alfy said then he grabbed my suitcase
" W-what? " Kanina lang galit na galit si Mom na nandito ako tapos ngayon she's letting me stay? Weird.
" Nagbago ang isip, nak. " after Papa Bong said that napatingin ako kay Mommy na nasa tabi ni Tati Irene at tahimik na naman. But I can feel the guilt and sympathy in her eyes. I'd never seen her stare at me like that before. She's getting so weird right now.
" So, wanna come home with us? " Tati Irene asked and she held out her hand to me
" Sure, Tati. " I took her hand and walk with her papunta sa van.
" Mamaya niyo na intrigahin yang manliligaw ng bunso natin. " pahabol pang sigaw ni Tati sa mga Kuya ko na ngayong nakapalibot kay Axiel. Poor Guy.
Paguwi namin, my Kuya's never let me leave them and we all gathered in the living room to do a catch up. Hindi rin nakaligtas sa kanila si Axiel na talagang binobomba nila ng tanong para nga silang reporter galing sa iba't ibang network kung makapag tanong kay Axiel. Hindi na namin naabutang gising si Lola dahil ginabi na kami ng uwi kaya bukas ko nalang ipapakilala sa kaniya si Ax.
We're busy talking when Kuya Borgy's phone rang and after he answered it napatingin siya sa akin. The call didn't take too long and he hang up din kaagad.
" Bunso, Go to Mommy's room daw. " He suddenly said
" Isn't she's asleep already? " I asked
" Akala ko tulog na yun si Josefa? Ang KJ talga nun. " pagmamaktol ni Kuya Matthew
" Nope. She's the one who called and she wanted to talked to you. " hindi mapinta yung mga muka nila nung sabihin yun ni Kuya Borgy. Siguro they also feel na magaaway na naman kami ni Mommy. But honestly ganoon din ako.
" Vida? Ate Imee wants you in her room. " Tati Irene went from mommy's room and she approach me
I sigh.
Best luck to you, Imogen.
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Thank you for reading folks!