Ludic Selcouth #1: Cracked Beat

Hit #29

“You ready?” Lucien asked as he glanced at me. Ngumuso ako at tumango.

“Whereʼs mama?” tanong ko habang inaayos niya ang mga maleta ko sa trunk ng kotse.

“Inside the car.” tumango ako at binuksan na ang backseat. Nakita ko nga roʼn si mama na abala sa cellphone niya. Nang makita ako ay mabilis niya iyong pinatay. Agad nangunot ang noo ko.

“You looks so busy there,” puna ko at mataman siyang pinagmasdan. It has been 3 years since she undergo from a surgery. Sheʼs doing fine now and very healthy. Tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay kaya napangiti ako. “Do you really wanna go back?” tanong ko sa kaniya.

“Gusto ko, Zemira. Namimiss ko na ang unit natin.” ngumiti ako at inalala ang lugar na 'yon. The unit... the memories... I immediately shrugged the thoughts. “We really are going back then!” I said cheerfully.

Nang matapos si Lucien sa pag-aayos ng gamit ko ay pumasok na rin ako sa passenger seat. He also hopped in the driver seat and started the engine. Iʼm not sure what to feel with this. We are going back to Manila... because mama want this.

3 years ago, we came back here in Laguna affter she recovered from her surgery. It was my personal request. We visited our old house and it was indeed dirty. Very. The neighbourhood were still the same though. Nagulat pa sila nang bumalik kami. Hindi nga lang kami doon naglagi. Ikinuha kami ni Lucien ng bahay sa isang subdivision at doon kami tumira nang tatlong taon. I really became an engineer to his firm. The house... Ofcourse Iʼm paying him, even if he doesnʼt want to.

We were fine there... But now, Mama wants to go back. We are officially from Laguna but I think she has really became so attached to our unit in Manila. Maybe because we stayed there for almost 6 years. It was our little home... there are a lot of memories there. Both good and bad.

“So will you transfer to the main of LUCCUS again?” tanong ni Lucien habang nakatutok ang mata sa kalsada. Sa Laguna branch ng firm niya ako nagtrabaho. Luckily, he has a branch in Laguna so it wasnʼt that hard for me. I already made a lot of projects in span of 3 years. Pero hindi ako lumalayo, I always make sure that I wonʼt accept any projects in Manila.

“Yes, architect,” sagot ko at ngumisi naman siya.

“Finally, engineer.” tumawa ako at umiling-iling.

The drive went smoothly. Since magkalapit lang naman ang Laguna at Manila ay nakarating din kami sa mansion ni Lucien after 3 hours. Hindi ko pa rin mapigilang mamangha nang makita ko ang bahay niya. Well, what can I expect from an architectʼs house? It is massive pero siya lang naman ang nakatira at ang ibang care takers.

Iginiya niya kami papasok at binabati kami ng mga kasambahay. I will just nod and smile at them. They seems friendly, just like their boss. Tumigil kami sa malaki niyang living room at may inutusan naman siya para iakyat ang mga gamit namin ni mama sa taas. He said weʼll stay here for a while. Lilinisin lang muna ang unit namin. If I were to ask, I really donʼt want to go back there. Pwede namang kumuha ako ng mas malaking unit para sa 'min ni mama. But my main goal is to build my own house. I'm not planning to live in a unit forever.

The thing is, Iʼm still saving. I can already start in buying a lot for the house but, for the construction, my savings are not enough...yet. I will stop halfway if Iʼll push it.

“You should be the architect when I started building my own house,” sabi ko at iginala ang paningin sa mansion niya. This is really a big house.

“Sure, engineer. You can just also stay here forever with me if you want,” aniya at malokong ngumisi.

“Shut up, architect.” humalakhak siya at kinagat ang labi.

“Hay nako kayong dalawa. Bakit ba hindi na lang kayo magpakasal? Puro kayo ganiyan,” puna ni mama kaya mas lalong natawa si Lucien. I laughed too.