Chapter 1
1396 Words
This is where everything began.
New Hope foundation
"Thank you po! Sana po forever ka nalang dito ate ganda,” nakangising sabi sa akin ni Clarisse, ang batang may leukemia.
"Ate ganda, ang sarap po ng mga pagkain nyong dala, Thank you po," Hirit pa ng isa sa kanila na si Martin. Katulad ng ibang bata dito sa New Hope Foundation na kung saan sponsor din ang pamilya ko. Ever since I laid my eyes on these children ay nagustuhan ko na ang pagbisita dito and take care of them and make them happy. I am always free because I was homeschooled. I understood my Parents decision when we had the worst of the worst days before that is why sobrang higpit nila sa akin but then give me space and time for myself naman, and this is where I go.
"Ijha, kain ka muna at maupo ka dito. halatang pagod ka na," sabi ng matandang babae sa likuran ko. It was Manang Fel isa sa mga nag aalaga ng mga bata dito.
"ok lang naman po ako manang," I answered. Ok lang naman talaga ako, sadyang OA lang talaga nila mommy at daddy at nagbilin pa sa mga tao dito na hindi ako pinapagod ng husto.
"maupo ka lang saglit." at kumuha pa ito ng upuan sa gilid at pinaupo ako.
"Hay ok lang namn talaga ako, ikaw nga po dapat maupo." tumayo ako at pinaupo si manang
"ay nako tong batang to. Ang bata ko pa kaya," sabi pa neto
"eh mas bata naman po ako," sabi ko at ngumisi sa kanya. Napalingo lang ito at tumawa
"Oh sha sige, wag na natin pagusapan ang katandaan ko. Mga bata, bigyan muna natin ng oras kumain ang ate nyo ha?" sweet na pagkasabi ni manang sa mga bata saka ito tumayo at kinurot ang matambok napisngi ni kris.
"Araaaaay naman manang!" sabi pa nito habang hawak ang namumulang pisngi
Napatawa nlng ako sa kanila. Ang cute kasi. Di sila kadugo pero parang tunay na pamilya ang turing ng bawat isa.
"Bye ate ganda! Laro po tayo ulet mamaya ah!" masayang kumakaway ito paalis ksama ang ibang mga bata.
"ang kulit talaga," naibulalas ko lang at napatawa.
"oh sha, kumain ka na ng makainom ka ng mga gamot mo. Ako pa lagot sa mga magulang mo pag nagkataon." inaya ako ni manang sa kainan.
Sa lamesa naka hanada ang gulay at prutas. Walang pagkaing bawal sa akin. Puro masustansya.
"salamat po manang." umupo na ako at nagsimulang kumain
Sa buong buhay ko hindi pa ako nakatikim ng mga junk foods o kahit ano pa yan. Never akong nakagala na kasama ang mga kaibigan dahil hindi naman ako nakapasok sa eskwelahan.
Ok naman noon sina mommy nung highschool ako pero ng pumayag na sila na pumasok ako sa isang eskwelahan dahil ayaw ko na ma homeschooled eh saka naman ako nagka sakit ng todo. Kala ko nga di na ako mabubuhay pa dahil ilang buwan daw ako sa ICU at palaging nag co-code. I needed a heart transplant before, and now. I’m not first on the transplant list and so I am patiently waiting for a new one.
The doctor specifically said not to be stressed or be under pressure or mapagod physically or mentally as it may affect my heart. And my mom and dad agreed kasi puro sila doctor.
As for me I want to be a fashion designer. I am artistic and I love to draw or paint. My brother is starting a business and it is doing quite well.
He did want to introduce me to his friends sa business world. But mom and dad never allowed me to go out dahil timing na event yun and they were worried about me.
"Hindi po ba kayo kakain manang?" tanong ko dito ng makabalik sa kusina na may dalang tubig at mga gamot ko.
"Tapos na ako ijha. Sige na at para mainom mo na ito," sabi nya habang nilapag ang baso sa lamesa kasama ang naka ready na gamot.
"Is my twin here yet?"
Sabi kasi ni Cavin kanina na pupuntahan nya ako dito. He said he wants to eat lunch with me pero matatagalan pa sha dahil may meeting. And its 12 nn already and I can’t miss lunch.
"Wala pa eh, papasok yun pag andito na. Oh sha maiwan muna kita at may gagawin pa ako."
Tumango nlng ako at nagpatuloy kumain.
Cavin, my twin, He’s always the sweetest. Akala ko nga nung tumatanda na kami at naging chicboy yung kapatid ko he will change his attitude towards me and my family but for some reason he never did. He was always caring and loving and kind especially to me and mom. Pero nung one time he brought a woman in our house when our parents were on vacation, he was so mad at the woman when we tried to talk. He told the woman to get out kasi sabi nya "it was all just s*x" for him, nothing more. Halos masampal ko nga sha nuon dahil sa pananalita nya. Babae parin yun. But anyways madami na nagsabi na badboy day sha but they never knew na ang sweet nyan. Mapagkamalan pa kaming jowa kung hindi kami magkamukha.
"Scar."
And speaking of the devil
"I’m so sorry it took longer than I thought." he walked towards me and kissed my forehead. He’s just like dad. And sweet kay mommy and to me. He sat beside me
"It’s ok, if you don’t mind nauna akong kumain." I smiled. I was hoping to eat together with him though
"of course its ok. Inumin mo na mga gamot mo."
I nodded at isa-isang ininom ang mga gamot ko. He passed me the glass of water
"Have you eaten?" I asked after a long silence
"No. Let’s go, I will eat and then since tapos ka na kumain, let’s get ice cream after then hatid na kita sa bahay."
"Yaaay Icecream! Flavor,” I started. “Cookies and cream!" we said in unison, we smiled at each other.
"let’s go sis."
He stood up and grabbed my bag and we bid goodbye to the people at the orphanage.
Buong byahe nag usap lang kami until we stopped at our favorite restaurant.
La parisien
We both love this place and this is usually where our family eats.
"Right this way, Ma’am/Sir." pagkapasok palang namin ay niyaya na kami sa VIP room. Kilala na kami dito dahil lahat ng eat out namin, dito napadpad.
"The usual for me, and a salad for my sister." umalis na ang waiter and we continued to talk.
"Sooo, how’s your love life? Kailan ba ako magkakaroon ng pamangkin?" I excitedly said but he just rolled his eyes. Natawa nlng ako. I know exactly what he is about to say.
"I’m not interested. you and our family are my main concern and that’s enough."
Sinabayan ko pa sha. Yes, that is his line always. Every time I ask him about his lovelife.
Tatandang mag-isa ata ang kapatid ko. A few minutes later, naiserve na ang pagkain namin. We both ate in silence. Halatang gutom ang kapatid ko at puyat pa ito, yung eyebags nya na sobrang klaro pero gwapo parin naman. Syempre gwapo si daddy kaya manang mana.
Natigil kami sa pagkain ng biglang nag ring ang phone ni Cav and he excused himself to answer the call. When he went back his expression went from mad to soft as he approached the table. I knew then may problema na naman ito. I wonder who called him? My brother hides things a lot from me. He doesn’t want me to be worried and all of them does.. They think I am this fragile woman. But I am his twin sister and there is this bond, that I somehow feel also what he is feeling.
"I’m sorry, can I let my driver fetch you? Hindi na kita maihatid sa bahay. And tell mom and dad that we will have a talk, us family mamaya na paguwi ko."
And I just nodded. Hindi ko alam ang mga plano sa buhay ni Cavin but I will always support him. He’s family.
- Writer
