Elyse Sierra's life isn't exactly stuck in a rut but for years now, she's been living like a hermit with no dreams to chase and plans for her future. Ito ang kinalabasan ng kanyang plano para hanapin ang kanyang sarili. Kaya't ngayon, ang hangad lan...
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AUGUST 2018
Takang-taka ako habang binabasa ang bagong email ng TravelZ sa akin. I have already rejected their initial proposal before and now, they're actually offering me not only a writing job but also an invitation to be a part of their PH office that's about to open this coming October. This is their second message this week.
"Just why?" I said out loud. Napatingin tuloy si Mama sa akin.
"Is there a problem?" she asked and settled the book she was reading.
Isinara ko ang laptop at lumapit para tabihan siya sa malawak na sofa. It's currently winter so apart from the centralized heating, we also light up the fireplace for added warmth. Plus, it creates an ambient atmosphere to rest and relax. Parang ngayon.
Binaggit ko sa kanya ang natanggap kong mga mensahe.
"The offer sounds promising! I saw an ad for TravelZ on the internet yesterday. Babalik ka rin naman sa Pilipinas next week. Why not check them out?"
I thought for a moment.
"I'm planning on applying for residency. If I do stay here permanently, I'll try checking their headquarters."
Parang nagulat si Mama sa sinabi ko. Sabagay, wala pa kasi akong napagsabihan ng plano ko. Kung tutuusin nga, parang ayaw ko munang umuwi doon.
"Bakit parang biglaan? I think we need to talk about it," malambing niyang sabi.
"Matagal-tagal ko nang pinag-isipan, Mama."
Tumayo ako't sumilip sa bintana nang marinig kong may dumating na sasakyan. Kuya Jaren is finally here. Sasamahan niya kasi ako para sunduhin si Klara sa airport. Dapat nga mag-isa ko lang pero bigla na lang nagprisinta itong kapatid ko. I don't even know how he found out!
In fact, ngayon lang ulit dumaan si Kuya Jaren dito. A week after I arrived, he left for business. On normal circumstances, that won't bother me but after finding out how he tricked me into coming here?
I was beyond furious!
Kasi naman, nang dumating kami dito, nagulat ako nang makita ko sa airport ang mga magulang namin. Akala ko ako ang susurpresa sa kanila pero kabaliktaran pala. Tuwang-tuwa sila kasi nakumbinsi raw ako ni Kuya Jaren na magbakasyon ulit dito.
Confused, I asked about mom's health. It turns out, breast cancer has already been ruled out, as the biopsy revealed that her tumor is benign. But it's true that they've tried to look for other opinions. Nang pare-pareho ang resulta saka lang sila napanatag. They said there was no point in telling us dahil mag-aalala lang kami sa wala. Instead, they wanted to celebrate. Thus, the two day cruise.
What more is, pagkatapos ng cruise, naging busy naman ang mga magulang namin sa paglilipat. From Timaru, they're now here in Matamata— a rural town that's close to the Hobbiton Movie Set, one of The Lord of the Rings' filming location. The property is huge. A main house and two cottages that they rent out on a bed and breakfast basis. They registered it as "Elyse's B&B" and was going to surprise me with it when it finally opens.
