Coastline From The Sky- (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 12

Kabanata 12

Date

Bumaba ako sa sala nang magising ako eksaktong alas siete ng gabi. Nakita ko kaagad si Ate Raia na nakaupo sa sofa at may kausap sa cellphone nito. Nag-angat lang ito sandali ng tingin sa akin bago binalik na ulit ang atensiyon sa ginagawa, ni hindi man lang nangumusta o nag-welcome sa akin. Ni hindi nga ito nakitaan ng saya nang makita ako eh.

Naupo ako sa kaharap nitong single sofa. Ilang sandali lang ay pumasok din mula sa grand entrance door sina Mommy at Daddy, kasunod ang isa sa mga katulong dito sa bahay na may bitbit na luggage at mga paper bags.

“Magandang gabi, po, Ma’am, Sir,” bati ng katulong na sumalubong sa mga magulang ko. “Nandito na nga po pala si Ma’am Carae,” dagdag nito.

“Bring this to our room and prepare my coffee,” utos ni Mommy sa isa pang katulong na sumalubong.

Dumiretso sina Mommy at Daddy sa second floor at hindi man lang pinansin ng mga ito ang sinabi ng katulong. Hindi rin ako binalingan nina Mommy at Daddy.

Bumuntonghininga ako. This house is just a house for me. It never became a home. I was never welcomed here. Lagi lang akong parang hangin sa kanila. They just feel my existence if they needed me, but they don’t really meant my presence and acknowledge it whenever I’m around. Wala lang. They just know that I am here, but they didn’t like it.

Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na buntonghiningang hininga habang nakasunod ang mga mata sa mga magulang na naglalakad sa magarbong staircase bago nilingon ang kapatid na busy na naman sa laptop.

Whenever this happens, I remember some things from my past. I once walked into a room where a couple of my friends were talking about me, and they didn’t know I was there. I just shook my head and walked away.

I once had a best friend who talked bad about me and never knew that I found out about it... I never mentioned it. I just smiled and walked away from that friendship.

My family chose to shift me out of their life because I stood up for myself for a change. And because I stopped crossing oceans for them when they would not even jump over a puddle for me. I decided to walk away.

I was in a relationship once where I was always put last, no matter what I did for them, and I realized at that moment that someone’s effort is their direct reflection of their interest in you. So, I walked away and never looked back.

Someone asked me how I could just walk away from people who betrayed me while pretending to be my significant other, friends, or family. That’s what I know. Every time I came to a crossroad like that, I had to decide who would be going forward on my journey with me. This showed me who I cannot take along with me.

You should never get mad at a person who betrays you, even in the name of friendship or family. Just gracefully bow out and enjoy your journey, and remember the moment you start to wonder if you deserve better.

“Tomorrow, at eight-thirty in the morning, you will have a meeting with Mr. Rodriguez, one of the board’s sons, Carae.”

Nag-angat ako ng tingin mula sa pagkain dahil sa sinabi ni Mommy. Kasalukuyan kaming naghahapunan, at tahimik lang naman sana sa hapagkainan kung hindi lang nagsalita si Mommy.

“Pardon?” I asked with my knotted eyebrows. My mother lifted her left brow at me, nagtataray.

“Don’t make me repeat myself, Carae.”

Binaba ko sa plato ang tinidor at kutsarang hawak ko.

“I just want to ask, why do I need to have a meeting with one of your company’s directors son. E, wala naman akong koneksiyon sa kompanya niyo. I don’t even have any idea about it.” Kumuha ako ng table napkin at nagpunas ng labi. Kinakalma ko lang ang boses ko kahit na gusto ko nang magalit sa sarili ko dahil sa pag-uwi ko rito. “Napipilitan nga lang akong umuwi rito at um-attend sa anniversary, tapos may ipapagawa pa kayo sa akin na hindi naman related sa trabaho ko,” dagdag ko.