EMPIRE SERIES #1 (COMPLETED)
Carmela Raleigh was orphaned after her grandma died. But she was able to get through it with the help of her lover, Nate, and his family. They treated her as if she were a member of their family and allowed her to live w...
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"ARE YOU coming back na?"
"I told you, soon. You just asked me that yesterday!" I told Dhalia.
She pouted at me. 'Di ko maiwasang mapairap habang nakatapat sa mukha ko 'yong phone ko. Though I was just acting.
Dahlia called me again today for another Facetime. Halos araw-araw niya akong tinatawagan para lang itanong kung kailan ako uuwi.
"You've been telling me that for the past five months kaya! Hindi mo ba ako nami-miss, Ate? Kahit 'wag na si Kuya kasi lagi naman akong sinusungitan n'on," Sabi niya na parang nagtatampo.
Ang bilis ng panahon. Limang buwan na pala ang lumipas simula nang puntahan niya ako sa partment ko. Kung alam lang nila kung gaano ko na sila ka-miss.
"Hindi ka ba busy sa schoolwork mo?" pag-iiba ko ng topic.
I walked my way to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water. Today was Sunday kaya day off ko. Mamaya pa rin pupunta 'yong kambal.
"Not really. Katatapos lang naming mag-final exam, kaya I have free time."
"How bout Cato? Why don't you bug him instead?"
"We're not talking anymore..." halos pabulong na sabi niya.
Hindi na ako nagtanong pa. Mukhang LQ na naman 'yong dalawa.
Nagkukuwentuhan lang kaming dalawa nang biglang may pumasok sa kuwarto niya, 'tapos naputol 'yong Facetime namin.
Naglinis lang ako ng bahay, 'tapos nag-prepare nang mga kailangan ko para sa ibe-bake kong caramel cake with nuts mamaya. Ito talaga routine ko tuwing Sunday. Although today was my last Sunday here in Batanes.
I'm going to miss living here. Bigtime.
Hindi alam nina Gael at ni Dhalia na naka-book na ako pauwi sa susunod na Sunday. I just wanted to surprise them.
Hindi rin alam nina Parsley at Herb ang tungkol sa pag-alis ko. I was going to miss them. So much. My psychiatrist was the only person who knew that I was coming back to Manila. Siya mismo ang nagsabi na I have improved so much since the first day I had a session with her.
Sila na 'yong naging pamilya ko rito sa Batanes. Hindi nila ako pinabayaan at ang dami kong natutunan sa kanila, lalo na sa kambal. Itinuring nila akong tunay na pamilya nila kaya nalulungkot ako na aalis na ako. Mami-miss ko 'yong kaingayan nina Parsley at Herb pati na rin 'yong mga bunso nilang kapatid na sina Rosemary, Pepper at Graham.
Nakakainggit kasi ang laki ng pamilya nila, 'tapos kapag nandoon ako sa bahay nila ay parang walang oras na hindi maingay sa loob ng bahay. I was really grateful for them. And I was so lucky to be part of their family.
Buong araw lang akong nag-empake ng mga gamit ko. Damit lang ang bitbit ko pabalik sa Maynila. Iiwan ko na lang sa landlord ko 'yong mga ibang gamit at appliances na binili ko sa bahay dahil imposible na madala ko pa 'yon.
