Unbothered

Society describes the world, imperfect. Magulo, maingay, masakit at hindi, masaya maaliwalas at puno ng pag-asa. Why do you think it is what it is? Because it is what it meant to be. Can you experience joy without pain, peace without war, and order without chaos? No. It is designed to be that way to appreciate everything.

The sun begun to set and the sky gradually colored orange which reflects to the peaceful sea. Tanaw ang dagat sa parteng ito samantalang ang nagsisimulang pagningning ng mga ilaw sa buong Espanya ang nasa kabilang dako. We were occupying a luxurious suite in one of the tallest and grandest hotel in Spain kung saan gaganapin ang party ni Mommy.

Today marks an important event for us. Mom finally decides to invest in her long time dream to build her own jewelry brand. Pinag aralan niya iyon ng ilang taon na pinaniwalaan ni Daddy at sinuportahan ni Lola.

Three knocks on my door, then I hurriedly grab my clutch to get out of my room. Daddy, wearing a suit looked so handsome at mas lalong bumabata. He’s half Spanish kaya ang balat niya ay mapuslaw. He’s holding Mommy’s waist in front of the full length mirror. I was in awe nang makita ang ayos ng ina. She’s wearing a simple yet elegant red laced long sleeved tight dress with a thigh high slit na may kumikinang na crystals.

I give Daddy a hug nang bumitiw ito kay Mommy hinarap ako. He returned the favor before kissing my forehead. “You’re so beautiful anak.” He whispered.

“Mas maganda pa kay Mommy, Dad?” I raised a brow.

“I’ll have both.” He chuckled.

My Dad’s always been like that. Walang oras na hindi ko naramdaman ang pagmamahal niya. I think I didn’t even saw him getting angry about something dahil madalas ay palangiti at kalmado. I always admire his love for our family, for my Mommy. Madalas ay abala siya sa kompanya at pamamalakad ng iilang malls but he never failed as a father and husband. Sometimes, nahuhuli ko siyang nagluluto ng breakfast, on Sundays, he’ll go with us to attend mass and on special occasions, he’ll dance with my Mom on our wide living room.

Pagpasok namin sa venue ay puno na ang inilaang mga mesa. Dad introduced me to some respected persons in their field habang si Mommy ay inasikaso ang iba pang guest. I just smiled and nod and bow the whole time of the introduction thingy. Nang maaliw si Dad ay tsaka na ako nagpaalam na pupunta sa aming mesa.

Eunice Rebecca was sitting graciously at her spot holding a glass of wine. She matured! Iyon ang una kong napansin. Bukod sa maiksi at mahigpit nitong damit, her body grew! She’s more of a woman now compared to me kahit magkaedaran lang. Her lips was in bold red while her usually straight silky hair is in big curls making her looked too mature.

“Cous! I missed you!” sigaw niya nang mapansin ako. Thankfully the audio was too loud para marinig siya ng mga tao. Though may iilang lumingon pero hindi gaanong agaw atensiyon.

“Becca! Yung boses mo!” I rolled my eyes.

She giggled. “Sorry. I just missed you so much.” Aniya bago pinasadahan ang suot ko which compared to her ay mukhang konserbatibo. I wore a white puffed short sleeve dress in knee length na may intricate designs of crystals and some hand made embroidery.

“What’s with that examining glance?”

“Taray ha! Wala! Ang ganda mo pa rin!” she hooked my arm with her hands bago iginiya sa pag-upo sa aming table.

Hindi na kami gaanong nag-usap since nagsimula na ang program at dumagsa na rin sina Lola, Daddy, Mommy and other people na medyo malayo nang kamag-anak sa aming mesa. Nararamdaman kong marami siyang gustong itanong o ikwento ngunit hindi iyon nagawa dahil katabi niya si Lola who’s strict when it comes to etiquette. She only glances to my side from time to time at kung miminsang nagkakasalubong ang mga mata namin at tinataasan ko ng kilay na iniilingan niya.

The program didn’t last that long. We raised a toast at nagspeech si mommy para sa magiging plano niya at bakit naisipan ang ganitong proyekto. Everyone was so impressed the way she expressed her self and manage to talk with conviction.

“Congratulations Vera!” Sinalubong siya ni Lola matapos bumaba ng entablado. Everyone was now settled in their assigned seats for dinner kaya medyo umingay na rin ng kaunti.

Mommy smiled before embracing Lola. “Thank you, Mama.”

They’re like the opposite of in-laws in some soap operas that I watch. Mas nagmukha pa silang mag-ina kaysa kay Dad.

“Kanina pa ako nagpipigil. Kahit kailan hindi ko talaga magugustuhan ang ganitong set up ng party! Nakakasakal.” Reklamo ni Becca ng magsimula ng mag serve ng appetizers. It was always her line everytime we attend formal occasions kaya ipinagkibit balikat ko lamang iyon.

“Ada! Who’s that guy!?” she asked pursing her lips towards another table’s direction.

“Anak ata ng kasosyo nina Dad. Bakit?”

“Gwapo.” She smirked. “mukhang bagay kayo.”

“Not interested. Napakilala na sakin yan. He seems jolly at palakaibigan, Pilipino din.”

“Yun naman pala. Bakit ayaw mo?”

“Kasi ayoko! If you can’t explain why you fall in love, then it is acceptable not to explain refusal.”

“Ang taray! Pinapairal mo na naman iyang kamalditahan mo!” she chuckled.

Busy ang lahat sa pagkain at kanikanilang ginagawa kaya malaya kaming nagdadaldalan ni Becca. Even Lola was busy catching up with our relatives.

“How’s Spain? I heard mas lalo ka pang gumagaling magpinta ah.”

“Ganun pa rin naman walang malakihang pagbabago.”

“Home schooling ka pa rin ano? Gosh hindi ko alam kung pano mo nakakakaya! Hanga na talaga ako sayo.”

“Not that hard. You just have to deal with your self and the educator. That’s all.” I shrugged.

“Boring!”

Padarag niyang binitawan ang mga kubyertos bago uminom ng tubig. Akala ko doon na nagtatapos ang pagtatanong niya ngunit nagkakamali ako. She shifted her body facing me as if giving her full attention.

“I’m free tomorrow and I planned to go shopping at balak kong isama ka. I wonder if nakakalabas ka pa ba ng bahay.”

Inirapan ko siya at masamang tinignan. “Of course Idiot! Hindi ako nakakulong?”

“Fine, whatever. Basta magsho-shopping tayo bukas so free your schedule.” Deklara niya.

“Ada anak, what do you think?” I cluelessly looked at my mom ng tawagin ako. They are all looking at me as if waiting for something. Nilingon ko si Becca kung may alam siya sa topic nila ngunit ipinagkibit balikat niya lamang iyon.

“One of our partners suggested to build a branch in our province sa Pilipinas and it’s actually a good idea. Me and your mom was planning to go, to personally supervise since tapos na naman ang mga branches dito. Matatagalan iyon for sure kaya we were about to ask you kung gusto mo bang sumama o maiiwan ka lang dito with your Lola. Bibisita naman kami madalas.”

I was in awe sa narinig na halos hindi makapagsalita. This is almost one of my dreams! I never been to the Philippines, the land where I was born. All I knew was facts based on research and some videos. Kaya ngayong tinatanong ako kung ano ang opinyon ko ay umiling ako. Kumunot ang noo ni Dad.

“Sasama po ako.”

“ Then, you need to transfer school there. And you requested to be in an actual school right? Kaya mo ba? “ Mommy’s eyes was full of concern when she asked that. Pero tumango ako ng paulit-ulit making her sigh in agreement.

“I heard mainit raw dun. For sure mangingitim ang kumikintab mong balat. Siguro nga di ka aabot ng isang linggo dun.” Becca laughed.

I irritatedly eyed her ngunit ngumiti lang ito at nag peace sign.

“Wanna bet? I’m not obsessed with my skin, at siguro naman may aircon dun kahit papano. “

“Sige ba! I’ve been there! Everything was so beautiful except for the heat of the sun! Halos ilang araw rin ang binabad ko sa gatas nun para bumalik sa dating kulay. Pagnagtagal ka, doon din ako mag-aaral next school year!” Hamon niya.

“Deal!”