rewrite the stars | captivated series #4

02

It was almost time para sa nine o'clock curfew ko, kaya umalis na ako sa pool to make palit my basang damit into new clothings. As I wrap myself up in a towel, dala ko ang tote bag ko to change clothes sa loob ng comfort room. I heard Kenzo calling my name. He made lapit sa akin and then he stopped.

"You're going home?" Tanong niya sa akin.

I just nodded. Dinidilaan niya ang lips niya, so I remained in place, nag-iisip that since itinatago niya ang kanyang other hand behind—siya ay meron pang something more to say.

He said, "Here," at ibinigay sa akin ang isang squishy strawberry plush toy na may size ng kanyang palm, it even had a face. With pride, he declared, "Sa tulong ni Cedric the Sorcerer, nakakuha tayo ng mahiwagang istroberi!"

"Oh." I halted, "Thanks." I responded briefly.

"All right, then.." He glanced around, then just murmured, "Bye," and slyly disappeared.

I walked over kay Ryvonne, she was sitting sa isang chaise lounge while holding her phone. "How much time do I have left?" I inquired. Everywhere, there were blazing party lights.

"That's so cute!" I asked about the time but ang napansin niya lang was the strawberry squishy I was holding so tinitigan ko s'ya with disbelief, "Ah, I mean, you have about less than dalawampu't limang minuto left. You can stay longer. Don't you want to?"

I'd like to! Gusto ko talagang mag-stay pa ng much longer, pero I have a curfew na need kong sundin, even though I'm not sigurado kung anyone is home ba, I must abide by my curfew. Even though I would really really want to stay longer, I have to make uwi early, because Mommy said so.

I gave a headshake. "Just tell Jai and Shania, I went home early."

After getting dressed, I contacted our driver to say I'm all ready to head home na. All I had on was a pastel green, high-waisted cotton shorts and a white sweater. My fairly wavy hair was basa pa, and I didn't have a blower with me to dry it, kaya I obviously, and most probably, left it down.

As soon as dumating na yung driver namin, I got into our sasakyan. I opened my bag and released the mushy strawberry squishy I have earned earlier in the game. It is so adorable, it even had a lovely pout.

While snapping photos ng strawberry squishy, I asked yung driver namin, "Is Mommy at home po ba ngayon?" I stopped asking about Daddy na kasi he was always not at home.

"Your Mommy is still in the hospital, Ma'am," he responded right away.

Oh. Right. She's obviously not at home. She has a lot on her plate as a surgeon.

I peered out the bintana. There were lights on the street that flashed like they will go run out of energy, yung iba were just too maliwanag, at ang ilan.. they were just.. dark.

I shut my eyes, inaabangan ang pag-idlip. But my mind caused me to think about was those moments when Mommy and Daddy were there pa para suportahan ako, when I was nag-aaral pa kung paano mag-ride ng bike na walang balancers. They were both by my side back then.

I believe that that tag-init was the only one time they were both focused solely on me at hindi sa careers nila or kahit ano pa. I miss that. I miss spending time with both of them so much.

I went directly sa kwarto ko as soon as nakauwi ako. I didn't have to hanap anyone to greet sabagay. Daddy and Mommy aren't here. I opened the television to hear some noise before I laid down sa kama ko and snuggled under my kumot, not really caring what show is on. I wish tomorrow would just arrive early. I wanna go attend school.

The next day, our teacher made an announcement that magkakaroon daw ng Daycamp. Although hindi ito required, I decided to join because I felt it would be enjoyable, and my friends joined as well.