YURI's

Late ako nagising only to find out Tiffany already left our house, si gaga talaga sumadya lang ng tulog dito sa bahay. Though it was still 9AM in the morning pero sabi ng kapatid ko 7AM daw umalis, I glanced at the table resting beside my bed and saw her small note laying peacefully on top of my phone.

“Hey uhm, so I left early at di na kita ginising, you kinda slept late kagabi so I let you woke up late na rin. Don’t worry about me I can eat naman when I get back home, ayon lang, thank you for last night, you’re the best!”

I smiled to myself upon looking at her handwriting, tinupi ko ito then slid it inside my notebook, nag-aayos na rin kasi akong gamit, I’ve been planning to move out of the house and live with Jessica for good. She told me she got a new space or more like an aprtment for her and her baby, and I got too excited knowing we could be a family once I move in to her place. The thought suddenly reminds me of the plans we made years ago, when she told me she wanted a family, and when I promised we will get married,

Sumagi rin sa isip ko, hindi na nga pala kami pwede ikasal. She already had someone else, she is owned by someone else, at ako, magiging phase lang din ako for I don’t know how long. Though it will be fine, we had talked about this, I agreed with it, and I am ready for anything that could still hurt me.

Minutes after, I shook my head and carried the clothes left inside my closet, thinking about negative things will not help me at all, gusto ko lang maging positive especially now when everything is getting better already. Nilipat ko na yung gamit ko so I could pack the rest then leave. When I felt my brother peeked inside my room, napahinto ako at tumingin sa kanya. Pero hindi niya ko pinansin at dire-diretsong pumasok sa loob dala-dala yung box galing kwarto.

“What’s that? Why are you bringing it here? Magkakalat ka na naman ba?” I said while he jumps from the boxes scattered in my floor, ngumisi lang siya sakin at nang buksan ko yung laman, most of it were Jessica’s things. Bakit hanggang sa kwarto ng kapatid ko may gamit si Sica?

“Oh ayan, actually galing talaga yung iba rito sa kwarto mo, naalala ko lang kase baka itapon mo sila nung time na akala ko break na kayo. Kaya ayon, ako nagtabi, but since you’re moving out dinala ko na ulit.” Hindi kita pinansin at binuklat ko lang lahat ng laman sa box, I could see all of our gifts from previous anniversaries, including the one’s you sent me while I’m abroad.

“Kaya pala hindi ko ‘to makita kanina, sige na pwede ka na ulit umalis, marami pa ‘kong aayusin dito.” Kinuha ko na sa kanya yung kahon pero hindi pa rin siya umalis, pinanood niya lang ako magligpit ng kung ng mga gamit ko sahig.

“Dalaw ka ha, baka naman pag na kay ate Jess ka na, di mo na naman kami puntahan dito, magtatampo ako sayo.” He said while crossing his arms infront of me. I suddenly remembered our father on how he said he wanted me to visit regularly. There was a light pain that ached in my heart, so I gave him a smile para hindi siya masyado mag-alala.

“I will come during the weekends, besides, marami pa ‘kong oras, wala pa nga akong work ulit diba. Basta I will always cook lunch and dinner everytime I go back here, tapos ikaw wag kang gumala sa labas pag nandito ako okay? Family time.” I saw his beautiful eyesmile as he stood up from my bed and gave a tight hug, in fact, mamimiss ko rin pala siya kapag hindi na ‘ko rito nakatira.

“Asahan ko ‘yan ha, tatawag ako kapag may biglaang emergency ulit dito. Wag kang magdadahilang busy at sinasabi ko talaga sayo...I remember those days na pinag awayan niyo ‘yan ni ate Jess noon.” And I also remembered how my temper overdid my decisions. As soon as he pulled away tinulak ko na ulit siya palabas ng kwarto, I want to finish cleaning up so I could surprise Jessica in her new apartment.

At naalala ko hindi pa nga pala ‘ko nakakapagpaalam kay Hyo. Sinilip ko siya sa bintana ko, pero parang wala na namang tao sa bahay nila. The moment I picked up the last box on the floor, I texted my bestfriend para samahan akong pumunta kila Sica. I got an immediate reply even before I dropped my phone in the table, nandon naman pala siya, mukha lang wala.

I was still standing at my window when I finally saw Hyoyeon who I thought just got up from her bed. Kagigising pa lang niya ata talaga. Kumaway na lang ako at napatingin naman siya agad sa direksyon ko. I told her to meet me down the street and I assume she understood what I meant. When I saw her nod along, inilabas ko na lahat ng mga box sa kwarto ko. I again called out my brother to ask for assistance, guess what? Iritable na naman akong hinarap ng kupal kong kapatid na magsasakay lang naman ng gamit sa backseat.

“Teka, aalis ka ulit? Babalik ka na naman ng France?” Kumunot yung noo ko sa sinabi ni Hyo, I never mentioned anything about going abroad again. Hindi pa ata nagigising ng husto ang diwa niya.

“Ano? Hindi! Uhm, I’m actually moving out of the house na. Bale, kay Jessica na ko titira.” I said while smiling from ear to ear, kaso ikaw mukhang loading pa rin, hindi na kita hinintay magets pa yung sinabi ko at pinasakay na lang kita sa sasakyan ko.

“Oh, did she got herself a new unit? But it’s too small for the two of you, I mean...three.”

“More like an apartment para mas malaki, that’s the purpose nga, it’s gonna be for the three of us once I move in.”

“Ay joke, baka pala apat, we forgot about the father.”

“Alam mo, tangina ka.”

I was again reminded of her ex-boyfriend, and the thought of him suddenly made me sad, the mere fact na he’s going to spend more time with his own family bothers me, para akong sinampal ng realidad na ako yung magiging sabit sa’min. Parang gusto ko mag back-out, parang gusto ko na lang pala sa bahay.

“Ininform lang kita, it’s not impossible to happen, now that Jess will soon give birth, expect the worst in your relationship.” I didn’t answer, instead I remained silent. I don’t want to say anything yet, baka magbago pa isip ni Sica, I mean gets ko if he needs to see his child but I know not to the point where he will take them from me.

“Let’s just hope for the best, I won’t disregard his rights as a father pero siguro naman, he won’t disregard my right as Jessica’s girlfriend.” I said in defense, ayoko na lang maisip yung mga pwedeng mangyari dahil malulungkot kong malulungkot na naman ako. I climbed up inside my car, and just started driving.

“Hopefully nga, I’m just saying though, para hindi ka na mabigla if one day, may family time din sila ng ama ng bata.” I know, pero hindi ko naman siguro kailangan intindihin yun ngayon, excited pa naman ako makita siya, and now I am clouded with worries once the child finally wittness the outside world.

“Oo na, sige na. Gets ko naman.” I sighed in disbelief, tumahimik na rin si Hyo when she noticed I suddenly became silent.  I got lost in my own thoughts wondering what will happen once she gave birth. Nag-uusap pa rin kaya sila, or atleast sinasamahan niya sa mga important matters na dapat kas