Sinag ng araw ang nagpadilat sa aking mga mata. It is my break today from work. I have also decided to sort my files out, I might need those for my college application. Hindi ko pa rin alam kung saan ba ako magaling o kung anong kurso ang desidido akong kuhanin. My father and brother didn't bother to ask me about my college application. They're just purely supporting me with whatever decision I'll make.
"Hello my dear!" my tita Dalisay kisses me on my cheek.
"Mom I told you already! I wanted to work at their firm! Malapit na ako matapos sa college probably two years from now I should be working so anong iba kung ililipat mo na ako nang trabaho malayo sa company ng pamilya natin?!" Islana is being hysterical
"Good morning tita." I smiled at them
Naupo na ako sa harapan ng mga ito sabay na hinandaan naman ako ng mga katulong ng sariling pinggan at kubyertos.
"And besides, Nieves seems to like it there, mukhang ako rin tatagal doon!"
"I don't know where this idea of yours came from Islana, you need to understand that you have more months to fulfill! May contract ka!" Her mother with her wine glass on her fingers
"Oh I would never understand you mom! Maybe you could help me talk to dad about this, after all he's the owner of his company, pwedeng wala lang sakaniya kung hindi ko tatapusin ang kontrata!"
I am just sitting here in front of them being an observant. I don't know what is her reason to hysterically shout at her mother that way. Siguro ay sa sobrang frustrated sya kaya ganoon.
I started to chew some of my bacons and sip my coffee.
Nagpasalamat naman ako sa katulong namin ng handaan ako nito ng baked potato. They know I love them in mornings specially.
"Alright I'll talk to dad Islana, now can you please give us some peace of mind while we are having our breakfast? It's sunday morning for god's sake!" Singit naman ng nakatatandang kapatid niya
"Whatever!" umirap ito at nanahimik na
Umiling na lamang rin sakaniya ang kapatid niya.
"What about you Islana, kumusta ka?" Tita Dalisay asked me
"I'm pretty much okay, tita, just been busy with my schedule lately."
"Nakakatuwa at mukhang seryoso ka diyan, ipagpatuloy mo, mukha rin na naiimpluwensyahan kana ni Isla sa pag aayos."
"Ang ganda mo lately, may crush kana siguro sa CDoE?" Islana.
"Huh? Uhm" inalis ko ang bara sa lalamunan. "Wala!" Hindi ko ito tinignan pagkasabi noon I just could not understand myself for lying! Dahil na rin siguro sa alam ko na ang katotohanan na gusto ni isla si Alejo ay pinili ko pa rin na makipag relasyon dito.
"Your brother came here last night Nieves, hindi lang kayo nagkatagpo dahil may hinahabol pa siya hindi kana nahintay." mula sa pinggan ay lumingon ito sa akin "Nale-late ka yata ng uwi? even tito Brett' he almost hire some bodyguards to escort you."
"I'm just busy! natutuwa kasi ako sa trabaho ko." I smiled of course I am enjoying my work, unang trabaho ko iyon at gusto kong may mapatunayan. I've been forgetting about my trauma lately. Nakakatulong sa akin na okyupado ang utak para maibsan ang takot sa akin.
Like I promise to myself, ayokong tumandang takot.
I've been finally found my debriefing!
"We know that bunso, gusto lang sana namin ay magsasabi ka kapag male-late ka ng uwi."
"Yes kuya el, sorry I keep on forgetting about that." dismasyadong ngumiti ako rito
Nang nilingon ko si islana ay halatang pagod rin itong lumingon sa akin at mailap na inilipat ang paningin. I just ate my breakfast nang sa wakas ay hindi na nakarinig ng sermon sa kanila. Nakahabol pa sa amin si lola conradina mukhang galing pa ito sa shower dahil napaka fresh nitong tignan. Humalik kami sa pisngi nito at agad naman kaming dinaluhan sa hapag.
"Hernandez' sent us an invitation for Amelda's birthday party, nakauwi na pala siya sa pinas." she said
"Oh?" she parted her lips to the sudden news "Kailan daw po senyora? ng makapag handa tayo at masabihan ng maaga ang mga bata." tita dalisay said
"Two days from now."
I was busy having a second thoughts of what course should I consider, pure arts of science. I know in some particular ways, I like arts! always. But it's just something in me that I wanted to pursue BS Psychology with their clinical branch. Or maybe I was just fooled by the fact that there is something in my childhood that is not fulfilled. Baka mamaya ay hindi ko magampanan ng maayos kung magiging sikolohista man ako.
"My baby is busy huh?" someone hugged me from behind
"Alejo." maamo ang boses na ginamit ko sa pagbigkas nang pangalan nito
"Hmm?"
"Do you think I'm good at arts?" I asked him
Pinihit ako nito paharap sa kaniya.
"Yes baby, why? what's bothering you?"
"Hindi ko kasi alam kung saan ako magaling, hindi ko alam kung anong pepwede sa akin sa college." nakangusong saad ko dito
"You're good at everything Nieves, you just need to trust yourself first." he caresses my cheek with his palm
Ngumiti ako rito at tumango. "Okay... maybe magfocus na talaga ako sa arts.""
He smiled. "Go for it nieves, with everything you like I am supporting and trusting you."
I hugged him.
Naagaw ng pansin ko ang litrato ko na nakadisplay sa lamesa nito. Katabi niyon ang litrato nila ng best friend niya.
"ALEJANDRO!!" hinampas ko ito sa braso at itinuro ang litrato ko "I told you we are keeping our relationship as a secret! Eh ano yan!" asik ko saka nagmartsa pa punta roon
"Hep hep that's mine." Naunahan ako nitong kuhanin iyon "You can't just take it."
"Pano pag nakita iyan ng mga tao? o ng mga visitors mo?"
"They won't tell anyone nieves."
"You can't be sure!"
"Yes I am definitely sure." Inilapag nito muli ang litrato sa lamesa niya bago ako nito hinawakan sa bewang "Huwag mo na masyadong isipin iyan."
"But what if—"
He didn't let me finish "No what ifs."
YOU ARE READING
As Pure As The Driven Snow
RomanceNieves and Alejo never found themselves surrendering to what love and pain might provide them. Soon, pathways provide different route, both got lost, but at the end, what happened to their journey is just too conventional and inexpressible that led...
