That One Match

Chapter 05

"Pentaliticia, I said no!"

Mom grabbed my arm as she stopped me from packing my things. I just graduated college last month and just today I decided to finally pursue my career in the Philippines.

"Mommy!" I tried to pull my arm off her grip. "Dad, please stop her."

Sinubukan kong hingin ang tulong ni daddy. He understands me more. He knows why I had to leave.

"Hindi ba't sinabi na namin kagabi na hindi ka nga babalik ng Pinas! People are gonna talk about you!"

I wanted to cuss but she's my mom and I respect her more than anybody else, plus she's pregnant with my baby sibling. I don't want her to feel terribly bad kahit na alam kong nakakastress itong ginagawa ko sa kanya.

Okay naman sana dito sa New York eh. Ang problema lang, hindi ito ang gusto kong environment. Everything is in front of me here. Lahat mabilis kong makuha at maabot dahil nga anak ako ng kilalang engineer at isang famous fashion brand owner. Whatever I need, whatever I want, agad na naibibigay.

I don't want that kind of life. Mapapatanong ka kung deserve mo ba ang naibibigay sayo o baka dahil lang sa pangalan mo kaya ka nabigyan ng ganito o ganiyan.

Ayokong sinusubo na lang lahat sa akin. Gusto kong pahirapan ang sarili ko. I want to start from the bottom. Gusto ko ako mismo, makita ko na dahan-dahan, unti-unti kong naaabot ang pangarap ko.

"Mom, I am not going to abandon you. Sa Pilipinas lang ako magtatrabaho!"

Nilingon ko ulit si daddy pero si mommy ang kanyang higit na pinapakinggan sa mga oras na ito.

"You can work here, Pentaliticia. Bakit sa Manila pa?"

"Because I want to!"

"Hindi lang dahil gusto mo ay makukuha mo!"

She shouted at the top of her lungs. Napahawak ito sa puson nya. God knows how I felt sorry at that time. Gusto ko mang kumalma ay di ko magawa. Nadadala ako ng galit.

"Exactly, mom! Ayoko na lahat na lang na gusto ko ay ibibigay nyo ni daddy. I want to do things on my own. Gusto kong maranasang maghirap. I want to start from the bottom hindi iyong gagawin mo akong head agad sa isang branch—"

She slapped me. It was a first.

"Alam mong sa hirap din ako nagsimula, Pentaliticia! Lahat ginawa ko para marating ang karangyaan na meron ang pamilya natin ngayon. I am putting you in that position because I know you can do the job. Not because I can just do whatever I want."

My tears started rolling down my cheeks. Hindi ko sya matingnan. Her slap made an impact on my heart. Sobra akong nasaktan.

"Alam ko ang hirap ng buhay sa Pilipinas, Pentaliticia. And as your mom, isa lang ang nais ko. Gusto ko lang naman na hindi mo maranasan ang lahat na naranasan kong paghihirap."

"Darling, please listen to your mommy. We only want what's best for you."

Dad tried to comfort me but I pushed him away.

"Uuwi ako ng Pilipinas sa ayaw at sa gusto nyo."

Tinapos ko ang pag-eempake ko at lumabas ako ng silid. I went to the stairs and made my way down while pulling the trolley.

Akala ko titigil si mommy sa kapipigil sa akin but she didn't.

Instead, she ran after me in the fucking stairs.