The Present Is You (You Series #1)

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1 - MOVING OUT

Sabi ng karamihan, masaya raw ang mabuhay. Wala kang ideya kung kailan ka mamamatay kaya lubus-lubusin mo na ang mga maliligayang araw mo habang nabubuhay ka pa sa mundong ibabaw.

Kaya siguro nabuo ang katagang, you only live once. Isang beses ka lang mabubuhay at wala ka ng pagkakataong mabuhay pang muli kapag ikaw ay sumakabilang-buhay na. Wala ka na ring pagkakataong baguhin ang lahat ng iyong pagkakamali at lahat ng panghihinayang mo sa buhay.

A person's life is so simple. When someone dies, someone lives.

It's like a never ending cycle.

I witnessed how my Dad passed away. It was painful and unbearable. And then the day after tomorrow, I witnessed my Auntie giving birth to her first born.

Ayokong mabuhay pero ayoko ring mamatay.

Does that make sense?

I only live not because I want to, but because I need to.

Life isn't boring, but it's not fun either.

Siguro kaya ko ito nasasabi dahil masyado akong ilag sa ibang tao. I have no idea how to socialize. I'm practically living to graduate and to find a stable job to support my mom.

I only have few purposes in life and I believe that those were enough for me to keep going.

Bumuntong-hininga ako saka hinubad ang suot na headphone at nakapaang bumaba sa kama.

It's freezing cold outside and it looks like it's about to rain too.

Fixing my unruly hair, I silently sat on the floor.

Binuksan ko ang drawer na gawa sa akin ni Dad noong ako'y maliit pa lamang. Nakita ko ang picture frame na pinakainiingatan ko ng lubos.

My eyes watered while delicately staring at his gentle face. I could only see him smile in a picture which he kept just to give me before he died.

"Dad, I miss you so much. Sana nagtagal ka pa rito sa mundo. Ever since you passed away, I'm living my life like hell. Wala akong patutunguhan, Dad." I caressed his face on the picture.

"Can you watch over me from up there? Guide me and give me the will to live. I want to see you badly but I know you know that it's not the right time." I sniffed and wiped my tears.

It's no use crying. Dad wouldn't come back even if I shed endless tears. I can't do anything but to look at his old photos and reminisce about the time when he was still here with me.

Knock! Knock!

Napalingon ako sa pintuan.

"Brooke, are you done already?" It was Mom.

I quickly wiped the tears off my face and stood up. I don't want her to see me like this. She'll only say that I'm a crybaby and that I never moved on.

"I'm still packing. I'll be downstairs in a minute." I answered.

There was no response so I assume that she already walked away.

Napayuko ako at binaba ang picture frame ni Dad sa ibabaw ng kama.

We're moving to my Mom's old house today. This is Dad's house, but we can no longer afford to pay the monthly bills since this house is too big and it has many appliances.

Mom plans on selling the house. I want to disagree, however, I don't have any choice or else we'll starve.

Ayokong umalis sa lugar kung saan puno ng alaala ni Dad. Dito ako lumaki at dito ko rin naranasang mabuhay ng may kahulugan.