Scarper with Fremde

Chapter 2

Chapter II

The sound of barking was the only thing that woke me up. It was my phone alarm. I do have an alarm clock, but I don't use it to wake me up; instead, I use it to time my sleep. Baliktad pero gan'yan ang gusto ko. Hindi ko papatayin 'pag 'di pa nakakaramdam ng antok hanggang sa maririndi ako at pipiliting matulog na.

I want to have a dog but Kuya Thallus has an allergy to fur. Besides, Mom is not fond of dogs or any animals.

Still wearing my pajamas, I go down to eat. I just wash my face and gargle my mouth. Ate Thalian was already here when I came home yesterday. Mom and Dad went home around midnight and Kuya Thallus is still at the resort. Mamayang hapon pa siguro ang uwi.

Dad wasn't in the dining when I came there. Of course, it passed eight now and he has work. Mom and Ate are eating as they chatted about life. I got a plate from the kitchen and since the food was on the table, I sat silently after I put rice on my plate with bacon and egg.

"Yeah! I also thought that the course I would take is business pero nung nalaman kong Business ang kukunin ni Grethel, nag-bago na isip ko! Tourism na lang!"

"Why?" Mom asked Ate as she took a sip of her water. "Because you two will only be compared?"

I glanced a little and saw Ate shook her head. "No. Hindi 'yan sumagi sa utak ko, My. Never! Hindi ako nag Business kasi ayokong ma-pressure si Greth sa magiging grades niya. I won't compare our grades or performance but I know she would. Ever since then, we know what happens to Greth inside their house when Tito and Tita are not around. Hindi tayo nangielam do'n dahil, well, problema nila 'yon. Hindi tayo p'wedeng manghimasok nang walang solidong ebidensya kahit mag testify pa si Greth. Kaya ibang course kinuha ko."

Binaba ni Mommy ang baso 'saka umayos ng upo. "Yes, you're right, honey. We turn a blind eye to what is happening because as you said, it is their problem. Kaya ang tangi lang nating magagawa is to keep Grethel happy outside their house. That's why I allow you to go out any time because I know you will be with Grethel in Cathia's household. Do'n lang naman kayo parati kaya magaan ang loob kong hayaan ka. Ang akin lang, sa loob lang kayo ng subdivision."

Mom sighed. "Your Brother, too. He's already at his age but he's still my eldest. Pumapayag lang akong gumala-gala siya kung saan dahil nagpapaalam siya ng maayos at alam ko kung sino ang mga nakakasama niya. Minsan pa ay nags-send sa'kin 'yon ng mga pictures."

"Yeah, right." Ate snorted. "Kung hindi sila Rozien ang kasama, napapasali siya sa mga Tenassas!"

"What?" Mom laughs elegantly. "The Tenassas are known, too! They were smart and Intelligent! Isa pa, nasa kabilang subdivision lang sila at nasa i-isang school lang kayo kaya magki-kita at magki-kita talaga sila!"

"Oo! Mga babaero naman!" Nalukot ang mukha ni Ate.

A chuckle escaped from my lips but it died down because of Mommy's loud laughs. "Come on, Thalian Inna! Parang hindi nakakarating sa'kin—sa'min ng Daddy mo ang mga ginagawa ninyo ni Thallus! Ang Kuya mo ay patago kung mambabae, ang iyo naman ay harap harapan pero lahat 'yon denied by you and the person involved!"

"Mom! I'm already legal!" Palusot pa ni Ate.

"You are but, honey, you are still my Daughter!"

"Mom!" Ate whimpered but smiled eventually. "Don't worry, Mom! Your Daughter is still intact!"

"I know," Mom said in a gentle voice. "I will not ask who and to whom you give your pearl, but alam kong ku-kwestyunin ninyo ang sarili niyo in the future." My heart beat faster than normal when Mom's eyes greeted mine. "Especially that you both are women. May mas mawawala sa inyo. Sabihin man nilang tissue lang 'yan sa katawan natin, malaking kawalan na 'yon! And worst, mabuntis kayo at hindi panindigan. Though, we can raise the child but it'll be hard when the child grows up."

"Yep," Ate agreed. "It is already hard to take care of a baby, what if it has grown up?"

"That's why think before you spread your legs. You know the story of your Dad and I. Hindi kami nagsimula sa masaya agad."

Right. Nabuntis si Mommy ni Daddy sa unang beses nilang pagkikita at hindi pa sila magkakilala nu'ng mga panahon na 'yon. They don't even know each other's names. Kaya gano'n na lang ang age gap nila Kuya Thallus at Ate Thalian. Though, it wasn't that far but still, three years.

Mom said she'll deliver Dad's lunch to the company. Si Ate naman sinundo ni Ate Cathia para puntahan si Ate Grethel. May pupuntahan ata sila ngayon.

I stayed in my room reading the last lesson we discussed last meeting so that I could remember what was learned in the previous class if there was a quiz or just recap the lessons tomorrow.

Ayun lang ang halos ginawa ko buong umaga at nang sumapit ang pananghalian, bumaba ako para kumain. Seeing the newly washed plate and utensils upside down on the towel near the edge of the sink, alam kong kay Kuya 'yon.

Kuya often doesn't leave anything he uses, especially if there are no dirty dishes in the sink. Mas malinis at mas maingat si Kuya sa mga bagay kaysa kay Ate na marahas ang mga kilos at hindi gaanong kaingat.

After eating, I washed myself and changed. I wore black fitted pants and a grey loose hoodie. Med'yo abot sa kalahati ng hita ko ang haba at lagpas naman sa kamay ko ang sleeves. I partner it with white sneakers and pearl necklace given by Tita Rizalee.

I texted Mom while going down the stairs. I sent it on our Family Group chat so if ever my siblings look for me, they won't text me anymore. I have a phone but I just use it to text my Family.

I asked Kuya Romel to drive me to the nearest mall. Hindi naman ako p'wede lumakad mag-isa kahit na sobrang lapit lang. I'm still a minor and I have protective Parents so I'd rather come with our Family driver. Kuya Rome didn't come with me inside the music depot when I told him that I'd be back in minutes.

Hearing a familiar voice singing to unfamiliar song, my feet stuck on the floor. As the familiar voice hit the high notes, a little hair on my exposed skin rose. Feeling the coldness of the aircon inside didn't help. Dragging my feet to step, the hair of my body still standing straight.

Agad na hinanap ng mata ko ang section ng album na bibilhin ko. Mabilis at kontrolado ang lakad papunta sa aisle na 'yon. I was so focused that I didn't see that someone was walking while reading a book and it was already too late to realize now that the book he was just holding a few seconds later was on the floor.

"I'm sorry!"

"Oh, sorry," a familiar sound of the voice made me look up to see who it was but all I could see was a stranger.

He looks familiar, his voice, I heard it somewhere but I don't have an idea who is he.

He smiles. "Oh, it's you!"

He knew me. My eyebrows frown as I recall where I saw him or at least where I heard his voice but a few seconds later, I still don't remember him.

"You don't remember me?" May pag-a-alinlangan ang boses nito.

I sniffed... smelling that familiar scent. That earthy but sweet smell. My eyes went to his left eyebrows and a name popped up in my head as I recognized that mole.

"Vinx...?"

His mouth went big because of his smile. "You remember me!" Ang mga mata ay kuminang ng gumalaw siya at nagka-repleksyon ng ilaw.

"Ah..." I chuckled a little. "I remember your smell," and your birthmark.

"Hindi mo nga agad ako nakilala!" Pagrereklamo nito.

"You had a mask yesterday, so..." I trailed. Hindi ko siya namukhaan ngayon dahil wala na siyang mask kaya hindi naging pamilyar agad.

And... I am forgetful. Isang beses pa lang din naman kami nagkikita kaya hindi pa 'ko mas'yadong pamilyar sa kan'ya.

Tumawa siya at inipit sa kili-kili ang librong hawak bago ako sinenyasang maglakad na kung saan. His left arm is in the back of me but doesn't touch my clothes, while his right arm is stretched forward. Like motioning me to walk.

I started walking. "I'll buy Avril Lavigne's album." I also started the conversation.

"Oh, you're a fan of her?" He glances at me wide eye.

I nodded as I looked for the Let Go album. "Found it!"

"Saan pa ang punta mo pagtapos dito?"

Nilingon ko siya. Nakasunod pa rin siya at nasa kili-kili niya pa rin ang libro. "Bookstore?"

I heard his lowly chuckles. "Feeling ko may question mark 'yang sagot mo!"

Shrugging, I paid on the counter. "Hindi ko kasi alam kung tutuloy pa ba 'ko o di-diretsong uwi na."

He hummed and matched my speed. "May gagawin ka pa ba after this?"

I glanced at him as I stopped. "What do you want?"

Hindi niya 'ko kukulitin at susundan pa kung manganga-musta or ano lang. I have a feeling that he wants something from me. Is he going to ask me to convince my sister to date him?

His laugh made me snap at him. "Alright, alright!" Tinaas niya ang pareho niyang kamay na parang susuko pero ang libro ay nakaipit pa rin. "You got me." There, he's gonna say it now. "Do you want to have a drink with me?"

"No—Wait, what?"

Ah. I thought... Oh my god! Pinag-isipan ko siya ng kung ano.

"A-Ah... I just want to have a moment with you." He scratches the back of his head.

I sighed when I saw that we were already outside the store. I even could see Kuya Romel standing nearby but have a great distance. I turned my body on him.

"I can't today." Since I was looking at him, I saw how his smiling face fell. A pinch in my chest poked and it throbbed. "Don't worry. I'll be at the Cofféy tomorrow around... uh," anong oras ba dapat ako pumunta? After dinner? But Dad's already home at that time.

He seems to notice my hesitation. "I'll have your number na lang, can I? I'm not going to text you, I'll just want to know if you're free."

Sighing, I nodded. He held the book before pulling out his phone from the back pocket of his pants. He's wearing a black loose jeans, a plain white shirt, white sneakers, and the leather jacket hanging on his other arm. I accepted his phone and put my number on.

After that, I bid him goodbye and walked without looking back at him.

"Thally," Dad's voice outside my door as a knock echoed.

I stood up from the swivel chair and opened the door. "Yes, Dad?"

"Come, it's dinner time!" He pulled me from my room gently then he put his arm around my shoulder. "How's my Daughter?"

Chuckling, I held Dad's waist and snuggled myself to him. "I'm doing good, Daddy!"

"No crushes?"

Umiling ako. "No romantic crushes!"

"So..." his playful tone and wiggly eyebrows made me laugh as we descended the stairs. "Just... you know?"

"I do like someone's face, but I don't think I have a crush on him," I admitted defeat.

"Is he... older than you?" He glanced at me as he messed up my hair.

I shrugged. "I don't know, Dad! We only saw each other twice. I mean, we talked twice and that was the only interaction we had. Other than the name he said, I don't know anything about him. I don't even know his full name!"

"Woah! Woah! Calm down! Calm down!" Dad laughed but still held my hand for the last step. "You know, Anak. 'Yan na ang umpisa niyan. Kapag paulit ulit na kayong nagkakaroon ng interaksyon, d'yan na magsisimula 'yan! Bata ka pa naman, I-enjoy mo lang ang mga bagay bagay. I mostly don't have time with all of you because of work but I want us to be complete sa dinner dahil kahit 'yun lang ang maging oras para magsama sama tayo, 'ayos na sa'kin 'yon."

I smile. "I understand naman, Dad. You worked hard to sustain what we need and want even though we can live for a hundred of months without working but you still choose to tire yourself." I held Dad's hand that was on my shoulder as we continued walking towards the dining area inside the kitchen. "I'm grateful that even now you still romance Mom. You both still tried to fix everything and managed to hold each other as you two built a sturdy wall around our family."

"'Nak, I know what's happening to you. Palagi kang naiiwan dito. Oo, inaayos pa rin namin hanggang ngayon ng Mommy mo ang nasira noon, parehas kaming umaayos no'n pero sa pag-a-ayos namin, 'Nak, parang humihiwalay kayo ng Kuya at Ate mo." He sighed and tightened his grip. "Baka sa pagpokus namin sa pag-a-ayos sa relasyon namin, pamilya natin ang magkawatak-watak."

"Dad," I faced him. "Kuya is always outside but he doesn't forget to get me and Ate to keep safe as we three go home. Or if not, palagi siyang nagtatanong kung naka-uwi na kami kapag may gagawin siya after school. Ate always asked about my day or asked me if I wanted to come with them kapag may gala sila or pupunta siya kung saan. Mom always prepared us every morning a breakfast, she sometimes cooked dinner or lunch if she had time. And you, even if you are tired you still managed to be at dinner time just to be with us."

Hindi nakaligtas sa'kin ang pagnunubig ng mata ni Daddy pero hindi ko na pinansin 'yon lalo na nung umiwas siya ng tingin at pumunta sa likod ko. He puts his hand on my shoulder as he pushes me a little to continue to walk.

"Just don't forget to give your Mom or Ate a word if it gets rough, okay? Girls talk."

I nodded and didn't talk anymore until we started to eat. My weekend wasn't that bad but not too good either. I get to talk to Dad about that again. Palagi siyang busy at minsan naman pagod kaya hindi kami madalas nakakapag-usap kundi sa hapag lang.

Ah... not because my age increases, or I get grown a little doesn't mean I'm not Daddy's girl anymore.