Lea
Nang tuluyan ng umalis si Chiara, napa-buntong hininga na lang ako as I massaged my temple in frustration. I know, my words are rude enough to hurt her feelings but... I can't help it.
Sumasakit ang dibdib ko everytime I see her, I'm dissapointed dahil akala ko, nagbago na siya but I'm wrong.
She reached the maximum level of my patience, napupuno na talaga ako at hindi na tama ang mga ginagawa niya.
Though I know na Clara's using her daughter to hurt me in any way, Chiara could've said no. She had a choice pero ano ang ginawa niya? She followed her Mom and became someone I never expected her to be.
Naramdaman kong tumulo na pala ang mga luha ko, I looked composed earlier while talking to Chiara but in fact, deep inside, nanginginig na ako. Saying those words, kahit ako nasasaktan but I just can't help it. Chiara needs to know her lessons.
Kaagad kong pinunasan ang mga luha ko when the door opened, revealing Aga who's holding a box of pizza and Alysse, who's also holding a basket full of fruits.
"Ano naman ang trip niyong mag-Ama?" I asked them, arching an eyebrow.
Lumapit si Alysse sa gawi ko as she put the basket on top of the small table beside me at kaagad na umakyat sa kama ko as she sat at the edge, facing me while smiling widely.
"Food is life Mommy." she said nonchalantly, napailing na lang ako.
"Uy bumaba ka d'yan! Hindi makagalaw ng maayos ang Mommy mo dahil nand'yan ka!" Aga reprimanded her, Alysse just rolled her eyeballs at her Dad in return.
"No, it's okay babes." wika ko making Alysse grin, napakamot na lang ng ulo niya si Aga as he looked at me.
"You startled me, babes. Akala ko, mawawala ka na sa' kin, I'm damn nervous earlier sa kung anong pwedeng mangyari sa'yo." he told me, ngumiti lang ako ng matipid.
"Don't worry, I'm fine now." sagot ko at nagkibit-balikat.
"Paano ka inatake ng anaphylaxis? Kumain ka ng hipon, eh alam mo namang allergic ka d'yan?" he asked, he don't know--- wala silang alan kung ano ang nangyari sa' kin, kami lang ni Chiara ang nakakaalam and I don't have any plans to tell them, mas lalaki lang ang gulo 'pag nagkataon.
"Sorry, hindi ko naman alam na may hipon pala ang pagkain ko." paliwanang ko, tumango lang siya.
"Sa susunod, magingat ka babes ah? I also can't afford to loose you." he said seriously, tumango lang ako.
"I will, don't worry." I answered, somehow, napanatag na ako to the fact na alam kong wala ng gagawin si Chiara sa' kin na ikakapahamak ko.
"Chiara said na babalik siya dito, Mommy, dumalaw ba siya?" napatingin ako kay Alysse ng magtanong siya, kaagad naman akong umiling.
"N--no, she didn't. Baka nakatulog na iyon, ga--gabi na eh." I answered stuttering, tumango-tango lang siya.
"Ahh, okay.."
"Lysse, bumili ka nga muna ng kape sa vendo." wika ni Aga sabay kuha ng wallet niya mula sa bulsa niya as he pulled a bill from it and gave it to Alysse, bumaba ng kama si Alysse as she skipped happily palabas ng kwarto ko.
Sumingkit naman ang mata ko ng masilayan ko ang isang picture sa wallet ni Aga.
"Babes, can I see your wallet?" saad ko, kumunot naman ang noo niya as he gave it to me, I opened it at binungad ako ng baby picture ni Aly.
Where did he get this? I can't remember giving him one though. Did I?
"Saan mo 'to kinuha? Binigyan pala kita ng picture ni Alysse? How can I not remember it?" sunod-sunod kong tanong, Aga shrugged his head na ikinataas ng kilay ko.
"That's not Aly, babes. It's Chiara." sagot niya making my eyes widened in surprise, si Chiara 'to?
Tinignan ko ulit ang litrato and I can see no difference, si Chiara? She looks exactly like Alysse!
"They looked alike.." I murmured, still looking at the picture. Paano nangyari iyon?
___
Chiara
"Im not used seeing you in this situation, really." Kallie commented while looking intently at me, umiling lang ako at pinunasan ang pisngi ko na kanina pa basa dahil sa pag-iyak ko.
It's been two days at sa dalawang araw na iyon, wala akong ibang ginawa kundi umiyak lang ng umiyak.
Gusto ko man... I don't have the enough courage na bumisita sa ospital, tsaka, she said it herself, hindi niya ako gustong makita.
Wala rin akong narinig na balita mula kay Daddy regarding about Lea's condition. Hindi ko siya naabutan sa bahay, same with Alysse so nganga na lang talaga ako.
"Masanay ka na Kall, expect me to cry like, every single day now." wika ko sabay lagay ng lunchbox ko sa loob ng bag ko.
"I don't know what's happening at umiiyak ka na lang palagi ngayon, I'm always here if you want to open up, Chia." aniya, tumango lang ako at ngumiti, I can't tell her everything, at least, not for now, "Tsaka, cheer up! Days from now, we'll be graduating from highschool na! Isn't it exciting?" dagdag pa niya while squealing happily.
She's right, ilang araw na lang, moving up ceremony na namin and I haven't told Dad about it yet, he's busy so clearly, wala na siyang oras para sa' kin. Besides, hindi naman ako valedictorian eh, I ranked fifth while Kallie ranked third, there's nothing to be proud of and yes, kahit na may pagka-sutil ako and I always ditch my classes, I can say na kahit papaano, may ipaglalaban ako when it comes to academics.
"Your parents must be really proud of you, aren't they?" tanong ko, Kallie sighed as she exaggeratedly rolled her eyeballs.
"Well, Dad is but Mom, knowing that lady? When I announced na I ranked third over all, she sarcastically said na 'third? Why not first?' so annoying, alam mo naman si Mommy, perfectionist." wika niya, mimicking her Mom's voice.
That's why we're friends. Hindi lang ako ang may problema sa pamilya, siya rin. Her Mom is a perfectionist just like what she said, halos lahat ng galaw niya, binabantayan ng Mommy niya, that's why she's kind of conservative sa lahat ng bagay.
"At least, your Dad's proud of you. Eh ako? Hindi ko pa nga siya na sabihan eh." malumanay kong sambit.
"Tito Aga is always proud of you Chia, remember that. Share the good news later, he'll surely be happy to know!" she told me while smiling, tumango lang ako. Sana nga..
___
"Good morning." walang gana kong bati sa sarili ko while starring at my reflection in front of the huge mirror inside my bathroom, messy hair, haggard face, swollen and puffy eyes, yep, that's me.
Nitong mga nakaraang araw, I always cry myself to sleep, walang gabi na hindi ako umiiyak. It became my hobby which is pretty unusual.
Bumuntong hininga ako as I grab the comb at sinuklay ang mahaba kong buhok, I feel so lazy combing this hair of mine, magpagupit kaya ako? Hmm..
After doing that, I did my usual morning routines, ngayon ko lang narealize, nakakasawa rin pala ang walang pagbabago ano? It sucks to do the same routine, every single day.
Pagkatapos kong mag-ayos, kinuha ko ang concealer as I left my closet at pumwesto sa dulo ng kama ko to cover my stitches, I can't go to school with this left uncovered.
Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto, nagawa ko na ang lahat ng dapat kong gawin so I stood up, grabbed my bag and unplugged my phone from it's charger as I made my way outside of my room, para makakain na rin ako ng umagahan sa baba.
"HAHAHA!" my heart skipped a beat ng makarinig ako ng tawanan na nanggaling mula sa kusina. They're here. Shit.
I bit my lower lip as I tiptoed all my way to the kitchen upang tignan kung ano ang ginagawa nila at ng masilayan ko sila, how I wish that I can turn back the time at hindi na ako sumilip pa.
Ilang beses ko ng sabihin 'to pero ang sakit kasi. Ang sakit sakit. Not physically, but emotionally.
They are happily eating at the dining table, nadatnan ko pa ngang sinubuan ni Lea si Alysse and asked her if the food is delicious. It should be, it could be me pero.. wala na, tanga eh.
I was about to turn my back but unfortunately,
"Chiara!" Daddy called, mariin akong napapikit as I turn around and gave them a small smile.
"Morning!" bati ko, avoiding Lea's stares.
"Saan ka pupunta? Hindi ka ba sasabay sa'min? Come here ng makakain ka na." he said, I sighed at sinimulan ng maglakad patungo sa dining table, this is gonna be so awkward.
Akmang uupo na ako sa tabi ni Alysse when Lea's chair made a huge noise, tumayo pala siya.
"I'm done, akyat muna ako sa taas babes." she uttered.
Ouch. Obviously, she's avoiding me. Masakit pala ang iniiwasan 'no?
Napailing na lang ako at tuluyan ng naupo as I start to eat my breakfast quietly, compared to Alysse na kanina pa salita ng salita.
"Oo nga pala Dad, don't forget the date this Saturday ha?" wika ni Alysse na ikinataas ng kilay ko. Anong meron this Saturday?
"Oo na po, syempre, ikaw pa! Malilimutam ba namin iyon?" sagot ni Daddy while smiling. Really, anong meron?
"This Saturday? Anong meron?" I asked them, totally confused. Tumingin sa' kin si Alysse at ngumiti.
"Moving up ceremony namin Chia, gusto mong sumama kina Daddy? Sige na, sama ka!" she answered na ikinanlaki ng mga mata ko ngunit hindi ako masyadong nagpahalata.
Damn! Eh moving up rin namin sa Saturday and I haven't told Dad about it, paano iyan, naunahan niya na ako? Surely, they'll attend her's.
I'll be alone on that special day..
"Sa inyo Chia? Kailan?" tanong ni Daddy, I want to answer na Saturday rin but no, ayaw kong makipag-kompitensya kay Alysse kasi alam kong masasaktan lang ako. They'll choose her over me, obviously.
"There's no official date pa po, Daddy." I lied, tumango-tango lang siya at pinatuloy na ang pagkain.
Ngayon, nawalan na ako ng gana ni hindi ko man lang nagalaw ang pagkain ko. Great, just great.
Tumayo ako as I excused myself at lumabas ng kusina, I didn't wait for their replies kasi alam kong any time from now, iiyak naman ako.
Ang hina mo Chiara, ang hina mo.
Umakyat ako sa taas and on my way, nakasalubong ko pa si Lea who didn't even bother to steal a glance at me.
Hindi naman masama kung aasa ako, 'di ba? Kahit alam ko sa sarili kong masasaktan lang ako..
"Are you going to attend Alysse's graduation?" tanong ko kaya napatigil naman siya sa paglalakad as she turned around and face me, nodding her head.
"Yes, why?" tanong at sagot niya, napayuko na lang ako as I bit my lower lip and gather all the courage that I have to say this to her.
"Ca--can you attend mine too?" I asked her in a low voice, enough for her to hear.
Alam ko, asking her is ridiculous pero,I can't help it. Since I was a kid, pangarap kong maka-graduate ng HS with my Dad and Mom supporting me during that special day and all.
Silence occured and as if like she was taken aback, this is really awkward and uncomfortable.
"You're asking me to attend your's? Para ano? Para ipahiya mo ako sa araw na iyon?" sarkastikong sambit niya, umangat ako ng tingin as I looked at her at kaagad na umiling.
"No, I won't do that." wika ko but she just smiled bitterly at me.
"Tama na Chia. Don't play around, Stop it." she said sternly, she's so impulsive! Paano niya nasabi na may gagawin ako sa kanya?
"But.." I tried to reason out pero she didn't even care to listen.
"Ask your Mom, siya ang Ina mo so she should be the one who's going to attend your graduation, your Dad too. Not me." sambit niya at tuluyan ng tumalikod, leaving me speechless.
But.. you're my Mom.
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