Chasing in the Wild (University Series #3)

15

"You chose engineering because of your dad?" 

Nakaupo kami sa may terrace ng bahay nila habang hinihintay ang food. He didn't want to stay inside because his brother kept on talking about their dad. It was actually funny. Ang bully niyang Kuya sa kapatid niya but I guess that was just how their sibling relationship worked. 

"Oo. Sinasama niya 'ko sa site dati." Sevi shrugged like it was not a big deal for him. "Role model ko siya, gano'n, pero wala eh. Naghiwalay sila." 

"The reason? If you don't mind." I bit my lower lip. 

"Hindi raw sila... compatible." Sevi sarcastically laughed. "Ilang taon silang nagkasama. May tatlo silang anak, tapos saka lang nila mare-realize na hindi sila compatible? Parang tanga." 

"But did they end on good terms?" tanong ko ulit. 

"Oo 'ata." Sevi looked away. "Tinulungan pa siya ni Mama mag-impake eh. Hinatid ko pa sa bus station tatay ko tapos tinulungan ko pa siya sa mga bagahe niya. Kakapasa ko lang ng USTET no'n eh. Hindi tuloy ako nakapag-celebrate."

"Where is he now?" 

"Probinsya. Hindi ko alam. O baka nasa Cebu. Wala naman siyang sinabi sa 'kin." He shrugged. "Kapag kami nagkita sa site, hi na lang siguro." He laughed like it didn't affect him, but it sure did. 

"You're not mad?" maingat na tanong ko. I didn't want him to get sensitive about the topic. 

"Nakakagalit lang na... Kaya niyang iwan mga anak niya nang ganoon. Hindi ako nagagalit para sa 'kin kasi kaya ko ang sarili ko. Wala akong tuition at ga-graduate na 'ko pero si Steven, magka-college 'yan. Si Sofia, malapit na mag-aral. Hindi naman kaya ni Mama mag-isa. Ang daming binabayaran eh. Buti na lang ga-graduate na 'ko. Ako na ang magpapaaral sa dalawa kung pwede. Kapag kaya ko na." 

Wow, pakiramdam ko, mas nakikilala ko pa siya kapag nagsasalita siya tungkol sa pamilya niya. He was the firstborn. Panganay siya, that was why he felt like he had a responsibility to his whole family since he was the person next to his dad, aside from his mom. Because his dad left, he was forced to carry the responsibilities. 

Well, at least he had a nice relationship with his dad, right? It reminded me of my brother, Shan. Kahit hindi sila in good terms ni Daddy, pakiramdam niya pa rin na responsibilidad niya 'ko at si Mommy kapag may nangyaring masama sa 'min just like what he said last time. Ganoon ba talaga kapag panganay? 

"Gustong-gusto ko na grumaduate tapos makapasa kaagad ng boards. Para sa iba, hindi na nila iniisip 'yong ganito, 'yong kung saan sila kukuha ng pera pagkatapos mag-aral o kung paano nila iba-budget 'yong sweldo nila kasi marami pa silang kailangang suportahan na kapatid... pero ako, mahalaga sa akin 'yong oras. Gusto ko nang makatulong kay Mama kaagad," sabi niya sa akin.

Natamaan ako roon. My life after graduation was not a problem because we had our own company. Doon talaga ako magtatrabaho. It was already set. Money was also not a problem because my parents always supported me, my needs, and even my wants. Kapag nagtrabaho na ako, I would only think of my own expenses. Wala nang iba.