Simula
1905 Words
HINDI! Ayaw ko! Hindi ko na ulit matatanggap ang taong ‘yan. Matapos ang lahat ay babalik siya? Para saan? I hate his guts! Ang kapal naman yata ng mukha. Dapat magpasalamat na lang siya na dati nakalasap siya ng magandang buhay. Siya naman ang may gustong umalis, pangatawanan niya.
That bastard is coming to this house? Worst, my parents offered him to stay.
“Bakit n’yo po tatanggapin ulit? Hala! Sige, tanggapin n’yo ‘yang pangit n’yong ampon. Aalis ako sa pamamahay na ‘to! Tutal magkokolehiyo na ako, ilipat n’yo na lang ako sa ibang lugar!” I demanded.
“Blanca, sumusobra na talaga ang ugali mo. Si Levi lang naman ‘yan. Kababata mo ‘yon,” nagtitimpi na pangungumbinsi ni mommy.
Kababata my ass.
“So? Dahil may malasakit kayo? Bakit guilty ka sa mga pinaggagawa ninyo noon?” maanghang kong sagot.
“Nemesis!” asik ni daddy. Dad only calls me by my name kapag punong-puno na siya sa akin.I flinched a little, but I stood my ground.
“Bakit? He already left us! Bumalik siya ro’n sa pinanggalingan niya. You knew how traumatic my experience with him were. Dapat nga nilalayo ninyo ako sa nakaraan, e. But... you are bringing a nightmare here in this house and you’re expecting me to accept him with open arms?” asik ko rin.
I am no doubt a disrespecful child. Sanay na ako sa katagang ‘yan! I am different with my friends. Way too different! Mas matanda rin ako sa kanila nang dalawang taon. I have this guts!
Natahimik si daddy. Nakikita kong maluha-luha na si mommy. Kung tatanggapin nila ang pamangkin ng hayop na ‘yon, aalis ako. They have no choice but provide me everything I want. I’m not like this all the time but my parents are giving me no choice at all.
“I think it’s about time as well. If you let him in. Basically, I’ll leave,” I crossed my arms to let them know I’m serious about this.
They start arguing about my proposal of leaving this place. Matagal ko nang plano ‘yon kaya lang si daddy ang nagmamatigas. I already convinced my mother. Now, I can use this issue to make him say yes. Wala rin siyang magagawa. I’m the boss!
Ilalaban ko pa rin kahit nagmamatigas siya. I will win in the end!
“She’ll eventually cannot stand alone. Uuwi rin iyan,” bulong ni mommy pero rinig na rinig ko.
“Gastos lang ‘yan! Kung sana sa Ateneo siya, malapit lang sa atin. Ang layo na nga ng school sa Senior High, pati ba naman sa kolehiyo, pahihirapan mo pa ang sarili mo?” Reklamo ni daddy.
“Excuse me lang ho! Kayo po ang lumipat ng bahay. Kaya dapat lang sainyo ang pagtitiis sa layo ang school ko rito. Ngayon pa kayo magrereklamo pero ilang taon na akong nag-aaral doon? What’s the difference?”
I’m a brat! Wala akong pakialam.
“You see, Levi is professional in politics. He can help us in the future. Kapag nahalal ang pambato nating presidente, tataas ba ang posisyon ng daddy mo. In the future, he can run—”
What? Changing the topic again and again. It doesn’t make sense. Besides, that is not my point nor my problem. I don’t care at all. Napakaambisyoso naman yata nila.
“So, you’re using his expertise and connections with the running president? Bakit pati pagpapatira rito ay kasama pa? Look, mommy, I’m very obedient these past few years. Sumasama ako sa pagsimba, sa mga paparty n’yong arte lang, sa mga conference na ginagawa n’yo lang akong alalay at iba pa. I’m suffering too much and you’re being insensitive.” Sabi ko pa.
I always like speaking what’s on my mind.
“Nemesis! Stop it! You’re being a brat already.” Si Daddy.
Maybe I’m a brat. I think I am.
Mom advanced to hold me but I stepped back.
“Anak, Blanca, hindi naman sa gano’n. I’m... uh...” natigilan dahil sa walang masabi. “Para ‘to sa ‘yo at sa pamilya.” Malimbing na sabi ni mommy.
No. Never. Ever.
Hindi ko kailan ito maiintindihan. Kaya sana naman payagan na lang ako ni daddy. I just need his financial support on this. ‘Yon lang. If he comply, I’ll be the happiest.
“That’s it! Levi will move to this house this week. Ako ang masusunod dito!” Dad declared.
“Then, that’s it! I’m moving out,” maanghang kong sagot. “Provide me all I need. My place, allowance, food, and other needs. At kung hindi n’yo gagawin, your names will be on TV screens tonight and you will all be screwed. Mark my words...” I said, and walked out.
What I want is what I get.
‘Wag na ‘wag n’yo akong kakalabanin. Nasa akin ang huling baraha. I can sweep away all your dreams with one flick of my finger.
Pinagpatuloy pa rin nina mommy at daddy ang pagpapatira sa hayop na ‘yon dito sa bahay namin. Ang ibig sabihin niyan, kaya nila akong ibuwis para sa political dream nila. Well, I’m not even sad or even emotional about it. That’s a given to people like them. What do I expect? Nothing from them to be honest.
Wala naman akong malaking galit sa kanila pero sa mga desisyon nila. Nagulat ako nang bigla na lang silang magsasabi sa akin na titira ang lalaking ‘yon dito. Like seriously, that guy betrayed me and left me years ago. Tapos wala lang sa kanila ‘yon kahit na iba ang dulot sa akin. Wala lang iyon sa kanila. They don’t care.
Kilalang kilala ko na sila. Hindi pa rin sila nagbabago at hinding-hindi na siguro magbabago pa kailanman. As long as they will give me what I want and what I need. I don’t really care anymore. I’m planning to leave this hell house anyway.
I can’t wait to tell my friends about it. I should look for a unit near our universities. Ayessa and I will be in the same university, University of Santo Tomas. Whilst Winona was granted a scholarship at Far Eastern University. Since malapit lang naman sa isa’t isa ang dalawang unibersidad, we can rent a unit for the three of us.
A week had pass, nauna na ang mga gamit ng halimaw sa kabilang kwarto ko. Ngayong araw siya dadating. Since it’s still summer break, I have two freaking months to endure his presence.
I can do it! H’wag na h’wag lang siyang umarte na close kami dahil makikita niyang mali ang taong binabangga niya.
Look, he’s here.
“Hijo! Welcome to our humble home! Halika!” Masayang bati ni mommy sa basurang bisita.
“Good evening, tita! I’m glad you offered me a place to stay while I’m in Metro Manila.” Sagot naman ng basura.
“Oo naman! When I heard you graduated years ago, I’m still sorry I couldn’t attend your graduation. Busy talaga dito sa city!” May kasamang yakap pa sa lalaki. Sabay tawa na napaka-awkward pakinggan. She looks at her loving husband. “Ah! Oo nga pala! This is Bernardo Santiago, my husband. Now the director in the agency. He used to be the head of a department in LTFRB, when they saw his potential in leading especially the undying traffic of EDSA, a major problem, he was promoted. He was unanimously voted as the director.” Pakilala nito kay daddy.
Mabilis namang lumapit ang daddy sa kaniya at nakipagkamayan. Mahigpit na pakikipagkamayan. Para bang nakasalalay sa basurang ‘yan ang buhay niya. This is a funny scene if this is aired in a comedy program in TV.
Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.
Humahalukipkip ako habang pinagmamasdan silang nagpa-plastikan sa isa’t isa. Umiiling na parang naaawa na rin. Well, Blanca, walang nakakaawa sa mga taong napagsabihan mo na, pero ayaw makinig.
Stubborn and greedy people like them irritate me. I’m sorry, they’re my biological parents but they disgust me.
“I’m Bernardo Santiago. Supporter din ako ng ating susunod na Pangulo ng Pilipinas. I’m very thrilled to finally meet his trusted Chief of Staff.”
Ow. So, he’s the right-hand of the running president. At the age of 25 well turning 26? He’s now a lawyer. I heard from mommy that he passed the bar exam. I’m impress! Baka sa kaban ng bayan niya pinangkuha ang pagpapa-aral sa kaniya.
Hindi na ako magugulat kung gano’n nga.
“Nice to meet you rin po, Sir Bernardo. Thank you for your offer as well.” Ani basura.
Far, far away from them, I could just say ‘cut’ next scene.
I’m still enjoying the comedic act when my mother turned her head and saw me watching them. She maybe thinks I want to welcome her favorite guy.
“Blanca! Halika rito!” Tawag ni mommy sabay kaway ng kamay para makuha ang atensyon ko.
Nasa bukana sila ng pintuan. Ako naman ay nasa hagdanan, nagmamatyag lamang sa kanila. I just smirk at my mother. Why is she expecting me to come and act like he’s welcome here? I’m going to make his life in house hell. He’s not welcome to me!
Nagkatingingan kaming dalawa. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at ang hayop na basura, ngumisi sa akin.
Asshole!
“B?” Umakto pa itong nagulat nang makita ako. “Wow, ang laki mo na!”
He went towards me as if he already owns the house.
“The audacity! Wow!? Ha!”
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko’t umatras.
“Wow! You look really beautiful as well.”
Halos umatras na ako sa mabilis niyang paglapit. Ang nasa malayo ko namang magulang ay tuwang-tuwa sa kanilang nakikita. I am not going to get along with him. Ew! No! Lumayo ka sa akin!
“Oo, nga. She passed ADMU exam pero mas pinili niyang mag UST. Can you please help us change her mind? Enlighten her.” Ani mommy.
What?
Nadakip ako ni Levi ng isang braso lang. Niyakap ng napakahigpit.
Everything went fast to me. Bigla na lang kaming nagyakapan na akala mo naman kung sino siya. Nakakadiri naman ang lalaking ‘to!
“You aren’t welcome here!” Bulong ko sa kaniya.
Mas hinigpitan niya ang yakap niya na halos ikinabawian ko ng buhay. Puta! Hindi tayo close.
“If you think you can make my life hell here. Let’s be honest, I’m going to make your life, heller.” Sagot niya ng pabulong sa akin.
Itinulak ko siya habang naglalagablab sa galit. He just look at me innocently. As if, he’s a very good boy.
- Writer
