Glimpses of Yesterday (Isla Contejo #2)

Chapter 5

HININTAY ko ang pagsagot ni Mommy sa kabilang linya. Tatlong ring pa muna ang natapos before she finally picked up. I sighed and sat on the single sofa at the corner of my room.

"Yes, Jaeda?"

"Mom, I've been wanting to tell you this last week pa."

"Okay? What is it?"

Huminga ako nang malalim at mas nilakasan ang loob. I knew that she probably wouldn't allow me, but I still wanted to try. I also needed to tell it to her now. Isang buwan na lang ay matatapos na ang summer. Isang buwan na lang ay back to school na.

"I want to study in Manila."

Matagal bago siya nakasagot. Mas lalo akong kinabahan. The beating of my heart was starting to get wilder. The long seconds of silence was like slowly killing my hope.

"What? Jaeda, there is a community college there in Isla Contejo. Bakit lalayo ka pa?"

"I met a friend here. Sabi niya good schools are mostly in Manila. Mom, I want to at least have a good transcript. And I researched din po. Magaganda nga 'yong mga schools there and most of them offer good quality education."

Tahimik ulit. Mommy didn't utter a word again. Maybe she was thinking about it. I would really be glad if she'd allow me. I wanted to be with Arsen in the same school. He was my first friend here and I was also planning to take Architecture.

"Please, Mom? I swear, the schools in Manila are the best!" pangungumbinsi ko pa nang hindi pa rin siya sumasagot. "'Tsaka I won't be pasaway na. I promise. I will really focus on my studies. I won't have many friends na. School at house lang lagi ang pupuntahan ko--"

"Fine, fine!"

Namilog ang mga mata't bibig ko. Napatili ako sa sobrang saya kaya Mommy almost cursed at me. I just couldn't believe that she would agree! Knowing how strict she was? Plus she was upset at me before I went here. We weren't really in a good state and I thought that she was still mad at me.

But OMG! She agreed! Akala ko mahabang pilitan pa ang mangyayari, e.

"Thank you, Mommy! OMG! I should now plan my stay in Manila. I could be in a boarding house or apartment. I should also enroll--"

"Jaeda," she cut me off. "Listen. I only agreed because we're talking about your education here, alright? Your dad and I only want nothing but the best for your studies. Kapag nabalitaan kong nagloloko ka sa Maynila, agad kang babalik ng Isla Contejo. Naiintindihan mo?"

"Yes, Mom!" Tumango-tango pa ako na para namang nakikita niya.

Pagkatapos ng pag-uusap namin ni Mommy ay nagpasya na muna akong maligo bago bumaba upang mag-almusal.

Pinupunasan ko ng white towel ang buhok kong kagagaling lang sa ligo nang matanaw ko si Arsen sa katapat na kuwarto. He was fixing his bed and he was still wearing pajamas.

Aww. What a baby boy.

I opened the sliding door of the terrace. I crossed my arms while watching him from here. He haven't seen me yet because he was busy straightening the crumpled bedsheet.

Matapos ng ilang sandali ay natapos din siya roon. Naglakad siya palapit sa lamesa sa gilid at sa wakas ay nahagip ako ng mga mata niya. Nagdalawang tingin pa siya na parang namalikmata. I chuckled and waved at him. I saw how his mouth went agape at my presence just in front of his room.

Binuksan niya ang bintana sa kuwarto niya at tila namamangha akong tiningnan. He then smiled at me after a while.

"Jaeda."