I know I should be home by now given that it's almost 9 PM since I left but I didn't want to be home. I wanted to be somewhere. May naisip agad akong lugar kung saan ako makakatambay at agad minaneho ang bike patungo roon.
I parked the bike near the building my parents bought for me when I turned nineteen. Thankfully, I always brought the keys with me. I opened the two-way door and closed it when I got inside. Nilagay ko ang helmet sa may kitchen counter at inayos ang buhok kong medyo basa dahil biglang umulan nang mahina habang nasa kalsada ako. I rested my body on the sofa when I heard my phone beep.
From: Mama
Where are you? It's already nine.
I typed in my reply.
"Ilang taon ka sa States, Lilianna?" tanong ni Joie sa akin. Nasa balcony kami ng kwarto ni Sawyer, nakamasid sa mga taong unti-unting nagsisialisan sa swimming pool na pinapalibutan ng tatlong building. It was getting dark.Napaisip ako. "Almost six years na rin. Doon na rin ako nagtapos ng college at nagtrabaho sa kompanya ng childhood friend ko.""Wow, may childhood friend kang 'Kano?"Tumawa ako at umiling. "Ruairi is a Filipino, don't worry."Natahimik kami pagkatapos roon. Mayamaya ay dumating si Isla at sinabing kakainin na namin ang ginawa nilang dessert. It was a banana split."Let's eat," Isla said in a sophisticated manner. She's really... perfect.
Ruairi provided a car for us to ride when we arrive at the airport. It was enough for us and our luggage to fit."Oasis Funds Co., right?" Miss Lea asked as she was feeding her daughter some formulated milk. Nasa backseat kaming dalawa habang nasa passenger seat si Kairos.Tumango ako at inalis ang itim na face mask sa mukha ko. "Yes. Oasis is an investment company.""So is Ruairi de Asis that bored that led him to make another business? I won't say that he's broke because just by hearing his company's name, I know that he's rich."I laughed at her comment. "He's actually a dancer... like you. We were friends since we're children... along with, um, Kairos. We met at a dance school in Cebu."
"I really thought she's your mistress. Now that I thought about it, you wouldn't marry some girl who looked like that."I glanced at my clothes after Mrs. Ferrolino said that statement. I was wearing a red oversized hoodie and black pants with sandals on my feet. I felt insulted that she labeled me as "some girl" and even irritated that she's really sure her son won't marry some girl who looked like this!Moreover, I shouldn't be feeling irritated in the first place at all! Ano ba iyan, Lilianna?"Mom!" Kairos exclaimed."Iwanan ko po muna kayo," mahina kong wika at dali-daling umalis sa harapan nila. Nahinto lamang ako nang nagsalita ulit si Mrs. Ferrolino."A
"Why did you enroll your daughter to a dance school, Julius? She should be in her room, studying. Not dancing!"I heard my father sigh as he tucked me to bed. "But she wants to dance, my love. Hayaan mo na lang ang anak natin. Minsan lang maging bata si Lilianna, ipagkakait mo pa ba?""I promise you, Julius. That will do no good for her."I woke up when I felt Kairos' hand on mine and slightly tightened his hold on it. Minulat ko ang mga mata ko at nakitang nginitian ako ni Kairos. Inalis ko naman ang kamay ko sa kaniya kaya naiwan ang kamay niya sa hita ko. Agad niya iyong inalis.He cleared his throat. "We're here."Nangun
MARA SATUITAThe First Love"Mara? Papalakas na ang ulan, hija. Kailan ka ba uuwi?"Umirap ako habang hindi pa rin tumitigil sa pagtipa. Kailangan kong tapusin ang sales report ngayong araw kung ayaw kong masisante ako. Sinikap kong huwag mahulog ang keypad phone sa gitna ng ulo at balikat ko."Mamang, baka mamaya pa ako makakauwi. Kailangan ko lang talagang tapusin ang report ko ngayon dahil baka bukas wala na akong trabaho kung uuwi ako ngayon."Narinig ko ang pagbuntong-hininga ni Mamang. "Siguraduhin mo lang na makakauwi ka bandang alas dose, anak, okay? Delikado pa naman sa mga oras na 'yan."Tumango ako. "Sisikapin ko, Maman
"A year after that, I met your father at the police station because I illegally parked my newly bought car—which I worked hard for, by the way—on the street, fell in love and got married to him and then we had you," Mama said. A smile crept through her lips when Papa kissed her on the cheek."And we named you after Mara's late best friend, Lilia Perez."Tumango si Mama. "That's right."He yawned after kissing Mama. "Grabe, ang haba ng sinabi mo tungkol sa love story niyo ni Leonardo tapos sa akin isang long sentence lang?!" pagmamaktol niya na siyang ikinatawa ko. I was wiping the tears that fell earlier. I didn't know their love story is that... dramatic and unreal. Akala ko'y sa mga teleserye ko lang iyon mapapanood at mapapakinggan.
God, I'm so tired.Pabagsak akong umupo sa long sofa ko at nagdesisyong doon muna magpahinga. My feet are too tired to even walk a couple of steps towards the bedroom.I had a long day. Hindi ako makapaniwalang bubungad sa akin ang sandamakmak na trabaho pagbalik ko rito sa Arkansas. I couldn't believe Ruairi left the company lots of workloads! At dahil hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin siya naghanap ng secretary, isa ako sa mga empleyado niyang sobrang daming gawain.I know that it's still daytime there in the Philippines so I called Ruairi. He accepted the call before two rings."Lilianna! You called?""You motherfucker! Ang dami kong gagawin dahil sa'yo!"
Chapter 36It would take an hour or two before we arrive at Minglanilla so I decided to rest my eyes. Pero agad ko rin iyong pinagsisihan dahil tuluyan na akong nakatulog! Nagising lamang ako sa marahang pagyugyog sa akin ni Kairos.Paglingon ko sa bandang kanan ko ay nasa harapan na kami ng main gate ng Midori Plains. Nang naalala ko si Isla ay agad ko namang binaling ang backseat. She was nowhere to be found.Narinig ko ang pagtikhim ni Kairos. "I dropped her at the city."Tumango na lang ako.I unbuckled my seat belt and went out of the car. Sumunod naman siya at binuksan ang likuran ng sasakyan. Sumalubong sa akin ang tumitiriki na araw kaya napasuot ulit a