A Wonderful Sight

Chapter 12

Everything felt surreal. I did not expect Tanner would be the reason for us to find out about sister. Of all the people we know who goes in and out of our dad’s company. Napatulog na nila kuya si Karina at umuwi na rin si Tanner kaya kinausap ko na ang mga kuya ko.

“I went to him, I was furious that I told him bad things that might hurt him. I don’t know when will I ever forgive him but I hope he learns his lessons by losing his children’s trust,” I started telling my brothers.

“Your feelings are valid, if you’re feeling sorry for showing your anger to him, don’t be. It’s is okay. We will deal with him,” Kuya Maru stands up and hugs me. Dumalo na rin si kuya Marvin sa kanya.

I went to Karina’s room, I want her to feel safe inside our house baka namamahay pa siya. The week went like a blur for us. Nilakad lahat namin ng papeles para maging legal nang Velasco si Karina. Her mom and stepdad was put to jail for abusing her. I don’t know how did that thing happened but our brothers told me not to be bothered about it anymore.

Dahil last day na nang semestral break ko ngayon, I planned to buy school stuff with my sister. Sunday ngayon kaya available din sila kuya so we planned to have a family bonding. Inayos na nila kuya ang pag-transfer ni Karina sa elementary school ng pinapasukan kong university. Para na rin mabantayan namin siya ng maayos minabuti na naming same school na lang ang papasukan namin. Inaayusan ko pa si Karina nang pumasok si kuya Maru sa kwarto.

“Dalian niyo na baka ma-late tayo sa mass. Bibisitahin pa natin si mommy diba? Double time.”

We attended our usual Sunday mass but with Karina now. Binisita nga namin si mommy sa puntod niya.

“Hey mom, I want to introduce to my sister. She’s dad daughter from that woman. She’s Karina anyway. Mom, I hope you won’t get angry to us for keeping her, she’s been abused and abandoned. Mom, I hope we are making you proud for letting her be part of our family. Wala naman siyang kasalanan sa nangyari and you taught us to be kind always and we are doing it. I missed you so much.”

I cried again not because for losing mom but for our father who is doing nothing to let his kid change their hearts towards him. When I was a kid I always pray that will come to us and tell us that he was sorry and he wants us to forgive him pero walang nangyaring ganun. Tsaka na lang siya nag-reach out sa amin noong matapos na sa pag-aaral si kuya Marvin at patapos na din ako ng high school. Mas lalo lang akong nangkaroon ng rason na kamuhian siya noong pinilit niya sila kuya na sa kanya magtrabaho kasi kung hindi, wala na kaming makukuhang suporta galing sa kanya. My kuyas don’t want me to suffer so they started working for him.

Nagulat ako ng magsalita si Karina na nakatingin sa pangalan ni mommy, “Hello po, maraming salamat po na pinalaki niyo ng may mabubuting kalooban ang mga kapatid ko. Hindi ko man po kayo nakilala, alam ko pong mabait kayo. Sana kayo na lang po ang naging nanay ko kasi baka lumaki din ako sa mapagmahal na pamilya gaya ng mga kapatid ko.”

Mas lalo akong naiyak dahil alam kong traumatic sa kanya ang nangyari. Niyakap namin siya. She will grow up happy and comfortable with us now. Matapos namin bisitahin si mommy ay dumiretso na kami sa mall.

Our brothers decided to roam around in a men’s clothing store so inaya ko si Karina na samahan muna akong bumili ng gamit namin for school tsaka kami bibili ng ibang gamit niya. Hinayaan kong siya ang mamili ng mga gamit niya. Nagtitingin ako ng books nang matabig ako ni Prince.

“Uy Hya, ikaw pala ‘yan. I heard what happened, Tanner was there again no? I think wala na talaga akong laban sa kanya, baka pwedeng ‘yung kapatid mo na lang.”

“Gago. Child abuse ‘yun! Bobo.”

Tumawa siya, “You should have seen your face para mo akong papatayin. Puta!”

“Shut up.”

“I know. See you sa university. Toma tayo minsan, namiss ko kainuman ka e.”

“Shut your mouth, my sister might hear you. I don’t want to be a bad influence.”

“Wow! Role model ka girl? Gandang character development a.”

“I just realized I have been enjoying the best of everything and my sister just suffered there alone. I will change for the better. I won’t party much na."

“That’s nice to hear. I am proud of you best friend,” he hugged me.

“We good now?”

“Oo naman, ang dali mo lang palitan hindi ka ganoon kaganda para hindi ko kaya palitan.” Tawa niya. And the Prince I know is back. Wow!!!

I punched him, “Kapal. Hello, you fell in love with this pangit.”

He chuckled, “Oo na, so I deserve a libre.”

“Ate tapos na po ako,” si Karina na tulak-tulak ang cart niya.

“Hi, I am Prince ang sinaing ng ate mo na binabayaan niya,” tumawa pa ito.

Binatukan ko siya, “Karina, this is kuya Prince, my bestfriend.”

“Hello po,” nagmano pa si Karina sa kanya.

I laughed, “You look old na kasi. She needs to pay respect.”

“You look old na kasi..” he mimicked me pero hinila na niya ang cart ni Karina at pumunta sa counter, “dahil mabait ka at hindi mo gaya ang ate mong mapanakit, ako na magbabayad ng mga napili mo.”

“Salamat po,” ngumiti ang kapatid ko sa kanya.

I paid for my things too, sumabay na si Prince sa amin at siya na rin ang nagdala ng mga pinamili namin. Nagkita na lang kami nila kuya sa isang Chinese restaurant. Nakapag-order na rin sila ng pagkain at may kasama pa sila sa table namin. Bakit nandito si Tanner? We already settled ourselves in our table nang matanaw ko si Arjo na papasok din sa restaurant.

“Si Arjo oh,” siko ko kay Prince.

“Arjo, dito,” kumaway na siya ng makita kami, “Inaya ko siya, sinabi ko na manlilibre ka dahil miss mo na kami.”

“Ikaw lang mayaman na kamukha ng libre,” irap ko sa kanya.

“Tipid tips my friend.”

We ate our foods, busy ang mga kuya na nag-uusap about business kaya hinayaan na lang namin sila. Pagkatapos kumain ay naisipan naming paglaruin si Karina sa arcade. Nangunguna na si Prince sa paghila sa kapatid namin para makipaglaro sa kanya. I played with them a bit pero nang napagod ako ay umupo na lang ako para panoorin sila.

“Are you okay now?” si Tanner na tumabi sa akin.

“Yes.” 

“C’mon loosen up a bit,” hinila niya ako patayo at palabas ng arcade.

Dinala niya ako sa rooftop ng mall. Overlooking ang busy street at mga naglalakihang building. Parang kami lang ang tao rito na ikinagulat. Hindi ito accessible sa mga mall customer.

“Don’t worry, I know the owner and he let me use this,” parang nabasa niya ang iniisip ko, “Go on, shout all you anger. Shout all you hatred. Shout it.”

I did what he told me to do. I shouted my heart out. I shouted all the anger and hatred that has been filed up inside me. I shouted to my heart content until I felt relieved. It felt so good. I never felt so free. Dahil sobrang gaan sa loob at saya na naramdaman ko. I hugged him.

“I think I might consider your feelings for me,” I smiled at him.