Just The Strings (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 51

#JustTheStrings

Kabanata 51

My two months trip became three months... four months... until I extended it to seven months. I skipped the first semester. Of course my parents didn't approve but what could they do? I was half a world away from them and they couldn't exactly track me. Once they get a hold of the credit card receipts, I was already in another country.

But when I returned from my seven months trip, Mama threw a party for me... which was unnecessary dahil sandali lang naman akong nawala. At isa pa, dapat palagi lang siyang nagpapahinga dahil palagi siyang puyat dahil kay Cayden. I was away when she gave birth. It was one of the things I missed while I was away. Pero siguro okay na rin kasi medyo nakakatakot talaga si Mama kapag in labor siya.

"You cut your hair!" Kath said. "And it's red!"

I smiled and then turned around. I didn't know what possessed me pero bigla kong naisipan na magpa-gupit ng shoulder length. Tapos nagpakulay na rin ako para kumpleto. 

"Bagay ba?"

She nodded.

"You look like a Westerner!" she said and then enveloped me in her bear hug. "I missed you! Did you enjoy Europe?"

Pumunta kami ni Kath sa sala at doon nagkwentuhan. Sinabi ko lang sa kanya iyong mga napuntahan ko at saka pinakita ko lahat ng pictures na kinuha ko. During my time away, I didn't use any social media. I just installed Viber on my phone para makausap ako nila Mama kung kailangan nila. First time ko kasing umalis na mag-isa lang kaya sobrang paranoid nila Mama. Though I think their worry was called for. Medyo naligaw ako nung nasa Prague ako pero sobrang okay lang kasi ang ganda naman doon. Pinaka-na-enjoy ko ay iyong sa Switzerland kaya nag-extend ako roon. I enjoyed my cocoa while looking at the mountain caps. I also found new friends and I promised them that if ever they come to the Philippines, I'd tour them around.

"Talagang lilipat ka na ng degree?"

"Yeah..."

"Pero fourth year na sana tayo ngayon!" she whined. "At saka nasa kabilang dulo pa ng campus iyong bagong college mo! Paano na tayo magkikita?"

Tinawanan ko lang si Kath. Makaka-adjust din naman siya. At isa pa, hindi ko naman talaga gusto iyong Business Administration. I just took it before because I had no idea what I really wanted... and I thought I'd make my parents proud if I take that. I just realized that my parents would support me with whatever I wanted. And for once, I wanted to grant myself what I really wanted. Palagi ko na lang kasing iniisip ang iba dati.

After I talked to Kath, I went back to the garden dahil nandun iyong ibang mga tao. Kuya Benj was playing with Riley and Finley habang si Liza, nakaupo lang sa isang gilid. I would talk to her later. I would say sorry for the things I said before. Nakausap ko na naman si Ate Jas... She's okay, so there's no need for me to feel anything unpleasant towards Liza. Hindi ko naman problema iyon.

Kuya was talking with Kuya Jackson. Si Papa naman, buhat si John. Si Mama naman ay buhat si Cayden. I smiled at the view. I missed this.

"We already processed your papers. Simula na ng pasok mo sa isang araw," Mama said. "Yung condo mo, naayos na rin ng Papa mo... Are you sure na gusto mong tumira mag-isa?"

I nodded.

"Hindi ka naman marunong magluto..."

"Marunong ako!"

"Hindi pagluluto ang pagpi-prito, Mary Imogen," Mama said. She was tearing up again kaya niyakap ko siya. "Aren't you going to change your mind?"

I shook my head.