Eumoirous (ICS #1)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Stalker

"Nana, ako na lang po ang bahala maghugas," pagpresinta ko kay Nana after naming kumain ng almusal.

God, namiss ko ang lutong bahay! Lalo na ang fried rice ni Nana. Si Dada ulit ang gumawa ng kape nila ni Nana at ako naman ang nagtimpla ng Milo ko. Kumain kami ng tapa, itlog, at toasted bread. To say I was full would be an understatement, I was sated and my tummy's happy!

"Sige, Rhelle. Pupunta kaming trading center, may ipabibili ka ba?" Tanong ni Nana.

"Wala naman po, Na." I replied.

Pupunta silang dalawa ni Dada ngayon sa Valmonte Trading Center, isa sa mga mall dito sa Isla Cañas. Malapit iyon sa palengke dito kaya naman maraming tao ang dumaragsa doon. I would've liked to join them pero siguro next time na lang muna. I want to go to Rockwell first. After nun, saka na lang siguro ako gagala dito sa Isla Cañas.

"Osiya, pagkatapos mo maghugas magpahinga ka na lang ulit, Rhelle. Pwede ka rin naman maglibot dito sa baranggay, huwag ka lang lalayo ng bahay dahil hindi ka pa rito pamilyar," paalala ni Dada sa akin.

Hmm, actually that's not a bad idea! Sa tingin ko naman ay magtatagal ako rito kina Nana, kaya dapat mafamiliarize ko na yung lugar na tinitirhan nila.

I nodded to Dada and nagpatuloy sa pag-ayos ng pinagkainan namin. Makatapos ko silang ilagay sa may lababo, I kissed Nana and Dada's cheeks and bid them goodbye. Pagkatapos, bumalik ako sa kusina para maghugas.

Nana and Dada are living alone. Silang dalawa lang at kalaunan naman, sabi ni Nana, may pumupuntang house caretaker. Paminsan kasi ay bumabalik pa silang Rockwell, doon sa dating bahay. May poultry doon si Dada at may farm naman si Nana, which is also their business kahit medyo may edad na silang dalawa.

Nana and Dada are my mother's parents. Only child rin si Mom gaya ko. Nag-aral si Mom sa Manila at doon na rin siya nag-establish ng career niya. Mom was a successful designer and influencer. She would get invited sa mga talk shows and fashion galas were here own kind of party. I thought that it must be great to be like her,na kahit busy siya ay nagkaoras siya sakin. Well, noon iyon.

Nandito ako sa Isla Cañas lumaki, sa Rockwell to be exact. Si Nana and Dada ang madalas ko ng kasama noon pa man pero Mom would always come home, mga two to three times a week then lipad ulit siyang Manila, or paminsan overseas.

Meanwhile, Dad could only visit once a week or even once in two weeks. He was a busy Pilot and he had international flight schedules. Coming home to Isla Cañas would mean he had to travel by land, since hindi pa gaanong kaayos ang domestic airport dito sa Isla noon.

Paminsan, I was lucky if nagkakasabay ng uwi si Mom and Dad. We'd eat near the beach, Nana and Dada will cook barbecue for us and Dad will sing with his guitar. Mom and I would swing by the hammock and wait for the sun to fall.

Kakarampot lang ang memorya kong kasama sina Mom and Dad. I didn't complain, though. For a kid, I was already contented with my life dito sa Isla. I just na maybe it was an adult's stuff to be busy? I also didn't want to bother Mom and Dad, kaya nanahimik ako. At isa pa, ayokong masira ang magandang mood kapag nagpumilit ako na huwag na muna silang umalis.

But when I grew older, at some points, I was tired of waiting --- being understanding. I was tired of making excuses for my parents.

Sa pagmumuni muni ko habang naghuhugas, 'di ko namalayang nabasa ko na pala ang nasa ibabang parte ng suot kong t-shirt. I glanced at the clock at the dining area, maaga pa naman pala. Siguro kung maglalakad lakad ako sa labas ay hindi pa naman masakit sa balat.