Unwilling
1092 Words
Lunch time na nang makauwi ako sa bahay at nadatnan kong masayang nagku-kwentuhan sina Mommy, Daddy, at Kuya Vin sa aming sala.
Hindi ko na lang sana sila papansinin nang tawagin ako ni Kuya.
"You're back. Nag-lunch ka na ba?" he worriedly asked. I nodded and I was about to leave them when Mom called my name.
I stopped without facing them.
"Tomorrow is your Ate Mia's wedding. Here is your dress," she softly stated.
I clenched my both fists before taking a deep sigh as I faced them in calm.
"Sure, see you on the wedding day," malumanay kong sagot bago tanggapin ang malaking puting paper bag.
Tatalikod na sana ako nang tawagin ni Dad ang pangalan ko sa kanyang malalim na boses.
"You're loosing our temper, Camila! How do you act rude in front of us, huh?!" Daddy raised his voice and it frightened me pero hindi ko pinahalata.
"Dad, calm down. Maybe she's just tired," Kuya Vin advised while gripping Dad's arms to calm him.
Mom who is near me stared at me, trying to read my emotion but she failed. "Take a rest," she simply stated before going back to them.
Dad is glaring at me while gasping air but I tried to be brave to leave them.
I threw myself on my bed while trying to stop my tears but they even betrayed me.
"All this time, they don't know what I want! They never consider my decisions! They don't spend time with me! They don't care about me!" I yelled between my sobs.
I want to grab everything and throw it everywhere but I can't bacause this pain makes my body numb.
I thought money makes me happy. Since I was a child, I always dreamt of everything I want, that I can buy all of those, but look at me now, namamalimos ako ng pagmamahal at atensyon.
I was helplessly looked on the door when I heard three slow knocks.
It's Kuya Vin but I didn't respond. Tinitigan ko ng ilang segundo ang pinto kung kakatok ulit siya pero narinig kong kinakausap na niya si Dad.
"Let's just leave her alone for a while, Dad. She'll be alright, trust me," pangungumbinsi niya. His voice was fading, going downstairs.
I stopped crying. Humarap ako sa salamin para kausapin ang sarili.
"Money and beauty can't give me happiness. What's the use of these?" I commented while scanning my face in the mirror fiercely.
Those chinita eyes and small eyebrows, small yet pointed nose, those thin red lips, blushy cheeks, those...those are just a display.
Mapait akong ngumiti bago buksan ang drawer ko.
"What's the purpose of keeping useless things if I wont take it away?"
I was about to pick the scissors when beside of it was a small photo album. Wallet-sized pictures are fit inside.
I paused for a moment when I suddenly felt eagerness to open the small album.
This is more useless than my pretty face.
On the first page was my picture taken on a beach. Specifically, the Liciada Beach wherein three kilometers away from our home.
"Kuya! Take me a pic here!" I gave him my phone. The sunset was kissing my face while my hair was waving by the wind.
"No. Look at you, halos wala ka ng suot tapos gusto mo pang magpa-picture?" pagtanggi niya habang pinupuna ulit ang suot kong two piece.
"Hon, why don't you let her wears it? She has a perfect shape and she's just being proud of herself," Ate Mia defend me.
I wink at her when Kuya Vin took a deep breath. "Both of you, you don't know how to cover yourselves," huling sinabi niya bago niya ibalik sa'kin ang phone ko at iniwan kami.
We both shrugged our shoulders and I let Ate Mia took me a photo.
This is one of my memories with her. See? We were close to each other but she wasted everything.
I flipped the next page, my first photo with him. I locked my sight on his smile. The smile on his face was affectionate. A smile that made me fool for a year.
Huminga ako ng malalim sabay tingin sa taas upang pigilan ang mga luha ko sa pagtulo. Everything is still fresh on my mind and in my heart.
Just think of a person who gave everything, planned the future with that person then one day, it became a worst nightmare.
I shook my head and I put the photo album back inside and closed the drawer. Umalis ako sa tapat ng salamin at muling humiga sa aking malambot na kama.
I want to sleep to forget the pain for a while. I want to go back in Manila right now but what can I do rather than to stay here until Mia's wedding is over?
Lalo akong nainis nang maalala muli si Mia. Kung may rason man para bumalik dito, it's only because of Arlene. Nothing more, nothing less.
Inaliw ko ang sarili ko through browsing on my i********: and with that, tiredness swallowed me.
Nagising ako sa mga buhanging dumapo sa mukha ko dahil sa lakas ng hangin.
"Cams, wake up. The weather is not good. We need to go home," Ate Mia stated while packing our things.
Ang ilan sa mga tao sa dalampasigan ay nagkanya-kanyang ligpit na rin dahil lumalakas na pati ang hampas ng alon.
"Where's Kuya-ouch!" Hindi ko natuloy ang pagtatanong ko kung nasaan si Kuya nang mapuwing ako.
"Are you alright? Let me see." Sandaling hinipan ni Ate ang kanang mata ko hanggang sa unti-unting nawala ang kati.
"Here," wika niya nang iabot ang kanyang shades. "Come on, help me to carry these. Your Kuya is still in tampo mode 'cause I didn't listen to him," natatawang kwento niya.
I laughed when I get what she meant. Kuya is so conservative when it comes to clothes that we wear but in the end, kami pa rin ang nananalo ni Ate Mia.
Nagmadali na kami ni Ate sa pataas na bahagi ng lupa nang 'di inaasahang matisod ako.
Mabuti na lamang dahil hindi gano'n kalala ang natamo kong gasgas sa parehong tuhod ngunit ang mga bitbit kong banig at scarfs ay gumulong pababa,isang metro ang layo sa'kin.
May isang lalaking pumulot ng mga iyon. Agad naman akong inalalayan ni Ate na makatayo. "Oh no, your knees are bleeding," kunoot noo nitong wika.
"Don't worry, Ate malayo sa bituka 'yan," pagpapagaan ko ng loob niya just to not worry more.
Nalipat ang atensyon ko nang tawagin ako ng lalaking 'yon.
- Writer
