CRIPPLED: JULLIANNA (VUILLTRAEN SISTERS SERIES #1)

08

PIZZA

"Seah, kayo na ba?"

Biglang tanong sa'kin ni Ate. Nasa livingroom kaming dalawa ngayon. Sabado kaya pareho kaming walang pasok. Alam kong si Klaus ang tinutukoy niya kaya hindi ko na kailangan pang itanong iyon.

"Hindi pa po," I answered.

"Kung ganoon, e', ano kayo?"

"We're still dating. I mean, hindi ko pa siya sinasagot." my cheeks flushed.

Nasundan pa ang date namin na iyon ni Klaus ng ilan pang beses. Siguro mga limang beses na. Mas lalo ko rin siyang nakilala habang tumatagal. Kaya kung iisipin ko iyon, sigurado akong hindi ko na kaya pa 'tong patagalin. Baka masagot ko na siya.

"Se, si Lola tumatawag." With eyes dilated my sister informed me who's calling her.

"Si Lola?" I can't hide the excitement in my voice.

"Hi, Lola," sabay naming bungad sa kanya nang sagutin ni Ate ang tawag.

"Ang gaganda niyo na!" She chuckled. Matanda na talaga si Lola. Halata na ang mga bakas ng kulubot sa kanyang mukha. Her grey colored hair added the evidence.

"Kamusta ka na po?" Naunahan ako ni Ate nang itanong iyon sa kanya.

"Ayos lang naman, mga apo. Kayo riyan?"

"Ganoon pa rin po..." I trailed off as the bitterness crept inside of me. "...tila may imaginary borderline na nagpapanatili sa distansya namin kay Daddy."

She sighed. "Sabi ko na nga ba. Rito na lang kasi kayo mag-aral."

"We can't leave him alone po." Si Ate.

"Pero kaya niyang hindi kayo mabigyan ng oras bilang mga anak niya." Lola scoffed. "May babae na ba ang ama ninyo?"

Napakuarap ako sa tanong niya. Ni isang beses, hinding hindi sumagi sa isip ko na may pamalit na ang ama namin sa yumao na naming ina. Kaya hindi ako makasagot para roon.

"W-wala naman po... siguro," Ate said skeptically.

"Oo nga pala. Malapit na ang Christmas break niyo. May balak ba kayong bumisita rito?" She suddenly asked.

Nakatinginan kami ni Ate. That's a good idea. But leaving our father alone during Christmas has never been a good idea. Albeit if he doesn't have time for us, still he never failed to give us the things we needed... when it comes to finances. Albeit if he never celebrated Christmas, New years or other holidays with us since he preferred more staying in the hospital taking good care of the patients there. Yes, he never celebrated with us anymore since mom died.

I even think sometimes na kaya siguro ayaw niyang manatili dito sa bahay dahil naaalala niya si Mama. Sana nga iyon ang dahilan. At hindi ang ayaw niya kaming makasama. It always brought me a tear as my chest was overcrowded every time I think about it. But in the end, I still thanked him in my mind for not leaving us. I'm still thankful that he's the one God chosen to be our father. I just hope that someday... he'll realize that we as his daughters, also needed time, care, and especially... to be loved.

"We'll think about it po, La," Ate answered as she glances at me.

A sad smile plastered on our Lola's lips.  "I miss you, young ladies," she said.