Eutopian Series:Coming Home

Sabi nila you have to live your life to the fullest, eat, have fun and enjoy your life because you will never know how long you will get to enjoy those things. Pero ako? I just live in the moment. That’s it. I just go with the flow. “Illy anak naka ready na ang breakfast, baba na!” I heard my mom shouted from downstairs. Another boring day. I hissed. I hurriedly went downstairs, its past 7:30 already hindi pwedeng ma-late ako baka marami nang estudyante sa school non. Usually 7:00 sharp umaalis na ako ng bahay para pumasok para makaiwas sa usual time na pasok ng mga students. Brent maybe a huge university but it feels so small for me. “Ma, ipack ko nalang po itong mga food ko okay? Sa school nalang po ako kakain.” I told my mom while fixing my things. “Anak maaga pa naman ah? Bakit hindi ka muna kumain? And what are you wearing? First day ng klase mo ngayon naka hoodie ka na naman? loosen up anak.” “sana maging ayos ang first day nya ngayon, I’m worried about her” That’s my Dad and yes I can hear his unsaid thoughts I didn’t know how I can do it but yes I can hear and see through peoples mind. At first I thought that I was just imagining things but as I grow older I realize that its real. My Dad is the one who keeps on pushing me to be more friendly maybe because he knows how hard it is for me to blend in. “I’m fine Dad, papasok na po ako sa school nalang po ako kakain. Don’t worry okay? I’m good.” I assured him. He just smiled at me as if he was saying ‘I’m just right here. This is probably the only thing that keeps me going everyday, my family. They are my core, life would mean nothing without them. Before I go out I looked around the house to find my Grandpoppy. Now this is funny, I can hear and see anyone anyones thoughts when looking into their eyes except for my grandpoppy. Odd right? But maybe the reason why I couldn’t read his mind was because he always said it to me. I didn’t have to use my ability to know what he was thinking.My grandpoppy is my favorite person in the world, he is my bestfriend and my first teacher. I know right? It was supposed to be my mom. But I can only remember myself when I was little, being taught by my Grandpoppy. I saw him outside, cleaning his old pick-up truck. “Grandpoppy, nililinis nyo na naman po ‘yan? Saan po ba kayo pupunta? Eh, hindi naman na umaandar ‘yan?” I joked and kissed him on the cheeks. He laughed at my comment and just continued cleaning the old truck. “Nako, Iha, mukang may pupuntahan ako ngayon. Papasok ka naba?” he stopped cleaning the truck and sat down in the bench he tap it as if he was telling me to sit beside him and so I did. “Opo, saan ka naman pupunta grandpoppy? Ikaw naman ang aga aga eh saka hindi mo nga po masasakyan yan. Hiramin nyo nalang po ang kotse ni Dad, hindi naman po ata tuloy yung meeting ngayong araw.” He just holds my hand and stare at my face. “Biro lang iyon Iha, saan naman pupunta ang matandang tulad ko? Halos hindi ko na nga makita ng malinaw ang dinadaanan ko, ang nakikita ko na lamang na malinaw ay ang napaka gandang muka ng pinakamamahal kong apo.” He smiled as he tuck my hair in my ear. He’s always been like this, although my Mom and my Dad supports me in everything only my grandpoppy can make me feel like I can do everything, he believes in me so much. “hay nako, grandpoppy, wala na po talagang gaganda sa akin bilang apo nyo dahil nag-iisa lang naman po ako na apo nyo. Pwede nyo po ba akong samplelan ng magic tricks nyo jan grandpoppy? Bago po ako pumasok?” I asked him while laughing. My grandpoppy was a magician. He is one of the most talented magician in his time. It’s been so long since I last asked him to do a magic trick for me, noong bata ako hindi ako pumapasok ng school hanggang hindi nya ako pinagbibigyan na gawan ng magic tricks nya. “oh, sya sige at tanghali kana, akina ang kamay mo iha” He told me as he asks for my hand. I immediately and excitedly obliged. Nung hinawakan ni grandpoppy yung kamay ko, minotion nya yung kamay nya as if he was sprinkling something, and then a petal fell on my palm and then eventually turned in to a very beautiful flower. Amazed by what he did I jumped out of happiness and hugged him. “Wala ka pa ding kupas, grandpoppy! You will always be the best magician for me!” I happily hugged him and bid my goodbye. After saying good bye to my mom and dad I hurriedly went to my car, tanghali na ak0 kailangan ko bilisan na magdrive. Unfortunately, 8:45 na akong dumating sa school dahil medyo malayo yung bahay namin sa city proper at medyo na traffic pa ako sa daan. The school was usually a bit crowded, ganito talaga kapag first day of school mga  naglipana ang mga estudyante. I immediately checked my planner and went dirrectly to my room for the first subject. I was just about to enter but when I opened the door, I felt a sticky liquid in my head down to my face abd to my neck... Then I realized that this is their welcome remarks for me. “Iyan ang pang welcome namin sa mga special na taong katulad mo Illyana, hahaha isang special na welcome surprise from your classmates.” Gianne said while laughing. Actually all of them are laughing. Hindi ko alam kung anong saya ang nakukuha nila kapag nakikita nila akong nagmumukhang kawawa at mukhang tanga. I looked at her with a trembling body. “anong tinitingin tingin mo?” she asked why slightly pushing me. “Ano?! Bakit ang sama mong tumingin ha?! Papalag ka naba?!” She angrily slapped my face and pushed me. “Subukan mo lang sumagot na weirdo ka mas lalo kong paguguluhin at pahihirapin ang buhay mo sa university.” Gianne thought in her mind. This is why I don’t want to be close to anyone. Kaya pinipilit kong lumayo sa ibang tao kasi nababasa ko kung ano ang iniisip nila, na kadalasang nakakapagdagdag ng takot na nararamdaman ko at mas lalong nagpahinga sa loob ko. And this is the reason why I don’t want to be late. Kasi alam kong gagawan at gagawan nila ako ng kalokohan pag hindi ko nauna sa classroom, wala naman silang ibang napagtitripan kungn hindi ako. Yung mga luha na kanina ko pa pinipigilan ay nag una unahang bumagsak. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kasi napaka hina ko, kung bakit wala na nga akong lakas para lumaban, wala pa din akong lakas para manindigan. I gathered all my courage and stood up. I run like it was the end of my life. Hindi ko na kaya, napapagod na ako talaga. I went to my car and drive so fast reach our house. I am still shaking from crying so hard until I reached our house but I managed to go inside on my own. Tatawagin ko sana si Dad kaso ayoko naman na makita pa nila na ganito ang itsura ko, napagdesisyonan kong sa kitchen magdaan at hindi sa front door para makapag linis muna ako ng katawan. Napansin ko na parang masyadong tahimik ang bahay, usually pag ganitong oras nanunuod si Mom ng TV. When I was about to open the door I noticed that it was already slightly open. Weird I thought but then again I didn’t mind. Sobrang tahimik, pero mas okay naman yon kaysa mapansin nila mom na ganito ang itsura ko paniguradong mag woworry sila sa akin. Pag bukas ko ng pinto para akong naestatwa sa kinatatayuan ko. And Dad ko ay nakayap sa Mom ko na para bang pinoprotektahan nya ito. Parehas silang punong puno ng dugo at puro saksak sa katawan. Natutop ko nalang ang bibig ko sa sobrang gulat, takot at sakit na nararamdaman ko. Niyakap ko silang dalawa habang patuloy na tumutulo ang luha ko. Pano? Sino? Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin at iisipin ko. Patuloy lang ako sa pagiyak na parang hindi na mauubos ang luha ko. Naisip ko bigka ang grandpoppy ko, Mabilis akong tumakbo papunta sa kwarto nya, nananalangin na sana wag naman pati sya. Sana ayos lang ang grandpoppy ko, kahit sya manlang matira sa akin. Pag pasok na pag pasok ko nang kwarto ni Grandpoppy napaluhod nalang ako. Nakatali sya sa isang upuan, duguan at puro pasa at saksak ang katawan. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kailangan nilang gawin to sa pamilya ko. Kung ano ang dahilan? Siguro kahit kailan hinding hindi ko maiintindihan. Dahan dahan ang lumapit kay grandpoppy at hinawakan ang kamay nya. Yung luha na akala kong wala nang mas ibubuhos lalo pang lumakas, na parang bawat butil ng luha na pumapatak ay kasing laki ng mga patak ng ulan sa tagulan.