Midnights with Pierce Psyche Esquivel

Chapter 16

My mind was in haze all throughout the day, wala ako sa sarili at paminsan minsan ay natutulala na lang sa kawalan. His words bothered me a lot and as much as I wanted to take it off my mind, it kept on replying making me immobile all day long.

Parang mas maganda na lang ata na matanggal ako sa trabaho kaysa sa ganito. But again, I needed to support my family too, especially my father...who's not been very well. My younger sister is still young and she needed support too.

I don't really have that option, lalo ng ngayon.

Linigpit ko ang kinain ko sa may lababo. Ilang oras na lang at duty ko na naman pero parang gusto ko na lang munang patigilan ang pag usad ng oras, I don't even have the energy to meet him today or to even stand in front of him.

Patapos na ako sa paghuhugas ng marinig ko ang doorbell ko. Napatigil ako at naging alerto. Wala akong tawag o kung ano pa man na may bibisita sa akin. Pinunasan ko ang basa kong kamay at kinuha ang cellphone ko kung may tumawag o nagext at hindi nga ako nagkakamali.

Papa texted me...and he'll be visiting me today with Brianna.

A smile crept into my lips and walked towards my door immediately. And it got wider when I saw them both standing on my front door.

"Pa!" I exclaimed and hugged him right away.

I heard him chuckle as he hugged me back too and Brianna giggling at my reaction.

Sinunod ko naman siyang niyakap at hinagkan pagkatapos ay pumasok na kaming lahat sa loob.

"Kamusta na anak?" Papa asked with concern.

Ngumiti ako para hindi na siya mag alala. He should be away from stress especially with his current health and emotional issues.

Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at hinaplos ng marahan. I felt like he's getting much older because of his issues, nakakalungkot isipin pero totoo.

"Hindi pa bumibisita ang Mama mo..." Nawala ang ngiti ko sa malungkot niyang tono.

He is madly in love with Mama and it's taking a toll with his health. At kahit na ilang beses na siyang pinagtabuyan ni Mama, ay palagi siyang umaasa na babalik pa rin siya sa amin...kahit na alam kung wala ng pag asa.

It's hard to see him this way...to be hopeful...but we cannot just crush it because he might not be able to take it all at once.

"Baka po sa mga susunod na araw." Pilit kong ngiti.

He nodded his head and smiled at me widely.

"Miss ko na rin po si Mama, Ate." Brianna lamented next.

Huminga ako ng malalim at hinaplos ang buhok niya. "I'll try to talk to her the next time I see her."

Hindi ko alam kung magagawa ko na iyon pero susubukan ko pa rin. Mama hates it when I talk about this matter and she doesn't want to be dictated to. Pero kung hindi ko naman siya kakausapin ay baka buwan pa bago ulit siya dumalaw. I need to try at least.

"How was your work?" Papa asked in a lighter tone this time.

"Maayos po at mabait ang boss ko. Hindi rin po masyadong delikado."

He interviewed me more about it but since Brianne enjoyed the music of Sir Pierce too much, Papa was quite knowledgeable about him too. At dahil na rin si Sir Pierce siguro ang pinakaimportanteng tao ngayon sa kompanya nina Mama.

Bago mag alas syete ay hinatid ko na sila sa may labasan. I waved my hands as I watched them enter our car, driven by my father. Nang tuluyan na silang mawala sa paningin ko ay saka ako nagpakawala ng malalim na hininga.