City Girl

Chapter Two

I told Keisler and Faye about my parent’s plans. Next week na kasi kami aalis ni Dad and I’m glad Mom gave back the allowance she got on my account. Pampalubag-loob na rin. Like err, probably there are no shopping malls there.

Ang pagkakaintindi ko ay mag-i-stay lang si Dad for another month sa Pilipinas at babalik na rin dito kila Mommy for our main business. But he promised that he will visit me often since babalik at babalik naman talaga siya ng Manila.

“For real? Iiwan mo kami rito?”

And yes, these two human being here also know how to speak Tagalog. Since we grew up together and they’re usually hanging out in our house, nasanay na rin sila sa pagtatagalog. Kapag tinuturuan ako nila Mommy, they’re also there. Pero wala silang lahing Filipino. That’s why the accent is different when they’re talking in vernacular language.

“As if naman gusto ko,” mahinang sambit ko. I feel like crying right now but I don’t want to. Just two years! Dalawang taon lang na paghihirap and then I’m free to do whatever I want, go wherever I want and be what I dream to be.

“Aww,” niyakap ako ni Faye saka siniksik ang ulo sa aking balikat. “I’m gonna miss you so much, my love.”

Unlike Faye, Keisler is not showy but I can see the sadness in his eyes. Sinenyasan ko siyang sumama sa yakapan namin. He groaned but he followed. These two people are the second best company and humans in my life- next to my family.

“What are your plans before you go there?”

Nakaupo na kami ngayon sa damuhan sa aming hardin. Favorite spot namin itong tatlo like, why not? It has a very relaxing vibe. There are different flowers around the area and basta, lahat ng parte nito ay nagsusumigaw ng karangyaan. We usually celebrate parties here with our classmates.

I grabbed a slice of pizza and took a bite of it. Damn, I’m gonna miss their pizza here. For sure, wala nito roon. It’s exclusive here in NYC.

“Dunno. Probably buy anything that I want, go to spa, took a lot of pictures and cry myself to sleep at night.”

“Stop stressing yourself out, Kate. For sure there’s a medium of communication there. Social media, internet…” Maganda ang suhestiyong iyon ni Keisler but I have doubts about it. Like what Mom said, they’ll send me there to experience a simple life- so probably, just probably there’s no internet there or I’m possibly banned from using it.

Sounds crazy, right? Who lives without internet nowadays?

“Argh! Can’t I just stay here?” I pouted.

Ginulo ni Keisler ang buhok ko saka ako inakbayan, there’s no meaning ha! We’re always like that so it’s fine.

“You can. Pero you’ll regret it later. And as a friend, I don’t want you to take a profession you never really want.”

Mas lalo akong sumimangot sa punto niya. Either way, I have no choice. Get hurt today or get hurt tomorrow. Mas okay na yung ngayon ‘di ba? At least I’m secured that my future will be what I want it to be.

Days passed by faster than how it should be. Ngayon na ang alis namin ni Daddy, my friends are here and we ate breakfast all together as a farewell program for me na rin. They actually gave me lots of things that I should bring with me daw. As if I can bring much.

“Be kind there, Kate, okay?”

“Mom,” I hissed. “As if I can do much there. Mag-study lang ako roon, stay in my room and watch the day ends.” Hindi ko mapigilang umirap. Hindi ko talaga ma-imagine ang magiging buhay ko sa Pilipinas, worse, sa probinsya. I cannot even stay at home for a whole day, I can’t go a week without shopping and I can’t live a life without internet.

“Watch your attitude there, lil girl.”

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang marinig ang pamilyar na baritonong boses na iyon. I looked at the dining area’s door and there standing the second to my dad most special man in my life. Looking so handsome on his navy blue button down polo and male jeans. He showed me his lovely wide smile.

Napatayo ako sa gulat at excited na yumakap sa kanya.

“Kuyaaa!”

He chuckled in my ear as he tapped my back. Palagi talaga akong komportable kapag mayroon siya. Alam niyo yung feeling na para kang may knight in shining armor?

“How’s my princess?”

Humiwalay ako at sumimangot. Kung kalian siya umuwi rito saka naman ako aalis. Hindi kasi dito nakatira si Kuya. He’s studying business management abroad and he’s planning to work with our parent’s company. Hindi ko kasi hilig ang pagnenegosyo. Plus the fact that I’m not good in management and financial things.

Ang gastos ko nga, ‘di ba?

“I’m leaving.”

Kuya Darren kissed my cheeks like he always does. “I’m proud of you and for sure, I’ll be proud of who you will become.”

Nagpapa-cute akong humarap sa kanya. I’m so touched. Dalawang taon ko siyang hindi makikita as well as my five year old baby bro. Yes, may kapatid pa akong isa. He is one of the reasons why Mom can’t go with Dad anywhere because our youngest is still a kid. The last time, Dad told me that he will retire right after Kuya took over his position so he can have more time with Mom and with us.

Super close kami ng bunso kong kapatid. Palagi iyon na nakadikit sa akin. Kaya hindi ko alam kung paanong sasabihin sa kanya na kailangan kong umalis. Kung bakit ba naman kasi, eh.

More than Kuya Darren, mas hawig ko raw si Jerman.

“Where’s bunso?”

“I’m here, Kuya!” Punong puno ng enerhiya na sagot nito. Medyo bulol pa nga eh.

Ang cute lang!

Ang cute ng eksena noh? Para lang may simpleng selebrasyon pero alam ko na lahat kami nalulungkot. We’ve been together for years and it’s hard to say goodbye.

“Call me when you have time, okay?” Mom hugged me tight.

“I love you, Mommy.”

“I love you too, ‘nak!”

Sunod na yumakap sa akin ang dalawa kong matalik na kaibigan. And then si Kuya and lastly, our baby bro. Si Kuya ang naghatid sa amin sa airport. Hindi na sumama sila Mommy at maski sila Faye. Why? Because it’s actually hard to say goodbye in that way.

“Are you ready?” Tanong ni Dad sa akin pagkasakay naming ng eroplano.

We’re now inside the airplane at aandar na ito ilang minuto mula ngayon. I can’t believe there will come a day that I’ll leave this City. Hindi ko talaga siya na-imagine, ever! Unless magta-travel lang ako.

“Natatakot ako, Dad.”

“Hmm?”

“What if the people there won’t like me?”

Maarte ako, aminado ako roon. And with my attitude, I’m worried I might say something that will offend them. Hindi ako sanay sa kanila at ganoon din sila sa akin.

Dad looked at me as he gently held my cheeks. “I can’t believe you’re worried about that.” He laughed. “Kami nga ng kuya mo namomroblema na baka maging walking heartbreak ka roon.”

Sumimangot ako saka mahinang hinampas si Daddy. “Dad naman eh.”

“They’ll hate you at first, but who can hate you forever? Sigurado kapag nakilala ka nila, mamahalin ka nila ng totoo.”

“But what if they won’t?”

“Buwan-buwan naman kitang bibisitahin. Tell me everything each month and we’ll see what can I do. Kapag may oras o sa bakasyon ay bibisita kami ng Mommy mo roon kasama ang mga kapatid mo.”

Tumango ako at pinigilan ng mag-overthink. It took a day and three hours before we arrived in Manila.

Wearing my white scarf, aviator sunglasses, my usual outfit and a Louis Vuitton handbag, I came out in the airport. May nag-aabang sa aming van which is Dad’s brother- Tito Mike. Siya ang sumundo sa amin dito sa airport.

“Ganda naman ng pamangkin ko,” pambobola niya.

“Hi, Tito,” I greeted him in a nice manner.

We go directly to my grandparent’s house. Ine-expect kasi nila na darating ako ngayon. Pabor iyon sa akin kasi sobrang tagal ko ng hindi nakikita sila Lola’t Lolo. Puro kami video call kasi nga malayo. Ayaw naman nilang mag-stay sa amin sa New York.

The streets here are as busy as NYC. Pero medyo nakakairita ang traffic. And it’s actually hotter in here.

“Are you hungry?” Dad asked.

“Naku! Madaming hinanda ang Lola mo. For sure, marami kang makakain doon,” Tito Mike uttered and I giggled with what he has said. Nagugutom na kasi ako talaga.

Hindi ako makakain ng maayos sa eroplano. Hindi kasi ako mahilig kumain kapag nagbabyahe kaya kaunti lang ang nakain ko roon.

“Ikaw ang maghahatid sa akin tomorrow, Dad?”

Tumango si Daddy. “What do you want to do before going there?”

“Just buy me a pizza. Baka there’s no pizza there eh.”

He kissed my head. “Okay, hun.”

We arrived at my grandparent’s place after an hour. Malapit lang siya actually. Grabe lang talaga yung traffic.

“Ang laki laki mo na, apo.”

Sinalubong ako agad nila Lola sa may pinto palang. Yumakap ako sa kanila at ‘di mapigilang maluha nang makita sila. I think the last time I saw them is in the funeral of my Tita, Mom’s sister who got into an accident many years ago. Umuwi kasi kami sa Pinas non dahil dito binurol and my grandparents on Dad’s side visited.

“Bakit naman ganyan ang kulay ng buhok mo?” sita ni Lolo saka medyo napangiti.

Nag-pogi sign ako saka pabirong kumindat. “Pang beauty queen ba, Lo?”

They all laughed. Medyo nakakainsulto iyon ah? Joke!

“Tama na iyan. Halika nagluto ako ng mga paborito mo.”

Lola dragged me in the dining. And she’s right, all of my favorites are here. Some Italian dishes, French foods and… a pizza!