The Unwanted Fate

Chapter Two

Tumayo ako at bumalik sa loob ng bahay nang marinig ko ang ingay ng mga magulang ko. Nakita ko silang nag-uusap kasama si Alarkin.

Since wala naman akong planong sumali sa usapan nila, bumalik na lang ako sa kwarto.

Humiga ako sa kama at nagmuni-muni.

Tulog, kain, at tambay lang ang routine ko for the past year, pero hindi talaga ako na-bored.

It was, in fact, peaceful.

All I needed were the sounds of chirping birds from the nearby forest, the cool breeze passing through the windows, and a cup of coffee in my hands.

This was the life I had dreamed of.

And this was the life I intended to live for the rest of my life.

At least, that was the plan.

Tamad akong bumangon at pumunta sa pinto para buksan ito nang makarinig ako ng katok.

"Kain na raw. May sasabihin sina Ma," seryosong sabi ng kapatid ko.

Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata. I can see the amusement in his eyes. Mukhang may alam na naman itong isang 'to tungkol sa kung ano man ang sasabihin nila.

"Anong meron?"

"Malalaman mo rin."

Lalong sumama ang tingin ko sa kanya.

Nang makarating ako sa dining table, nandoon na silang lahat.

Si Mama ay abala sa pag-aayos ng pagkain habang si Papa naman ay tahimik na umiinom ng tubig.

Si Alarkin, on the other hand, was already eating as if wala siyang pakialam sa kung ano mang pag-uusapan namin.

Umupo ako sa tabi niya at kumuha ng pagkain.

"Ano po ba 'yung sasabihin niyo?" tanong ko habang nagsisimulang kumain.

Nagkatinginan sina Mama at Papa. That alone made me suspicious.

"Lenrae," panimula ni Mama.

"Hmm?"

"We've decided something about your studies."

Napahinto ako sa pagkain. Parang hindi ko magugustuhan ang patutunguhan nito.Kinabahan tuloy ako.

"Ano pong tungkol sa studies?"

"Your father and I have been talking about this for quite some time now," sabi niya.

"About?"

"You know that Avelin can only offer basic education."

I slowly put down my spoon.

"Yes po."

"And you've already finished everything the local school can teach you."

"Yes."

"So..."

Napatingin ako kay Papa. He cleared his throat before finally speaking.

"We enrolled you in the Elarian Academy."

Tumahimik ang buong mesa.

“Po?” baka kasi mali lang ang dinig ko.

"Sa Elarian Academy, anak" ulit ni Mama, this time with a small smile.

"Dun po ba sa academy ng Aurelia?"

Tumango si Papa.

"Yung sa capital mismo ng Aurelia?" paninigurado ko.

"Yes."

Weh? Binibiro ata nila ako. Mahilig pa naman sila magbiro.

"The most prestigious academy in Elaria?" I asked again.

"Yes, Lenrae."

Napatingin ako kay Alarkin. He was already trying his best not to laugh.

"Don't."

"What?" he asked innocently.

"Don't laugh. This isn't even funny."

He shrugged.

"It's funny!"

Imbes na makipagsagutan, bumalik ang tingin ko kina Mama at Papa.

"Why?"

It was the only question I could think of.

Bakit?

Why would they enroll me in the most expensive and prestigious academy in Elaria when I had already told them countless times that I wanted to stay in Avelin?

"We know you want to stay here," Mama said softly.

"Then why?"

"Because we know what you're capable of. That you can be someone. We know deep inside that you want to be someone as well. Just masked by your stubbornness."

I frowned.

"Ma, I'm not trying to be anything."

She shrugged.

"I don't want to be a scholar. I don't want to be an Elarian researcher. Ni ayoko ngang magtrabaho para sa Valedrian Council. Ayoko makisalamuha. Ayoko ng maingay. I don't even want to meet nobles or kung sino mang mga taong mapagmataas tulad ng tatay ni Calian."

Natawa nang malakas si Alarkin nang marinig niya ang pagbanggit ko sa tatay ni Calian.

"Lenrae—"

"I just want to stay here."

My voice came out more frustrated than I intended.

Mama reached across the table and gently held my hand.

"We're not sending you there because we want you to become someone important."

I looked at her.

"We're sending you because we want you to have the choice to become whoever you want to be."

I didn't know what to say. At sa totoo lang, wala rin akong gustong sabihin.

"Naubusan ka ng sasabihin?" singit ni Alarkin.

Tiningnan ko siya.

"Manahimik ka."

"Ignore your brother," Mama said, trying not to laugh.

"Your father and I have been saving for this for years."

I froze.

"Years?"

She nodded.

"We knew that eventually, you'd have to leave Avelin if you wanted to continue your education. The capital of Valedria has good schools, but the Elarian Academy offers opportunities that no other academy can. Syempre, iba lang din ang ipon namin para kay Alarkin. "

Papa continued, "We've already paid your enrollment fee. Your accommodation, books, travel expenses, and other necessities have also been prepared."

My stomach sank.

"Magkano?"

"Lenrae—"

"Magkano po nagastos niyo?"

She hesitated. That hesitation was enough.

I closed my eyes.

Great.

There goes my peaceful life.

"We didn't do this for ourselves," Mama said quietly. "We did it for you."

I stared at the food in front of me.

For years, I had told them that I was perfectly happy with a simple life. And here I thought they listened and understood me since they never forced me to chase some grand dream.

Hinayaan lang nila ako sa mga pinagsasabi ko.

Tapos may balak pala silang ganito? Kung sana sa capital lang ng Valedria ako ipinasok, edi pwede ko pang takasan.

Pero sa Aurelia? Hindi ko ma-imagine kung ilang ginto ang nagastos nila.

After knowing how much they had saved just to send me there, how could I simply tell them no?

Hindi ko kaya. Not without feeling like the biggest ungrateful daughter in Elaria.

Sumimangot ako.

Doon na napangiti nang malaki ang aking mga magulang at kapatid dahil alam nilang napapayag na nila ako.

"So kailan ako aalis?"

Ngumiti ng malawak si Papa.

"Next week."

Tiningnan ko siya. Nag-antay muna ako nang ilang segundo kasi baka next month pala dapat yun.

"Hindi ka bingi, Lenrae. Next week talaga."

Napapikit ako.

Of course. Gusto kong maglupasay sa harap nila. Magsasabi na nga lang, hindi pa inagahan! Wala man lang akong oras para namnamin muna yung pagiging tambay ko.

Alarkin burst out laughing.

"Bakit ka ba tawa nang tawa?! Kanina ka pa! Sasapakin na kita."

Tinaas ko ang kamay ko para sana sapakin siya pero sinuway ako ng mga magulang ko.

I glared at him.

Then I looked back at my parents.

Next week.

I sank into my chair.

So much for a quiet life.