Pursuing Our Freedom| ✓

Kabanata 20

Kabanata 20

Umuwi ako nang nakapatay ang lahat ng ilaw. I sighed before switching on the lights, at agad na bumungad sa akin si Ate Flora kasama ang ilang helpers. They were hiding but immediately showed up when the lights were lit.

"Congrats, Ma'am Philo!" they greeted, plastering joyful smiles on their faces.

May hawak na cake si Ate Flora. It was not branded because the border frosting didn't even look newly made. Yet, I consider it to be surreal moment, lumapit siya sa akin para ipakita ang nakalagay dito na dedication.

We are proud of you,
Ma'am Philomena!

"Thank you po," I accepted the cake, trying not to let my emotions get to me."Tara po sa kitchen, kain po tayo."

We went to the dirty kitchen and I sliced the cake. Ang ilan sa kanila ay kanina pa pala natatakam sa cake, hinihintay lang akong dumating.

"Sa isang bakery lang namin nabili 'yung cake, Ma'am Philo. Pasensya na kung hindi kasing sarap nung ginagawa mo," Ate Flora says. Agad akong umiling.

"This is already too much, Ate Flora. Salamat po talaga..."

I wasn't expecting anything. Sa lahat ng tao, I should be the one who knows how expectation hurts. Mas magaan ang buhay kung wala tayong inaasahan sa iba o kahit sa sarili natin.

Sandali kaming nagusap at kinamusta lang nila ako. I didn't ask about Mommy or Daddy because I know I will ruin the mood. Ang mahalaga ay kahit papaano may masaya pala para sa akin sa bahay na ito.

Pumunta na ako sa kwarto ako matapos maubos ang cake. I thanked them once again as I left for my room. I decided to take a hot bath first before going to bed. Habang pinupunasan ko ang ilang hibla ng buhok ko na nabasa, I saw how my pillows were dry, it would remain that way because I won't cry tonight.

Kinabukasan, naabutan ko si Mommy at Daddy sa hapagkainan. It was Sunday, mamaya ay magsisimba kami kaya naman maaga sila. I don't know where they went last night, pero ayoko na rin tanungin. Masasaktan lang ako kapag nalaman ko na mas mahalaga pa 'yung recognition ko kumpara sa pinuntahan nila.

"May pupuntahan po ako," I told them as I ate our breakfast. Hindi umimik si Mommy at patuloy lang na umiinom ng kape si Daddy.

Hindi ko sinabi kung anong oras ako uuwi. Sobra akong nagtatampo. Bakit gano'n? Sila na nga 'yung hindi ako sinipot kahapon, sila pa ang galit? Should I always be the one who kept on understanding their side?

Bakit hindi naman nila ako subukan pakinggan? Kapag matanda ka lang ba talaga magiging mahalaga ang opinyon mo?

After eating breakfast, dumaan lang kami sa church para sa isang misa at umuwi rin. Hindi na rin ako nag-atubili na kausapin sila. I really have no energy for that anymore.

I have a week to prepare for Iscalade's birthday. Pero hinanda ko na agad ang mga damit na susuotin ko. I'm conservative when it comes to my outfit. It was an overnight so I decided to pick at least three outfits and one swimwear, dahil mukhang swimming party 'yata 'yon.

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"I can't wait to have my own car already," Iscalade groaned in the shotgun seat.

Hinatid pa kasi kami ni Kuya Cal papunta sa resort na nirentahan nila para sa party ni Iscalade. It was a private owned resort, at hindi masyadong lalabas ng Manila dahil ayaw din naman nilang lumayo masyado.

"Trust me, it's not that fun to be an adult," Kuya Cal retorted. "Mas masaya pa rin kapag may nagaalaga pa sa'yo. When you reached the age of adulthood, people expect that you can do things on your own and it can get overwhelming."