There's one word I've always really liked.
Ukiyo. It means not being bothered from the stress of life.
I've always liked it. And wanted it. Lagi nalang kasi akong nababother sa mga sinasabi ng tao, kahit hindi ko kilala kinakausap ako. I guess because I'm a Del Fuego? I've always been bothered by it, minsan iniisip ko if how different it would be if I wasn't one.
Inugoy ko muli ang duyan na nasa pagitan ng dalawang matitibay na puno, nilaro ko ang buhangin na nasa paanan ko, at pinagmasdan ang palubog na araw kasabay ang tunog ng alon sa dagat.
This is my life everyday. Malaki ang islang pagmamay-ari ng pamilya ko dito sa Siquijor, it's been passed on generations by generations. Masaya ito minsan dahil mabait ang tao sayo pero minsan, alam mong ginagamit ka lang nila. Iyon ang downsides noon. One of it, actually.
"Ma'am Atalia?" si Tatay Isko, ang aming driver for years now. "Tawag ka na po kakain na po."
Tumango ako at nagpasalamat. Nilakad ko ang distansya mula baybayin hanggang sa bahay namin. It's a mansion with 17 rooms inside but only 4 rooms are occupied, para raw ito sa aming lahat na Del Fuego pero pinamana ni Mama kay Daddy nung lumipat na sila. Dumiretso ako ng dining, nakita ko sila Mommy at Daddy na nakaupo na, ako na lang hinihintay.
"Daneiris, anak, come let's eat," aya ni Daddy. Humalik ako sa kanila bago umupo.
Nakakalungkot talaga sa bahay na ito. Don't get me wrong, it's fun when they're here but when they're not it's not. That rhymed. Ang laki-laki kasi tapos lima lang kami, si Mommy, Daddy, ako, si Nanay Melrose, at Ate Tess. I'm an only child and an only girl.
"Babe, you picked out your suit for Alaric's wedding tomorrow?" tanong ni Mommy.
"Yes, babe, you all set?" si Daddy. Mom nodded and sweetly smiled.
I smiled at their sweetness. 19 years together and still so sweet everyday.
"Ikaw, anak, are you sure about the dress?"
I nodded.
"You got that speech?"
I nodded again. Mommy clapped, sobrang excited siya sa kasal ni Kuya. "I can't believe Kuya's getting married."
Dad held my hand. "You still have 8 more cousins, darling."
"What does have do with it?" Mom creased her brows. Pati ako nagtaka sa sinabi ni Daddy.
"Wala pa silang sabit." Tumawa siya ng malakas. Mom and I looked at each other bago umiling. "Oh, come on! It's funny!"
"Whatever, babe," umirap si Mommy.
Natawa ako sa banter nilang dalawa. I really admire people getting old with each other, kung paano nila harapin ang mga dumadating sa kanila, masaya man o hindi, or how they even have the patience to deal with it. Love is really mysterious, hindi mo alam kung kailan, saan, o kanino ka tatamaan pero magugulat ka nalang dahil tinamaan ka.
We had our daily tea drinking sa backyard, kung saan tanaw at rinig mo ang dagat na pinagmamay-ari nila. Mostly sila lang ang nag-uusap at sumasagot lang ako kapag napupunta na ang topic sa akin, it's mainly about work or inaasar lang ni Daddy si Mommy.
"I can't believe Rico made his son wed someone he doesn't even love!" reklamo ni Mommy. Ikakasal na si Kuya Alaric bukas, ang panganay sa aming magpipinsan, sa isang Enrique-Villanueva to merge their agricultural business.
"I know, babe, but sometimes that's how business works." Dad sipped his tea.
"But still!" giit niya. "It's not fair for Alaric, the kid has the right to marry who he wants not what best for business!"
