Art of Serendipity

28

"Maybe Mr. De Lapaz taught his daughter a very big mistake. Pakakamaling kailanman hindi nila pagsisihan, kahit makulong pa sila."

This explaines why Tita Donna is such a pain in the ass. Hindi siya naturuan ng tamang disiplina at respeto. Ang naturo sa kaniya, ang maling paggamit ng kapangyarihan. Damn abusive of powers! Hindi labag sa loob ko ang parteng gustong protektahan ng sundalo ang anak niya pero ang paggamit ng kapangharihan sa maling paraan at dahas? Oh please, cut my wrists first before I agree onto that.

Discipline, love and respect must be the first thing that every each of human has to know.

Bumagsak ang balikat ko. "Kung ganoon, ano pong gagawin natin kung ganoon? Hayaan na lang?"

"Her Dad is retired now. All the sources of their money and power were relying on Mr. De Lapaz's work too much. Hindi nila naisip na dadating ang panahon na mawawala ang lahat ng iyon sa kanila. I can say now that we are more powerful that them but..." He smiled at me at I get what he said.

"But you don't want to repeat the same mistake Tita Donna's father did. Hindi ka po gagamit ng kapangyarihan laban sa kanila. Lalaban ka po ng patas, tama po ba?"

He chuckled again. "I remember your Mom as witty as you. Her every words always has a direction to the right path kaso sa sobrang galing niya, minsan na akong natakot dahil halimaw siya sa negosyo. Mukhang mamamana mo, ah? Tsk, konsumisyon 'to."

I laughed with my Dad. Mana ako sa kanilang dalawa kung ganoon. I love my parents so much. A love that stays forever in my heart.

Natahimik kami ng ilang segundo. I was playing my hands. I want to say something to him…

"Dad..." I called like a child that did a sin. "I also want to say sorry for everything I said that day. I also judged you so quickly. I could not think right because of anger. I am sorry, Daddy."

There… Finally, gumaan na ang pakiramdam ko. Sa wakas ay mawawala na ang pagsisisi ko.

My dad smiled in assurance. "I understand you. Even me, I did not expect that you are going to say those words and you know what? It hurts, pero pagkakamali ko pa rin ang saktan ka. I should not have done that to you, so it is okay. You don't have to feel guilty."

I stood up and hugged Daddy. I missed him so much!

The conversation ends with Daddy's plans on suing Tita Donna but first, he'll make sure that their power can't do something harm to us. Nawala ang bigat sa pakiramdam ko. Sobrang saya pala na ganoon kami ni Daddy. In my eyes, we are still complete. With my mom beside us, laughing.

Masaya akong pumasok sa VillU kinabukasan. I'm smiling the whole time. Kahit ang mga hindi ko kakilala ay nangingitian ko na. Iniisip siguro nilang nababaliw na ako. They know me as an cold-hearted girl but this day is an exception.

Sa sobrang gulat ata nila, hindi na nila ako nangingitian. Aba! Sulitin niyo na 'to!

Tuloy, maganda ang naging performance ko this week. My exams are higher that I thought. Ewan ko ba, dulot ng sobrang kasiyahan. Nothing can bring me joy but my family.

"Boo!" pang-gugulat ko sana kay Levi habang hinihintay niya ako rito sa complex. Ngayon na lang ulit kami nagkita since I went to their gallery. Busy kasi.

Kumunot ang noo niya, hindi man lang nagulat. "Saya mo, ah?"

I smiled more. Umupo ako sa tabi niya. "Daddy and I are okay now. He said sorry to me last week and you know, that's kind of relief."

"I told you..." that is what he said. "Good for you, huh? Balik ka na sa bahay niyo?"

I shook my head. "No pa. Saka na kapag lumayas na roon si Tita Donna."

"Are you going home now?" tanong niya sa akin. Maya't-maya rin ang tingin niya sa relo niya. May pupuntahan?

"Hindi pa sana. Aayain sana kita kumain, libre ko. Wala na kasi akong gagawing assignments and projects. Why? Are you going somewhere?"

Tumango siya ng bahagya. "I'll pick my sister at the airport but if you're not yet going home. You can come with me instead."

Napa-awang naman ang labi ko. His sister? Uuwi na rito? Kung sasama ako, I'll met her? Hindi ko alam pero nakaramdam ako ng pinaghalong kaba at excitement. I didn't really know his sister, even her name, I don't know. Sa pictures ko lang siya nakikita, even in some news articles because she's a model.

"Uh...Baka hindi siya maging kumportable kapag kasama mo ako. I'll go home na lang," pagtanggi ko.

The side of his lips tugged up. "Siya ba o ikaw? Don't worry, Laia is bubbly. She might be very friendly to you."

In the end, I agreed to come with him. Wala rin naman kasi akong kasama sa Hotel. I might get bored. We are both wearing civillians so it's comfortable for me to walk around here. Nang maka-apak sa airport at may kakaibang saya na naman ang namutawi sa akin. I miss travelling! Hindi ako nakapagtravel last year ah! I'll go abroad on summer na lang, before pasukan, before my birthday.

Nakasunod lang ako sa kaniya all the time but everytime na nawawala ako sa paningin niya ay nakikita ko ang inis niya kaya hinawakan niya na lang ang kamay ko. Nagulat ako pero hindi ko pinahalata, his hands are soft even though he's a painter. What's the secret? I don't know.

Pinagmamasdan ko lang ang bawat taong dumadaan paloob at palabas ng airport, wearing airport outfits. Hanggang sa nagagawi ang tingin ko sa grupo ng mga flight attendants na nalalakad. Pulling their small luggages and walking so confidently, they somehow look like models. Ang gaganda nila, hindi rin nagpapatalo ang mga male flight attendants.

Everytime that I'm travelling. I always feel envy for their work. Imagine, they can travel anywhere! For free pa! Nakakarating sila sa kung saan-saang bansa without having a hard time catching a flight. They are earning pa!

Ah, I want to travel na!

Nakanguso akong humarap kay Levi na nakatitig na pala sa akin. I smiled immediately but he just looked away. Sungit ah.

"Here she is..." he mumbled.

Napatingin din ako sa harap. Ang daming tao, alin dito ang kapatid niya?

Napabitaw si Levi sa kamay ko kaya napa-atras ako dahil may biglang yumakap kay Levi. Nahawakan ko rin tuloy yung luggage ng kapatid niya dahil sa biglaan niyang pagbitaw, baka matumba. So, this is his sister, huh?

She is as tall as me. Her long wavy chocolate brown hair is completely on lose. Maputi rin siya at mukhang mabilis mamula. I can't see her face yet, nakatalikod pa siya sa akin. She's just wearing a usual coat and jeans. She went to California I know.

"I missed you, Brother!" I heard her cute voice said to his Kuya.

I saw Levi giggled a bit. "Missed you, Ly. Let's go now?"

"Uh, yes! I'm so tired," his sister said out loud. Tama nga si Levi, mukhang bubbly nga ang kapatid niya.

Tumingin sa akin si Levi. I smiled cutely at him. "Take your time," I mouthed.

Humakbang siya ng isa papunta sana sa akin pero mabilis siyang na-akbayan ng kapatid niya. Natawa na lang ako dahil nairita ata si Levi. Their bond as siblings is cute. Natutuwa akong panoorin sila. Wala kasi akong kapatid, e.

Hinila ng kapatid niya yung luggage niya nang hindi lumilingon sa gawi ko, mabuti na lang at nabitawan ko na iyon. Inangkla niya ang braso niya sa kapatid at nagsimula na silang maglakad. Tahimik akong sumunod, minsanang nililingon ni Levi. Her sister haven't seen me yet. Busy siya sa pagdadaldal sa kapatid niya kaya hindi masabi ni Levi na may kasama siya. Ang dami yatang pasalubong na kwento ang kapatid niya.

Pagdating sa tapat ng kotse ni Levi ay tsaka lang bumitaw yung kapatid niya kay Levi. Natatawa namang ginulo ni Levi ang buhok ng kapatid.

"Daldal naman nito. Mamaya mo na ubusin 'yang kwento mo. When Mom and Dad is infront of you," sabi niya sa kapatid niya.

"Oh sorry, yeah, later," sagot naman ng isa.

~~~