The Invisible Line

Chapter 2

We accomplished so much on the first day. We took care of our own booths, helped some of the lost new students, and met with the principal about the planned events for this month.

Kakailanganin namin magmadali sa ibang mga small events para maabot namin ang quota for this month. We wouldn't waste any of our time.

Rush hour at siguradong gagabihin na ako ng uwi. Punuan ang mga jeep at tricycle. Mahirap naman mahagilap ang mga taxi rito at tiyaka, masyadong mahal ang pamasahe kung ako lang ang sasakay. Hindi ko naman na kakailanganin na sumakay ng bus dahil hindi naman ganoon kahaba ang byahe.

Habang naghihintay ay nag-ring ang cellphone ko. Inilabas ko ito sa aking bulsa at nakitang si Mom ang tumatawag. I immediately accepted the call.

"Audelia, where are you? You're supposed to be here by three o'clock at the hotel. Our relatives have been looking for you!"

Shit. Did I forget something? Did I do something wrong?

Bakit hotel? Anong okasyon ngayon?

"Why aren't you talking, Audelia? It's your Lola's birthday! Pumunta ka na dito agad." Pagalit na tono ni Mom bago niya ako babaan ng tawag.

As I stared blankly at my phone, Dad's text popped up.

From Dad:
Kapag talaga hindi kita naabutan sa bahay, yari ka sa akin. Did you go out?!

I gulped when I suddenly felt hollow and I started to panic.

He's going home.

He's going home.

He's going home!

All because I forgot Lola's birthday celebration. This is all my fault! Dapat pala nilagay ko ito sa calendar ko!

Hindi na ako nagdalawang-isip na ipara ang taxi at sumakay doon. Alam ko na kung saang hotel ginaganap ang birthday ni Lola kaya agad kong sinabi ito sa driver.

Tinignan ko ang sarili ko sa reflection sa aking cellphone at inayos ang sarili. Shit shit shit! I looked haggard and... galing pa akong school!

Good thing it wasn't a jam packed traffic on the road. Late pa rin ako ng ten minutes so I had to run as fast as I could until I reached where Lola's party was.

Nasa tabi siya mismo ng malaking pinto at tila nagagalit siya base sa ekspresyon palang ng mukha.

I'm so fucking dead.

I don't have any reason to hide anymore so I hurriedly walk towards her. As soon as she saw me, she gaped her mouth. It's as if she was disappointed that I was wearing my uniform and that I was still holding my backpack.

"Bakit ito ang suot mo!" She exclaimed, "Ano nalang ang sasabihin ng mga bisita. We exhaust you so much from studying? Bakit kapag nagka-gan'to?" Hinawakan niya ako sa magkabilang balikat at pinagmasdan ako mula ulo hanggang paa.

"You forgot that it was my first day..." mahina kong sagot.

"You forgot it was your Lola's birthday. Pwede ka naman mag-excuse, anak!" She defended.

So it's really my fault.

Hawak na niya ako sa palapulsuhan at hinila niya na ako papasok sa party. It was crowded, this isn't a family party. Nandito lahat ng mga family ng amiga niya. Also those of Lolo's business partners. They're all here! Nakakahiya nga talaga kung ganito ako magpapakita habang sila ay elegant ang suotan.

Umupo agad ako sa circular table namin kung saan kasama namin ang mga pinsan ko.

"Hintayin mong pumunta rito ang Lola mo para ma-greet mo siya." Bulong ni Mom bago niya ako iwan kasama ang mga pinsan ko.

Kuya Solomon looked at me and he shook his head in disbelief. "When are you going to stop showing up at parties like that? As if we're pressuring you to do good." He said in his usual tone.

Napalunok ako nang napansin kong sumulyap ang mga pinsan namin sa sinabi niya. Bigla kong naramdaman ang lamig na mas nagpakaba sa akin.

"N-no. I was really late kasi may meeting—"

He cut me off, "You're not that even good at school."

And that was my last nerve. Itinabig ko ang baso na may wine sa kaniya. Sanhi nang pagkakagulat ng mga pinsan ko sa inakto ko.

With my pounding heart, I disappointingly walked out from them. Trying to hold back my tears from falling because I don't want to cry anymore.

It was okay for me if he ignored me. I can manage that. But insulting me in front of everyone is never gonna happen again.

Those medals and trophies in our house were mine! He wasn't the achiever. I am!

Akala niya ata siya ang breadwinner ng pamilya when we are all aware that his only achievement was him becoming a dentist! Ang gago niya. If they know, hindi naman naghirap si Kuya noong college dahil pasanin pa siya ng mga barkada niyang mas magaling sa kaniya!

Lalabas na sana ako nang narinig ko si Carla, ang pinsan namin, na tinatawag ako.

I turned around to face her and it was evident in her eyes that she cried. "Audelia, m-may extra dress ako sa hotel room ko. Do you want to borrow it?" Tanong niya.

"I'm going to leave anyway, so thank you for still asking if I needed it."

"Please, stay. For Lola." Aniya.

I wanted to leave the place so I slacked it off.

"No, that won't make my parents feel better– even Kuya, Carla. And," huminga ako nang malalim. "Stop trying to make things fine. It's not gonna happen, unless Kuya Solomon will not be there anymore." I added before I finally leave.

Last night's events were terrible. I was surprised to hear Kuya talk to me. It was as if we were never related, and yes, I am very disappointed in him, and also to my family.

They never thought about listening to me for even one day! Then again, they expect me to pay attention to every detail in order for me to fit in. It's always ironic when this happens.

And it happens all the time!

I wonder how my life would be if I was an only child. Genesis told us before that it was frustrating, lahat daw kasi ng expectations ng family niya, binuhos sa kaniya. It's quite devastating honestly. She had no choice but to be an achiever, she didn't want to disappoint her parents. But maybe for me, it would feel like I won a lottery jackpot.